A Quick Glimpse of Guayaquil’s Highlights

Guayaquil was the very last stop we made in Ecuador. Returning from the Galápagos Islands, we got off the plane in Guayaquil and spent the night at Hotel del Parque. Since our flight home was scheduled for the following evening, we decided to use the day to explore the city.

However, due to Guayaquil's reputation for being unsafe in certain areas, we hired a guide. We stuck to the city's center, which is generally considered safe during the day. The city doesn't have a long-standing historical center like other places in Ecuador, mainly because large parts have burned down several times.

One of the highlights, though, is the Cathedral of Guayaquil. Officially known as Catedral Metropolitana de Guayaquil San Pedro Apóstol Cathedral, it stands next to Parque Seminario, also called Iguana Park. The current neo-Gothic structure was built in the early 20th century, replacing a wooden church destroyed by fire. Its twin spires and stained-glass windows give it a distinct look, and it remains an active place of worship today.

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​Parque Seminario: Where Iguanas Rule the Plaza

​Right in front of the cathedral, in the middle of the city, we found something completely unexpected—land iguanas! The plaza, officially Parque Seminario but often called Iguana Park, lives up to its name. I had just returned from the Galápagos and joked, 'Why go so far?' The iguanas were everywhere—lounging on benches, crawling through the grass, even hanging in the trees. Their bright green color was almost fluorescent. Our guide said it's incredibly vivid during the rainy season or mating time. He also warned us not to stand under the trees—they're known to pee on people. True or not, I moved fast!