Excursion Botanical garden & samanes park tour at Guayaquil

See the astounding nature of Guayaquil, Ecuador at the Botanical Gardens and Samanes Park on this expedition that is a nature lover's dream come true. Depart the pier and drive one hour to your first destination, the Botanical Gardens.

Guayaquil's Botanical Gardens have approximately 324 plant species that can be observed in their natural habitat. It is also home to some timber and fruit trees, ornamental and exotic plants, and some other tropical species. However, its main attraction are the orchids.

There are collections of orchids from the Ecuadorian Orchidaceae family, and other native species of the country like: bromeliads, tillandsias, heliconias, lotus flower and nepenthe, which is a carnivorous plant that was brought from Madagascar. However the most important resident of the botanical garden is the orchid named as Encyclia Angustiloba Schltr. It is an endemic specie of the Guayas Province and unique within the 4,032 types of orchids that grow in the different ecosystems of Guayaquil. For this reason it has been designated as the emblematic flower of the city.

After this visit, drive to Samanes Park. It is a green area of 400 hectares and a memorial to the ecological Riviera of the Guayas River that existed in that area in the past. The park has 10 km (6 miles) of trails for cycling, walking and running activities, which provides a harmonic integration between the visitors and nature. Walking through the park, you may see tree species such as beldaco, membrillo, guayacan, saman, saiba, ceibo, pai pai, guachapeli, samancillo, coquito, pigio, bototillo, muyuyo, guasmo and nigüito or cherry-tree.

Besides the flora, the park stands out for the richness of its bird fauna, which comprises 48 identified species like: the mosquerito Coronado bird, the pipilio, herons, the playero coleador, perico cachetigris, the mosqueros and semilleros, ducks and stilts.

After your walk, rest and enjoy some local fruit and a cold drink. Return to the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Botanical Gardens, Samanes Park, rare plant species (324 including wild orchids and bromeliads); tree species and birds (48 including herons Coronado)

Note

Please note: Guests are recommended to wear flat shoes, lightweight clothing, hats, sunscreen, and to bring sunglasses, insect repellent and umbrellas. There are two hours of walking on uneven, unpaved and slippery areas, therefore this excursion is not suitable for guests with limited mobility. Guests may choose to return to the coach when ready or to explore independently.