Guayaquil City Tour: Iguanas, Malecon & Las Peñas viewpoint

Iguanas, riverfront gardens, and a 16th-century hilltop neighborhood in one morning

A guided tour of Guayaquil covers four key stops across the city's culture and history. You'll see the exotic iguanas of Seminario Park, walk the museums and viewpoints of Malecon 2000, visit the monument at la Rotonda to learn about the "Interview of Guayaquil" between Bolívar and San Martín, explore the wooden colonial houses of Las Peñas, and finish at the neighborhood's viewpoint overlooking the Guayas River and the city skyline.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guayaquil's main attractions

• Visit Seminario Park and see iguanas
• Walk along Malecon 2000 by Guayas River
• See la Rotonda monument and learn history
• Explore colonial Las Peñas neighborhood
• Ascend to Las Peñas viewpoint for city views

The experience

The tour starts at Seminario Park, where you'll stand in front of the Cathedral of Guayaquil and get close to the exotic iguanas that give the park its local name. These are longer than a meter and move freely through the gardens and lagoon. From there you cross into Malecon 2000, a stretch along the Guayas River lined with museums, gardens, docks and viewpoints that show how the city meets the water.

La Rotonda comes next, a monument to the liberators of South America where the guide explains the famous "Interview of Guayaquil": the meeting between the Venezuelan Simón Bolívar and the Argentine José de San Martín that shaped the continent's independence. Then you move into Las Peñas, the oldest part of the city, where wooden colonial houses painted in bright colors line the narrow streets. The tour ends at the viewpoint above Las Peñas, the original site of Guayaquil in the 16th century, where you look out over the city and the river from above.

An English-speaking guide leads the group in an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water is provided throughout. The pace is steady, four hours total, with time to walk and observe at each stop rather than rush through.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• English-speaking guide.
• visit to the viewpoint at Las Peñas.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• all sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 13:30 and 15:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 49 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Guide Ecuador Travel

Is this one for you?The tour is shared and guide-led, so you travel with other visitors and move at the group's pace rather than setting your own. This works well if you want someone to explain the history and significance of each stop (the "Interview of Guayaquil," the iguanas, the colonial architecture) rather than exploring on your own.

Traveler reviews

4.71★★★★★★★★★★

7 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 14 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What are the iguanas at Seminario Park actually like?

The iguanas at Seminario Park are exotic reptiles longer than a meter that live freely in the gardens and lagoon around the Cathedral of Guayaquil, so you'll see them in their natural setting rather than behind glass.

What is the "Interview of Guayaquil" that the guide talks about?

The Interview of Guayaquil was a famous meeting between the Venezuelan independence leader Simón Bolívar and the Argentine leader José de San Martín at la Rotonda, a moment that shaped South American independence, and the guide explains its significance at the monument.

What makes Las Peñas neighborhood worth visiting?

Las Peñas is Guayaquil's oldest neighborhood, built in the 16th century, and its colonial houses are constructed entirely of wood and painted in bright colors that make them stand out as distinctive works of art along the narrow streets.

How much walking is involved?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and covers four stops with walking at each one, but the pace is moderate and you spend time observing rather than hiking long distances.