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Ecuador🇪🇨 | attractionsLas PeñasNumbered steps, painted wooden houses, riverside lighthouse, artist studios | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Las Peñas
👌 Worth visitingattraction ranked #11
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Entry to the neighborhood is free, and the walk up costs nothing but breath. Las Peñas sits on the slope of Cerro Santa Ana in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, just north of the Malecón 2000 riverfront. Crowds thin out on weekday mornings, though weekends bring families and loud music, and some lanes feel staged. Still, you get painted wooden houses, galleries, and a river view from the lighthouse above. I once climbed at midday with no water and no plan, then ended up lost in a dead-end alley. Lesson learned: follow the numbered steps. Before you go, bring small bills for the little shops and stay on the main stairs after dark.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Ecuador Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #11 attraction in EcuadorThe unique appeal for travelers

Las Peñas is where Guayaquil began, and that matters more than any single sight here. Walking its Numa Pompilio Llona street, a cobbled lane of balconied wooden houses, you see the old port city before the skyscrapers arrived. Artists still keep studios in many of the pastel homes, so the climb doubles as a free gallery crawl. The other draw is the 444 steps of Cerro Santa Ana, which put you above the Guayas River with a clear view over the whole city. For a backpacker passing through Ecuador’s coastal hub, Las Peñas gives you a compact, safe-feeling morning of culture before the next bus to the coast or the Andes. It also gives the city context that the malls and the airport never will.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Calle Numa Pompilio Llona: the famous cobbled lane of colorful wooden houses with balconies, plaques, and small galleries. It is the photograph everyone comes for.
  2. Cerro Santa Ana Steps: 444 numbered steps lined with cafés, souvenir stalls, and murals. The count down from the top is a fun distraction on the way up.
  3. Lighthouse (Faro): a white tower at the summit with wide views over the river, the city, and the bridges. Entry is free.
  4. Capilla de Santa Ana: a small whitewashed chapel near the top, rebuilt in the early 2000s, with a quiet plaza where locals sit.
  5. Fortín de la Planchada: a small fort-like site with old cannons, recalling the defenses against pirate raids.
  6. Artist studios and galleries: several homes on the lanes open their doors, so you can browse paintings and crafts and chat with the
… read more 👉
  1. Calle Numa Pompilio Llona: the famous cobbled lane of colorful wooden houses with balconies, plaques, and small galleries. It is the photograph everyone comes for.
  2. Cerro Santa Ana Steps: 444 numbered steps lined with cafés, souvenir stalls, and murals. The count down from the top is a fun distraction on the way up.
  3. Lighthouse (Faro): a white tower at the summit with wide views over the river, the city, and the bridges. Entry is free.
  4. Capilla de Santa Ana: a small whitewashed chapel near the top, rebuilt in the early 2000s, with a quiet plaza where locals sit.
  5. Fortín de la Planchada: a small fort-like site with old cannons, recalling the defenses against pirate raids.
  6. Artist studios and galleries: several homes on the lanes open their doors, so you can browse paintings and crafts and chat with the makers.
  7. Museo Naval El Fortín del Cerro: an open-air naval museum near the top of the steps, with cannons, anchors and remains of the old defenses.
You can see all of it in about two to three hours at an easy pace.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Las Peñas

Best Highlights in Guayaquil

Best Highlights in Guayaquil

5.0(200)
From €71
per personViator
Small Group Guayaquil and Cocoa Farm Full-Day Tour

Small Group Guayaquil and Cocoa Farm Full-Day Tour

5.0(122) 7h
From €163
per personViator
Guayaquil Private Experience - City Tour for Seniors

Guayaquil Private Experience - City Tour for Seniors

4.7(85)
From €90
per personViator
Guayaquil Layover Sightseeing Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transport

Guayaquil Layover Sightseeing Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transport

5.0(31)
From €109
per personViator
Private Guayaquil City Tour

Private Guayaquil City Tour

4.5(35) 3h
From €70
per personViator
Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana

Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana

4.5(14) 3h
From €78
per personViator
Private City Tour through the Pearls of Guayaquil

Private City Tour through the Pearls of Guayaquil

5.0(9) 3h
From €172
per personViator
Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico

Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico

4.6(10) 4h
From €86
per personViator
Half Day Walking Tour of Guayaquil Pearl of the Pacific

Half Day Walking Tour of Guayaquil Pearl of the Pacific

4.8(9)
From €91
per personViator
Walking through the City of Guayaquil

Walking through the City of Guayaquil

4.7(7) 3h
From €129
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Las Peñas

