CITY of GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

Looking eastwards towards the River Guayas, is Guayaquil. It is recognized as being the economic capital and main port of Ecuador, with around 2 million inhabitants, many of whom come from other parts of the country.
According to legend, the name comes from the Indian chief called Guayas and his wife was Quil. Who threw them selves into the great river instead of being conquered by the spaniards.
By the 17th century, Santiago de Guayaquil was already the most important port in Ecuador and a stopping-off point for ships sailing the Southern Sea from Callao to Panama and Acapulco. Into its bay arrived all the products that ships brought from Spain: crockery, glassware, clothing from Castle, arms, gunpowder, flour, raisins, wine. From this same bay departed planks of select hardwoods, high-quality cacao, tar, sarsaparilla, ship's rigging, and merchandise that had come down from Quito, Cuenca and other parts of Ecuador.

GUAYAQUIL SITES
* Monument to the founding fathers:
This stands in Centenario Square, and marks the center of Guayaquil, between the river and the bay La Rotonda. The central monument immortalizes in bronze the historic and only meringue between Bolivar and San Martin in a house only a short distance away on July 26th, 1822.

* Guayaqui's Public Clock:
The Moorish clock tower stands at the end of 10 August Street, opposite of the Municipal Palace. It was formerly known as Paseo de las Colonias, a beautiful tropical garden that was planted out as a result of contributions made by different immigrant groups during the thirties, and which today is part of Guayaquil's embankment.

* Seminario Park:
The surrounding railings and the central bandstand were imported from France. The dine palms and other trees form a splendid backdrop to the statue of Simon Bolivar. During the summer months, excellent outdoor concerts and art exhibitions are held here. It is much frequented by tourists, who like to have their photos taken next to the iguanas that live in the trees and come down to enjoy the sun from time to time.