Guayaquil Historical Park (Parque Histórico)

The basics

You can explore the park independently via a series of wooden boardwalks and nature trails, or delve deeper into local flora, fauna, and history on a Guayaquil sightseeing tour. These also tend to visit the historical neighborhood of Las Peñas, known for its cobblestone streets and colonial buildings; the grand, bright white Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral; and Parque Seminario, filled with free-roaming iguanas and turtles.

Things to know before you go

• Wear plenty of mosquito repellent when visiting the park.

• There’s a fabulous 5-star hotel inside the park (Hotel del Parque), which is surrounded by lush tropical greenery.

• The park is typically hot and humid, so wear light layers and drink plenty of water.

How to get there

Guayaquil Historical Park is on the outskirts of the city, just across the water from Guayaquil’s international airport. The easiest way to reach it is by taking a cab from the center, which typically takes 10 minutes and only costs a few dollars.

When to get there

The park is open Wednesday to Monday, from morning until early evening; it’s closed on Tuesdays. For most travelers, the best time to visit Guayaquil is outside of the rainy season, during the hot and dry months from January through April. If you visit in July or August, you might spot humpback whales off the coast.

Where to see more nature near Guayaquil

Less than 1 hour from Guayaquil, you’ll find the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve, the largest Pacific coast estuary in South America. Abundant with mangroves and wetlands, the diverse ecosystem is home to bats, opossums, sloths, and crab-eating raccoons. It’s best explored on a canoe tour or a birdwatching hike.