So what to do in Guayaquil, Ecuador?

Lots!

This city can make for an excellent stopover during a trip to Ecuador, as there are so many fun things to do in Guayaquil. As long-term travelers in Ecuador, we decided to write this detailed Guayaquil travel guide to show why it’s worth the stop, reveal all the best things to do in Guayaquil, and further provide some Guayaquil travel & safety tips.

Is Guayaquil Worth Visiting?

Guayaquil is a popular transit hub for travelers, as it’s home to Ecuador’s second busiest international airport and is the only connection to the Galapagos. Therefore, Guayaquil is often a place that people fly into when taking a trip to Ecuador or on their way to the Galapagos.

Hence many visitors bound for the famed islands find themselves passing through this city and wondering is Guayaquil worth visiting? We see this question pop up constantly in travel forums.

So what’s the answer to all of these inquiries? Is Guayaquil worth visiting?

We say “sí,sí, sí!” That’s a big yes, of course. Guayaquil is most definitely worth visiting in our opinion. There’s actually a good number of fun things to do in Guayaquil to keep curious travelers busy for a few days.

We’ll concede that there may be more worthwhile places than Guayaquil to visit within Ecuador. After all, this is an amazing country that holds the Andes, the Amazon, the Galapagos, colonial cities, and great beaches. For anyone on extremely limited time, we could understand why bypassing Guayaquil might make sense. Yet those on a short Ecuador trip will be missing out on all the awesome things to do in Guayaquil.

For anyone transiting through the city, Guayaquil can definitely be well worth staying a couple of days to discover all of the charms of Ecuador’s largest city.

Guayaquil is currently in the midst of a resurgence, as many successful renewal projects have been implemented throughout the city in addition to many new attractions. What once may have been considered a big grimy city now boasts upscale dining districts and sparkling clean waterfront promenades. It’s a changed city!

In the past decade alone, Guayaquil has developed the creative architecture of Ecuador’s tallest building, erected the largest ferris wheel in South America, opened up many trendy entertainment complexes, and has introduced a handful of brand-new tourism initiatives adding even more interesting things to do in Guayaquil.

Guayaquil is a city that is clearly modernizing and making a concerted effort to appeal to travelers. Yet Guayaquil has still managed to maintain its historic charms too. Established in 1538, this port town is one of the oldest cities in Ecuador. Some of the colorful architecture from century’s past can still be seen today while wandering around the hot and steamy city streets.

This is the tropics after all! Yet the warm climate can come as a pleasant break for anyone having come from the high Andes running through Ecuador’s midsection. And despite the toasty weather, thankfully most establishments throughout Guayaquil have great air-conditioning systems and aren’t afraid to use them!

The warm weather adds to Guayaquil’s tropical character just as much as the broad River Guayas lining the city’s shore. It’s this position on the briskly flowing river that greatly contributes to the city’s uniqueness and even provides for a few things to do in Guayaquil.

We found that almost all the main things to do in Guayaquil are completely free, or very inexpensive. Guayaquil is a particularly budget-friendly city in South America and it’s easily possible to explore Guayaquil on a budget. Know that all of the recommendations throughout this Guayaquil travel guide come with prices that all budgets can afford.

So we’re now writing this post in an effort to show not only why Guayaquil may be worth the stop, but also to help make the most of a short visit when passing through. Guayaquil has something for everyone to do, whether you’re into nature, culture, history, food, family-friendly activities, or nightlife.

Best Things To Do in Guayaquil Ecuador

The following list is what we found to be the 15 best things to do in Guayaquil! We’ve also marked all the points of interest discussed in this article in the map below.

1) Stroll the Malecón 2000

If you were to do only one thing in Guayaquil, our suggestion is to take a leisurely stroll along the Malecón 2000. This pleasant 2.5-kilometer boardwalk not only takes in excellent views of the River Guayas, but it winds its way through gardens, monuments, museums, restaurants, and shopping complexes.

While in Guayaquil, you’ll hear the boardwalk referred to as Malecón dos mil, which translates to Malecón two-thousand, the year that the new waterfront stretch was opened.

The Malecón 2000 is often touted as one of the most successful revitalization projects in South America. What was once a dilapidated riverfront only a few decades prior, is now a thriving waterfront that’s filled with attractions and things to do.

The Malecón 2000 takes on different personalities depending when visited. During a weekday you can enjoy the sprawling promenade almost entirely to yourself. Yet on a pleasant weekend afternoon, expect to find thousands of local families gathering for a day of fun on the river. It’s a nice scene to soak in and great people watching.

