Port Description

Guayaquil, Ecuador

The Spaniard Francisco Orellana founded what later became Ecuador’s largest city in 1547, but not before several of his compatriots were defeated at the hands of indigenous tribes. The city was named for the last Puna chief, Guayas, and his wife Quil, who opted for suicide over Spanish rule. Despite its stormy start, Guayaquil emerged as Ecuador’s main port and a vital economic center. The riverside boardwalk, the Malecón, is an ideal spot for dining and entertainment. Peaceful refuges from the equatorial sun include Parque Centenario and Parque Seminario, or "Iguana Park," which features dozens of these scampering reptiles.