Guayaquil Ecuador -
Guayaquil, Ecuador is currently
upgrading it's image. Guayaquil is primarily visited by business executives or
travelers on their way to the coastal waters along the Pacific Ocean or a brief
stop prior to their Galapagos
Islands tours and cruises. Guayaquil is in a transition mode. Traditionally a port city, Guayaquil is now focusing on
upholding it's nickname as "Perla del Pacifico".
Guayaquil, is the capital of the Guayas
province. The city's
surroundings have one of the most important tourist
potentials in the nation, seen through a wide span of tourist attractions that
range from historic or archeological ruins that can be appreciated in museums,
to reserves or locations where one can practice fascinating ecotourism. With the
modernity of its new constructions, there is a contrasting story and tradition
in Guayaquil that can be seen in the Malecon 2000, which is full of day
and night life.
An afternoon walk along the promenade of the broad and murky Guayas River is enjoyable, even so when you walk along "El
Malecon" (Click image on right ) You can walk all the way to the Peñas
neighborhood (daytime): The best time to visit Guayaquil is during the city's
fiesta (9 October), which combines with Columbus Day (12 October) for several
days of festivities. You can escape the city by staying in the nearby resorts of
Salinas and Playas, though both are very popular and crowded.
La Rotonda: A
splendid monument that reminds the historical meeting between Simón
Bolivar, the liberator, and José de San Martín, that determined the
formation of the great Colombia (integrated by Venezuela, Colombia and
Ecuador) and the farewell of San Martín, whom would leave the continent
after that.
Barrio de Las Peñas:
It was declared a cultural patrimony of the nation in 1982, for being
the most representative urban-architectural complex of the 20th century.
It is located in the very same place where the city was founded and
characterized by its paved streets and their Spanish style wooden
houses. The Santa Ana hill - ideal to obtain a panoramic View - and the
Guayas river constitute their natural surroundings.
The picturesque colonial
district of Las Peñas,
with its working docks and bobbing restaurant boats makes a good place
to eat seafood, sip a beer and watch the city's river traffic. The
chocolate-colored Guayas River teams with fragile rafts paddled by
banana peddlers, huge ocean liners, dugout canoes and fishing trawlers.
Las Peñas
historic streets now house art galleries and artists' studios, the
city's oldest church, Santo Domingo.
Church of Santo Domingo:
It is the oldest church in the city. Its original construction dates
from 1548, but had to be restored 390 years later. There is a water well
on its interior, that, according to some faithful people has curative
properties.
The Cathedral: Originally it was
constructed with wood in 1547, but a fire consumed its structures. In
1948, the present temple of neo-gotic style was elevated. They emphasize
its glassworks and the marble altar brought from Cuenca. You can find it
in Chile Street.
Parque del Centenario:
The biggest in Guayaquil. It occupies an extension of four blocks, where
you can observe a number of monuments, being the one of greater
importance the one for freedom, it shows the image of the Ecuadorian
heroes. On its surroundings, statues of a minor size represent history,
justice and the heroism.
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