Points of Interest in Guayaquil

An Overview of Guayaquil

Guayaquil is a major port city in Ecuador, known as the mainland access point to the Galapagos Islands. The city is a large urban sprawl with busting sections dedicated to food, entertainment and tourism. The city itself has a reputation of being relatively dangerous, with petty crimes occurring frequently. It’s a good city to be extra aware and keep belongings in secure locations. Guayaquil is home to several unique attractions in the area, mostly located around the Simón Bolívar promenade near the waterfront.

Notes When Visiting Guayaquil

Terminal Terrestre de Guayaquil is the most respectable and reliable location for long-distance busses leaving the city. The terminal’s ticket booths are on the ground floor, one hallway over from the main shopping area. Busses depart from the two floors above the ground level.

United States Dollars are the primary currency for Ecuador. Dollar coins are used for the dollar value (one dollar bills are extremely uncommon) and stores generally don’t accept anything over a twenty dollar bill. Oddly, Ecuador prints their own small change (5 cent, 10 cent, 25 cent and 50 cent coins). These are virtually impossible to exchange outside of the country, so be sure to exchange them earlier.

Banco del Austro is the best location for cash withdraws. They don’t charge a fee and are generally located in safe neighborhoods. Banco Pichincha is a good backup option.

Taxis have a somewhat poor reputation in Guayaquil, but Uber ride-sharing is offered in the city. Ride sharing is recommended for traveling around the city.

Guayaquil has a poor reputation in terms of crime, especially in certain districts. The safest area is around the Malecon, though petty theft still occurs.

Points of Interest in Guayaquil

Santa Ana Hill 

This is a quiet hill of historical significance which offers views overlooking the city. The hill is home to overlooks viewing colorful buildings in the city, as well as a chapel and lighthouse. The hill is one of the prominent points of interest in Guayaquil and is within walking distance of Malecón 2,000.

Malecón 2,000

This is an enormous walking area located close to Central Guayaquil, along the Guayes River. This is one of the most popular pedestrian areas and is considered quite safe. There are small overlooks, numerous restaurants, parks, food stalls, street performers, an amusement park and several other attractions.

Aerovia 

An impressive feat of engineering, the Aerovia is a multimodal mass transportation system of aerial trams which traverses a large portion of Guayaquil and the Guayes river. It is one of the more scenic ways to traverse the city safely.

The 444 Steps

Located fairly close to Malecon 2,000 this is a slightly steep hill leading up to a famous lighthouse atop a low mountain. There are numerous small shops and homes here, painted bright colors. The route is lined with beautiful buildings, numerous tourist shops, several restaurants and smaller food stalls.

Galapagos Islands

This volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean is one of the world’s greatest locations to view rare and diverse wildlife, made especially famous as the site where Charles Darwin cemented his revolutionary Theory of Evolution. The carefully protected islands are accessible only through flights, with planes leaving from both Quito and Guayaquil, though Guayaquil is the generally cheaper launching point.

La Rotonda Monument

Located along the Malecón 2000, the Hemicycle De La Rotonda is a stately monument commemorating this historic 1822 meeting between the famous liberators Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.

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