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Progess and Development
Probably the most economically active province of Ecuador, the province
of Guayas, in southwestern Ecuador, is home to the country’s main port,
Guayaquil, and also to many important ecological reserves, such as Manglares-Churute.
There are seaside resorts with plenty of hotels to choose from and small
beaches where you can partake in a variety of sports. The province has an
international airport and a well-developed infrastructure for holding national
and international events. Several international hotel chains have branches
in Guayaquil. With a humid, tropical climate, the temperature stays at around
25 degrees centrigrade throughout the year.
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Guayaquil - The Power of Progress
Located in western Ecuador on the banks of the Guayas River, Guayaquil is
Ecuador’s largest city. Founded in 1938, Guayaquil was South America's
most important port in colonial times. Nowadays, Guayaquil continues to
be Ecuador’s principle port as well as its economic center. Moreover,
the city has become a modern metropolis with first-class hotels and a well-developed
tourist infrastructure. The city’s main attractions now include the
historical Las Peñas District perched on the slopes of Santa Ana
Hill, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Seminary Park (1895) whose trees offer
a shady place to rest for the area’s iguana population, the Civic Center
with its modern auditorium, the General Cemetery with its Italian marble
sculptures, the city’s giant Clock Tower, and Guayaquil’s latest
attraction: its newly renovated boardwalk, Malecón 2000, which showcases
Guayaquil renovation of its waterfront district with all of its houses,
shops, restaurants, and museums. Another attraction is the Guayaquil Historic
Park. Located on the road to to Samborondón, the Park aims to rescue
the region’s cultural and ecological values. Guayaquil also has modern
shopping centers and plenty of lively economic activity and is also the
starting point for trips to the beaches located along the Santa Elena Peninsula.
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Endless Beaches, Hotels, and Entertainment
Leaving Guayaquil heading towards the Pacific, we arrive in Playas, situated
on Ecuador's Pacific coastline 100 km to the southwest of Guayaquil. Surrounded
by shrimp farms and various types of palm trees, Playas offers a variety
of tasty seafood plates.
Further to the north, on the tip of the Santa Elena Peninsula144 km from
Guayaquil, is Salinas, a modern-looking beachside city full of quality hotels.
Salinas is the ideal place to try your hand at water sport such as jet skiing,
wind surfing, snorkeling, and deep sea fishing.
Further along, we come to Punta Blaca, another resort town great for water
sports; Carnero, which is internationally known for its amateur fishing;
and Monta?ita, a surfing hotspot with a developed tourist infrastructure
that has become a popular destination through the year with both national
and internationals surf buffs.
Finally, Manglaralto, just to the south of Monta?ita, is another great place
to relax, partake in all kinds of water sports, and go fishing. This town
is also home to a rather interesting shrimp larva laboratories.
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Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve - Ecology
in all of its Splendor
Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve lies on the eastern side of the mouth
of the Guayas River, 46 km from Guayaquil, with an entrance on the road
to Machala. This is a protected area of mangroves that are home to various
species of birds and sea animals. One of the most well-known places in the
reserve is a lake named El Chanclón or Churute, named after a duck
native to the area. Other species that thrive in the Reserve are brown pelicans,
howler monkeys, sloths, boas, and lesser egrets. The topography is also
interesting, with a landscape of hills which rise from 10 to 700m. There
are also a variety of marine deposits and an Information Center is currently
being built.
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Cerro Blanco Woodland Reserve - A Biologically
Rich Nature Reserve
Cerro Blanco Woodland Reserve is located along the road from Guayaquil,
15 km outside of the city. This 2,000-hectare reserve of tropical dry forest
boasts an enormous range of flora and fauna and is particularly famous for
the Red Fore-headed Parrot, an endemic species that lives in the Reserve,
changing its habitat at night. Cerro Blanco constitutes 2% of of the tropical
dry forests left on the planet.
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The Botanical Garden - Birds and Exotic Flora
Here you can admire hundreds of exotic tropical plants, orchids, and palms,
among other species. The collection contains over 3,000 species, in all.
The garden also houses a great number of birds and has an overlook with
great views of the Daule and Babahoyo Rivers.
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Capeira Scientific Research Center
With an area of over 2,471 hectares, Capeira Scientific Research Center,
which is centrally located just a few miles from Guayaquil, is characterized
by its tropical dry forest, which is home to approximately 150 identified
species of flora and fauna.
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Puerto Hondo - Preserved Mangrove Ecosystems
This area, located 17 km outside of Guayaquil along the Guayaquil –
Salinas road, preserves one of the planet’s most unique and beautiful
ecosystems – that of the mangrove. Its crystal clear water and the
peacefulness of this completely natural environment make it an ideal place
to relax or have fun.
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Culture Traditions - The Skill of the Rodeo
One of the area’s greatest traditions is lived out in the village of
Salitre, 45 km from Guayaquil. Here you can watch the coastal farmers’
rodeo and admire their horseriding skills.
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Cuisine
The scents of delicious local dishes abound throughout all of Guayas’
towns and villages where traditional plates: grilled steak or fish with
rice and beans, patacones (fried plantains), caldo de manguera
(pork tripe soup), fried rice with seafood, grilled or fried maduro
(ripe green plantain), and a variety of seafood stews are all part of the
everyday cuisine.
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Map of Guayas, Ecuador |
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Province's Capital |
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Road |
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Cities |
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Spas |
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Archaeology |
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Manglares-Churute |
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| Guayas Introduction | Guayaquil
| Guayas Beaches |
| Manglares-Churute Reserve | Cerro
Blanco Reserve |
| Botanical Garden | Capeira
Scientific Research Center |
| Puerto Hondo | Guayas Culture
& Traditions | Guayas Cuisine |
| Map of Guayas, Ecuador |
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