GUAYAQUIL | ECUADOR

Originally existing as an indigenous village, Guayaquil was declared a city by the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana in 1528. It became an important port and ship building centre for the Spanish and today it has grown into Ecuador’s largest city. Though not a huge tourist attraction and mostly only visited as a stopping off point on route to the Galapagos, Guayaquil has a pleasant promenade, a brightly coloured historic district and a famous park full of friendly iguanas! The south pacific coast north of Guayaquil is a lesser visited region but a great place to unwind and come here between June and August and you can see the migrating humpback whales.

Guayaquil and the South Pacific Coast is best visited outside of the rainy season which is January until April where the coast is very hot and humid. Whale watching is also possible between June and August.

Although not a spectacular city, Guayaquil has some interesting sites, and further up the coast there are more activities available. Here are our highlights for the area.

★ Check out the Iguana Park in Guayaquil

★ Take a walk along Guayaquil’s Malecon

★ Explore the picturesque neighbourhood of Las Peñas

★ Climb the Cerro Santa Ana for views over Guayaquil

★ Venture up the coast for whale watching from June until August

Browse the incredible destinations we cover in Ecuador from the Cloud Forest, a bird watcher’s haven, to the Amazon jungle and the quaint colonial cities of Cuenca and Quito. In between you will find the legendary Avenue of Volcanoes, the unexplored coast and the cacao plantations of the south. Get in touch to start planning your tailor made tours in Ecuador!