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Guayaquil Tourist Places to Visit in Guayaquil, Ecuador, America

Guayaquil is the largest as well as the most populous city of Ecuador geographically positioned at 2°11′ S 79°53′ W. It is also the administrative centre of both Guayas province and Guayaquil canton and is located about 420 km southwest of the national capital, Quito. Guayaquil is home to the major port of the country and an international airport named ‘Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport’.

 

Geography of Guayaquil:

Guayaquil is placed on the western bank of the River Guayas at an elevation of 4 meters and the city covers an area of 344.5 sq. km. Guayaquil enjoys a tropical savanna climate and receives heavy rainfall between January and April.

 

History of Guayaquil:

Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana Guayaquil who was the founder of Guayaquil, founded as ‘Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de Guayaquil’ on July 25, 1538.

 

Travelling to Guayaquil:

José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is the airport serving Guayaquil with connection to many European and North American cities including Panama City, Amsterdam, Santiago de Chile, Miami, Buenos Aires, Lima, Madrid and New York. This airport is 6 km away from the downtown Guayaquil and it can be reachable by taxi or bus.

Cars are accessible to get around charging around $35 per day and cheaper operator is Carmax. Guayaquil also has good local bus service.

 

Cuisine of Guayaquil:

Arroz con Menestra y Carne Asada is a very famous traditional dish of Guayaquil and other typical dishes are encebollado, ceviche, Pan de yuca and Patacones.

 

Where to eat in Guayaquil?

• Kentucky Fried Chicken
• Pollo Tropical
• McDonald’s
• Burger King

 

Where to shop in Guayaquil?

• Riocentro Norte
• City Mall
• Mall del Sur
• Riocentro Los Ceibos

 

What to do in Guayaquil?

• Library
• Historical site
• Parks
• Museums
• Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco

 

What to see in Guayaquil?

Malecon Simón Bolivar:

Located beside the Guayas River, Malecon Simón Bolivar is a beautiful park housing gardens, an IMAX theater and plenty of shops as well as offering a nice view of the river flow.

 

Santa Ana & El Carmen hills:

Santa Ana & El Carmen hills can be reachable from the Malecon Simón Bolivar and after reaching summit of the hill, tourists can enjoy the great view of the entire city and can also watch a museum, a park and a lighthouse at the top.

 

Jardín Botánico:

Jardín Botánico is situated in the northern portion of the city featuring tropical plants, animals as well as butterfly farm. The entrance fee is $3/adults and $1.5/children and the event that take place in the garden are Tropiflora (September) and Mango Festival (November).

 

List of other places of interest in Guayaquil is:

• Malecon del Salado
• Las Peñas
• Parque de las Iguanas
• The Central Bank Building
• Parque Histórico
• Zoológico El Pantanal
• Crucero Discovery
• La Bahía
• 6 de Marzo
• Catedral Metropolitana
• Biblioteca Municipal de Guayaquil
• José Joaquín de Olmedo

 

When to visit Guayaquil?

From January to April will be the ideal time to visit Guayaquil.

 

Where to stay in Guayaquil?

There are all the sorts of hotels in Guayaquil ranging from budget options to 5 star hotels. Tourists can get decent hotels for $10 per night and here is the list of the prominent hotels in Guayaquil:

 

Budget:

• Hotel Rio
• Hotel Andes Inn
• Nucapacha Hostel
• Hotel Berlín
• Hotel Alexander

 

Mid range:

• Marriott Courtyard Guayaquil
• La Fontana

 

Splurge:

• Hampton Inn Hotels
• Best Western Guayaquil
• Marriot Hotel by Couryard
• Sheraton Four Points Hotel
• Hotel Continental
• Unipark Hotels
• Hilton Colón International
• Hotel Oro Verde

Tourist Places to Visit in Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, America

Galapagos Islands is an archipelago of volcanic islands belonging to Ecuador, placed around 925 km west of the mainland Ecuador. It belongs to Galápagos province and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital city of the province.

The major islands in the Galapagos Islands are:

• Baltra Island
• Bartolomé Island
• Darwin Island
• Española Island
• Fernandina Island
• Floreana Island

 

Geography of Galapagos Islands:

Galapagos Islands are made up of 18 major islands with a maximum altitude of 1,707 meters (Volcan Wolf) and it coordinates with 0°40′ S latitude and 90°33′ W longitude. Galapagos Islands span a total area of 8,010 sq. km.

 

History of Galápagos Islands:

According to historical sources, Dominican friar Fray Tomas de Berlanga was the first person to sight Galápagos Islands in 1535. The islands of Galápagos Islands were named in the year 1684 by the buccaneer, Ambrose Cowley.

 

How to reach Galápagos Islands?

Seymour Airport is one of two airports of Galápagos Islands located on Baltra Island, around 20 minute walk from the capital city, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It has connection with Guayaquil, Quito and San Cristóbal, catered by AeroGal, LAN Ecuador and TAME.

Galápagos Islands are accessible from the mainland Ecuador by frequent ferry services.

