Top Guayaquil Day Trips & Excursions

Combine culture with nature on a private full-day city and cocoa farm tour from Guayaquil. Designed for travelers passing through Guayaquil, this excursion takes you to a rural cocoa farm where you’ll tour the plantation and make chocolate from scratch. Then, you’ll embark on a sightseeing tour of Guayaquil city, home to attractions such as Las Penas neighborhood, Malecon 2000, and Parque Historico. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

If you are an animal lover than this day tour to Española Island is a must. Hike and snorkel in and around the island to observe iguanas, the famous Blue-footed Booby, sea lions, and many more animals in their natural habitats. Sit down to a delicious lunch as you take in the island’s beautiful natural scenery before heading back to San Cristobal Island.

Discover the vibrant flora and fauna of Isabela and Las Tintoreras on a 3-hour group tour. Morning pickup from your hotel spares you the stress of getting to the dock in time for departure. Once aboard the boat, enjoy a water tour of the bay, then head onwards to Las Tintoreras. Live commentary from your guide enhances the sightings of blue footed boobies, sea turtles, iguanas, and more.

Take a break from the city and head to Alausí for a train ride along the Devil’s Nose.  This full-day excursion begins with private pick up from your Guayaquil hotel.  Your train ticket is pre-arranged by your private guide, so there’s no need for you to fuss over money or stand in long lines.  Then, enjoy an immersive cultural experience with the Puruhuas people in Sibambe before returning to Guayaquil.

Enjoy a day tour of Chordeleg and Gualaceo. Gualaceo i located at a distance of 35 kilometers from the provincial capital Cuenca. Due to its location, it is a communications hub to eastern Ecuador. Its main activities are agriculture, handicrafts and tourism. Chordeleg is a canton in the province of Azuay in Ecuador. It is famous for its handicrafts such as ceramics, hand embroidery and jewelry, has dozens of jewelry stores in which stand out the wonderful works of jewelry of its inhabitants.

Just outside of Cuenca, the towns of Chordeleg and Gualaceo preserve traditional ways of living through their well-regarded handicraft markets and typical town structures. Gain deeper insight into each location and Ecuadorian culture on this private 4-hour tour from Cuenca, which includes hassle-free transportation from the city.

The beaches and laidback vibe of Montañita, a coastal town on the Pacific west of Guayaquil, have long attracted surfers and sun seekers searching for a place to relax. With this full-day tour, trade the busy streets of Guayaquil for this beach retreat. Your guide can point out points of interest, like a scenic viewpoint at Stella Maris Church or the handicraft shops of Libertador Bolívar.

Salinas, with its condos and white sands reminiscent of Miami Beach, sits on Ecuador’s Pacific coast directly west of Guayaquil. With this full-day tour, escape the busy streets of Ecuador’s biggest port city for a day hiking along the coast and relaxing on the beach. Stop to soak in the views from La Chocolatera, the westernmost point on the Ecuadorean mainland.

You don’t need to visit the Galapagos Island to experience the rich wildlife of Ecuador. Get up close to howler monkeys, freshwater birds, and more on a tour to Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve. After comfortable transfer from your Guayaquil hotel, enjoy a peaceful canoe ride and hike through the tropical dry forest. Later, tour the grounds of a nearby cocoa plantation and enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with local ingredients.

Spend a day exploring the picturesque dairy and cacao farm called Hacienda La Danesa on horseback. Learn about its 145-year history from your local guide and enjoy some time engaging with the Olsen family--three generations of farmers who call this peaceful plot of land home. Learn to make chocolate, navigate mountain trails on horseback, enjoy a lunch of Ecuadorian cuisine, and sample Ecuadorian Chardonnay during a delicious meal on site.

Discover the lagoon of Quilotoa on this all-day guided tour. Follow the trail that is thought to be the last sacred route of the Incas to the 2-mile-wide (3-kilometer) large volcanic crater (known as a caldera), which is filled with glass-like water. The hike down to the lagoon takes about 30 minutes, with the hike back up taking a little longer. Along the way, be on the lookout for local wildlife such as deer, wolves, rabbits, foxes, and more.

