Central & South Coast - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 310

From Las Peñas, head back south down Calle Rocafuerte toward the
hub of downtown. After passing the Church of La Merced and its
attractive plaza (Rocafuerte and Rendon), you'll arrive at the Museo
Arqueologico del Banco del Pacífico (P. de Icaza 113, 4-2328-

333, Mon-Fri, 10-6, and odd hours on weekends). Stop in at this enor-
mous bank and head upstairs to the first-rate museum. Powerful dis-
plays include archeological remains from throughout the human
history of Ecuador. Modern-art displays change regularly. Free.

Back outside, take a right on Av. 9 de Octubre and continue several
blocks to the Parque Centenario , a plaza that encompasses four
square blocks and includes numerous monuments. (Alternatively, af-
ter you pass Av. 9 de Octubre, come to the Church of SanFrancisco
and its adjoining plaza, then continue south down Calle Chile and
back to the beginning of the walk at Parque Bolívar.) Casa de
Cultura (at the west juncture of the park and 9 de Octubre, Tue-Fri,
10-5, Sat, 10-3), offers a small archeological museum and cultural
events such as foreign films at the cinema, lectures, classes, and art
shows. The museum is the best in the region, with modern-art dis-
plays as well as a collection of interesting ceremonial masks and arti-
facts. Three blocks west on 9 de Octubre is the Banco Central's
Anthropological Museum (José de Anteparra 900, 4-2320-576,

Mon-Fri, 10-6, Sat, 9-2). Fromhere, retrace your steps back down 9 de
Octubre to Rocofuerte, or make your way southwest until you reach
10 de Agosto. Turn left and walk back toward the waterfront area un-
til you get to Parque Bolívar. You made it!

If you just want to sightsee in the city, one of your best options is sim-
ply to hire a taxi and ask the driver to show you around. General
travel agents can also provide these services with English-speaking
guides, who can offer more insight into what you are experiencing.
Try Ecuadorian Tours ,

4-2287-111, /fax [phone], at 9 de

Octubre 1900, or DelgadoTravel , 4-2560-680, at 9 deOctubre and

Córdova, for general services. Viajes Horizontez is another recom-
mended guide service, located at P Solano 1502 and Mascote, 4-

2281-260. For day-trips just out of Guayaquil, it is easy to catch a bus
to many destinations.

Metropolitan Tours , 4-2330-300, fax [phone], at 9 de Octubre

and Antepara, www.metropolitan-touring.com, offers excursions
from the city, as well as trips to the Galápagos Islands in the middle-
to luxury-class range. For more economic boats, try Economic
Galápagos Tours ,

4-2312-447, /fax [phone], at 9 de Octubre

and Córdova.