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Travellers walking a trail through tropical dry forest with giant ceibo trees

Guayaquil, your way

Dry forest and the city: Cerro Blanco to Las Peñas

An early walk among giant ceibo trees in the Cerro Blanco dry forest, 35 minutes from downtown, with a local forest guide and an ear out for howler monkeys. Then the riverfront and the old hill of Guayaquil in the afternoon.

The story

A forest most visitors never knew was there

On the western edge of Guayaquil, the hills are covered in tropical dry forest, one of the most threatened kinds of forest in the world. Allyson brings in a local forest guide who knows every trunk and call, walks it with you while it is still cool, and saves the city for after lunch.

  1. 07:30

    Out before the heat

    Pickup at your hotel or Airbnb and a 35-minute drive west to the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest. The forest is at its best early, when the air is still soft and the animals are moving. At the trailhead, the ranger who will walk with you explains the trail and what you might hear before you see it.

    A forest ranger briefing travellers at a trailhead in Cerro Blanco
  2. 08:15

    Under the ceibos

    The trail winds between giant ceibo trees with swollen green trunks that store water through the dry months. Your forest guide stops at the details you would walk past: a seed pod, a track in the dust, a nest tucked into a fork of branches. The walk lasts about two and a half hours at an easy pace.

    A trail between ceibo trees in the dry forest
  3. 09:30

    Listen first

    Birds call from the canopy and butterflies cross the path in the sun. If you are lucky, a deep roar rolls over the hills: howler monkeys, louder than you thought anything that size could be. Binoculars up, quiet steps, and your guide points to where they usually are. Nothing is promised; that is the thrill.

    A traveller with binoculars and a local guide looking up into the dry-forest canopy
  4. 12:00

    Box lunch, then the river

    A box lunch after the hike, and back into the city with a different eye. The Malecón 2000 along the Guayas, the historic plazas, the iguanas in Parque Seminario and Las Peñas, with the 444 steps up to the lighthouse if your legs still want them. Drop-off at your hotel by mid-afternoon.

    The painted stairs of Las Peñas

Your day

Where the bird takes you

  1. PickupHotel, Airbnb or airport
  2. Cerro Blanco Protected Forest35 minutes from Guayaquil
  3. Ranger-led trail walkCeibo trees, birds, butterflies, possibly howler monkeys
  4. Box lunchAfter the hike
  5. Malecón 2000 and historic plazasThe city in the afternoon
  6. Las PeñasOptional 444-step climb to the lighthouse
  7. Drop-offIn Guayaquil
naturewildlifecultureFull day

Also listed on ToursByLocals ↗, GetYourGuide ↗

What’s taken care of

  • Private guide in English or Spanish
  • Private transport: SUV for 1 to 3, van with a separate driver for 4 or more
  • Forest reserve tickets and a local forest guide
  • City highlights tour
  • Pickup and drop-off

Good to know

  • Easy to moderate trail; closed shoes required
  • Hot and humid: bring water, sunscreen and insect repellent
  • Not suitable for wheelchair users, people with back problems or low fitness, or children under 3
  • Morning start, because the forest is best early
  • Groups of 13 or more: we arrange a minibus ahead
  • Part of the fee goes directly to supporting the forest

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

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

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

GetYourGuideVerified booking on getyourguide.com ↗
My family and I visited Guayaquil, Ecuador to participate in a gymnastics competition but I’ll return to Puerto Rico with amazing memories from Guayaquil. Allison’s passion and knowledge from Ecuador gave us the opportunity to taste great food, share Ecuador history and visit a dry forest and see the great fauna diversity! Thanks to this experience, we will love to come back and continue living the experience of knowing Ecuador!

Luis Torres

GoogleReview on Google Maps ↗
Allyson is a wonderful guide. Very friendly and knowledgable. I enjoyed my time with her. We saw some interesting scenery in the dry forest. I also had the opportunity to visit a local market with her to experience some element of that culture. I would recommend her for anyone wishing to see more of the Guayaquil area. As those reading this might know there were some safety concerns in Ecuador recently. I never felt unsafe, in fact just the opposite. No sign of any issues anywhere in the city.

Richard K. · United States

ToursByLocalsVerified on toursbylocals.com ↗
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

ToursByLocalsVerified on toursbylocals.com ↗
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

ToursByLocalsVerified on toursbylocals.com ↗
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

ToursByLocalsVerified on toursbylocals.com ↗
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

ToursByLocalsVerified on toursbylocals.com ↗
What a fabulous day! Allyson was a terrific guide. She listened to our requests and made sure we were safe and well taken care of all day. The mercado experience was truly amazing. We got a great snap shot of Quayaquil and excellent food. Thanks again for a wonderful day!

Kathleen R. · United States

ToursByLocalsVerified on toursbylocals.com ↗
61 reviews across ToursByLocals, Tripadvisor, Google Maps, Viator and GetYourGuide.Open the five passports →

Mix and match

Pairs beautifully with

4 to 5 hours
Guayaquil, your wayGuayaquil by the mouthful: Sauces 9 market and city flavoursBreakfast the way Guayaquil eats it, in a neighbourhood market: fruit, bolón de verde, ceviche or encebollado and a stall of Andean healing herbs. Then coffee with the iguanas, chocolate on Calle Panamá and lunch by the river.
About 7.5 hours
Coast & seaChurute: howler monkeys, mangroves and cacaoWalk a dry-forest trail listening for howler monkeys, ride the estuary when the tide allows, and finish on a cacao farm with lunch and chocolate you make yourself. A day Allyson ran for years, offered again on request.
About 7 hours
Forest & AmazonBucay waterfalls, sugar cane and a Shuar familyTwo hours from Guayaquil the Andes begin in cloud forest: a local ranger leads you to the waterfalls over hanging bridges and wet rocks, you press sugar cane juice by hand, and a Shuar family welcomes you to their home.

A combination

Wild Guayas, from the city

Three day trips from Guayaquil into three different forests: dry, mangrove and cloud.

  1. Dry forest and the city: Cerro Blanco to Las Peñas
  2. Churute: howler monkeys, mangroves and cacao
  3. Bucay waterfalls, sugar cane and a Shuar family

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.

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