Guayaquil, Equador

Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador, as well as the nation's main port. It is located on the western bank of the Guayas River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil. It is a national and international tourist destination.

Attractions in Guayaquilare include the Malecon 2000, restoration project of the historic Simon Bolivar Pier. Las Peñas is a neighbourhood in the northeast corner of the city centre; is the artistic centre of the city. Many of the area's 400-year-old houses have been converted into art galleries and several notable artists have studios in the area.

The Mercado Artesanal is the largest artisan market in the city. The market is housed in a 240-shop building that takes up the entire block of Baquerizo Avenue, between Loja and Juan Montalvo streets. Its many vendors sell indigenous crafts, jewellery, and paintings.

Things to See & Do

* The renewed downtown area
* Santa Ana & El Carmen hills
* Malecon Simón Bolivar. It is a long park beside the Rio Guayas ("Guayas River"),
* Las Peñas - where most of Guayaquil's colonial buildings are located
* Museums & markets

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - U.S. dollar (USD)
Language - Spanish
Land Area - 1,214 km²
Population - 4,000,000 approx
Electricity - 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style
Time - GMT minus five hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 593

Port Location - The Port of Guayaquil lies on the banks of the Guayas River 72 kilometers from the Gulf of Guayaquil on Ecuador's Pacific coast.

Transport Links - José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is located near the city center and is next to the bus terminal. There are daily flights to New York, Miami, Houston, Madrid, Amsterdam, Lima, etc.

Guayaquil's bus terminal is well organized, but still keep an close eye on your belongings. There are frequent connections to almost every destination in Ecuador.