🇪🇨 Guayaquil, Ecuador — Cruise Port Guide
Ecuador's big riverside port city — iguanas lounge in a downtown plaza and the Malecón 2000 boardwalk climbs into colorful Las Peñas.
Updated September 2026
Quick facts
Getting ashore
When to visit Guayaquil
December–April is the warm, humid rainy season with afternoon storms; May–November brings the cooler, grayer garúa — either way, plan shade and water at midday.
Getting back to the ship on time
It's a big, busy port city: use the terminal's registered taxis or a ride app, keep valuables light, and build real traffic slack into your return to the ship.
All-aboard is ship's time — check it in the daily programme, and set your watch to it.
Things to do in Guayaquil
Malecón 2000
Stroll the celebrated riverside boardwalk of gardens and museums.
Parque Seminario
Land iguanas laze around the cathedral square, utterly unbothered.
Cerro Santa Ana
Climb 444 rainbow steps of Las Peñas for a river panorama.
Isla Santay
Cycle a boardwalk island of mangroves and village life.
Mercado Artesanal
Hats, tagua carvings and Andean textiles under one roof.
Parque Histórico
Riverside park recreating 1900s Guayaquil, wildlife included.
Popular excursions
Seminario Park Urban Iguanas
Land iguanas lounging free around a downtown cathedral square.
What to eat
- Encebollado
- Bolón de verde
- Ceviche
- Arroz con menestra y carne
- Pan de yuca
Weather by month
Best time to visit: May-Nov (dry season)
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88° | 74° | 9.4" |
| Feb | 88° | 74° | 11.4" |
| Mar | 89° | 74° | 11.4" |
| Apr | 89° | 74° | 7.1" |
| May | 87° | 72° | 2.2" |
| Jun | 85° | 70° | 0.8" |
| Jul | 84° | 69° | 0.3" |
| Aug | 85° | 69° | 0.1" |
| Sep | 87° | 70° | 0.1" |
| Oct | 86° | 70° | 0.2" |
| Nov | 87° | 72° | 0.4" |
| Dec | 89° | 73° | 1.8" |
Local phrases
A little history
Guayaquil is Ecuador's port powerhouse and the usual gateway for Galápagos flights.
Locals — guayacos — are proud, warm and quick with a joke about rival Quito.
Encebollado, a tuna-and-cassava soup, is the beloved local cure-all breakfast.
It's equatorial: carry water, plan shade at midday, and take the riverfront slowly.