Swap city life for a day at the beach with this full-day private tour to Salinas Beach from Guayaquil, including lunch and hotel pick-up.  After a scenic drive along the coast, stop to admire the views at the Punta Carnero, Ancon and Anconcit beaches and keep a lookout for pink flamingos and other wildlife. Finally, make the most of your free time to explore independently, take a fishing cruise or enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the white sand beaches.

Leave the busy city behind and discover the wildlife and cocoa production unique to Ecuador on an 8-hour tour. Comfortable transportation from your Guayaquil hotel takes you to a wildlife reserve. Home to hundreds of species, you have the opportunity to see numerous mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Next, visit a local plantation and learn about the in depth cocoa process the sets Ecuador apart from other countries.

At Isla de los Pajaros (Bird Island), you don’t have to fly all the way to the Galapagos to enjoy Ecuador’s diverse birdlife. This day trip from Guayaquil takes you from Puerto Morro through the mangrove forests of the coast to an island where numerous species of migratory birds make their home. Spot frigates, albatross, pink herons, cormorants, and boobies in their natural environments.

Escape the concrete jungle for a couple of hours inside the Botanical Garden of Guayaquil. Avoid the confusion and crowds that come with public transit and relax in private round trip transportation from your hotel. With a pre-purchased ticket, there’s no need for you to wait in line at the entrance. In just two hours, you’ll experience over 300 plant species and animals ranging from squirrel monkeys to red piranhas.

If you want a day of non-stop adventure, this is the tour for you.  Private pickup from Guayaquil takes you to Riobamba, where you’ll hop on the Ice Train with your guide and discover some of Ecuador’s best natural wonders and meet the famous Baltazar Ushca.  You’ll also visit La Maya, where you’ll learn from the descendants of the Puruha people. After an included meal, head back to Guayaquil.

The Quilotoa Lagoon is one of the most picturesque destinations in the Ecuadorian Andes, but many tours only pay a quick visit. This private full-day tour from Quito offers ample time to admire the scenery, trek around the lakeside, or visit the surrounding villages. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Trade crowded streets of Guayaquil for a day of adventure experiencing Ecuador’s wildlife and popular Varadero beach.  Private transportation takes you and your guide to Puerto el Morro, with a stop at San Jacinto. The comprehensive - but leisurely paced - day tour also takes you on a boat tour, before you get to unwind on Varadero beach. Then, relax as comfortable transport returns you to the city.

Spend a 12-hour day at the Barceló Colón Miramar, with drinks, meals, and transportation included from Guayaquil. Enjoy tours of the local Chocolatera and Salt Pool.

This train combines scenery, culture and shopping in a journey that takes us from the temperate valley of Ambato to the Andean high plateau – known as paramo- of Urbina, more than 4,000 meters above sea level in the foothills of Chimborazo. There, the last Ice Merchant of Chimborazo and custodian of this ancient trade awaits us. Those willing to stay overnight in this unique place can book a comfortable room at the Train Mountain Lodge.

This full-day tour of some of the most beautiful and popular coastal areas of Ecuador includes Salinas, the San Lorenzo boardwalk, white sand beaches around the Ruta del Sol and Ballenita Beach, salt mines, a sea lion refuge, a nautical and pirate museum, and an included seafood lunch.

Explore the artisan towns of Cotacachi and Otavalo on this 8-hour private day trip from Quito. Travel in a private vehicle via the Pan-American highway, stopping at various lookout points and attractions along the way. Enjoy personalized attention from your private guide and a flexible itinerary. Pickup and drop-off at your Quito hotel included.

Join one of Ecuador's most popular beach clubs for the day on this all-inclusive escape from Guayaquil, Ecuador. The sun, sand, and surf of Villamil Beach are yours and all resort facilities, lunch, and open bar are also included for full Pacific Coast relaxation.

Take a break from the Guayaquil’s hustle and bustle on a 9-hour private tour to Ecological Reserve Manglares Churute.  The action packed day begins with private transport from your hotel, followed by a canoe ride and easy mountain hike. Along the way, see the famous flora and fauna of Ecuador.  Your private guide then takes you for an included Ecuadorian lunch before visiting (and taste testing at) a cacao farm.