Guayaquil

One of the most charming parts of the city. Brightly painted houses, shops, and cafés climb Santa Ana Hill...there are 444 steps, thoughtfully numbered—where you can get an unparalled view of the city — Fodor's

One of the most extensive urban-renewal projects in South America, Malecón 2000 is made up of monuments, playgrounds, sculptures, gardens and river views — Lonely Planet

Nahim Isaias, located in the Plaza de Administración building, exhibits an excellent collection of sculptures, paintings and artifacts from the colonial period. — Lonely Planet

Imposing marble columns form the backdrop for statues of the men who liberated most of the continent, Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín. The monument commemorates their first (and only) meeting — Fodor's

The biggest draw is a collection of tsantsas, or shrunken heads. Artifacts from indigenous peoples here include beadwork, feather work, tools, and weapons. — Fodor's

Behind the open-air Teatro Bogotá is the oldest church in Guayaquil. Founded in 1548 and restored in 1938, it’s worth a look. — Lonely Planet