GUAYAQUIL THE RENOVATED CHARM OF A THRIVING CITY
Top of the list of Ecuador’s year-round destinations, Guayaquil offers cosmopolitan facilities with a Latin twist in a beautiful natural setting

Spectacular developments in the last years account for massive growth in visitor numbers

The resounding success of Guayaquil’s ongoing urban renewal program, and the attraction of doing business in Ecuador’s economic powerhouse, have opened the eyes of many to the advantages the country’s leading city has to offer. In recent years, tourist arrivals have also swelled as more and more people decide to find out about Guayaquil’s appeal for themselves.

From the pretty painted houses of the Cerro de Santa Ana to the Malecón 2000, a three-kilometer long boardwalk along the banks of the Guayas river with endless leisure opportunities and open green areas, Guayaquil is a city full of renovated squares with rushing fountains, bustling thoroughfares like Avenue October 9, which crosses the center from river to estuary, not to mention malls and markets that would be the envy of other South American destinations.

As Director of Tourism, Joseph Garzozi has clear ideas about the factors that make Guayaquil unbeatable, and agrees the charms of the city itself are impossible to ignore. “Few places have a river like our River Guayas, the marine estuaries that surround the city and the hills,” Mr. Garzozi states. “This ambience of nature around Guayaquil makes a visit here a combination of urban tourism, with museums, shopping, monuments and squares, and outdoor activities in a natural environment.”

Mr. Garzozi is eager to promote the concept of “light destinations”—places that can be visited year-round with little luggage, thanks to a benign climate and informal atmosphere. Guayaquil is clearly at the top of the list for such travelers, but is not short of world-class facilities either. International hotel chains such as Hilton and Sheraton offer top-end accommodation options, and the numerous infrastructure projects underway, including improvements to the airport, maritime port and land-transportation hub, mean getting to and from Guayaquil couldn’t be easier.

JOSEPH GARZOZI Director of Tourism

In addition, the city is one of the safest in the world for visitors, as the introduction of a closed-circuit camera network citywide ensures that street crime remains non-existent.

People are not only arriving from neighboring countries and further afield, but also from different areas of the country in increasing numbers. “Tourists coming to Ecuador spend around US$600 million every year, but we Ecuadorians account for more than US$1.4 billion, which means the volume of tourist potential from Ecuador itself is massive,” Mr. Garzozi reveals.

Visitors from North America will feel right at home, albeit with a Latin twist to their vacations, as dollarization of the economy enables easy understanding of prices and no costs for money exchange. Furthermore, from Miami the flight time is shorter than to San Francisco.

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s main port—90% of Ecuador’s imports and 50% of its exports pass through there. It is easily reached as it is also the location of one of the country’s two international airports.