Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco
A tropical dry forest reserve about 15 km west of the city, with hiking trails and an observation tower; a great place to see great green macaws.
Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco covers about 6,000 hectares and protects Ecuador's endangered coastal tropical dry forest. It is managed by a non-profit foundation. Trails of varying lengths, from 30 minutes to several hours, wind through the reserve, where you can see giant kapok trees, howler monkeys, deer and more than 200 bird species. The most celebrated is the endangered great green macaw, and the reserve also runs a parrot conservation centre. The entrance is on the coastal highway toward Salinas, about 16 km along it. Entry costs a few dollars and the reserve is open on weekends and holidays, while weekday visits require a reservation. Go in the morning, and bring water and insect repellent.
Opening hours
Weekends approx. 08:00–16:00 (weekdays by reservation)
Nearby sights
- Malecón del Salado
- Presley Norton Museum
- Cementerio General de Guayaquil
- Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral
- Parque Seminario (Iguana Park)
- Guayaquil Municipal Museum
- Mercado Artesanal de Guayaquil
- Church of San Francisco