Guayaquil travel guide

History

Santiago de Guayaquil had a complicated start. It was founded as Santiago de Quito (sic) in 1534 by Diego de Almagro up in the Sierra, by the chilly shores of Laguna de Colta, and was moved the following year by Sebastián de Benalcázar to its current warmer location near the native settlement of Guayaquile. This, in turn, may have taken its name from two native Huancavilca rulers: Guayas and his wife Quil. Throughout the colonial and republican periods, Guayaquil always retained its strategic importance as Ecuador’s main port. The current Puerto Marítimo, opened in 1964, handles three-quarters of the country’s imports and almost half of its exports. It is a constant bone of contention between costeños and serranos that Guayaquil is not given better recognition of its importance in the form of greater local authority and more central government funds. Since the late 1990s there have been organized movements for autonomy of Ecuador’s coastal provinces, spearheaded by Guayaquil. The city’s current mayor, Jaime Nebot, is a leading national figure who has at times challenged the authority of the Quito government.

Getting around

Not surprisingly for a city of this size, you will need to get around by public transport. A number of hotels, however, are centrally located in the downtown core. The Metrovía crosses the city from north to south with articulated buses. There are also city buses and furgonetas (minivans), all cost US$0.25 and get overcrowded at rush hour; watch out for pickpockets. Using taxis is the best option. In the street, only take yellow taxis. If a driver does not use the meter, agree on the fare in advance. The rates are slightly lower for taxis taken in the street, than at the airport or bus terminal. There are also radio taxis. Short trips costs US$2.50, the fares from the centre to Urdesa, Policentro or Alborada are around US$3-4.

Ins and outs

Getting there

José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is to the north, about 20 minutes by taxi (US$4) from the city centre. The Metrovía or buses to the centre (eg Línea 130 ‘Full 2’) are neither safe nor practical with luggage; take a taxi. If you are going straight on to another city, take a cab from the airport to the bus station, which is close by (US$3). For groups, Trans Rabbit (T04-216 9228) has a van service (US$12 downtown).

The excellent modern Terminal Terrestre, opened in 2008, is north of the airport, just off the road to the bridge over the Río Guayas. The Río Daule terminus of the Metrovía is opposite the Terminal Terrestre; it takes 15 minutes to the city centre, a convenient way to get there, but only without luggage or valuables. There are also city buses between the bus station and the centre (eg Línea 84 to Plaza Centenario), but these also are not safe with luggage; take a taxi (US$3-4).

Guayaquil

Air

José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport, on Av de las Américas, has a very nice terminal, the most modern in Ecuador. Arrivals are on the ground floor, departures on the 2nd level. The information booth outside international arrivals (T04-216 9000, open 24 hrs) has hotel and transport information. On the ground floor are a Banco de Guayaquil (Mon-Fri 0830-1800, ATM, changes euros at poor rates, no TCs), post office, luggage storage (0800-2200, US$5 for 24 hrs) and car hire agencies. There is also a food court, several stand-alone ATMs, phone office and internet. International departure tax is US$27.75. Guayaquil receives many international flights and domestic routes include Quito, Cuenca, Loja and Galápagos.

Airline offices

Aerogal, Junín 440 y Córdova, T04-231 0346. Air France/KLM, at the airport, p 3, T04-216 9070. American Airlines, at the airport, p 3, T04-259 8800. Avianca, 9 de Octubre 406 y Córdova, p1 and Av Francisco de Orellana, mez 111, T04-2239 9048, T1-800-003434. Continental, 9 de Octubre 100 y Malecón, p 25, T1-800-222333. Copa, 9 de Octubre 100 y Malecón, p 25, T04-230 3211. Delta, at the airport, p 3, T1-800-101060. Iberia, 9 de Octubre 101 y Malecón, T04- 232 9558. Icaro, at the airport, p 3, T04-390 5060, T1-800-883567. LAN, Av Francisco de Orellana, Galerías Hilton Colón, T04- 269 2850, T1-800-101075. Santa Bárbara, at the airport, p 3, T04-216 9108. TACA, Luque 406 y Pichincha, pb, T04-232 1007, T1-800-008222. TAME, 9 de Octubre 424, Edif Gran Pasaje ground floor and Av Francisco de Orellana, Galerías Hilton Colón, T04-231 0305. VIP at the airport, p 3, T04-390 5049.

