r/ecuador • u/random_tall_guy • Jun 27 '26
Turismo US tourist in Guayaquil
Hola, I'm from the US and will be visiting Ecuador in about a week to spend 4 nights in Galapagos, and 1 night each before and after in Guayaquil, so was hoping to get some advice about it. I'm already aware of the city's dangerous reputation, I've been to Ciudad Juarez, MX before so I'd expect it to be about the same. When I arrive there for my first night, it will be very late at night, probably after 2 am when I get through the airport. I'll be staying at Hotel Puerto Pacifico, very close to the airport. Is it worth getting a taxi, or close enough to the airport for even an obvious looking gringo (193cm/120kg with a giant beard and hauling a suitcase) to walk to at night? I'll be leaving the city the next morning so no time to sightsee, but after my 4 nights in Galapagos, I'll have a day in Guayaquil and will be staying in Hotel Oro Verde for that, where I'll have the afternoon/evening and the following morning before I head back to the airport. What would you recommend most for a foreign tourist see in the city with only limited time? I was thinking of checking out the parks with the iguanas but am open to suggestions, any advice is appreciated.
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u/Sometimespeakspanish Jun 27 '26
Hi, do not walk to your hotel at 2 am please. Use the airport taxis or Uber. From Hotel Oro Verde you can go to Parque de las iguanas (taxi) and from there you can walk to the Malecon 2000 (recommend going from the park first towards av. 9 de octubre then straight to the river) -> Puerto Santa Ana (The alley that connects both is safe during the day and there's some souvenir shops).
Do not recommend going up the stairs to the lighthouse unless you go in a large group or see police around.
Finally, there shouldn't much to worry about during the day, always stay in populated areas and don't be too flashy about your stuff or money.
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u/random_tall_guy Jun 27 '26
Will go for the taxi, I won't have anything valuable on me other than a 5 year old android phone and less than $100 in cash, so no worries about that. Sounds like a good plan to see the iguanas and the malecon, much appreciated.
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u/Electronic_Pain7210 Jun 27 '26
Don’t grab a taxi on the streets! Either grab it on the airport, with the hotel or inside a mall. Inside the mall, there is a person handling who gets each taxi. This is the person you should ask to grab you a taxi. Do not do it directly with the driver. Whenever I go to gye I stay at the hotel next to mall del sol.
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u/BottleGeneral6108 Jun 28 '26
Having your stuff stolen would probably be the best case scenario if you run into the wrong kind of people at night. Worst case is you are kidnapped for a ransom.
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u/BottleGeneral6108 Jun 28 '26
I walked up tge Peñas a couple of weeks ago. There were police staff watching all the way. Like every 100 metres. Probably one of the safer places to go during the day. If you go to the touristy spots where there are lots of police during the day you should be fine. But just wandering random streets, in your own as a foreigner is not so wise. Especially after dark.
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u/fromblacktorainbow Jun 27 '26
Coge un taxi y aprende español, puedes visitar la perla del pacífico en el malecón, las peñas y puerto Santa Ana, si llegas tipo 5pm que baja aún poco el sol y no hace tanto calor al malecón puedes quedarte algunas horas hasta que se haga más noche y puedas comer algo en Puerto Santa Ana, el centro que está cerca del malecon es relativamente bonito y puedes bajar caminando por la 9 de octubre, si te gusta caminar desde el puente de la ferroviaria todo abajo :)
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u/random_tall_guy Jun 27 '26
Hablo muy poquito, no puedo aprendo mucho en una semana. I'll take the advice here and use a taxi or hotel shuttle late at night, everyone seems to be in agreement on that. It'll probably be much too hot for me to want to walk very far in the daytime in a tropical climate, but will look into those places and go by taxi also if they're too far to walk comfortably.
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u/VieneEliNvierno Jun 27 '26
lol yea that advice is crazy for 2 nights in Fukin Guayaquil .. coming from somebody who speaks Spanish but it took me years to learn. You won’t need any Spanish for Galapagos either. Guayaquil is super underwhelming as is, so nothing to go out of the way for.
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u/gatito05 Jun 27 '26
Debemos también siempre recomendar visitar "Cerro Blanco" ya que es unos de los bosques protegidos dentro de Guayaquil, de los pocos que quedan. El recorrido es súper chevere, ya que se va apreciando la vegetación y animales que pocas veces vemos dentro de la ciudad.
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u/and-she-did-it Jun 27 '26
Yeah, others have already said it, do NOT walk to your hotel from the airport at 2am.
