24 Hours In Guayaquil, Ecuador. Your Ultimate Travel Guide.

 

With this guide: Get a get a true sense of Guayaquil, Ecuador in less than 24 hours. Whether you have a quick stop over on your way to the Galapagos Islands or are simply exploring South American cities, follow this guide to maximize your time.

1. Wake up at Hotel Oro Verde, a 5-star bright and refreshing hotel that prides itself on service and definitely succeeds. When it comes to food, find a great breakfast buffet with tropical fruit (go for the guava) an omelet station, rice pudding and plenty of other hot food items. You will also find another great onsite restaurant, Bar El Capitan, for lunch, dinner or a nightcap. The on-site deli is great for quick grab and go items and a case stocked full of tempting desserts. It’s even the little touches- coffee and tea in the lobby, fresh juice in the afternoon and live piano music come nightfall that make this a top spot. Plus, the bonus of staying at a classy hotel is the food is prepped to keep you from getting sick from water our systems aren’t used to. Room rates start at $119.

Bonus amenities: Pool, fitness center and Jacuzzi’s in locker rooms, WiFi throughout hotel.

Insider Tip: Book a suite in the newer tower for a room that is modern, spacious and comfy.

Getting There: The Hotel runs a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. It was a little uneasy arriving at night with an armed guard on board but all was smooth for us.

Check out our 2 minute interview with Diego, Director Sales of Sales & Marketing, and see a video tour of the hotel.

Details:

Av. 9 de Octubre y García Moreno (esquina)

2. Bike to Santay Island. We rented yellow run down mountain bikes for four bucks but they had gears and were just fine for an hour ride. A cement bridge takes you over the brown and murky water of the Guyas River and trash filled shores. Once you reach the island, it feels like a completely different place- no more heavy traffic, crowds, litter and chatter. It is refreshing to see a natural sanctuary and protected land in a crowded city that is building out quickly.

The shorter of the two trails takes you to a dismount zone so you can walk around an eco-village with about 48 solar powered homes, buy water at the concessions and see alligators from the path. The longer, takes you for some great views of the city and through more thick marshland and mangroves.

Check out our photo tour of Santay Island 

And a Video of the Bike Tour Here. 

Insider Tip: Beware of the bike path, it’s made of cheap plastic and there are several areas outlined in yellow tape where pieces are missing. Pop a front tire in there and say goodbye to your front teeth.

Getting There: Ask the hotel to call you a driver- we paid 5 bucks to get from the hotel to bike rental spot.

3. Walk the Malecon, a boardwalk set along the Guayas River. It’s a restoration project that opened in 2000 to help drive tourism. Find a mix of shopping, restaurants, bars, fountains and green areas like the Botanical Gardens.

Insider Tip: Make sure to stop and glance at the Palacio Municipal at the front of the Malecon- the neoclassical style is one of the proudest architecture points in the country.

Getting There: We took a cab from the bike rental spot to here for $7.

4. Climb 400+ steps Cerro Santa Anna

Carve out an hour to take in sites along the way including scenics, shops, bars, art galleries and restaurants. From the top, find a blue and white striped lighthouse where I found my favorite shot of the city showcasing the bright and contrasting colors of the homes and building below the chapel of Santa Ana.

Insider Tip: Check out the replica of a ship built in 1641 for the King of Spain that was considered the grandest of its time. A museum is now inside.

Getting There: The steps start at the end of the Malecon so may as well walk on over and save the cash for bottled water.

5. Parque Centenario is like the City Park of Ecuador. This is where you will find plenty of locals staked out amongst food and other vendors selling odds and ends. The park is located on Avenue 9 de Octubre, the same as the hotel and is worth a walk back to take in more of the sights and sounds. I would compare Avenue 9 de Octubre to Denver’s 16^th Street Mall; it’s heavy traffic and packed with larger shops.

A Few Tips:

1. Do your own research. While the concierge at the hotel is incredibly friendly, they aren’t always accurate. We were told we could take a boat from the bike rental place to the Malecon, which is only possible on weekends.

2. Keep your camera and valuables close. Our camera was also stolen when we were turning the bikes back in after being distracted by locals. It is certainly a sinking feeling but keep your guard up even in quiet areas because it happens quickly.

3. Beware what you eat. Even when it comes to fruits, vegetables and salad because they are washed with water our American systems haven’t adjusted to.

4. Sunscreen up. The heat is serious business and can have little cloud cover or chances to duck under shade.

5. Spray the Bug Spray. That’s mainly if you are riding bikes to Santay Island. It’s a swampy marshland are they are out in full force.

Notes: We didn’t stop at the Parque Historico Guayaquil or the Iguana Park but research shows both are working adding in. If only we weren’t sidetracked from the loss of our camera. Lesson learned: Move on and keep exploring the city to make the most of a trip.