Guayaquil
Guayaquil is the capital of the province of Guayas, the country’s first port and one of the largest ports in the Pacific Ocean. Situated at the mouth of the Guayas River at the foot of the Santa Ana Hill, it was founded in 1537 by Francisco Orellana. President Gabriel Garcia Moreno and the great poet José Joaquín de Olmedo were born here. This city, characterized by great activity and dynamism, is the largest city in Ecuador.
Guayaquil is not only the economic capital and largest seaport, but also the famous cultural center of Ecuador. This is a modern city, but it has preserved a small colonial part of the old Guayaquil – the Las Peñas area with wooden buildings and narrow cobbled streets.
To the northwest of Guayaquil is the most beautiful part of the coastline of Ecuador.
The most striking sights are the main square of Parque Bolívar with the Cathedral of the 16th century (the observation deck offers a marvelous panoramic view of the city and the Guayas River), the picturesque Malecon Boulevard with shops and small cozy restaurants, a historical park and numerous museums.
Climate
Best time to visit: from May to December – in Guayaquil at this time it is not too hot and it hardly rains; the rainy season lasts from January to May.
| GUAYACHIL | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Pace. air, C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
| Precipitation, mm | 230 | 242 | 252 | 153 | 60 | 33 | 10 | one | 2 | 3 | 6 | 34 |
AMAZONIA
The Ecuadorian Amazon, a region in the Amazon Basin, occupies almost half of the country’s territory. This zone is a hot and humid selva, difficult to access, and therefore not fully explored. There are few large settlements here, and nature has remained almost untouched. Amazonia is of great interest to travelers: an extensive river and lake network, lush rainforest, unique flora and fauna. About 200 tribes live in the Ecuadorian regions of the Amazon, whose ancestors lived in this jungle 10 thousand years ago, for example, the Jivaro tribe, also called headhunters, and the Aucas, the first Indians of the Amazon, with whom contact was made in 1954. The indigenous inhabitants of the tropical forests, who have studied all their secrets and life rhythms, successfully use shamanism and special plants in healing,
Traveling through the rainforests in Ecuador is much easier than in neighboring countries, as the distances are shorter and the routes are not tiring.
The main attractions of the Amazon are magnificent national parks and reserves. In the jungle you can go canoeing through the rain forest, catch piranhas, see anacondas and caimans. The waters of the Amazon are home to unique species of mammals and reptiles: pink freshwater dolphins, water turtles, manatees and giant otters. In the dense thickets of the forest, from time to time, parakeet macaws and long-billed toucans break the silence with piercing cries.
The climate
in the Amazon region is hot and humid all year round, with abundant and unpredictable rainfall, so it is important to have waterproof raincoats with you. Best time to visit: June to October (dry season) for fishing and river beaches; during the rainy season, the level of the rivers rises significantly, the roads are flooded, but this time is suitable for cruises along the tributaries of the Amazon.
| AMAZONIA | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | noc | Dec |
| Pace. air, C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 |
| Precipitation, mm | 279 | 227 | 279 | 310 | 274 | 190 | 182 | 165 | 189 | 242 | 260 | 282 |
