“- Travel is still the most intense mode of learning”, Kevin Kelly

Guayaquil was our next stop.  Thankfully on this journey around South America I only had two tours I was in charge of.  This was my second and last!  It was called the City Tour. The tour was through Narwell Tours and was to take us to the vibrant downtown area where Puerto Santa Ana is positioned at the northern end of the Malecon Simón Bolívar.  This hub is located on the Guayas River bank and is home to the music museum, the old brewery and the artisan market. We were to visit the National Cocoa Museum but to our dismay it was closed due to the Internet not working to use the cash registers. We briefly went to the museum with original and replica pieces.  We did have lunch which was very basic.  Then we ambled a bit through the Las Peña’s Neighborhood which was their first traditional neighborhood.  Almost all the shops were closed and several of the structures were private homes along cobblestone streets. Our guide was soft spoken with no microphone and we were crowded in a small van.  

The town was built totally of wood but a fire in 1896 destroyed a lot of it. The area was liberated from the Spaniards in 1820.  The Malecón opened in 2000. Quito which is at least 6000 ft is the capital and was built high in the mountains to avoid piracy.  The day of liberation is October 9th. 

Guayaquil has an interesting means of transportation called the Aerovia. There are five stations to it taking passengers throughout the city for 70 cents one way.  It was built by the French.  Personally it should be replicated in many of these countries including our own.  Their purpose besides moving people quickly from place to place was to get rid of buses and the pollution. 

Here you can catch up to 96 crabs per day with a license but you can only catch males.  Female crabs can live up to 15 years old. You can fish for 10 months Monday to Saturday. Shrimp is their #1 export. The cost per pound is around $2.50!!!!  With all the indigenous people they speak 14 different languages here. 

One of our guest speakers presented interesting facts on Guayaquil, Carolina Flores. I will share some of her information which is easier than rewriting it!!

Iguana Park!!! One of my favorite attractions.  I even petted him 

Can you believe how many are here?!!

A whole row of turtles! 

A must watch!!!!

Right across the street is the church.  It was lovely inside and very clean and well taken care of. 

This was closed when we were there till later in the day 

We didn’t do this as not enough time but we saw the steps. 

We did drive past this but were not permitted to enter. 

This was home to the Cocoa Shop and a beautiful building but closed!!  A real disappointment. So they took us to a large modern grocery store where we could purchase good chocolate which was very cheap. 

We all took a ride on the Aerovia with great views of the city. 

Inside the church across from the Iguana Park 

The Perla 

Looking down from the Aerovia seeing small fishing boats which the unusual long narrow shapes. 

Las Peña’s Neighborhood 



Lots of colorful murals everywhere 

This wasn’t even in Montecristi but I had to take the photo. The shop was tiny!!

This giant monkey was at a round about and we circled to get a good 😌 photo!! 

Our guide bending down and our group. 

This was the hostel where we had lunch.  Chicken, rice, fried plantain, mango juice and then mango ice cream. This is a man’s home with 10 rooms he can rent for $30 per night. It’s quite small in a narrow gated alleyway.