The major tour operators in Galápagos Islands are:

• Natural Habitat Adventures
• Galapagos Boat
• Galapagos Odyssey yacht
• Nina and Athala Catamarans
• SunWind Travel

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Galápagos Islands:

Spanish is a widely communicated language on the island and Galápagos Islands is home to many historical buildings from the Spanish colonial era and archeological sites of the first settlements. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno houses most of the large shopping centres of Galápagos.

The major food corners in Galápagos Islands are listed here below:

• La Playa
• Tropic Bird
• Miconia
• Mi Grande

 

Places of interest in Galápagos Islands:

Baltra (South Seymour) Island:

Baltra Island is the major island of Galápagos home to the major administrative buildings, an airport as well as many spectacular beaches of the archipelago.

 

Playa Mann:

Playa Mann is a striking beach frequented by both locals and vacationers. The prominent ‘Galapagos Institute for the Arts and Sciences of Universidad San Francisco de Quito’ and Interpretation Center are located in the vicinity of the beach (both are ideal spots to learn the local culture and environment).

 

Punta Carola:

Punta Carola is one of the most visited beaches of Galápagos Islands and it adjoins Frigatebird Hill which offers a great view of entire islands.

 

Things to do in Galápagos Islands:

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Biking
• Surfing
• Kayaking
• Horseback Riding

 

Other places of interest near Galápagos Islands include:

• Galapagos Natural Life Archipell II
• Galapagos Beach (Tortuga Bay)
• Tortuga Bay
• Las Loberias
• Las Tintoreras
• Concha de Perla
• Puerto Chino Beach
• El Garrapatero
• Las Grietas
• Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado
• Darwin & Wolf Islands
• Lagoon El Junco
• Galapagos Sub Aqua
• Charles Darwin Research Station

 

Best time to visit Galápagos Islands:

From June to September is the best time to travel Galápagos Islands.

 

Accommodation options in Galápagos Islands:

The prominent hotels and resorts in Galápagos Islands with upgraded amenities and services including airport shuttle, spa, doctor on call, 24 hour internet connectivity and room service are as follows:

• Finch Bay Eco Hotel
• La Casa de Marita
• Hotel Casa Blanca
• Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge
• Hotel Coral Blanco
• Casa Opuntia Galapagos
• Hotel San Vicente Galapagos
• Beto’s Beach Bar Hotel
• Hotel Ninfa Galapagos
• Hotel Pelican Bay
• Estrella del Mar Hotel
• Royal Palm Resort Hotel
• Hostal La Jungla
• Casa Natura – Galapagos Hotel
• Hotel Tortuga Bay
• Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar

Places to Visit in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, America

Esmeraldas is a city belonging to the province of Esmeraldas in Ecuador between 00°58′07″ N latitude and 79°39′37″ W longitude. It is the administrative centre of both Esmeraldas Canton and Esmeraldas Province and is home to an international seaport.

The port of Esmeraldas plays a major role in the economy of Esmeraldas with export of agricultural and lumber resources to foreign countries. The industries support the Esmeraldas’s economy includes chemicals and oil, manufacturing and timber.

Other than business activities, Esmeraldas is also widely renowned for its beaches, virgin forests, traditional music, cuisine and dance. Beach volleyball is a very popular sport in Esmeraldas.

 

Geography of Esmeraldas:

Esmeraldas is a coastal city situated at the entrance of the Esmeraldas River, about 310 km northwest of Quito, the capital of Ecuador at an altitude of 15 meters, covering an area of 15.216 sq. km.

 

How to reach Esmeraldas?

Esmeraldas has a small airport, named General Rivadeneira Airport which is an international airport offering flights to Cali in Columbia and major cities of the country, Quito and Guayaquil, all these three services are catered by TAME.

Esmeraldas is also reachable by boat to the neighboring countries.

Esmeraldas also has good connectivity with nearby cities through well maintained roads by both luxury and general buses and there is daily bus service offered by many travel companies from Quito.

 

Food and Shopping in Esmeraldas:

The best options to purchase souvenirs in Esmeraldas include:

• Cayapa basket market
• Tolita Artefacts
• Más por Menos supermarket

Restaurants are plenty and here is the list of major food corners in Esmeraldas:

• Balcón del Pacífico
• Las Redes
• La Marimba Internacional
• Chifa Restaurante Asiático
• Los Alamos

 

Things to do in Esmeraldas:

• Swimming
• Shopping
• Village tour
• Archeological sites

 

Places of interest in Esmeraldas:

Las Palmas Beach:

Las Palmas Beach is one of the major beaches of Esmeraldas offering different water sport activities including swimming, surfing and kayaking. Tourists can also play beach volleyball here.

 

Atacames:

Atacames is a beach town located within the Esmeraldas province, around 30 km away from Esmeraldas city. It is known for surfing and nightlife activities and also houses most of the star rated hotels of the province. It can be accessed by bus from Esmeraldas.

 

Muisne:

Located around 80 km from Esmeraldas, Muisne is a coastal town situated on the northern tip of Isla de Muisne semi-island and many spectacular beaches of Isla de Muisne are nestled on the western side of the island attracting both domestic and international tourists.

