The Malecón Simón Bolívar — universally known as the Malecón 2000 — is Guayaquil's most impressive public space: a 2.5-kilometre riverside promenade along the western bank of the Guayas River, stretching from Las Peñas in the north to the southern docks. Gardens, fountains, monuments, restaurants, museums, and a clock tower are spread along its length.
The promenade is best in the late afternoon and evening, when the heat eases and the light on the river turns golden. A clock tower at the northern end, a children's play area in the centre, and the cluster of museums and IMAX at the southern end give the whole walk a clear structure. The river is busy with cargo ships even in the evening — a reminder that Guayaquil is still Ecuador's most important port.