Malecon Gardens

Malecon 2000 is an urban renewal project that combines a commercial shopping center, an historic area,  botanical gardens and museums. It was completed in year 2000 and is a 1.5 mile long promenade on the banks of the Rio Guayas that has 3 distinct sections. The commercial center has some 230 stores which are  found underneath the promenade while a variety of restaurants, bars and cafes are above the retail stores overlooking the river. There are also several boarding docks in this area where embarkations offer both day and nighttime cruises up and down the river Guayas.   The historic civil plaza located in the middle of the promendade has a number of monuments created in honor of important persons in Ecuador’s past, as well as some recreational  areas for children. On the other side of the historic area are the malecon gardens that occupy about 22,000 sq. meters as well as several museums.  In these gardens there are pedestrian pathways supplemented by a variety of native flora, ponds, lagoons, streams, fountains and bridges.. Other nearby attractions for the eco-tourist include an iguana park, the Cierra Blanco Forest Reserve and the Machalilla National Park.

A view of the malecon looking towards the commercial area

a childrens pool in the historical civic plaza area

a pathway in the gardens

One of the foot bridges in the gardens

native garden flora

The front of the art museum at the end of the malecon with cerro santo ana hill in the background

iguana park lizard