Bus

Local

Metrovía, T04-213 0402, www.metro via-gye.com, Mon-Sat 0500-2300, Sun 0600-2200, US$0.25, is an integrated transport system of articulated buses running on exclusive lanes and alimentadores (feeder buses) serving suburbs from the terminuses. 1 line runs parallel to the Río Guayas, from the Terminal Río Daule, opposite the Terminal Terrestre, in the north to the Terminal El Guasmo in the south. In the city centre it runs along Boyacá southbound and Pedro Carbo northbound. A 2nd line runs east–west along Sucre, in the centre, then crosses the Estero Salado and continues northwest through the northern suburbs to Terminal Bastión Popular. The 2 lines connect at Biblioteca Municipal and IESS transfer stations in the centre. It is a fast efficient transit system, but gets extremely crowded, not recommended with luggage or valuables.

City buses buses and furgonetas (minivans) are only permitted on a few streets in the centre; northbound buses go along Rumichaca or the malecón, southbound along Lorenzo de Garaicoa or García Avilés, US$0.25.

Regional

To Santa Elena Peninsula and beaches Frequent service to all destinations, crowded on weekends and holidays. All leave from the Terminal Terrestre, 2nd level. To Playas, US$2.60, 2 hrs. To Salinas, US$3.30, 2½ hrs. To Santa Elena, US$2.50, 2 hrs; change here for Puerto López. To Montañita and Olón, CLP at 0445, 0515, 1000, 1300, 1650, 3 hrs, US$5.70.

Long distance

Terminal Terrestre, Av Benjamín Rosales y Av de las Américas, T04-214 0166. Operating since Dec 2007, modern and efficient, services include a shopping centre, supermarket, banks, restaurants, internet, and cabinas for calls.

There is a tourist information office by the 1st entrance, tickets are sold on the ground level, destinations are colour coded by region, long distance buses leave from the 3rd level. To Quito, in addition to frequent service from the Terminal Terrestre, Transportes Ecuador, Av de las Américas y Hermano Miguel, opposite the airport terminal, T04-229 4788, has 27 daily buses, US$9, 8 hrs; buses stop at the Terminal Terrestre before leaving town. Lucy Express, T04-280 1524, www.lucyexpress. com, offers door to door van service to Quito . To Machala, in addition to the bus service, Oro Guayas, Clemente Ballén y Chile, T04-232 0934, and at Centro de Negocios El Terminal, by the Terminal Terrestre, has an hourly van service, 0600-2000, US$10, 3 hrs.

International

To Huaquillas for the Peruvian border, direct, US$6, 4½ hrs; or via Machala, 6 hrs. From the Terminal Terrestre, CIFA, T04-214 0379, to Tumbes 10 daily, US$6, 5½ hrs and Piura, at 0720, 1750, 1950, 2100 and 2330, US$11 regular, US$13-15 double-decker bus-cama at 1950 and 2330, 10 hrs. To Lima, Ormeño, Centro de Negocios El Terminal, near the Terminal Terrestre, T04-214 0847, daily at 1130, US$60 includes food, 27 hrs. Also to Bogotá, Tue and Fri, US$90, 38 hrs.

Car hire

There are several car hire firms on the ground level of the airport. Avis, T04-216 9092 (airport), T04-228 5498. Budget, T04-216 9026 (airport), T04-228 4559. Hertz, T04-216 9035 (airport), T04-228 0910.

Taxis and vans

Although not cheap, taxis are a good option in Guayaquil. In the street take yellow cabs or call a radio taxi (eg Vipcar T04-239 3000, T09-723 1913), these are unmarked cars, often with a/c. Vans for 10-17 passengers are available from Trans Rabbit, T04-227 7300, www.trans rabbit.com.

Orientation and safety

Guayaquil’s suburbs sprawl to the north and south of the centre, with middle-class neighbourhoods and some very upscale areas in the north and poorer working-class neighbourhoods and slums to the south. A road tunnel under Cerro Santa Ana links the northern suburbs to downtown.

