Located in the coastal province of Guayas, Guayaquil is the most populated urban center inEcuador and core of the country’s economic activity. Guayaquil is located on the western bank of the Guayas River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil. Because of its location, the city is the center of Ecuador's fishing and manufacturing industries. With almost 2.5 million inhabitants,Guayaquil combines the accessibility of a metropolis and the charm of an ever-developing city. As such, Guayaquil promises to be an engaging study abroad destination. 

Guayaquil is also the top access point for Galapagos cruises and home to a bustling import-export business. Tourism is on the rise as well, thanks to a new international airport and urban renewal projects along the River Guayas promenade and in the historic neighborhood of Las Peñas. The 465-step climb to the top of Santa Ana Hill provides sweeping views and a chance to stand on the site of the city's birthplace.

Local administrations began a campaign of construction projects for the city in the late 1990s to attract tourism, that included the "urban regeneration", which reconstructed the city in all levels including sidewalks, parks, sewer system, it took the power and telephone lines underground, it saw a lot of reconstruction of the city's chaotic transit system with the construction of multiple infrastructures (streets, speedways, overhead passages, tunnels, etc.).

In August 2006, the city's first bus rapid transit system, Metrovia, opened to provide a quicker, high-capacity service. One of the main projects was called Malecon 2000 on of the promenade along the GuayasRiver with the addition of a boardwalk in 2000. Another project was the creation of the Nuevo Parque Histórico, a park in a housing development area that is called Entre Ríos because it lies between the Daule and Babahoyo rivers (which confluence to form the Guayas river), in a mangrove wetland area. 

Guayaquil has beautiful and large beaches at only a few minutes away. Playas, Salinas, Olón, Ayangue and Montañita are some of the most visited beaches by lovers of the sun, the waves and sea sports such as diving and surf.