Guayaquil Travel Guide

Introduction

250km (155 miles) NW of Cuenca; 420km (261 miles) SW of Quito; 966km (600 miles) E of the Galápagos

Guayaquil is Ecuador's most populous and economically vibrant city. Still, most visitors to Ecuador only look upon Guayaquil as a necessary overnight stop on the way to the Galápagos Islands. But that is changing, and the city continues to reinvent itself at a dizzying pace. At the helm since 2000, Mayor Jaime Nebot has instituted a far-reaching urban-renewal project that has already had impressive results. The Malecón Simón Bolívar -- the city's main riverfront promenade -- and the restored and revitalized waterfront neighborhoods of Cerro Santa Ana (Santa Ana Hill) and Las Peñas are emblematic of Nebot's impact. Whereas crime was once rampant and problematic, Guayaquil is now a relatively safe and tourist-friendly city. Perhaps the city's greatest problem is the sometimes-oppressive heat and humidity. Nevertheless, you'll find early mornings, late afternoons, and evenings...