Tipsy Gata in Guayaquil
Guayaquil (pronounced “Guay-a- QUIL.”) is the gateway to the Galapagos, but it’s also a lovely little town worth exploring. Our hotel welcomed us with cocktails (thank you very much), so Tipsy was already a fan of this lovely city (and of course, she had to try the local brew and snacks).
It’s incredibly colourful, with artistic murals painted along the flyovers to make traffic jams less boring, and the Cerro Santa Ana and Las Peñas, up 444 steps, is well worth the climb. There have been reviews saying it can be a little dangerous up there, but luckily, we didn’t see anything to worry us.
The way up is full of characterful shops and locals – we even heard a school practising their national anthem – and at the top, there’s a lovely little church and lighthouse – and of course, a great view.
Other sites include, Malecon 2000 – the promenade – which was like an Ecuadorian Brighton! But our favourite part of Guayaquil has to be the Parque de las Iguanas, just in front of the Cathedral. The park – a little square really, is home to lots of Igoos – just lounging around – so watch your step, and it’s only when you stop to wonder why all those people are cooing over branches and logs on the ground – or pointing up at trees – that you realise that those logs are actually iguanas, and the ones hanging in the trees are actually napping iguanas. The chaps wandering round the park seem pretty friendly – there are signs up saying we shouldn’t try and pet them – but you can most certainly have a nice chat with them and Tipsy Cat did.
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