There’s really a lot do along the Malecón 2000 for both locals and visitors alike. In fact, many of the subsequent recommendations of things to do in Guayaquil can be found right along this malecón.

Here are just a few points of interest to look out for during a stroll down Guayaquil’s beautiful riverfront walkway. 

• MAAC – Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art (covered separately in this travel guide)
• La Perla – Giant ferris wheel (covered separately in this travel guide)
• Malecon Garden – Park-like section of Malecon 2000 with gardens, coy ponds, and trees that attract birds
• La Rotunda – Rotunda monument to Guayaquil Independence
• Torre de Roloj – Iconic clock tower that is lit up at night.
• Barco Morgan – Pirate ship offering rides on the Guayas River (covered separately in this travel guide)
• Centro Comercial Malecon 2000 – Shopping mall
• Plaza Gastronomica Mercado del Rio – New (Oct 2018) indoor, upmarket food hall with nearly two dozen offerings ranging from international to Ecuadorian offerings
• Patio de Comidas – Outdoor pátio with quick-serve food stalls ranging from local seafood to KFC
• Palacio de Cristal – Vacant old South Market built by representatives of Gustav Eiffel
• Mercado Artesanal – Artisan market with Ecuadorian products

2) La Perla: Take a Ride on the Largest Ferris Wheel in South America

One of those attractions to check out along Malecón 2000 is definitely La Perla! “The Pearl,” as it translates to in English, was completed in 2015, becoming what is touted as the largest ferris wheel in South America. La Perla soars 57 meters (187 feet) high above the city!

During the 12-minute rotation into the air, the giant ferris wheel offers incredible views of the river, the boardwalk, and city skyline. Each gondola is air-conditioned too, which comes as relief while walking around the hot city. And we found there to usually be surprisingly few people riding La Perla, so a lack of queuing and a private ride can be an added bonus to experience.

You’re even more likely to avoid any crowds on a weekday visit. It’s then that prices of La Perla drop from a mere $5 to the bargain price of $3.50.

Be sure to bring a camera, as the pods provide for some great photo opportunities when in a high position. And since La Perla is located on the northern end of Malecón 2000, the giant ferris wheel also has some of the best views of the colorful hillside community known as Cerro Santa Ana, which is another must-see place in Guayaquil, as we show in the next thing to do in Guayaquil.

3) Las Peñas: Climb the 444 Steps of Cerro Santa Ana

On the northern fringe of Malecón 2000 is where to find what is arguably the most beautiful neighborhood in Guayaquil, Las Peñas. It’s a historic neighborhood that dates back over 400 years!

The colorful hillside enclave of Cerro Santa Ana has retained the allure of bygone eras. Quaint homes are perched down narrow alleyways as family-run neighborhood bars offer a most-welcomed reprieve while wandering climbing up the 444 steps leading to the top of the Santa Ana Hill.

If there’s any doubt of how far you’ve ascended in Guayaquil’s heat, each step is numbered to provide a gentle reminder.

There are plenty of benches and quaint plazas along the way to pause and catch your breath. About every few dozen stairs will be a vendor selling water to help keep you cool and hydrated as you make your way to the top. Reaching step #444 provides a visual reward for the sweaty effort, by offering panoramic views of the Guayaquil and the river down below.

Also in the Las Peñas area at the base of the Santa Ana Hill is a scenic cobblestoned street known as Numa Pompilio Llona. It’s a famous street in Guayaquil that really shows off its wooden colonial architecture. Behind the colorful wooden doors are many artsy stores to pop into.

But be sure to make it to the top of Cerro Santa Ana. That’s where there’s a small church and the “El Faro” lighthouse that you can go inside for 360-degree panoramic views down below.

Lining the hilltop are canons that were once used to protect Guayaquil from pirates. Look beyond the canons and out onto the Guayas River and you may even see a pirate ship floating by. And that’s another great thing to do in Guayaquil!

4) Take a River Cruise on the Guayas River on the Henry Morgan Pirate Ship

After spending much time admiring the River Guayas from shore, it’s almost a necessary thing to do in Guayaquil to get out onto that river and experience it! Catching the pirate ship to do so is every bit as touristy as it is fun. The hour-long cruise along the River Guayas provides yet another vantage point of the riverfront city.

