Explore this beautiful port city in Ecuador, fronting the Pacific Ocean
Characterised by streets full of colourful houses, and sunrises and sunsets made spectacular by the way that land and sky and sea blur together, Guayaquil offers much lively cultural interest. Whilst Guayaquil does boast several metro and bus links, these are hard to negotiate and can seem confusing to the unseasoned traveller. Within a population of almost 3 million, and an area of over 200 square kilometres, the most straightforward way to access all of the sites you wish to visit is car rental Guayaquil. Car rental Guayaquil is inexpensive and can allow you to make the most of your time within this charming Pacific city.
You should aim to visit
Parque Seminario, where fascinating iguanas roam at their leisure. It is also worth a trip to
Malecón 2000, a boardwalk overlooking the Guayas river, which boasts attractive and colourful shopping malls, charming restaurants and landscaped gardens where fountains continually play.
Hemiciclo de la Rotonda, or the monument to Guayaquil's liberation, is a beautiful and stirring sight. The monument is impressive in its scale and depicts Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin, military leaders who helped liberate vast tracts of South America from Spain. They are shaking hands and surrounded by ten marble pillars, each representing and displaying a flag representing one South American country that they were responsible for liberating.
As the largest city in Ecuador, Guayaquil could write home of cuisine to leave your taste buds tingling. During your time in the city, you must try Patacón con Queso, a fat slice of green plantain that has been twice-fried, leaving it crispy on the outside, whilst soft and delicately cheese flavoured inside. Ceviche are delicious and might be made of black shellfish, shrimp, squid or octopus; they come with special garnishes such as toasted corn or popcorn. Tigrillo is a sumptuous local breakfast casserole, made from mashed green plantains, cheese and egg.
With such an abundance of sites to see and dishes to try, Guayaquil can form an adventurous and inspiring city on your travel itinerary. "