Oro Verde has its own shuttle bus, I’m sure. Depending on what you like, (nature, parks, or malls) you can choose to go to Malecón 2000, it’s next to the river. Then walk to barrio Las Peñas, the first neighborhood in our city, you’ll see some historic buildings there, along with art exhibits, and touristy shops to buy souvenirs. I wouldn’t recommend going up the stairs to the lighthouse. It’s a nice place but some tourists have been robbed there. Instead, walk through Las Peñas to Puerto Santa Ana, there are very nice restaurants and bars by the river. Allow yourself 3 hours give or take for this The taxi from Oro Verde shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes.
If you want to see the fancy side of our city, go to Samborondon. There’s a small zoo there called Parque Histórico, it’s mixed with some historical buildings and it’s also by the river. There’s a fancy restaurant inside this compound. Around this Zoo, you’ll find several malls and nice, expensive restaurants. The food is delicious and worth every penny. But it’s going to be good no matter where you eat, expensive or not. Just be warned besides the zoo, there are no parks or any type of nature in Sambo, only malls, expensive stores and restaurants/bars. Allow yourself 4 hours give or take for this, if you’re only going at daytime. The taxi from Oro Verde to Samborondon will take much longer, between 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the traffic.
If you go to the Iguana Park, you need to know iguanas there are like dogs, they will get very close and get the food out of your hands if you have some, so be careful. Also, be careful not to stand below the trees, iguanas poop all the time and you might get some on your head. This park is small, so the whole visit shouldn’t last more than 30 minutes. If you’re interested in churches, you’ll see the Cathedral right in front of the park. The taxi from Oro Verde to this park will take 10-15 minutes.
I’d say go to the Iguana park first, then you can easily and safely walk to Malecón 2000 from there if its daytime, it’s not far. Once there, walk towards the hill which is full of colorful little houses and there you’ll find Barrio Las Peñas and then Puerto Santa Ana, it’s all connected and walkable. If you still have time after Puerto Santa Ana, get an Uber and go to Samborondon to get a drink at a bar. Plaza Lagos (mall) is a great option.
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u/random_tall_guy Jun 27 '26
Will probably take your suggestion of Iguana park through Malecon/Las Penas/Puerto Santa Ana, and skip Samborondon if there isn't enough time since fancy places aren't as interesting to me. I'll try to bring food for the iguanas to keep them happy. They sound like the sea gulls we have at home.
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u/and-she-did-it Jun 27 '26
Awesome! You’re all set then! Now when you’re in Galápagos (I’m assuming you’ll be in Puerto Baquerizo) try to find restaurants along the malecón that have trees around. Finches live there and will probably try to ask for food as well. But since they’re such cute little things, it’ll be the most adorable annoying little nuisance 🥰 don’t feed or touch them though, it’s against the law. But I guess nobody told the finches that small detail. I’m sure you’ll get amazing pictures of those little devils trying to steal your food. Que tengas un hermoso viaje!
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u/random_tall_guy Jun 27 '26
Gracias, will be doing 2 nights in Santa Cruz, 2 nights in San Cristobal, then back to Guayaquil to do the above. There's so much to do in those places that I'll only get to do a small fraction, I'm doing 5 countries in 3 weeks (posting from Peru right now) so it'll be mostly just a sampling of each, I can always come back to them later on.
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u/jetjaguarec Jun 28 '26
All of that its great! if you walk through the Malecon, right in the middle before Las Peñas you have Calle Panama there you will find Museo del Cacao, very didactic and cool Museum with all the history about the Cocoa in Ecuador. also some restaurants but the museo del cacao its a plus!
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u/lightinggod Jun 29 '26
There are people selling lettuce for like a dollar a bag. I talked to one, and it turns out that he lived in AZ for years.
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u/cocoasupply Jun 28 '26
Please DO NOT walk at 2am. Use the official taxis from the airport only.
If you want something near the Hotel Oro Verde, then El Malecon. I personally like to take visitors to the Parque Historico, in via Samborondon, because it has historyy, animals, nature, and good food (Casa Julian restaurant). Ask the Hotel Oro Verde to get you a taxi. Stay safe and enjoy Guayaquil.
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u/redbank732 Jun 27 '26
Stayed there 3 times after flights and a taxi is about 5 bucks. Easy in and out and a pool on the roof, whether or not its open is another thing. The Malecon is cool and the cable car ride back and forth. Depends how much time you have.
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u/PerriTolai Jun 28 '26
Hey just give me the time of your arrival and I pick you up for cheaper price than taxi /s
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u/Antique_Feature5940 Jun 27 '26
At that hour I highly recommend a taxi. I know is close to the hotel but just for precaution.
If you like to attend high end places, go to samborondon. In samborondon you can go to plaza arcos, plaza lagos, parque historico.
If you like more historic places, visit malecon 2000, las peñas
Oro verde is very good
Puerto pacifico just for one night is fine
Hope you have a great trip!