 

Other places of interest near Esmeraldas include:

• Cumilinche Beach
• D Cameron Mompiche
• Playa Tonsupa
• General Rivadeneira Airport
• Virgin forests
• La Tolita archaeological zone
• Saami
• Quinindé

 

Best time to visit Esmeraldas:

Throughout the year is best to visit Esmeraldas, especially summer months are ideal for beach exploration.

 

Accommodation options in Esmeraldas:

There are several reputed hotels in Esmeraldas providing excellent accommodation facilities to the tourists visiting the city from time to time. Some of the tourist favor facilities offered by Esmeraldas hotels are laundry, private rooms, cable TV, free internet, hot water, doctor on call, spa, different recreational activities and swimming pool. The major hotels in Esmeraldas are listed below:

• Cabanas Isla del Sol
• Hosteria El Rampiral
• Belamare
• Hotel Puerto Ballesta
• Hosteria Puerto Gaviota
• Hotel Casa de Amigos
• Hotel Bernabeth
• Colon Palace
• El Acantilado Beach Hotel
• Mompiches’ Land
• Hosteria Costa de Oro
• Hostal Chavalito
• Hostal Kennedy
• Hostal EI Cisne
• Casablanca Beach Hotel & Golf Club
• Apart Hotel Casino

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Cuenca, Ecuador, America

Cuenca (fully Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca) is the capital city of Azuay Province in Ecuador, situated around 430 km south of the national capital, Quito. Due to the presence of many historical buildings, the heart of Cuenca city was added to UNESCO World Heritage Trust site list.

 

Geography of Cuenca:

Cuenca is geographically located between 2°53′57″ S latitude and 79°00′55″ W longitude at an elevation of 2,560 meters. It is spread over an area of 67.71 sq. km.

 

Brief history of Cuenca:

The history of Cuenca dates back to 8060 BC when the first inhabitants settled in Cuenca. The current Cuenca city was formed by the explorer Gil Ramírez Dávalos on April 12, 1557 and was named for Cuenca in Spain.

 

How to reach Cuenca?

The Mariscal Lamar International Airport serves Cuenca, located 3.5 km away from the downtown Cuenca with flights to and from Quito and Guayaquil. The air operators that serve MLIA are TAME, Línea Aérea Cuencana, LAN Ecuador and AeroGal.

 

Buses are regular between Cuenca and its neighboring cities and also one can use taxi or rental cars to move within the city and taxis cost $1-2 per trip and $1 is extra at night. Advance booking is offered for tourist’s convenience.

 

Food and Shopping in Cuenca:

Cuenca is especially noted for flower markets and tourists can also purchase a variety of sweaters, mittens, hats, finger puppets and handmade ruanas in the markets of Cuenca.

List of food corners in Cuenca is:

• Mixx Gourmet Ice-cream
• Cafe Eucalyptus
• Nectar
• Women’s Coop
• Govinda’s

 

Things to do in Cuenca:

• Shopping
• Sightseeing
• Walking

 

Tourist Attractions in Cuenca:

Iglesia de El Sagrario:

Iglesia de El Sagrario or Old Cathedral of Cuenca is a historical identity as well as a major landmark of Cuenca. It was initially constructed in 1557 and restored in 1880. Currently it is used as a museum.

Park Abdon Calderon:

Park Abdon Calderon is situated between old and new cathedrals of Cuenca in the heart of the city. There is municipal office located in the vicinity of the park, beautiful park ideal for all the age people.

 

Museo del Banco Central and Pumapungo:

Museo del Banco Central and Pumapungo is a museum with different sections including history, culture and ethnography. Ancient site Pumapungo is placed right behind the museum.

 

Other places of interest near Cuenca include:

• El Sagrario
• Barranco
• Turi
• Baños
• Monastery of El Carmen de Asuncion
• Museum of the Central Bank
• Museum of the Aboriginal Cultures
• Chordeleg
• El Cajas
• Azogues
• Monastery and Museum of La Concepcion
• Municipal Museum Remigio Crespo Toral
• Church of Santo Domingo
• Molleturo
• Gualaceo

 

Best time to visit Cuenca:

Between June and December is the ideal time to trip Cuenca while dry season runs.

 

Accommodation options in Cuenca:

There are all the types of hotels located in Cuenca ranging from budget options to star rated hotels. Budget hotels charge $10 for a single room and mid range hotels charge around $30 per night and splurge hotels charge around $50+ per night. The prominent hotels and lodges in Cuenca are as follows:

• Mansion Alcazar Boutique Hotel
• Casa de las Rosas
• Casa San Rafael
• Hotel Los Balcones
• Hotel Casa del Aguila
• Oro Verde Cuenca Hotel
• Hotel San Juan
• Hacienda Uzhupud
• Hotel Apartamentos Otorongo
• Hotel Santa Lucia
• Hotel Boutique Carvallo
• El Dorado Hotel
• Hotel La Casona
• Morenica del Rosario Hotel
• Hostal Villa Del Rosario
• Hotel El Conquistador