Despite an ongoing public safety campaign by the municipal authorities, residential neighbourhoods hide behind bars and protect themselves with armed guards. The malecón, parts of Avenida 9 de Octubre and the Las Peñas neighbourhood are heavily patrolled and safe. The area around Plaza Centenario is not safe, day or night. The rest of the city carries the usual risks of a large seaport and metropolis. Don’t walk around with valuables. In the street, take yellow taxis and at night call a radio-taxi. Pirate taxis, often fancy unmarked cars, have been involved in scams whereby they take a passenger from ATM to ATM and force them to take out money.

Banks

Ecuadorian Tours, 9 de Octubre 1900 y Esmeraldas. Issues temporary replacement Amex cards, which can be used in Banco de Guayaquil ATMs, but not for purchases. Does not sell, exchange or replace lost Amex TCs. Mon-Fri 0900-1300, 1400-1800. Like with many things in Guayaquil, banks with ATMs are found in shopping malls. Most banks have their main branches (with ATMs) downtown and several are also at the Terminal Terrestre. The airport has several stand-alone ATMs. Banco del Pacífico, P Icaza 200, p 4, for TCs and cash advances. Cambios Internacionales, CC Albán Borja, for currency exchange.

Consulates

Australia, Rocafuerte 520. Canada, Av Juan Tanca Marengo, Edif Executive Center, p 7, T04-229 6837, 0900-1445. Colombia, Av Francisco de Orellana, Edif World Trade Cemtre, Torre B, p 11, T04-263 0674, www.consuladode colombiagye.com, 0900-1300, 1430-1800. Germany, Av Las Monjas 10 y Av C J Arosemena Km 2.5, Edif Berlín, T04-220 6868, 0900-1200. Netherlands, Quisquis 1502 y Tulcán, p 1, T04-228 0156, 0900-1300. Peru, Av Francisco de Orellana y Alberto Borges, Edif Centrum, p 14, Kennedy Norte, T04-228 0135, 0830-1330. Switzerland, Av JTanca Marengo Km 1.8, Edif Conauto, p5, T04-268 1900. UK, Gen Córdova 623 y Padre Solano, T04-256 0400, ext 336, 0900-1200, 1430-1700. USA, 9 de Octubre 1571 y García Moreno, T04-232 3570, 073-1700.

Doctors

Dr Angel Serrano Sáenz, Boyacá 821 y Junín, T04-256 1785. English-speaking. Clínica Santa Marianita, Boyacá 1915 entre Colón y Av Olmedo, T04-232 2500, some doctors speak English. Dr James Peterson, Av 1a 1233 y Laureles, Urdesa, T04-238 0090. Homeopath and chiropractor, speaks English.

Emergencies

For all emergencies in Guayaquil call T112.

Hospitals

Clínica Kennedy, Av San Jorge y la 9a, T04-228 9666. The main hospital used by the foreign community and locals with the means (Dr Roberto Morla speaks German). Also has a branch in La Alborada XII Mz-1227, T04-224 7900. Very competent emergency departments on both locations. Clínica Alcívar, Coronel 2301 y Azuay, T04-258 0030. Clínica Guayaquil, Padre Aguirre 401 y General Córdova, T04-256 3555, aging but still the choice downtown (Dr Roberto Gilbert speaks English and German).

Immigration

Av Río Daule near the bus terminal, T04-214 0002.

Internet

There are many cybercafés in the centre and suburbs, mainly concentrated in shopping malls which also have Wi-Fi zones, US$0.50-1/hr.

Language schools

Nexus, at Casa Alianza Hotel, T04-235 1261 ext 123, http://www.nexus.edu.ec. South American, Av San Jorge, Edif SP, p 2, T04-239 8000, www.south american.edu.ec.

Laundry

Carmita, Boyacá 925 y VM Rendón, by weight, open daily. Ecuacleaner, VE Estrada, T04-228 9011, Urdesa. Martinizing, Sucre 517 y Boyacá, and in CC La Garzota, for dry cleaning, many other outlets.

Post and courier

Main post office, Pedro Carbo y Aguirre. DHL, Malecón 2000, Galería B or 9 de Octubre y P Carbo, Edif San Francisco 300, T1-800-989898. Recommended for international service Servientrega, offices throughout the city, T04-231 3103, for deliveries within Ecuador and abroad. Shipping agents: Luis Arteaga, Aguirre 324 y Chile, p 3, T04-253 3592, larteaga@ecua.net.ec. Fast but expensive.