These photos are great. Guayaquil is also where you can go to get anything official taken care of. There are also museums, restaurants, and coffee shops. The park is also known as "the iguanas park" because, within its boudaries, at least one hundred green iguanas, typical from this zone, make the park their home. This place, where the Guayas River meets the Pacific, has been an important sea port since before the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Orellana arrived in 1538 and bestowed the catchy little title Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de Guayaquil upon it. Add to my host list Contact Map. You will arrive at Guayaquil and travel through its main streets, where you will learn a bit more about this city, strategically located on the banks of the majestic and mythical Guayas River. Ecuador’s biggest city and the “Pearl of the Pacific”, is the nation's main sea port. One of the largest is near the south end of the Malecón 2000, and covers several city blocks. Each month in International Living magazine, we share the actionable, on-the-ground guidance you need to match the retirement dream you see in your mind with a real-world spot where you could make it your reality. +593-2-6003499 | +593-2-6051610 | +593-2-6051611 Thanks for posting this! On the peninsula that contains the upscale community of Samborondon, there is a real gem of a tourist destination. Even the most novice traveler will notice very quickly that Guayaquil is not exactly a planned city. I’m returning to Ecuador in August, so maybe I’ll give it another try. But we’ll be there to keep you current and show you the best-value escapes—the safe, warm, welcoming, low-cost havens where you can live large for less than it would cost you to stay home. Guayaquil is on the west margin of the Guayas River, which flows into the Gulf of Guayaquil in the Pacific Ocean. The tour is an educational and pleasant eco-cultural stroll through time. The Gulf of Guayaquil is the largest natural port on the Pacific coast of South America. On the way back, the ships are loaded with Ecuadorian produce. This is why Guayaquil is called “The Pearl of the Pacific”, even though technically it is a riverfront town. Sign in to access your subscriptions and subscriber-only content. This diversity is accentuated, thanks to the convergence of the salty Pacific waters, with the sweet water of the Guayas rivers that emanate from the west flanks of the Ecuadorian Andes. Laughter. MANTA, COFFEE, CHOCOLATE AND PANAMA HATS 4 Days. Guayaquil, known as the "Pearl of the Pacific", is a city that holds history and tradition. Most who want to live in a city choose Manta on the coast, or between Quito and Cuenca in the Sierras. . Jun 22, 2013 - Join your GypsyNesters in Guayaquil, Ecuador! There are countless smaller strip malls and retailors of all types to be found in the city. The walk up is its own reward, with colorful buildings and shops to delight the eye, and historical displays that give you a good excuse to stop and catch your breath. Guayaquil's urban area is ranked among the biggest cities in the world. There are at least seven major indoor malls; Mall de Sol, Policentro, San Marino, El Fortin, City Mall, Rio Centro Norte, and Rio Centro Los Ceibos. In the middle of all the hustle and bustle we came to a lovely small park in front of the cathedral and got a big surprise. The Omni Hospital is also a very fine medical center in the heart of the city. One corner of the park has a rocky water park filled with turtles that provides water for the iguanas, and there are plenty of trees for them to climb. Because right in the center of the city hundreds of iguanas have laid claim to this tiny plot of land. The river quickly opens up into the Gulf of Guayaquil, which merges with the waters of the Pacific Ocean. My boyfriend and I cover lots of ground in a single day and we are trying to include panama, quito (the Cotopaxi National Park, Pailon del Diablo in Banos) prior to coming to Guayaquil; we only have 12 days to cover all this ground! Memorable places of salt, desert and water -, San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the desert -, “Avenue of the Volcanoes”: Riobamba and Cuenca -, Mysteries of the Nazca Lines and the Paracas National Reserve -. It is the place to find whatever household goods you may need, major and small appliances, and top-notch medical care. In the area of the port, it is common to observe large ships coming from all over the world bringing articles and materials that Ecuador does not produce. Guayaquil stands out from other cities in the country thanks to it's use of mass transportation systems, total population density and diversity. COUPON OFFER UP TO 50% ON HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKING. Guayaquil, The Pearl of the Pacific | The GypsyNesters Join your GypsyNesters in Guayaquil, Ecuador! This is the lovely park square in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Guayaquil. F eb. Santiago de Guayaquil is Ecuador's most populous city. My two groups were pretty nice. Warms me up just looking at them! Started in 1997, this is a unique place that offers glimpses into the history of the city and region, along with a zoo and other attractions. | Puerto Santa Ana empezará a construirse ». A ug. of the Americas, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Guayaquil was founded as Santiago de Guayaquil on July 25, 1535, by the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana. +593-998341261. Vamos Guayaquil! They have full diagnostic centers as well including things like x-rays, sonograms, and MRI scans. Click here to see our full adventure with Road Scholar – a not-for-profit organization – through Ecuador, Peru, The Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu and much, much more! For more information you can visit the city's official tourism hub offered by the Very Illustrious Municipality of Guayaquil. Sounds like an awesome trip! Environmental concerns, such as garbage and waste disposal, need to be addressed. Although you do see some planned communities, especially in the affluent section of Samborondon, the vast sprawl of homes on the hills surrounding the city center and lining the riverbanks accounts for much of the population. Wow! I’ve never seen a park like that. How long did it take for you to see all of this? Stretching a mile and a half along the west bank of the Guayas River, the Malecón 2000 walkway is a great place to visit in Guayaquil. Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Our brand, Liv, Condor Travel is always on the lookout for the best routes on each journey. Quito - Ecuador. Cosmopolitan Guayaquil Orellana was later to "discover" the Amazon river. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador with a population of two million inhabitants. How to Move Out of the US (and Where to Go): Subscribe to IL at a discount, and get a Blueprint for Your Escape, FREE... about subscribing to International Living Magazine. When I visited a few years ago (and stayed right near the iguana park), the city was nice during the day but completely locked down at night. M ar. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT – Ecuador: Live Like Royalty on Your Social Security. This is the oldest park in the city, and it looks like some of the resident iguanas may have been around for the entire three hundred years of its existence, but no one seems to know how or why they are here. Guayaquil-"The Pearl of the Pacific" Since I have spent so much time in Guayaquil I thought it would be fitting to create a post on the city's top attractions. So much has been this change that recently the important Second Reunion of the Presidents of South America Conference was held in Guayaquil with great success. Highlights: Meeting new teachers. It is roughly in three sections—the south section, which is mostly restaurants and shops; the central, where you find monuments like the Civic Plaza, Moorish Clock Tower, and the Rotunda (the Yacht Club and Naval Yacht Club are here as well); and the north section, which is home to two museums, an IMAX theater, a planetarium, an antique train, plenty of fountains and recreation areas, and the new giant Ferris wheel. There are also exhibits of the turn of the century architecture of Guayaquil. Before the Spanish colonization, this coastal area was inhabited by important pre-Columbian cultures represented by different indigenous groups, such as the Huancavilcas, Daulis, Yaguachis and Punaes. All of our adventure programs are inspired by destinations that evoke mystery and are charged with mystical energy. A short stroll to the Municipal Museum, which displays an overview of the city’s history and development. In this neighborhood, one can appreciate the typical urban coastal architecture characterized by wooden houses, accented by open balconies and colorful decorations. It is anticipated that this renovation will not only facilitate an increase in air traffic coming into and out of the city, but will further improve one's vital and lasting "first impressions" of the city. This history finds its beginnings in an indigenous narrative, which moved to colonialism and encompasses the natural habitat of the region. We’ll begin by exploring the always busy 9 de Octubre Av. Cabs are plentiful and very affordable (most trips around town will run from $3 to $5), and recently Uber and Cabify have also been adding drivers. Once can also see a considerable community of iguanas living in the shades and protection of the god-trees and other trees which make up the plaza. Sometimes our timing just seems to work out. Pass by the Municipal and Government buildings to visit the modern water front boardwalk “Malecon 2000”. Learn how your comment data is processed. Known as the "Pearl of the Pacific," the city is strategically located at the point where the Rio Babahoyo and the Rio Daulo join to form the River Guayas. The Commercial Port Other attractions in Guayaquil include the beautiful Moorish Tower and the Civic Plaza, the latter which holds the monument of the encounter in 1822 between El Gran Liberator, Simon Bolivar, and the great general San Martin from Argentina, both forgers of independence in South America. In this case, a statue of Simon Bolivar on horseback dominates the center of the park. Just a few blocks from the park we came to the river and turned to walk along the Malecón 2000. The city has become the hub of an intricate system of roadways that facilitates access to Guayaquil from almost anywhere in the country. El Morro and Jambeli canals are well-known for the fact that they are used for regattas and other water sports. It is our faith that, with continued foresight and perseverance, Guayaquil, thanks to its unique geographic location, ecological niche and its warm people, can achieve its goals. The church is an impressive example of neo-gothic architecture, with two towers and large, sweeping arches in the stunning interior—well worth a visit. Find coupons and promo codes for bestselling books at CouponKirin. The Grupo Hospitalario Kennedy, more commonly called the Kennedy Clinica, has three major health centers in Guayaquil, and doctors in all specialties on staff. Recently, the city's first tunnels, through the hills of El Carmen and Santa Ana, were completed, an engineering feat that will decongest the heart of the city.