At the Santuario Nacional Narcisa de Jesús, the incorrupt body of Saint Narcisa de Jesús is preserved. This religious history offers a distinctive introduction to Guayas; river trips, historic houses and natural sites reveal other facets of the province.
Pilgrimage and River Life in Nobol
The Santuario Nacional Narcisa de Jesús is a pilgrimage destination in the canton of Nobol, in Guayas Province, on the banks of the Río Daule. Another place associated with Narcisa de Jesús is Hacienda San José in Nobol. It is considered a visitor attraction because Narcisa de Jesús was born there on October 29, 1832.
The river is also part of the experiences described in Nobol: at the canton’s malecón, the Asociación de Servicios Turísticos Fluviales Nachita and ASONOB offer canoe trips on the Río Daule. In Petrillo, visitors can sample desserts and dishes made with plums at the traditional Feria de la Ciruela. These include ice cream, as well as turkey and pork with plums. Nobol thus brings together religious heritage, a birthplace, and different aspects of river and food culture.
The events calendar adds another dimension. Parque Temático Garza Roja offers artistic events and theater performances on weekends and public holidays. When planning a trip, you can compare this with the weekly program in Guayaquil’s Barrio Las Peñas: there, the city government organizes entrepreneurs’ markets, traditional games demonstrations and performances by the Municipal Band. The two programs therefore differ both in their formats and their schedules.
Historic Houses and Urban Nature in Guayaquil
Barrio Las Peñas includes 36 historic houses, among them galleries and workshops. The houses preserve colonial-style architecture. The neighborhood thus combines historic buildings with cultural events, while Parque Seminario offers a different perspective on the city. Located in central Guayaquil, it is a refuge for the famous green iguanas; at the same time, it brings together history, nature and tradition.
Forest Landscapes and Named Routes
The province’s natural environments differ markedly. At Reserva Natural Cerro Blanco, numerous birds, insects and mammals live across 6,000 hectares of tropical dry forest. The cloud forest in Recinto La Esperanza Alta, in the canton of Bucay, has more than 40 waterfalls visited by local and international tourists. Together, tropical dry forest and its wildlife, and cloud forest with its many waterfalls, offer different natural highlights in Guayas.
Named attractions and routes also help visitors find their way. Camino del Inca is a designated attraction in the canton of Naranjal. The Tren de Bucay, also known as the “Tren de la dulzura,” runs from Durán to Bucay and passes through Milagro and Yaguachi, among other places. This route description names several locations and offers a different view of Guayas from discoveries focused on individual neighborhoods, landscapes or historic sites.
Choose the Focus of Your Trip
The Feria de la Ciruela, the wildlife of Cerro Blanco, and the named locations and routes can also shape your choices.
Discover more destinations: Guayaquil, Alfaro, Hacienda Santa Isabel, Playas, Milagro, Palmar, Hacienda San Juan, Churute, Balzar, San Antonio, Guayas, La Delicia, Posorja, San José, Hacienda Nueva Fortuna, Carrizal, Samborondon, Coronel Marcelino Mariduena, Las Piedras, La Union, Engabao, El Paraíso, Data de Villamil.
For the overview of destinations: Ecuador.
