Where to Stay in Guayaquil – A Guide to This Ecuadorian City
Guayaquil, also known as Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest city and most important port in Ecuador. Located on the west bank of the Guayas River, Guayaquil is also considered the main gateway to visit the country’s Pacific Coast and the Galapagos Archipelago. In this post, we will explore the best areas to stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Nicknamed “The Pearl of the Pacific,” Guayaquil is perhaps best known for being the busiest financial center in Ecuador and, as such, is overlooked by most tourists who use it as a stopping point on their way to Quito or Galapagos. However, this Ecuadorian city has several attractions that make it worth visiting.
For example, Malecón 2000 is an urban redevelopment project and boardwalk overlooking the Guayas River. This refurbished riverwalk is home to Guayaquil’s top attractions, such as the Torre Morisca, La Perla Ferris wheel, the pirate ship Henry Morgan, expo center Palacio de Cristal, and the modern Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo (Anthropological and Contemporary Art Museum). See accommodation in Malecón 2000.
The Historical City Center is also home to several cultural institutions and city landmarks. Some of the most visited include Parque Seminario, Guayaquil Municipal Museum, Museo Nahim Isaias, the neo-gothic Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Church of San Francisco. See accommodation in Guayaquil Centro.
Another must-see attraction in Guayaquil is Cerro Santa Ana (Santa Ana Hill). Located in the Las Peñas neighborhood, this hill one of the most picturesque districts in town. Although climbing almost 500 steps of the hill can be a challenge for less athletic tourists, the impressive view from the top makes it absolutely worth it. Besides, this area is full of restaurants, cafes, and stores. See accommodation in Las Peñas.
Due to its equatorial location, Guayaquil has a tropical savanna climate. Generally speaking, Guayaquil has hot temperatures throughout the year with little thermic variation between dry and wet seasons. Temperatures typically hover around 18 – 35 ºC. The dry season goes from June to November and the wet one from December through May. The best time to visit Guayaquil is from July to October; during this season, the city is scorching hot, but you’ll avoid the torrential rains typical of the rainy season.
To get to Guayaquil by air, the city is served by Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín de Olmedo. Located 5 kilometers (3 mi) north of Guayaquil’s city center, this airport is the second-busiest in Ecuador. It offers daily connections to many places in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia and medium and long-distance flights to the rest of Latin America, the United States, and Europe. Guayaquil Airport is also the main gateway for scheduled and charter flights to the Galapagos Islands.
To move around Guayaquil, this city offers Metrovía, an express-lane rapid bus transit system with several lines connecting the main districts. Additionally, the city has a traditional bus network, taxi services, and car rental offices.
The best area to stay in Guayaquil is around Malecón 2000. This lively riverwalk is home to some of the best hotels, nightlife venues, and restaurants in town. See accommodation around Malecón 2000.
Other great districts to keep in mind when choosing the best location in Guayaquil for tourists include the City Center and Las Peñas.
Keep reading to find out more about the best areas to stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Hotel del Parque is part of Relais & Châteaux Hotels. Located in the Parque Histórico Guayaquil, Hotel del Parque is surrounded by gardens. Each accommodation at the 5-star hotel has garden views, and guests can enjoy access to a bar and to a restaurant where local produce is used to offer unique dishes.
The Best Areas to Stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador
1. Recommended area: Malecón 2000
Although, technically, the Malecón 2000 is part of downtownGuayaquil, the area deserves a special mention because it is one of the main tourist attractions of the city, and its surroundings gather the most popular entertainment, nightlife and gastronomic options.
This park (which is actually called Malecón Simón Bolívar) limits the Cuenca street to the south and the Las Peñas neighborhood to the north.
In this pedestrian area, you will find monuments dedicated to the four elements (water, air, earth and fire, the latter being a viewpoint). In addition, on the boardwalk, there is also the Clock Tower, an architectural landmark of Guayaquil.
This district is connected to the rest of the city by bus, with several stations at your disposal that will make it easier to move to other places.
The surroundings of the Malecón 2000 are one of the best areas to stay in Guayaquil (Ecuador) because there is always something to see and do, so you do not have to go far to have fun during your visit. Similarly, if you like to work out and do not want to neglect your routine while traveling, this district is a good choice for you.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador:
- Pedestrian-friendly
- Best area for nightlife
- Good area for shopping
Accommodation in this area
- Top Choice
Hotel Ramada
Hotel Ramada has an indoor pool, solarium, sauna and fitness center. In addition, it provides free WiFi.
- Budget
Hotel Del Centro
Hotel Del Centro is located 300 meters from the Guayas River, in the commercial district of Guayaquil, and features free Wi-Fi and parking.
- Luxury
Unipark by Oro Verde Hotels
Unipark Hotel is just 3 blocks from Malecón 2000. It offers a modern fitness center and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
2. Guayaquil City Center
Guayaquil City Center contains the largest number of tourist attractions within the Ecuatorian city, including the Malecón 2000 and all the things that a visitor can not miss.
In the streets of the downtown area is the Municipal Palace, seat of the government of the province and other authorities.
The neoclassical building of the Municipal Palace is also one of the tourist gems of Guayaquil.
Other highlights of the city center are the Parque Centenario (one of the main vegetable lungs in Guayaquil) and the Parque Seminario, better known as Parque de las Iguanas because of the dozens of iguanas who walk in its surroundings.
The center of Guayaquil or Guayaquil City Cernter is one of the best areas to stay in Guayaquil due to its privileged location, proximity to other neighborhoods and also due to its good public transport connections.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador:
- Great location
- Iguanas Park
- Great public transport connections
Accommodation in this area
- Top Choice
Hotel Palace Guayaquil
Hotel Palace is a 10-minute drive from the airport. It offers modern rooms equipped with free Wi-Fi.
- Budget
Hotel Alexander
This 3-star hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi and a minibar. It also provides private parking.
- Luxury
Oro Verde Guayaquil
This 5-star hotel offers an outdoor pool, spa with hydromassage and gym. It also has 4 restaurants.
3. Las Peñas
Las Peñas is located northwest of downtown Guayaquil and is the most picturesque and traditional neighborhood of the city, one of the areas that any visitor has to know.
This neighborhood is formed by a lot of colonial houses built hundreds of years ago and that have been restored to become restaurants, art galleries and all kinds of stores.
You could even say that Las Peñas is the hipster or bohemian neighborhood of Guayaquil, with the Music Museum and the Beer Museum between its main attractions. However, sports lovers also have entertainment options in this district, as it houses the Barcelona and Emelec museums, in honor of emblematic Ecuadorian soccer teams.
In addition, Las Peñas is home to the Cerro Santa Ana (Santa Ana hill) and its viewpoint, a lighthouse that offers 360º panoramic views of the city that will allow you to take stunning photographs.
Las Peñas does not have the best transport connections, but it is one of the best areas to stay in Guayaquil to get to know its history in depth, as well as its more artistic side.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Guayaquil, Ecuador:
- Colonial area
- Charming hotels
- Santa Ana Hill
Accommodation in this area
- Top Choice
Hotel Boutique Mansion Del Rio
The rooms at Manión del Río are decorated with draped curtains and have cable TV, air conditioning, a private bathroom and views of the city.
- Luxury
Wyndham Guayaquil
Wyndham Hotel Guayaquil is located in Guayaquil and offers a swimming pool, fitness center and rooms with plasma TV and free Wi-Fi.
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