Malecon 2000 (pronounced Malecon dos mil) is the name given to the 2.5km boardwalk along the western shoreline of the Guayas River in downtown Guayaquil. It's part of an urban renewal project and was inaugurated in 1999. Before this time, it was a dangerous place to visit with overgrown foliage, drug dealers, prostitutes and thieves. Now it's one of the most visited places in Guayaquil and serves as a social meeting place for all to enjoy. The boardwalk has museums, a shopping mall, gardens, fountains, bars, restaurants, boat tours for cruising the Guayas River and a very large Ferris wheel. There are also new plans to build a roller coaster in the near future!
The boardwalk was decorated in Christmas decor when I visited and there were so many people walking the strip with their family and friends. I met up with Kary to walk the strip and have dinner in one of the restaurants there. Food prices were a little beefed up compared to other restaurants in the city but this is to be expected for a tourist spot.I would return to Malecon 2000 on many occasions whenever I was in Guayaquil. The boardwalk is just as nice to walk around during the day as it is at night time!
From my apartment, the ride to Malecon 2000 is about a 20-30 minute bus ride. Bus number 85 would be my main transportation vehicle in Guayaquil!
Las Penas
Las Penas is a barrio (neighborhood) at the north end of Malecon 2000. It looks like a very large hill and (las penas means crag or steep cliff). It is actually the first neighborhood to be established in Guayaquil and dates back 400 years boasting its Spanish colonial style architecture. You can walk all the way up to the top of the hill which is called el Faro de las Penas (lighthouse of Las Penas). There are exactly 444 steps to reach the top (the steps are numbered!). Bars and restaurants line the path all the way to the top of the hill. Restaurants have workers standing outside trying to get you to visit their restaurants or bars. Once you get to the top, there is a church and a lighthouse and you'll be able to see the best views of Guayaquil!
Here's a video of some of the steps leading up to El Faro.
And 44 steps, you'll reach El Faro.
This is the view from El Faro lighthouse. This is the little Catholic church at the very top of the hill.
El Faro was used by the Spaniards as a fortification during the Spanish colonization so there are a lot of cannons perched around the lighthouse.
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