The numbered stair
Colourful houses all the way up.
Paulakindsvater — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Epiovesan — CC BY 3.0 · SantosJD — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marc Figueras (Oersted) — Public domain · Freddy eduardo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cecilia Heinen — CC BY 2.0
Cerro Santa Ana is a small hill on the Guayas River in north-east Guayaquil, beside the old Las Peñas quarter. It covers about 13.5 hectares under a colourful residential neighbourhood. It is where the city began, settling on its western slopes in 1547, and its houses now climb the slope from bottom to top. It was once called the Green Hill. A legend says a Spanish treasure hunter who escaped certain death set a cross on top in the name of Saint Anne, which gave it its name. The city's first main church stood on the summit, with the town hall in front where the lighthouse now stands, burned in 1624 during a pirate attack. The hill was renewed in the first decade of this century. You climb a numbered stair of 444 steps between colourful houses, cafes, small shops and old-style lamps. The numbers on the way tell you how far is left. At the top is a wide plaza with a small yellow chapel and a lighthouse, with a view over the river, the city's towers and spreading neighbourhoods. At the foot lies Las Peñas with its old wooden buildings. The hill is 1.3 km in a straight line north of Malecón 2000, an easy walk. British advice is against all but essential travel to Guayas province, so check your government's advice, come by day and keep to the main stair. The climb is tiring in the heat, so start early and bring water. The chapel is a place of worship, so dress modestly.
Colourful houses all the way up.
A lighthouse and small yellow chapel.
The Guayas and the city's towers.
Beside Las Peñas, north-east Guayaquil
There are 444 steps, which can be tiring in the heat, so rest and bring water.
Visitors recommend daytime, as the stair is quieter at night.
