Ecuador - GUAYAQUIL

In the past, Guayaquil was an unattractive stopover made by a small number of passengers before or after their Galapagos cruise. Today, however, a visit to this large coastal city offers great sightseeing opportunities. Highlights include the beautiful Malecon 2000 waterfront, the colourful neighbourhood of Las Peñas, beautifully restored buildings, museums, and the Historical Park. If you have more than a day, a visit to the Salinas beach or nearby banana plantations would make a great visit.

[ GUAYAQUIL HOTELS ]

Guayaquil City Tour
Our visit begins along the main avenue of Guayaquil, the heart of the business district of the city, by the Centennial Park that honors the heroes of Guayaquil's independence. A stop is made at Bolívar Park, with an equestrian statue of South America's liberator, Simón Bolívar. Beside the park is the neo-gothic Metropolitan Cathedral. Drive through the open market of La Bahía, and the Spanish shipyard, now a Naval Museum. Continue with a stroll along Guayaquil's new and ravishing Malecon 2000, a 2.5 Km. (1.5 mile) waterfront. To the north of the waterfront is Santa Ana Hill and the oldest neighborhood of Guayaquil, Las Peñas, which has been beautifully restored with bright colored wooden constructions housing many art galleries. The next stop is Guayaquil's cemetery with outstanding marble sculptures by famous Italian artists.

Guayaquil Museum Tour
This tour takes guests through Guayaquil's history - from the beginning of the ceramic period, the early inhabitants, the Spanish colonization and its very rich legacy of Colonial Art, the Independence struggles and the modern art. Guests can choose to visit two or three of the following museums, according to their interests.

* The Municipal Museum with a great collection of archaeology remains of very advanced civilizations in Ecuador's coast, plus areas of history, Colonial Art and Modern Art.
* Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art (MAAC) is a beautiful modern vessel-like construction where open cultural acts like classic, folk, jazz, blues and pop music are presented.
* Banco del Pacifico Archeological and Modern Art Museum The Archaeology Museum of the Banco del Pacifico house a valuable collection of approximate 8000 pieces of the ancient cultures of the Ecuadorian coastal region.
* Marine History Museum shows the History of the Ecuadorian Navy.
* Calderón Memorial Museum, built inside a warship, have displays about the naval Battle of Jambelí
* Museum of Gold of the House of Culture displays figurines, masks, ornaments and utensils made of gold by La Tolita culture, in the Province of Esmeraldas, from 500 BC until 1532.