In this post, you’ll learn about the best things to do in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Attractions in Guayaquil include food, culture, natural, and adventure. Learning what to do will make your trip more fun and memorable.
This post includes the following.
More to follow in a future update.
When we travel to Guayaquil we stay at the Howard Johnson.
The Howard Johnson in Guayaquil
The Howard Johnson is a nice hotel. The lobby is bright and clean. I always like the beautiful flower arrangement on the table in front of the main doors.
The restaurant serves a large buffet breakfast each morning and they have room service.
The rooms are clean and nicely decorated. The beds and pillows are very comfortable, I don’t have a problem falling asleep there.
They offer an airport shuttle service which we love. The shuttle service is so convenient, it means that we never worry about getting a taxi (which can be dangerous in Guayaquil) or mapping our way around the city.
There are glass doors in the lobby just beyond the restaurant that lead to a cafe/restaurant area. The cafe is “Sweet & Coffee,” they’ve got good coffee and lots of sweet treats to go with it.
You can eat outside and enjoy the warm weather or sit inside in the air-conditioned two-level eating area. Bryan loves their chocolate-covered coffee beans.
Just around the corner from the cafe is an area of restaurants with outdoor eating areas. We like the atmosphere in the evening. Palm trees, warm air, and good food.
Check out: 34 beautiful photos of Guayaquil
Close to Mall del Sol
There is a large mall (Mall del Sol) just a five-minute walk from the hotel. The walk from the hotel to the mall is through a safe area (the restaurant area mentioned above) and there is a walking bridge over the highway.
We really like how close the hotel is to the mall because we can find some things there that we haven’t been able to find in Cuenca.
We often stock up a bit when we stay in Guayaquil. There are often good sales at Mall del Sol and the large food court is a bonus.
What’s the weather like? Here’s the guide to Guayaquil weather.
What if I Don’t Speak Spanish?
Every time we’ve stayed at the Howard Johnson (we’ve stayed at least 8 times) the staff working the front desk speak English to us until they realize we speak Spanish.
And the shuttle driver has always been standing at the airport waiting for us, holding up a sign with our names on it.
These things can make a big difference to someone feeling a little unsure or apprehensive because of not speaking the language. I know it did for us the first time we stayed there in 2009!
Howard Johnson lobby entrance
The HoJo is a bit pricey, but for us it’s worth it because of the comfort, convenience and location.
It’s also a good safe option until a person is familiar with the city and wants to venture out a bit more.
If you’ve stayed at the Howard Johnson please share your thoughts by commenting on this post.
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Hi, I’m Dena Haines. And I’m co-founder of Storyteller Travel. I love to cover food, animals, and destinations around the world.
I also blog about photography at Storyteller Tech.
Bill Hatfield
Monday 15th of September 2014
Why didn't you tell prices?
Bryan Haines
Monday 15th of September 2014
Because hotel prices aren't fixed. You can check the site and get current prices, based on your dates and the type of room you need.
Mike
Wednesday 19th of February 2014
While on a trip to Orlando in November, I had an early morning departure, and spent the night at the Holiday Inn GYE. It was hard to believe that it was a HI ! I've seen Holiday Inns all over the world, as well as across the USA, and this was like no HI I've ever seen, or stayed in. The property is brand new, with excellent staff, amenities, and the room service menu was more like a fine dining restaurant. I will definitely stay there again, whenever I need to spend time in Guayaquil, as I live in Salinas.
Dena Haines
Tuesday 18th of February 2014
Thanks for all the comments on this post and reviews of some other hotels to consider in Guayaquil. We are sure other travelers will appreciate your input! Perhaps we will check some of them out in the future and share more about them on the blog.
william fitzpatrick
Sunday 12th of January 2014
have never stayed at the Howard Johnsons....had to go to Guayaquil for our Cedulas and stayed at the Palace Guayaquil as it was close to where we had to go. It was a very nice hotel and close to a lot of sights to see, I would highly reccommend it to anyone who has to be in Gauyaquil for a few days. The iguana park, and river front area was great, there is also an unusual market close by (about five or six blocks long).
Brenda
Sunday 12th of January 2014
I wrote above about being mugged in Guayaquil? Well, it was a block from our hotel, the Unipark Hotel. I loved the hotel though. The restaurant was wonderful and so was the help. Our room was immaculate with all modern conveniences including a huge modern shower. The hotel opened up into a mall but security was obvious and you got in and out of the building with your key card. I would recommend the hotel, just don't go out walking....and ladies, take off your earrings and necklaces in public.