If you want a short trip outside Guayaquil, Ecuador, try these suggestions. A guide to travel from Guayaquil to nearby cities and Towns, including Riobamba and Quito. You can go for a day trip or stay overnight for easy sightseeing outside the city.
20 Great day trips & overnight excursions from Guayaquil
Nearest & Best places to go
Location: Azuay province
Cuenca is a beautiful historical city, capital of the Azuay province, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city is famous for its stunning architecture, tourist attractions, hotels, cafes, galleries, and night activities.
Location: Chimborazo province
Guano is a nice town surrounded by picturesque landscapes. It is famous for its handmade leather products. Located in the Chimborazo province, 20 minutes from Riobamba. Main attractions are the Chimborazo and "El Altar" volcanoes.
Location: Chimborazo province
Riobamba is a charming Andean city, located in the heart of the Ecuador. It is known as "La Sultana de los Andes", because it sits atop a large plain with snow-capped peaks in the background as the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain.
Location: Santa Elena province
Salinas is a coastal city located in the province of Santa Elena. Salinas is the main beach resort on the south coast of Ecuador. Salinas has a stretch of immaculate beach, also has popular beaches such as San Lorenzo and Chipipe. It also has a beautiful promenade known as Malecón. Along the Malecón, you can ...
Location: Santa Elena province
Montañita is a coastal town located in Santa Elena. It is considered one of the best beaches in Ecuador. This town has a bohemian touch. Montañita is usually crowded, with fun all around. It has lots of handcrafting shops, small rustic bars, restaurants with delicious food, and street vendors walking on the beach. Montañita is ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Colta Lagoon is a large water body of elongated shape, surrounded by lush vegetation, native bird species, colorful boats, a a playground. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife including ducks, swans, sheep, birds, and fish.
Location: Chimborazo province
Alausí is a charming town located in the Chimborazo province, Ecuador. Tourists flock to so that they can ride the Devil's Nose train, about 2 hours down from Riobamba. The descent into the valley to Alausí is spectacular. Alausí train station is another tourist attraction. As well as the Plaza Bolivar, the "13 de Noviembre" ...
Location: Galápagos province
Galápagos National Park is Ecuador's first national park. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos Islands are a collection of rocky and volcanic lands. It has pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. They are a protected part of the Galápagos National Park. About 97% of the entire area is part of the National Park system. ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Thus, it is common to see vicuñas, llamas, guanacos, rabbits, deer, wolves, and birds. The main attraction is the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest volcano. ...
Location: Manabí province
Puerto López is a small fishing village, located in the center of the Machalilla National Park, in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. Puerto López is located in a wide bay surrounded by green hills. It is also the base to explore the beach of Los Frailes, considered the most beautiful stretch of the coast of ...
One-day trips
Location: Guayas province
The Lake National Park recreation area is a protected area in Guayas, Ecuador. The reserve is located one hour from Guayaquil, located at Kilometer 23 via the Coast (E-40). The park is accessed at km 26 of the Guayaquil – Salinas highway, two kilometers after the tollbooth. Parque Lago covers an area of 2,283 hectares ...
Location: Guayas province
7 Cascadas is a group of seven waterfalls located 57 mi. (91 km.) from Guayaquil, Ecuador. This is in the Cooperativa 23 de Noviembre, a small town in the Naranjal canton. The waterfalls are in the Hayes hill. It takes around 25 minutes walking from the entrance to the first waterfall. The last waterfall is ...
Location: Guayas province
Cerro Blanco Forest is a tropical dry forest reserve in the Guayas province, Ecuador. It is located 20 minutes from the city of Guayaquil. Cerro Blanco supports more than 500 vascular plant species, one of the highlights is seeing the majestic ceibo trees up-close. Besides the ceibo, Cerro Blanco Forest is a birdwatcher's paradise home ...
