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A Special International Report Prepared by
The Washington Times Advertising Department - Published on April 21, 1999
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Guayaquil - The Pearl of the Pacific
Places of interest Las Penas, Guayaquil's oldest neighborhood, managed to survive a whole range of natural and man-made disasters. Located at the foot of Santa Ana Hill, Las Penas' wooden buildings and cobblestoned streets are the city's last vestige of colonial style. Two cannons, originally erected to protect the city from pirate attacks, guard the entrance. This ramshackle neighborhood's charm comes from peeking into the houses and visiting the sculpture and artists' galleries. The oldest church in Guayaquil is in Las Penas. Santo Domingo was founded in 1549, burnt by pirates in 1938, and restored. Other interesting churches are San Agustin, also once destroyed by pirates, the colonial church of San Francisco and La Merced, one of the city's most beautiful. The Monument of the Rotunda is a powerful spot where Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin came together in 1822, the one and only time these two heroes of independence met. An interesting walk is from Cerro El Carmen, an observatory from where the Sacred Heart Monument blesses the city, down through the Cemetery. Come on a Sunday, when there are a lot of people about. Stop first at the flower market outside to buy some of Ecuador's most beautiful roses and then walk around the high-rise tombs and ostentatious mausoleums. During rainy season, or when the sun is beating down, Guayaquil's museums offer a welcome retreat. The Municipal Museum has archaeological and gold sections and a collection of shrunken Shuar heads. The Anthropological Museum of Central Bank holds an impressive display of gold, paintings and ceramics. For pre-historic gold items, visit the Casa de la Cultura. Excursions in and around Guayaquil Downtown Guayaquil has lots of pleasant parks, which are managed by different banks. Parque Bolivar, located in front of the Cathedral, is one of the nicest. Tame iguanas of every size wander around the grounds. Keep an eye to the sky to make sure one isn't going to drop out of a tree. A fishpond holds dozens of little turtles and fish. The Plaza Centenario, with its monument to the liberation of the city, is the city's main square. The Cerro Blanco Forest Reserve is a tropical dry forest located only about a half-hour from downtown. Almost 200 species of birds, including the crane hawk and the Guayaquil green macaw, call the reserve home. Tours from one and a half to four hours are offered all week long. Early morning tours provide the best opportunity to catch a glimpse of howler monkeys, pumas, jaguars and other wild animals who feed at the riverside. The guides are very knowledgeable and point out the trees used by indigenous people for centuries to make medicine, clothes, and myths. Visitors stroll up and down the River Guayas along the Malecon. But, the city has plans to enlarge this promenade to encompass 14.4 hectares. This $60 million project will inject new life into the downtown area. The pier will have large green areas full of trees and flowers, all sorts of entertainment, and much commercial activity. The north end will have a 300 store shopping mall, museums, art galleries, a botanic garden, river restaurants and sightseeing spots. The center area will have art galleries, an amphitheater, sightseeing, and a nautical club. While the south end will include a shopping center with up to 200 stores and a restored and enlarged market. The first leg of the project will be completed this year. Beaches and ecological centers A trip to the Guayas Province must include a stop off at one of the beautiful beaches. The closest, and one of the most popular beach resorts is Salinas. During high season, Salinas' casinos, hotels and condos become Ecuador's answer to Miami Beach. Anglers should head down to Punta Carnero, a nine-mile long beach with a wild surf. Yachts take sports fisherman out to try their luck catching black marlin and big-eye tuna in season and marlin all year round. Montanita is a surfer's paradise. Competitions are held year round and the town is filled with smaller hotels, cabins and camping grounds. Baja Montanita is a quaint place with cabins, rooms, jacuzzis and a pool. A few kilometers north, accessible by car or 4x4 only, is Olon's magnificent beach. From Olon, the road winds inland and through lush forest to the beautiful Hotel Atamari. Even further north is the Andaluz Ecological Center. The bamboo cabins have palm leaf roofs and an organic vegetable and flower garden grows in the middle of a desert. The center gives working demonstrations on recycling rubbish and water and composting toilets as well as courses on ecological architecture and nutritional food. The road continues north to Puerto Lopez, a little fishing town set in a horseshoe shaped bay. The fishing boats come in the morning and at night and the town is buzzing with both local and foreign tourists. Either Andaluz or Puerto Lopez is a good base to visit Machalilla National Park or the Isla de la Plata. Machalilla, which extends over 55,000 hectares, is mainly concerned with preserving the marine ecosystems, the dry tropical forests, and the archaeological sites along the shore. The park is a peaceful place for bird watching. Located only about 15 miles offshore, Isla de la Plata is a mini-Galapagos island. Colonies of boobies, albatross and frigates nest on the island. During the summer months whales can be seen migrating along the Pacific. The site also has pre-columbian pottery finds. For fun in the sun, an introduction to nature, or a stroll along the waterfront, the province of Guayas has it all. |
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Table of Contents (1) President Mahuad announces new economic plan |
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Guayaquil is the financial and business center of Ecuador, and not really known for tourism. The people are fast-paced, frank and more concerned with business than pleasure. But Guayaquil's hot climate, ethnic diversity and proximity to the beaches, make it a good stop on the way to other towns in the province of Guayas.