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Ecuador » Destination Guide » Coast Region » Guayas »
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| Guayaquil |
Highlights: Malecón 2000, Parque Histórico, Cerro Santa Ana and “Las Peñas”, Bosque Cerro Blanco, Puerto Hondo Mangroves, Botanical Garden.
Climate: The Humboldt and Niño currents influence hardly the climate giving to it a warm and humid tropical character.
Temperature: Average 25°C
Altitude: 5m above the sea level
Location: Guayaquil is located 420km southwest of Quito
Guayaquil is the largest and most populous city in Ecuador. It is known as the “Pacific Pearl” and it has a tropical climate.
Because of its status of main port of Ecuador, it represents the economic power of the land.
About five years ago the city started a transformation which gave it a better image and transformed it into a tourist destination like never before.
The gulf of Guayaquil, the monuments, parks, museums, the River Guayas, its modern concept and the exiting nightlife are part of the attractions of this city.
Malecon 2000 is a waterfront park, where you will find entertainment, culture, restaurants, cinemas and much nature along its 2.5km, this large park is the biggest architectural development in many centuries in the City of Guayaquil. The walk up will take you through three different sections.
Parque Histórico, located only 10 minutes from the city it’s a natural habitat of mangrove trees which bring back the past of the city of Guayaquil. Here you will encounter the wild fauna and the flora of the region, and the history, cultural manifestations and rural life of Guayaquil. In another section you will see the past life brought back what the city once was, with people dressed up with antique clothes, music and typical food of the zone.
Cerro Santa Ana and Barrio Las Peñas. The Santa Ana Hill is a very lovely place located right ahead of the Malecon 2000, here are more than 500 stairs which climb up and let enjoy the wonderful view over the whole city once you are on the top. The Barrio Las Peñas located on the hill, it’s a restored neighborhood with a lot of art galleries, cafes, shops which were once the houses of great writers and poets.
Cerro Blanco Protected Forest its one of the few remaining areas of dry tropical forest in Ecuador with a very rich biodiversity. Here you can watch more than 200 birds species as well as the Puma, Jaguar, white-tailed deer or crab-eating raccoon.
Puerto Hondo Mangroves are the result of an effort of the community for creating an Ecologic Club that offers ecotourism possibilities. Here the flora and fauna are unique.
The Botanical Garden holds three exhibitions: orchids; minerals, rocks and precious stones and medicinal plants. It has also more than 320 botanic species and you can observe 70 bird species and 60 butterfly species all year long.
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