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Cruise passengers with a local guide on the Malecón 2000 by the Guayas river

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Guayaquil from the ship: a private shore day

Your ship docks in Guayaquil; a local friend meets you at the port, shows you the iguanas, the river and the painted stairs of Las Peñas, adds an art stop at Casa Marín if you like, and has you back long before all aboard.

The story

A port day that feels like visiting a friend

Cruise calls in Guayaquil are short, and the port is a drive from the centre. Allyson has guided Silversea passengers here and designed art add-ons for cruise groups in Las Peñas. She plans the day around your ship’s times, so you see the city properly and never watch the clock.

  1. Ashore

    Met at the port entrance

    Before you sail in, you get clear meeting instructions: some ships run a shuttle to downtown, otherwise the port bus or your private van does the job. Your guide meets you at the port entrance, checks your all-aboard time and builds the day backwards from it. From then on, the timing is her worry, not yours.

    A local guide meeting cruise passengers at the Guayaquil port entrance
  2. + 30 min

    Iguanas and independence

    Parque Seminario, where land iguanas laze in front of the cathedral, then Plaza de la Administración with the Town Hall Palace and the University of the Arts, and La Fragua de Vulcano, the monument to the friends who plotted the city’s independence in 1820. Stories, not dates, at every stop.

    Travellers with iguanas by the cathedral in Parque Seminario
  3. + 1 h 30

    The river, cool or by cable car

    The Malecón 2000 along the Guayas to La Rotonda, a chocolate or wine stop on Calle Panamá, and the Aerovía cable car gliding over the river when it runs. In the heat of the day your guide moves you by car or cable car and saves the walking for the shade and the breeze.

    Aerovía cable car cabins crossing the Guayas river
  4. + 3 h

    Las Peñas, and an artist’s door

    Up Cerro Santa Ana and through Las Peñas, the painted stairs climbing to the lighthouse. Add a stop at Casa Marín on the street below: a 15-minute visit to the artist’s historic house with a handmade souvenir, or a 30-minute watercolour workshop. Larger groups can book a paint and sip or a photography walk.

    An artist showing cruise passengers her paintings in a historic house
  5. All aboard

    Back with time to spare

    Puerto Santa Ana for a last look at the river, then the van back toward the ship, early. If the port throws a surprise, your guide is on the phone sorting it out. Staying overnight in port? Make day two a cacao farm in the countryside, and see both sides of Guayaquil.

    The houses of Las Peñas above Puerto Santa Ana

Your day

Where the bird takes you

  1. Cruise port entranceMeeting instructions sent before you dock
  2. Cathedral and Parque SeminarioThe iguanas
  3. Plaza de la AdministraciónTown Hall Palace and the University of the Arts
  4. La Fragua de Vulcano
  5. Malecón 2000 to La Rotonda
  6. Calle PanamáChocolate or wine
  7. Aerovía and Cerro Santa AnaWhen the cable car runs
  8. Las PeñasCasa Marín add-on on request
  9. Puerto Santa AnaVan back toward the ship

What’s taken care of

  • Meeting at the cruise port
  • Private guide in English or Spanish
  • Private van with driver
  • A plan timed to your ship’s all-aboard
  • Casa Marín art add-ons on request

Good to know

  • Send us your ship, date and port times
  • Aerovía tickets, food and tastings are paid on the day
  • Light walking, children welcome; the 444 steps are optional
  • Overnight in port: add a second day in the countryside
  • Offered on request; the earlier platform listing is retired

About prices

Every experience is shaped around your group, so we talk first and then send you a proposal made for you. No fixed packages.

Real reviews

Travellers on this experience

4 reviews mention this experience; all are quoted as written, from the platform where they were left.

Wir hatten einen sehr schönen Tag mit Allyson. Bereits im Vorfeld war Allyson sehr kommunikativ und der Ausflug selbst war bestens organisiert. Vielen Dank Allyson gerne wieder.

Klaus W. · Germany

Allyson was an amazing guide. She was very knowledgeable and spoke English clearly. She tailored the tour to our activity level and the weather conditions, opting for a cable car ride in the heat of the day, and walking when it was cooler. She seemed to know everyone in town, and even made a phone call that allowed us to see an area of the church which had just closed. Our cruise ship was having an issue with the port and our arrival back to the ship was delayed by port authorities. She even made phone calls to help us with that!! She then followed up with us to make sure we made it onto the ship. She certainly went beyond any other tour guide we’ve ever had.

Tammy B. · United States

Allyson did a fabulous job of showing us the sites of Quayaquil over the span of two days when our cruise ship was diverted from Peru this past February. She put together the perfect trip of countryside and city on very short notice. Her English is excellent, her communications are excellent, her responsiveness to questions are excellent, and her sense of humor charming. Book with Allyson and you will not be disappointed. She is a credit to the Tours by Locals service.

Margaret P. · United States

We had a lovely tour with our friendly and knowledgeable guide Allyson. We arrived on a cruise ship for an overnight stay in Guayaquil. Allyson met us at the appointed place and time. We discussed what we wanted to do and Allyson made it happen. We highly recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in learning about the history, culture and people of Guayaquil.

Patricia C. · United States

On time pick up from our hotel. Tour around the highlights of the city. Guide was very knowledgeable and personable but the city itself is just not that scenic.

Trevor R. · United States

This was a great day! I was the only one on the tour and my guide Alison, and her friend Mikela, did a superb job. For the dry forest we visited the Cerro Blanco private reserve where Alison had engaged a wonderful local guide who's knowledge of all things was exceptional. Later a visit to various parts of Guayaquil gave me a good incite into this city's "vibe". A truly enjoyable day with two charming and knowledgeable young ladies. Highly recommended!

Roger · Australia

Alyson is an excellent guide. Her English is top notch & knowledge of the city & the country’s history is masterful. In addition she is a very nice person that we enjoyed interacting with.

Stephen E. · United States

We really enjoyed the food and city walk tour presented by Allyson. Her passion for the local product is first class. The market experience was genuine as this is the market where she normally shops. We would highly recommend this tour.

David S. · United States

61 reviews across ToursByLocals, Tripadvisor, Google Maps, Viator and GetYourGuide.Open the five passports →

Shall we plan it?

Tell Allyson your dates and who’s coming. She replies personally, usually the same day, with ideas and questions; the proposal comes after.