Must-see attractions in South Coast

  • Museo Nahim Isaias

    Nahim Isaias, located in the Plaza de Administración building, exhibits more than 2000 pictorial and sculptural works, paintings and artifacts from the…

  • Church of San Francisco

    This church, originally built in the early 18th century, burned down in the devastating fire of 1896, which destroyed huge swaths of the city. It was…

  • Virgen del Carmen Church

    The town's beautifully decorated church, with a white, mint green and gold interior, dates back to 1912, and is worth a look. It's located in the main…

  • Iglesia de Santo Domingo

    Behind the open-air Teatro Bogotá is the oldest church in Guayaquil. Founded in 1548 and restored in 1938, it’s worth a look.

  • Capilla Santa Ana

    This tiny church sits atop Cerro Santa Ana. It's worth climbing up here for the magnificent views.

  • Jardín Botánico de Guayaquil

    Perched on a hillside with magnificent city views, about a half-hour drive north of town near Cerro Colorado, this not-very-well-maintained botanical…

  • El Pital

    An option for reaching the high forest in and around San Sebastián is to go via El Pital, a community ecotourism project 9km (35 minutes by 4WD) east of…

  • Crystal Palace

    At the southern end of the malecón stands a handsome steel structure, sometimes called the Mercado Sur. When this Belgian-designed covered market was…

  • Torre Morisco

    Where Calle 10 de Agosto hits the malecón you’ll see this famous 30m-high Moorish-style clock tower, which was completed in 1931. It's a memorable sight…

  • Tropical Garden

    These lush gardens aren't very large, but they're still worth a peek while strolling through the malecón. For a fee, you can enter the gardens, where…

  • Church of La Merced

    Like many of Guayaquil’s colonial buildings, the original wooden church built in 1787 was destroyed by fire. The current incarnation dates from 1938 and…

  • Library

    Guayaquil's grand municipal library was founded in 1862 and contains the usual round-up of research volumes – as well as a curious Comiteca, with an…

  • Acuario Valdivia

    Acuario Valdivia is an animal rescue center where you can get an up-close look at some of the marine life of Ecuador (sea turtles, penguins, blue footed…

  • Sucre Monument

    This monument commemorates Antonio José de Sucre, the 19th-century general who played a pivotal role in helping Ecuador gain its independence from Spain.

  • Yacht Club

    A point of reference on the malecón, this club dates back to 1928, and has a permanent meeting spot here.

  • Church

    Machala's three-domed catedral (cathedral) rises high above the Parque Juan Montalvo.

  • Town Hall

    This building houses key administrative offices for Machala and the surrounding region.