Location: Guayas province
Santay Island (Isla Santay in Spanish) is a recreation area located between the cities of Guayaquil and Duran, in the Guayas river. Guayaquil and the Santay Island are connected through a pedestrian bridge of 840 meters (2,755ft). The bridge has an elevated part that permits the navigation of the vessels crossing the river. In addition, there ...
Location: Guayas province
Puná Island is a large island off the coast of the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador. It has a protected area of 855 square km., well known for its great mangroves and great biodiversity. The island was created by the accumulation of materials on a core formed by volcanic rocks. Puna island is an ecological reserve that houses ...
Location: Guayas province
Duran is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Guayas Province, near Guayaquil. The climate in Duran is tropical. During the rainy season, from December to April, weather is sunny, hot, and humid. The dry season runs from May to November, weather is cloudier and cooler. A local holiday is the Foundation of Duran on ...
Location: Guayas province
Samborondón is a canton in the province of Guayas, Ecuador. Samborondón is located in the lower basin of the Guayas River, which separates it from Guayaquil. Also known as "The Equestrian Capital of Ecuador" for its constant equine activity. The road near Samborondón houses the most expensive real estate in Ecuador, with some luxurious mansions ...
Location: Guayas province
General Villamil Playas is known simply as "Playas" is the closest beach to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Only 60 mi (96 km) away — an hour's drive by car. General Villamil Playas receives many local visitors, especially during the winter. General Villamil Playas has many seafood restaurants with delicious seafood as the main ingredient in many dishes ...
Overnight trips - Short excursions
Location: Galápagos province
Galápagos National Park is Ecuador's first national park. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos Islands are a collection of rocky and volcanic lands. It has pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. They are a protected part of the Galápagos National Park. About 97% of the entire area is part of the National Park system. ...
Location: Manabí province
Puerto López is a small fishing village, located in the center of the Machalilla National Park, in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. Puerto López is located in a wide bay surrounded by green hills. It is also the base to explore the beach of Los Frailes, considered the most beautiful stretch of the coast of ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Alausí is a charming town located in the Chimborazo province, Ecuador. Tourists flock to so that they can ride the Devil's Nose train, about 2 hours down from Riobamba. The descent into the valley to Alausí is spectacular. Alausí train station is another tourist attraction. As well as the Plaza Bolivar, the "13 de Noviembre" ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Guano is a nice town surrounded by picturesque landscapes. It is famous for its handmade leather products. Located in the Chimborazo province, 20 minutes from Riobamba. Main attractions are the Chimborazo and "El Altar" volcanoes.
Location: Santa Elena province
Montañita is a coastal town located in Santa Elena. It is considered one of the best beaches in Ecuador. This town has a bohemian touch. Montañita is usually crowded, with fun all around. It has lots of handcrafting shops, small rustic bars, restaurants with delicious food, and street vendors walking on the beach. Montañita is ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Colta Lagoon is a large water body of elongated shape, surrounded by lush vegetation, native bird species, colorful boats, a a playground. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife including ducks, swans, sheep, birds, and fish.
Location: Santa Elena province
Salinas is a coastal city located in the province of Santa Elena. Salinas is the main beach resort on the south coast of Ecuador. Salinas has a stretch of immaculate beach, also has popular beaches such as San Lorenzo and Chipipe. It also has a beautiful promenade known as Malecón. Along the Malecón, you can ...
Location: Chimborazo province
Riobamba is a charming Andean city, located in the heart of the Ecuador. It is known as "La Sultana de los Andes", because it sits atop a large plain with snow-capped peaks in the background as the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest mountain.
Location: Chimborazo province
Chimborazo Fauna Reserve is located in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Bolivar in the Ecuadorian Andes. The reserve is a protected area that guards a wide variety of vegetation and animals. Thus, it is common to see vicuñas, llamas, guanacos, rabbits, deer, wolves, and birds. The main attraction is the Chimborazo volcano — Ecuador's highest volcano. ...
Location: Azuay province
Cuenca is a beautiful historical city, capital of the Azuay province, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city is famous for its stunning architecture, tourist attractions, hotels, cafes, galleries, and night activities.
