Hilton Colon Guayaquil

Galapagos Island Hopping

Wildlife & Nature Go Local + 3 more + 3 more

Enjoy the best islands in the Galapagos for amazing wildlife.

10 days

from £8,030 pp

Wildlife of Ecuador & Galapagos

Wildlife & Nature Cruise + 3 more + 3 more

Wildlife enthusiasts? This one's for you.

14 days

from £10,025 pp

Walking Classic + 1 more + 2 more

Colonial Quito & Volcanoes

Ecuador

From staggering scenery to a rich culture, this itinerary has it all.

9 days

from £5,415 pp

Galapagos Taster

Wildlife & Nature Express + 3 more + 3 more

Enjoy the highlights of Ecuador and Galapagos cruising.

8 days

from £5,505 pp

Luxury Galapagos

Romantic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Discover the spectacular Galapagos Islands in style and comfort.

11 days

from £11,440 pp

Walking Classic + 1 more + 2 more

Quito, Markets & Amazon

Ecuador

An introductory exploration of mainland Ecuador

10 days

from £6,120 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Ecuador

Historic Guayaquil

You will spend a half day with your guide to get a feel for tropical Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city. You will take in some of the most impressive historical sites and statues. The tour is flexible and you can discuss with your guide which areas you are interested in visiting. Highlights include the suitably nicknamed ‘Iguana Park’ where you can see land iguanas roaming freely, the tropical plants in the garden area of the celebrated Malecon and the pretty restored neighbourhood of Las Peñas.

Cacao Hacienda

Arguably producing the finest chocolate in the world, some Ecuadorian farmers refer to their cocoa beans as ‘black gold.’ Smooth bitter tasting paste is extracted from the beans, the most important ingredient in the production of high quality chocolate. Leading world export figures until the ‘90s, cacao slowly give way to coffee and banana plantations. With the recent turn towards higher quality produce, the cocoa bean is once again being reconsidered as a viable option for farmers in the region.

Recommendations in Guayaquil

Although it may have as much to entice you as some other cities in Ecuador, Guayaquil has enough to keep you entertained for a day or two. Taxis are cheap and plentiful and journeys usually only cost a few US$ unless you get caught in heavy traffic, are travelling at night or for very long distances. We recommend asking your hotel to call you a taxi in advance to take you to the area you are visiting. The waterfront or ‘El Malecon’ is a huge urban development and is one of the best areas to explore to see local life. Stretching for 2.5 kilometres along the river, the area is full of green parks, restaurants, playgrounds and theatres. From the north end of the Malecon, you can see colourful Las Peñas neighbourhood with brightly painted houses and cobbles. This is a lovely area of the city to explore, and here you’ll find relaxed family run cafes and shops. There are many historical museums in the city that are worth visiting, most are free but a few do not have English translations. The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology is the most notable and houses a collection of pre-columbian pieces, while the Museo Presley Norton has an impressive collection of pottery and can be found in a beautifully restored mansion.