Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador? Recommendations?

Question

I'm heading to Ecuador soon and would like advice. I want to visit Quito, but I keep seeing such great things about Guayaquil and now I am not sure what to do.

I will only be in Ecuador for 10 days, so I don't want to miss anything. I will be on the beach in Salinas for 3 days of this time, so I only have 7 days to spend in a city. The question, though, is which city? I keep hearing such great things about both of them, but don't think I could fit yet another airline ticket into my budget to see both of them.

If it helps, I really like nightlife, shopping, museums, et cetera. I would like to go to the city with the most entertainment.

Answer 1

the best one to visit is guayaquil because of all the changes the city has had in the last 10 yrs. it starts in the airport and to me, it has no ending really. the food its amazing, you have a variety of great restaurants that arent expensive like in the u.s. in the u.s. if you go to a real good restaurant you expect to spend at least 200 dollars for 2 people, here if you go to the "BLUE SNAIL" in spanish "EL CARACOL AZUL" 2 people would be around 50 dollars, this would be with fresh juices, wine, desserts plus your meal.

the currency now is dollars like here. there are lots of things that are still very cheap compared to here.

if you stay at the hilton its going to be around 150 per night but the sheraton is 75, theres also a howard johnson. the sheraton and howard johnson are very close to the airport and you are across the street from the mall. next door to this 2 hotels theres an irish pub, its really cool and fun people, theres good places to eat just there. nothing expensive either.

another restaurant that i like a lot is "LO NUESTRO" typical food and its delicious.

theres lots of museums and things to see in guayaquil. all together i like guayaquil more than quito. but quito its nice too.

if you like the ocean and surfing, salinas, montañita, olon. all this beaches are full of tourists from all over the world. i have met people that liked montañita so much, that the ended up staying long after they run out of money and started working in the hotels around the area so they can eat and keep partying and of course surfing.

if there is a swell, the waves go to 10 feet if not more. my husband is from the u.s. and he loves ecuador so much he wants to move over there, which i have no complains, i love the idea to moving back...

beer is a dollar for 1 liter bottle but if you return the bottle is 60 cents that liter. restaurants in montañita and salinas are sooo cheap you wont believe it and sooo good too.

this 1st website is actually a friend of my mom's that goes around taking pictures and posting them online so people get a better idea of the city and the country.
http://www.abcdecuador.com/

this one i visit also, to see whats going on
http://www.visitaguayaquil.com/1.gye...

and this one, i've visited a few times, but im not really familiar with it.
http://www.ecuador365.com/guayaquil1.htm...

if you like the mountains i think you would like quito, imbabura, otavalo, riobamba, ambato, cuenca. this last city is very small. it has a nice old church in the middle you can visit and they have lots of jewerly that they make. im not too familiar with the sierra, thats what its called, because i dont visit that area that often. growing up we went to all those cities mention above but since im an adult i havent.

i took my husband to see "LA MITAD DEL MUNDO" in quito, thats where the equinox line goes across to divide the north and the south hemisphere. its really cool thing to see.

if you go from december to may in the coast, which is la costa, its hot but no so in the beach. guayaquil feels hotter. and from june to nov in guayaquil is cold. it goes down to 60F and the beach is even colder.

QUITO: CLIMATE
At an elevation of 2,800 meters Quito's temperatures and rainfall vary depending on the region, altitude, and seasonal factors. Quito, in the northern Andes, has an temperature varying from 45° to 74° F warm, direct sunlight cooled by light, steady breezes, painfully picturesque clouds that usually gather for a short afternoon shower.

Dry season in the capital lasts June-Sept., with July and August receiving the least precipitation. A shortened dry season runs Dec.-Jan. The rainy season is typically from September to June, varying from 4 to 7 inches per month. More rain falls Feb.-Mar. and Oct.-Nov., with at least half of April seeing a torrential down- pour taking up most of the afternoon.

http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com/... this is another good website you have the whole country here and pictures.

i hope i was helpfull and if you go, have a great time. im actually going in dec for christmas and new years.

new years is the best, if you are in salinas, theres also a hilton there, but you have to book with time or you wont find openings, you can see the fireworks at 12 and the people are together in the streets celebrating and we have the "años viejos" being burn at 12 to finish the bad things of the year burning.

and lastly, the nighlife in guayaquil is better, lots of places to go out to, and the clubs close at 4 or 5 am. when in quito, because is cold, they close at 2am.

a flight to quito round trip from guayaquil is 100 dollars. i wouldnt go in a bus, i think its dangerous the way they drive. i usually drive my own car but if you cant rent one, i would fly.
http://www.tame.com.ec/tame/english/home/default.asp
thats their website.

good luck and have fun, and if you want to emial me any question, feel free, i'd like to help you.

Answer 2

Quito To Guayaquil

Answer 3

I was in Ecuador for 10 days in August, it was amazing, you'll love it! I was in Quito and not Guayaquil, so I may be biased, but it was a wonderful city! There is so much culture in Quito, from great architecture to beautiful churches and it is close enough to many places so that you could take a day trip (like to Otovalo). The nightlife was fun in the Mariscol district, but I did hear that Guayaquil was better than Quito as far as nightlife.

Answer 4

I lived in Quito for three months, and about an hour away from it for five more. I like Quito better (no offense to anyone from Guayaquil). I think there is more art and museums in Quito, but that just may be my personal opinion. You will get a more Caribbean feel in Guayaquil and it is much warmer. You are nearer to the beach if that appeals to you. Quito is more springlike, but you'll want to take a fairly warm sweater or jacket if you're out late at night. In Quito, you see more indigenous influence and get the beauty of the mountains. Honestly, they are not that far apart. If you can, try to spend a bit of time in both. If you must choose, my vote is for Quito. When I went to Ecuador, I really enjoyed the Lonely Planet Guide. Have fun. By the way, for art and museums and cafes, honestly, Cuenca, in the Southern Highlands is also worth a look.

Answer 5

If I were to choose one of the three cities you listed, I would choose Cuenca hands down. It has all the conveniences of living in the US, etc. Plus it has the best climate...spring-like with almost daily afternoon rain. It is also culturally rich and set in a beautiful valley just outside the Cajas National Park. My second choice would be Quito. It has all of the above mentioned for Cuenca, but is bigger and thus more congested with traffic and pollution.

Answer 6

Quito, I wouldnt go to Guayaquil.Everybody I know told me not to go there. I was only in the better part of Guayaquil for a short time. If you only have 10 days I would go to Quito and maybe make a day trip or 2 to Otavalo.