Guayaquil Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Guayaquil tours and things to do in Ecuador’s vibrant port city: stroll the riverside Malecón, climb the colourful Las Peñas and Santa Ana hill, meet the iguanas of Seminario Park, cruise the Churute mangroves, and taste farm-fresh cacao. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Guayaquil by interest
Whatever brings you to Guayaquil — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Guayaquil
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Malecón 2000
Riverside boardwalk.
Las Peñas
Colourful hill.
Iguana Park
City iguanas.
Churute Mangroves
Wildlife reserve.
Cacao Farms
Chocolate.
Cerro Blanco
Forest reserve.
The Guayas
River city.
Old Town
Plazas & cathedral.
1 hr awayChurute Mangroves
Wildlife reserve.
Day trip awayCacao Farms
Chocolate.
West awayCerro Blanco
Forest reserve.
City awayLas Peñas
Colourful hill.
City awayIguana Park
City iguanas.
City awayMalecón 2000
Riverside boardwalk.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Guayaquil visitor asks before booking.
Dry season (Jun–Dec)
Warm, dry and cooler — the best time to visit.
Wet season (Jan–May)
Hot, humid and rainier, but lush and green.
For wildlife
The wet season brings the mangroves alive.
For festivals
July for Guayaquil’s foundation celebrations.
For the city
The dry season for comfortable sightseeing.
Best overall
July to December for warm, dry weather.
One day
The Malecón, Las Peñas and iguana park.
Two days
Add the Churute mangroves.
Three days
Add a cacao farm and Cerro Blanco.
For the city
The Malecón and Las Peñas.
For wildlife
The mangroves and iguana park.
For food
A cacao and chocolate tour.
On foot
The Malecón and Las Peñas are best on foot.
By taxi
Taxis and apps are handy for getting around.
Tours & transfers
Tours reach the mangroves and cacao farms.
By boat
Boat tours explore the mangroves and river.
Where to stay
Stay near the Malecón or Las Peñas.
US dollar
Ecuador uses the US dollar; carry small notes.
The Malecón
Stroll it in the cool of the evening.
Santa Ana hill
Climb the 444 steps early to beat the heat.
Iguana park
Visit in the morning when the iguanas are active.
Mangroves
Book a guided boat tour of the Churute reserve.
Cacao
Taste Ecuador’s prized fine-flavour chocolate.
Galápagos
Guayaquil is a common gateway to the Galápagos.
City tours
City tours fill up — book ahead.
Mangrove tours
Wildlife cruises fill up — reserve early.
Cacao tours
Chocolate tours fill up — book ahead.
Cerro Blanco
Forest tours fill up — reserve early.
Day trips
Coastal trips fill up — book ahead.
Dry season
July to December is busiest — book well ahead.
City tour
Around $15–50 for a Guayaquil city tour.
Mangrove tour
About $66–110 for a Churute mangrove tour.
Cacao tour
Roughly $68–110 for a cacao and chocolate tour.
Cerro Blanco
Around $18–50 for a Cerro Blanco forest tour.
Las Peñas tour
About $85–130 for a private hill and city tour.
How to save
Join group tours to save over private ones.
Guayaquil through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Sightseeing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Lush nature.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Humid.
- Best for
- Celebrations.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lively.
- Best for
- Wildlife.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Rainy.