The Most Unique Experiences To Have In Guayaquil Ecuador

Guayaquil is a relatively undiscovered city when it comes to world travelers, but it has so much to offer those looking for adventure. Whether you like to delve into food culture, wild places, or big city living, there is a unique experience waiting for you in this underrated Ecuadorian city.

Try black ceviche

Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there are some Ecuadorians who swear that ceviche de concha is the best ceviche they have ever eaten. This coastal specialty is made from the flesh of raw, black clams. The clam juice is reminiscent of squid ink, and any ceviche including black clams will be served in a glossy black sauce. Be warned: not everyone handles this ceviche well and stomach problems are common among international visitors who try this delicacy.

1. Tour the Río Guayas by pirate ship

Set sail from the Malecon 2000 in the Henry Morgan Sailing Ship and experience the river of old. You’ll learn about the history of smuggling along the coast of Ecuador. Sunset cruises provide the best photos of this wide river.

Barco Pirata Henry Morgan, Malecon 2000, Guayaquil, Ecuador, +593 4 251 7228

Just off the highway that runs from Guayaquil towards the beaches at the end of the peninsula, there is a protected tropical dry forest that is home to a community of howler monkeys. Hearing these animals in the wild is an experience not to be missed. Seeing them is even better.
Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, Guayaquil – Salinas Km 16, Guayaquil, Ecuador, +593 98 622 5077

2. Buy a surfboard designed for you

Surfing is popular in Playas, a small, coastal town a short distance outside of Guayaquil. Locals Jimmy and Milton Zhañay have long shaped their own surfboards from eco-friendly balsa wood and decorated them with wood burned designs. Today, they take special orders and will help choose the right size, shape, and design, and then handcraft that board especially for you.

Zhañay Surfboards, Guayaquil, Ecuador, +593 98 028 7746

3. Eat with your fingers

While this may not sound so unique to Americans, the concept of eating with your fingers is strange to many Ecuadorians. In fact, chicken wings are often served with little plastic gloves. But in Guayaquil, everyone eats crabs with their fingers, no gloves allowed. For a true Guayaquil experience, head to La Pata Gorda and order the crabs Criollo-style.

La Pata Gorda, Sambordón, Guayaquil, Ecuador, +593 4 283 8359

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Visit a cemetery

The municipal cemetery may not immediately come to mind as a place to visit in Guayaquil. This cemetery is the resting place of 18 Ecuadorian presidents, as well as many other political figures important to the Revolution, the founding of the Republic, and beyond. It has a beautifully-designed and well-maintained entrance, while in further corners there are photographic graves of everyday people. A local organization offers tours that focus on the more famous graves.
Cementerio Patrimonial, José Mascote, Pedro José Menéndez Gilbert 101, Guayaquil, Ecuador, +593 4 229 3849

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.