If you are interested in knowing which are the best areas to stay in Guayaquil, we hope this article will be useful for you, we recommend you the best areas and we explain what you can find in each of them.
Valued as the “Pearl of the Pacific”, Guayaquil stands out as one of the destinations in South America with greater tourism boom in recent years.After Quito, Guayaquil is Ecuador\’s most important city, mainly because of its solid port infrastructure and high commercial development, which attracts an annual average of 1.4 million tourists according to official estimates.Located more than 60 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean coast, the city offers privileged access to historical and cultural sites ideal for a family or couple trip, and is recognized as an exquisite alternative for tourist enjoyment, so much so that a weekend becomes little for first-time visitors.
For that reason, there are many options to sleep in Guayaquil, from luxurious five star hotels, through hotels-apartments, hostels-residences to guest houses, all accommodations have the joy, kindness and good service of the inhabitants of this modern metropolis, no matter what you choose, it is certain that you will feel truly at home.
The best areas to stay in Guayaquil
In order not to lose time or improvise in places to stay in Guayaquil, it is best to know the characteristics of each neighborhood and area, and thus choose at your convenience.
1.Malecón 2000
This is a tour located in front of the Guayas River, a well known tourist area that is one of the most successful urban projects in Latin America.Not surprisingly, it was officially declared a \’healthy public space\’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and authorities report that more than 500,000 visitors a month travel through this avant-garde area. Here you can find tree-lined walks, large parks, artificial lakes, fountains, rest areas, shopping centers, museums, cinemas, bars, restaurants, playgrounds, exercise areas, coastal walks, panoramic viewpoints.
In addition, there is an extensive list of tourist attractions such as La Rotonda (a monument that replicates the meeting between José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar); the Southern Market, the Pirate Ship or the Moorish Tower.This area is completely safe, as it has an efficient police service available 24 hours a day. everywhere you can see a deployment of security forces, so you can walk at any time with peace of mind. often see whole families walking around the place. at night, there are theater presentations and comedy shows that interact with the public.
Don’t worry about transport, it’s very easy to get there. If you don’t have a vehicle, take public transport. Most of the lines run in the area. One piece of information: the units that run most frequently on the Malecón are identified by the numbers 54, 142 and 6.Historic Center
This area is one of the most visited areas, although it is adjacent to the Malecón 2000, it is not an extension of this tour. The historic center, rather, serves as a prelude to visitors to know the city from its roots, and its attractive tourist attractions and location make it one of the best areas to stay in Guayaquil.
The historic center is characterized by its old heritage houses, three-story houses with large balconies and windows inspired by the Victorian era, an area that recreates how Guayaquil was in the early twentieth century thanks to a restoration of its buildings.
It is also characterized by its parks among which the Centennial Park stands out, one of the main green lungs of the city and spaces for leisure and recreation.In this park you can visit interesting places such as the Centenary Square, the Column of the Proceres and various fountains.
Also the Seminary Park, better known among tourists for the Park of the Iguanas for the number of iguanas that walk through the park.Don’t miss the Simon Bolivar monument, the museum and the municipal library, the Cathedral and the Municipal Palace, also located in the surroundings of the park.Taxis, buses and rapid transit units (known as Metrovía) circulate in the area.
It is without a doubt one of the best places to stay in Guayaquil.
– Accommodation in the Historical Centre
3.Las Peñas
In the neighbourhood of Las Peñas there is a permanent competition with other areas of the city for the first places to stay in Guayaquil. declared Cultural Heritage of Ecuador in 1982, this area is captivating because of its 400 years of history, which can be felt in each of its narrow and cobbled streets.
The tourist magnet of the neighborhood comes from that bohemian and romantic character that is breathed in its architectonic surroundings formed by 30 colonial houses of wood, escorted by ferns and leafy plants.
The neighbourhood is located at the foot of Santa Ana Hill, where tourists can reach after climbing 444 steps lined by some bars, craft stalls and restaurants.At the top you get an unparalleled view: the panoramic view of the city, where not to become a selfie for posterity is unforgivable.
