In the city of Guayaquil, known as the "Pearl of the Pacific," discover the historical monuments where liberators once shook hands. There are several beautiful fountains and a wealth of lush tropical vegetation, which frames the city when viewed from the river. The neighborhood of Las Penas, which has survived the the city's natural disaster, preserves the most historic remnants of the colonial period. Its wooden architecture recalls the great influence of the Spanish naval yards once located here during colonization.