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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. 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 Montañita, 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 Montañita, 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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