We suggest going for the 6:00 pm cruise to be able to see Guayaquil in the dwindling sunlight as the city begins to light up as the night sky takes over. During this pirate cruise in Guayaquil, they play music and serve drinks and snacks, both of which are available for purchase.

If you want to kick back a few, we suggest upgrading from the $7 ticket to the $15 ticket, which includes a free-flowing open bar throughout the trip. And we can confirm that they do indeed keep the drinks cold and flowing! It can be a great way to kick off a night on the town in Guayaquil.

Despite the drink options, Guayaquil’s pirate ship river cruise remains a very family-friendly affair. There were many Ecuadorian families with kids during our pirate cruise along the Guaya River. A young girl even was even celebrating her birthday, as everyone on the pirate ship joined in to sing “feliz cupleaños.”

The Henry Morgan pirate ship voyages beyond the colorful Las Peñas enclave and down also past the southern reaches Malecón 2000. On the opposite side of the river, you’ll cruise past a tranquil island known as Isla Santay, which is actually yet another fun thing to do in Guayaquil!

5) Go Cycling Around Isla Santay

Just across the river from the traffic and honking horns on the busy streets of Guayaquil lies a tranquil island that feels worlds away from the city’s urban sprawl. It makes for a fantastic escape into nature from so close to the city.

There are no cars at all found on Isla Santay, as a long pedestrian bridge only allows walkers and cyclists onto the island.

After crossing the Guayas River on that 850-meter long bridge, a well-kept network of boardwalks and pathways weave through a mangrove swamp, tropical forest, and palm canopies that are all filled with hundreds of birds. In fact, over 100 different species call this island their home! The biodiversity on the island further extends itself to 65 different plants and even 25 mammal species.

It’s a fairly easy and pleasant stroll of nearly a kilometer across the bridge, plus an extra two kilometers further along the island’s boardwalks. Despite the mostly shaded walk being less than 6 kilometers (less than 4 miles) round trip, we found Santay Island to be a particularly nice place to experience from behind the handlebars! At the base of the pedestrian bridge is a bike rental station with plenty of bikes and helmets to send you on your way.

On Santay Island, the winding trails lead to a small fishing village consisting of 235 people that make up 56 families who live in modest homes built up on stilts. Each home includes a living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, potable water, and solar power.

Within the eco-village, there’s also a small museum to learn about the nature of the island and the people who live here. There’s even a short boardwalk with platforms to view crocodiles.

There some snack bars at the entrance of the village. But we recommend holding out for the barren open-air restaurant within the village that offers just a few inexpensive choices on the chalkboard menu. We enjoyed the seco de pollo for $2.50.

Near the village, entrance is where there is the Huaquillas Trail. That’s a half-kilometer walking trail that ventures more into the tropical forest canopy and where the most birds can be found. Mosquitos are thick on this trail, so plan accordingly if you’re going to take the short trek.

Between this interesting little village and the nature found throughout the twisting pathways, Isla Santay is all literally a breath of fresh air so close to the big city!

6) Visit the Parque Historico

Parque Historico is one of the Guayaquil’s top attractions. And considering everything that can be found at these large grounds, it’s somewhat surprising that the Parque Historico is yet another awesome free thing to do in Guayaquil.

The “Historic Park,” as its name translates to, is much more than just a park about history, although that’s a part of it. This Guayaquil attraction contains three separate areas:

• Wildlife Zone
• Urban Zone, and
• Traditional Area.

The Wildlife Zone gives a glimpse into local Ecuadorian fauna while meandering across a boardwalk trail. It’s essentially a zoo of sorts, but the animals are living in fairly spacious recreations of their natural environments, rather than in cages.

The Urban Zone is like a living history museum, full of beautiful architecture from Ecuador’s colonial heydays of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some of the buildings are recreations while others were moved to the Historic Park and restored. On weekends, costumed performers have been known to amble about the historical buildings.

If you’re not roaming around Guayaquil on a budget, then consider stopping into the onsite 5-star restaurant, Casa Julian, in which the elegant atmosphere rivals the high-end gastronomic delights served at the restaurant.

Finally, the Traditional Area gives a glimpse into Ecuador’s rural life and agriculture. Recreations of farm plots and cocoa plantations are found here.

These three areas of Paque Historico all adds up to a must-visit Guayaquil attraction that we recommend venturing beyond downtown to experience.

It’s entirely free to visit Parque Historico. Yet if you’d like to have roundtrip transportation with hotel pick-up and a complete informative tour of the vast grounds, then consider this 3-hour tour of the park for only $30 per person. Check availability on Viator.

