Ecuador’s Most Popular Cities

View of the Las Penas neighborhood on Santa Ana Hill in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Ecuador is a beautiful land made up of 24 administrative provinces and many world-known cities. The majority of the Ecuadorian population is located in urban cities and towns where there are more employment opportunities for the industries and businesses that operate in these cities. Below we dive into what makes these cities special and why you should check them out.


With a population of more than 1,600,000 inhabitants, Quito is one of the largest cities in Ecuador and one of the oldest in South America. This lovely city was actually the administrative capital of Spain and today it’s recognized as the historic center of the entire country. In Quito are three main regions: the north, which is mainly composed of modern buildings, shopping centers, residences and financial institutions. The central region,  which represents the remains of what is left of the colonial city and its historic buildings. Lastly, its southern region, which is mainly local neighborhoods, industrial and residential units.Quito is a very special and unique city that has a versatile touch that goes from stone streets to modern buildings.


Better known in the colonial period as Santiago de Guayaquil, this city is the largest and most populated one in Ecuador and is also known as the Economic Capital of the country. It has a population of more than 2,200,000 inhabitants. Although it was founded in 1538, it reached the independence of the Spanish colonization  in 1820. Ecuador’s import and export trade is concentrated through the Gulf of Guayaquil, that’s why most of the population is dedicated to this trade.
Tourist activities in Guayaquil include visiting the Malecon 2000, which is a 2.5 km space of museums, gardens, fountains, beautiful viewpoints, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, food courts and docks from where you can board boats for day and night trips on the Guayas River.


Cuenca, also known as Santa Ana de los Rios de Cuenca, is located in the highlands of Ecuador. This is the third most populated city in Ecuador with 321,000 inhabitants. In the colonial era this city was dedicated to cultivation and pottery, and was originally colonized by the Spanish in 1557. Cuenca is an important historical center due to its spectacular Spanish architecture that is unique to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Nowadays, Cuenca serves as educational, administrative, transport and cultural center of the country. The surroundings areas of the city include the rural area of Molleturo, the mountain ranges of the Andes and the El Cajas national park with rivers, streams and lagoons. The city owes its great attraction to the perfect Andean climate of 15 ° on average and to its typical gastronomy, craft fairs, museums, music and nightlife.

Come and visit these beautiful cities and enjoy their breathtaking sights! During your trip, make Quito your first stop and stay at Anahi Boutique Hotel. We offer luxury comfortable accommodation along with high quality amenities, services and delicious meals.  Thanks to its ideal location, you can visit attractive museums, beautiful buildings, famous monuments and charming neighborhoods. There is so much to discover in this wonderful city!

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