If you visit Guayaquil in July you can’t miss the most relevant collective exhibition of painting and sculpture in Ecuador.This is an open-air art gallery that presents unpublished works by 200 artists from all over the country, including painters, craftsmen and sculptors. If you go at another time of year, you can still enjoy the cultural talent in Guayaquil in the various galleries installed in the city.You can see them at the Polytechnic University, after entering the garage, where you will find these impressive chelonians, similar to the species of the Galapagos Islands.
A curious detail of this area is that it was the residence of the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway, the Ecuadorian novelist Juan Montalvo, and the controversial guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara.
If you want to hear the reasons why they chose to live here, you can go to the Rayuela bar, where amidst drinks and appetizers of octopus and shrimp quesadillas you can hear the bohemian stories of the neighborhood, but the contagious live music of the place will always encourage you to dance.Puerto Santa Ana
Near the Las Peñas neighborhood, there is Puerto Santa Ana, another place that since the last few years has captured the preferences of tourists when it comes to accommodation in Guayaquil.
Puerto Santa Ana is recognized by tourism as a privileged rest area, an intimate place away from the city’s hustle and bustle, basically made up of residential buildings, a luxurious hotel and modern restructured commercial premises that used to serve as warehouses for a beer company.
It’s easy for tourists to marvel at The Point, Ecuador’s tallest building, which has a 36-story structure that shines at night with its 10,000 lead lights.
Those who choose to stay in Guayaquil here or simply those who visit Puerto Santa Ana can taste, without a doubt, the best gastronomic option in the city: there are Asian specialties, Spanish dishes, Mediterranean food and an unlimited menu of liquors, wines and handcrafted beers for all tastes.
The restaurants and bars have the particularity of serving outdoors, in their terraces in front of the Guayas River. After eating and drinking, the ritual is to walk, enjoy the calm atmosphere and the lights that are reflected in the river.In fact, in addition to the food, the sense of tranquility is its most appreciated feature. There are police officers and security cameras everywhere. The most assiduous visitors often compare it to Coconut Grove, the wealthy neighborhood of Miami, in the United States.
– Accommodation in Puerto Santa Ana
5.Samborondón
Samborondón is a high-end area marked by the economic boom in livestock and agriculture, whose prosperity is projected in the proliferation of schools, hospitals and luxury shopping centers that abound in the place.
This conurbation of extensive plains is the main financial center of the province of Guayas, with attractive countryside to stay in Guayaquil and live a different experience through the traditional activities that take place there: cock fights, horseback or canoe rides, rodeos montubios, food festival and tours of the workshops of carpentry and pottery.
In addition, tourists can visit the Old Heritage Palace, a century-old building with Chanul wood ceilings and walls reminiscent of the old residences of Samborondón, as well as the Sánchez Aguilar Theatre, which offers dance, music and circus arts performances typical of the area.
If you are passionate about horses, then you should visit the Miguel Salem Dibo Hippodrome, where you will learn why Samborondón is the “equestrian city” of Guayaquil and all over Ecuador. 6,000 square meters of stables, where you can find more than 200 fine examples of prints, tourists enter free and receive preferential treatment with animals.
– Accommodation in Samborondón
6.Kennedy and Airport
Kennedy North is one of the areas known in Guayaquil for being able to offer services that range from medium to high quality.
In addition to walkways, green areas, architectural figures, squares, planters, the park offers something unique in the city: a recreational center 800 square meters for pets. This detail has attracted the attention of tourists from around the world looking for alternatives for their dogs and cats to have a good time on vacation.
As if that weren’t enough, in Kennedy Norte there are themed hostels that accept pets, some of the most luxurious and sophisticated hotels in Guayaquil, the shopping malls of the moment and the best for those who want to save time when they land or leave the city.
This neighborhood is five minutes from the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, formerly known as Simón Bolívar.It seems a minor detail, but many people value it above all because when staying in Guayaquil in this area they have the facility of transfer to the terminal area, and during their stay are close to major tourist attractions.
– Accommodation in Kennedy and Airport
If you are going to visit other cities in Ecuador besides this article on the best areas to stay in Guayaquil may be of interest:
