Guayaquil, known as The Pearl of The Pacific, is the largest city in Ecuador and is the country’s major port and a popular tourist destination. The vibrant city with a population of about 3 million people is located along the River Guayas which leads out to The Pacific Ocean.
The hot climate is said to be the reason for such warm hospitality and the upbeat vibe found throughout the city, day and night. Its proximity to the coast also allows for many delicious seafood dishes, such as encebollado or marinated rice with shrimp, made with fresh catch of the day!
Though there are many great destinations across the sprawling city, the waterfront town square, El Malecón 2000 (malecón meaning pier) could be the most interesting and beautiful area in the city, along with the famous Parque Semanario, also known as “Iguana Park”.
El Malecón is a massive walkway along the Guayas river that spans 2.5 km. (1.5 mi.) and is divided into 12 different sections to represent different wonders of Guayaquil. This top-visited destination has museums, parks, restaurants, and many intriguing historical monuments, telling a story about the history of this great city. The famous giant ferris wheel known as La Perla is also found here. There are many tours run here and different cultural events will take place along this stretch during different times of the year.
Parque Semanario is referred to as Iguana Park because a massive number of Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) make their home here, offering some pretty interesting photo opportunities and a chance to see these impressive reptiles up close – just don’t forget to still give them some space!
If you want to explore Guayaquil in an immersive way that lets you see both the tourism highlights, along with a more profound perspective into the people and culture, get in touch with our team and book a trip with us, we can’t wait to introduce you to this grand city!