7) Check Out the Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art

While strolling along the Malecon 2000, the Museo Antropologico y Arte Contemporaneo, abbreviated as MAAC, should be a compulsory stop.

Admission to MAAC is entirely free, it’s well air-conditioned, and in a convenient location. But the real reason to check out the museum is for the Ecuadorian archeology on display and the funky art exhibits.

Soon after entering the modern MAAC building with tall ceilings, you’re first pointed to the contemporary art half of the museum. There are a few different halls filled with peculiar, interesting, and thought-provoking pieces of modern artwork.

The Anthropological half of the MAAC displays dozens of ancient artifacts that well predate the Spanish arrival. There are many elaborate ceramic pieces on display that were found throughout Ecuador. It’s a nice collection, but do realize that signage is in Spanish.

Of the half-dozen museums we visited in Guayaquil, we found the MAAC to not only be the biggest, but also the best and deserving of one of the top 15 things to do in Guayaquil.

8) Find the Iguanas in Parque Bolivar 

Parque Bolivar is a quick yet quintessential and iconic stop on any Guayaquil itinerary. It’s here where you can find Guayaquil’s resident land iguanas lazily hanging out right in the middle of the otherwise busy city. That’s why the park is also known as Parque de las Iguanas, or Iguana Park. This city square with iguanas is also referred to as Parque Seminario, but don’t let the multiple different names confuse you, as it’s all the same place.

If you’ve come from the Galapagos, you may not be overly impressed. But do know that this is a different species of iguanas than what is found on the islands. And if for anyone heading that way, this is a great precursor of what’s to come.

It’s a nice yet small park that’s centrally located downtown and only three blocks away from the Malecon 2000. The iguanas are very tame, as locals come to feed them vegetables and flowers, sometimes even by hand. It’s a pleasant setting, located right in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral. The many benches throughout the park can make for a nice place to take a break and watch these reptiles.

9) Explore Downtown Guayaquil

The Iguana Park isn’t the only place in downtown Guayaquil worth straying off the Malecon for. That may be the most popular attraction amidst Guayaquil’s downtown, but it’s worth taking a wander further throughout downtown Guayaquil to explore other parks, monuments, churches, and architectural gems. It’s a safe bet to do this during the day.

Below are a few suggestions on points of interest to see in downtown Guayaquil, all of which are also marked on the map we made to use with this travel guide:

• Municipal Palace – Architectural treasure of Guayaquil that commemorates its independence and is further surrounded by monuments and fountains
  • Arosemena Passage – Ornate passageway running through the Municipal Palace
• Metropolitan Cathedral – Grand cathedral in front of the Iguana Park
• Iglesia San Francisco – Beautiful colonial church
• Avenida 9 de Octubre – Main commercial corridor of Guayaquil full of department stores and shops
• Parque del Centenario – The largest park within downtown Guayaquil’s contains many monuments.

For those who may desire more information about each of these places or don’t feel comfortable wandering around downtown Guayaquil on your own, definitely consider taking a guided tour. This Half-Day Guayaquil City Tour has 9 am and 2 pm pick-ups and is a great way to get acquainted with the city. It not only visits all of the downtown highlights but continues further on the Las Peñas neighborhood and Cerro Santa Ana. And at only $18, it’s a great value tour to take in Guayaquil. Check Viator for current availability and up-to-date prices.

10) Roam Around Guayaquil’s Other Boardwalk: Malecón El Salado

Malecón 2000 gets all the love in Guayaquil. And deservingly so, as it’s a very enjoyable waterfront promenade. But it’s actually not the only malecón in town.

Malecón El Salado is Guayaquil’s other malecón and sports a different vibe compared to the main Malecón 2000. Walking the entire length of the Malecón El Salado will give visitors glimpses into working-class neighborhoods that is a contrast to the built-up and more polished downtown area and Malecón 2000. Yet these neighborhoods lining Malecón El Salado carry their own special charm.

Malecón El Salado can be nice for a sunset stroll too, given it’s westward facing location.

There are also snack bars and casual open-air restaurants to stop at along the way. The Plaza de Mariscos, or “Seafood Plaza” makes for a particularly inviting outdoor patio to pause along the boardwalk. If not to have a bite of local fish, stop in for a cervezas while enjoying the live music we found playing here on Friday and Saturday evenings.

And while the Malecón El Salado makes for yet another nice place to stroll in Guayaquil, there are a few other things to do here that deserve separate mentions of their own. So see below!