Guayaquil celebrations prompt road closures and marathon events

The Guayaquil municipality organized a series of festivities to mark the city’s 491st anniversary, including two student parades on July 1, 2026. Hundreds of students marched along Avenida 9 de Octubre and the Malecón, with traffic halted for vehicles except Metrovía buses. Local officials, including acting mayor Tatiana Coronel, greeted the crowds from the municipal balcony, while tourists recorded the performances.

On July 4‑5, additional parades titled “Esto es Guayaquil” were held, and the Automobile Traffic and Mobility Agency (ATM) staged a “Media Maratón” featuring 5 km, 12 km and 21 km races. About 2 000 runners started and finished at the intersection of República de Guayaquil and Pichincha, prompting temporary road closures in central districts such as Atarazana, Kennedy Norte, Urdesa and others. Organizers advised motorists to use alternate routes to reduce disruption.