Cerro Santa Ana & Lighthouse
Cerro Santa Ana
Climb the 444 numbered steps to the top, where a lighthouse and small chapel overlook the Guayas River and the city. It is the best place to watch the sunset.
Cerro Santa Ana is the birthplace of Guayaquil, where the Spanish first founded the city in 1547. After its 2001 renovation, a stepped path lined with colorful little houses, cafés and souvenir shops runs straight from the foot of the hill to the summit. There are 444 steps in all, each one numbered. At the top are a lighthouse painted in blue and white stripes in a colonial style (you can climb it for free), a small chapel, old gun emplacements and models of antique sailing ships. The 360-degree view takes in the Guayas River, Santay Island, the city's high-rises and, across the river, Durán. The climb takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and security guards are stationed along the way, so it is relatively safe. Entry is free. We recommend going up in the late afternoon and relaxing in a bar beside the steps after sunset before heading back down.
Opening hours
Open all day; lighthouse approx. 10:00–22:00
Nearby sights
- Puerto Santa Ana
- Las Peñas
- Anthropological and Contemporary Art Museum (MAAC)
- La Perla Ferris Wheel
- Aerovía Cable Car
- Hemiciclo de La Rotonda
- Church of San Francisco
- Cementerio General de Guayaquil