Guayaquil
Guayaquil the main port of
Ecuador is the largest city and it is located
on the Pacific coast. Guayaquil is the capital
of the Guayas province. The climate is tropical.
It has a population of around three million.
Guayaquil was founded on the skirts of the Santa
Ana hill. Surrounding the city there are archaeological
sites of the following pre-Hispanic cultures:
Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorera, Guangala and
Manteña. There are many attractions in
the city such as the River, the monuments, museums,
parks.
Important Sights:
Malecon
2000: It is the largest architectural
development in the last century of Guayaquil.
It is a waterfront walk along the Rio
Guayas, stretching for 2.5 km. Along
this board walk it is possible to see Plaza
de Orellana, Plaza de la Pileta (Water fountain),
a Civic Plaza with a gallery, some monuments,
sculptures, the old south Market, and Bahía
Malecon Shopping Center.
Cerro
Santa Ana: This hill is located directly
north of Malecon 2000. This is an important
tourist destination with some colored houses
flanking a wide path and stairway that leads
up the hill. In some of these houses there are
restaurants, gift shops, bars, and galleries.
There are four hundred and sixty five steps
in the hill.
Parque
Historico Guayaquil: (Historical Park)
This park has eight hectares with a collection
of archaeological displays. The park has three
different zones: The zone of traditions (history,
cultural manifestations and rural life), the
urban architectonic zone (pieces from Guayaquil´s
antique architecture), and the wildlife zone
with flora and fauna of the region.
Other attractions are: Barrio
de las Peñas, The Clock Tower, Centenario
Park, 9 de Octubre avenue, La Rotonda, El Mirador,
Civic Center, The Cemetery (the largest of the
city, some churches such as The Cathedral, La
Merced, Santo Domingo.and some museums: Casa
de la Cultura, The Municipal Museum, and The
Pacific Bank museum, markets like the Bahía
(typical import and goods market), the City´s
Handicraft market (280 exhibition and sales
booths) and the Botanical Garden, the Cerro
Blanco Protected Forest ands Puerto Hondo Mangroves.
Santa Elena peninsula which
is located few kilometers from Guayaquil, has
small villages where people produce typical
hats, from straw.