  • Dry Season (June to November): Cooler and mostly rainless in Guayaquil, with highs of 28 to 31°C (82 to 88°F) and lows near 21°C (70°F). Garúa mist and gray mornings are common, and the 444 steps up Cerro Santa Ana stay comfortable to climb.
  • Wet Season (December to May): Hot and sticky, 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F), with heavy afternoon downpours that make the painted stairs slippery. Mornings are usually clear, so go early.
  • Crowds and Prices: Weekends and holidays such as Carnival and the July 25 Guayaquil founding celebrations bring local crowds, music and higher hostel rates. Weekdays are quiet.
  • Daylight: Day length stays near 12 hours all year, and the lit-up waterfront is lively into the evening.
Climb before 10 a.m. on a weekday for cooler air and empty steps.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Most backpackers sleep in the Centro and Malecón 2000 area, a 10 to 20 minute walk from the base of Las Peñas. Dorms here run about US$10 to 18, and you can reach the Malecón, the Iguana Park and the Metrovía bus line on foot. Stay on the lower streets near the Malecón and the cathedral, where police and tourist patrols are visible in daytime. Avoid walking the backstreets of Centro after dark and use a taxi or ride-hailing app for the short trip back, usually US$2 to 3.

A second option is Urdesa, a leafy residential district about 15 minutes away by car, with a lively strip of restaurants and … read more 👉
Most backpackers sleep in the Centro and Malecón 2000 area, a 10 to 20 minute walk from the base of Las Peñas. Dorms here run about US$10 to 18, and you can reach the Malecón, the Iguana Park and the Metrovía bus line on foot. Stay on the lower streets near the Malecón and the cathedral, where police and tourist patrols are visible in daytime. Avoid walking the backstreets of Centro after dark and use a taxi or ride-hailing app for the short trip back, usually US$2 to 3.

A second option is Urdesa, a leafy residential district about 15 minutes away by car, with a lively strip of restaurants and bars and a calmer feel. Rooms and small guesthouses run about US$15 to 30. It suits travelers who want a quieter base and easy eating, and the ride to Las Peñas costs around US$4 to 6.

If you arrive late from the airport, a short stay near the Malecón keeps your first night simple.
Best hostels in Ecuador


Best quality hotels in Ecuador

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Budget about US$38 to 70 per day for Las Peñas, with a daily total of US$54 in high season. Climbing the stairs and wandering the painted houses is free, so most spending goes to food, beds and getting around Guayaquil.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryUS$0The stairs and lanes are free to enter. Pay in US dollars, Ecuador's currency.
Accommodation (high season)US$12 to 20Dorm bed in Centro or near the Malecón. Private rooms start around US$25.
FoodUS$8 to 14Set lunch (almuerzo) costs US$3 to 5. Dinner at a casual restaurant runs US$5 to 9.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Metrovía fare is US$0.30. A short taxi or app ride costs US$2 to 5.
Art and galleriesUS$0 to 5Small galleries and cafes on Numa Pompilio Llona street. Museums nearby charge little or nothing.
Tips and extrasUS$2 to 5Water, snacks and
… read more 👉
Budget about US$38 to 70 per day for Las Peñas, with a daily total of US$54 in high season. Climbing the stairs and wandering the painted houses is free, so most spending goes to food, beds and getting around Guayaquil.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryUS$0The stairs and lanes are free to enter. Pay in US dollars, Ecuador's currency.
Accommodation (high season)US$12 to 20Dorm bed in Centro or near the Malecón. Private rooms start around US$25.
FoodUS$8 to 14Set lunch (almuerzo) costs US$3 to 5. Dinner at a casual restaurant runs US$5 to 9.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Metrovía fare is US$0.30. A short taxi or app ride costs US$2 to 5.
Art and galleriesUS$0 to 5Small galleries and cafes on Numa Pompilio Llona street. Museums nearby charge little or nothing.
Tips and extrasUS$2 to 5Water, snacks and a coffee at the top of the hill.
Total Daily BudgetUS$54Per person, per day, in high season.


source: peru-explorer.com
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQFrequently asked questions about Las Peñas

Plan on 1 to 2 hours at Las Peñas. The climb up the 444 steps of Cerro Santa Ana takes 20 to 30 minutes at a relaxed pace, and the galleries, the lighthouse and the lanes of painted houses fill the rest. Pair it with the Malecón 2000 for a half-day outing.
Yes, Las Peñas costs nothing to enter, so there is no fee to weigh up. The painted houses, the lighthouse viewpoint and the galleries along Numa Pompilio Llona street are open to wander freely. You only spend on drinks, snacks or art, usually US$2 to 10 in total.
From central Guayaquil, Las Peñas is a 10 to 20 minute walk along the Malecón 2000 to the base of the stairs. A taxi or ride-hailing app from Centro costs about US$2 to 4, and from the airport roughly US$6 to 10 in 20 to 30 minutes. The Metrovía bus (US$0.30) also stops near the Malecón, and the final stretch is on foot.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Las Peñas is best early on a weekday morning, when the light is soft, the steps are quiet, and the galleries are just opening. I would skip the weekend afternoon crowds, carry water, and finish with a river walk along the Malecón.

✈️ When did I visit Ecuador?
Ecuador I visited during my half year trip through South and Central America back in 2003

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Ecuador, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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