2-day Guayaquil stopover: City tour, cooking class & hotel

Learn to cook Ecuadorian dishes, then sleep near the airport before your next flight.

A 2-day Guayaquil stopover combines private airport pickup, a guided tour of the city's historic and modern neighborhoods, a hands-on Ecuadorian cooking class at Villa 97 where you prepare and share a traditional lunch, one night in a private room at the family hostel, a traditional breakfast the next morning, and private return transfer to José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport. The itinerary is built for travelers with a layover or a day to spare before or after visiting the Galápagos Islands.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Airport pickup, city tour, and cooking class

• Pickup at Guayaquil airport
• Tour historic Las Peñas neighborhood
• Visit Puerto Santa Ana boardwalk
• Enjoy Ecuadorian cooking class at Villa 97
• Lunch and rest at Villa 97

Day 2: Traditional breakfast and airport transfer

• Have traditional breakfast at Villa 97
• Private transfer to Guayaquil airport

The experience

The tour starts at the airport and moves through Guayaquil's two faces: Las Peñas, the historic neighborhood where the city was founded, with its colored streets and heritage architecture, and Puerto Santa Ana, the modern waterfront sector along the Guayas River with contemporary galleries and boardwalk views. A guide leads both stops, speaking English or Spanish depending on your preference.

At Villa 97, a family-run hostel near the airport, you step into the cooking class itself. You work with local ingredients to prepare traditional Ecuadorian dishes, then sit down to eat what you've made for lunch. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to rest in a private room before the next morning's traditional breakfast.

The second day begins with breakfast at Villa 97, followed by a private transfer back to the airport in time for your onward flight. All transportation (airport pickups, city stops, and the return) is included and arranged for you.

What’s included

• Private airport pickup and return transfer to José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport.
• guided tour of Las Peñas and Puerto Santa Ana with a live guide in English or Spanish.
• a hands-on Ecuadorian cooking class where you prepare and eat a traditional lunch.
• one night in a private room at Villa 97 family hostel.
• and a traditional breakfast the morning of your departure.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guayaquil stopover tour with a cooking class and accommodationGuide in English or Spanish · 10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00Includes pickup

Cooking and chocolate-making experience in GuayaquilGuide in English or Spanish · 10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00Ecuadorian cuisine and chocolate: Take part in a hands-on traditional cooking class and learn how artisanal chocolate is made. Private personalized tour: A private experience that includes a historical tour. Duration: 3 hours. Traditional Ecuadorian lunch: Savor a homemade meal bursting with typical Ecuadorian flavors, featuring specialties of seafood, chicken, and green plantain. Guayaquil history and flavors: Well suited to a stopover in Guayaquil, with a scheduled return to the airport. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (17 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 80 years) · Youth (10 to 16 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Yamil Saman Cabrera

Is this one for you?This is a private, guided experience suited to travelers with a layover or a spare day in Guayaquil before or after the Galápagos. You don't arrange anything yourself, and the cooking class is hands-on, so you leave with both a sense of the city and a skill you can use at home.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 16 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What neighborhoods do you actually visit in Guayaquil?

Las Peñas, the historic district where Guayaquil began, with its colorful heritage architecture and art spaces; and Puerto Santa Ana, the modern waterfront with galleries, restaurants and views of the Guayas River.

Do you cook the meal yourself or watch a demonstration?

You prepare the dishes yourself using local ingredients, then share the lunch you've cooked. It's a hands-on class, not a demonstration.

What's included in the accommodation at Villa 97?

One night in a private room at the family hostel, plus a traditional Ecuadorian breakfast the next morning before your airport transfer.

How does the airport transfer work on the second day?

After breakfast at Villa 97, a private vehicle takes you directly to José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, timed so you can connect to your next flight.