Discover Chanduy

In Chanduy, Iglesia San Agustín, the parish founding festival, and the Mesa de los Fieles Difuntos offer three distinct ways to experience local culture.

Iglesia San Agustín and its sculptures

Iglesia San Agustín was built in 1734. Inside are life-size sculptures of San Agustín, the Virgen de las Mercedes, and Cristo Resucitado. This brings together a historical connection and three specifically named religious depictions in the same church. The year it was built and its sculptures offer different points of interest if you are interested in the church’s history and religious artwork.

Parish founding festival on May 29

Chanduy celebrates its parish founding festival every year on May 29. Events include civic parades and artistic performances. The date is a fixed point of reference for planning your trip; program details may vary from year to year.

A local religious practice

The Mesa de los Fieles Difuntos is another point of reference in community life. This local practice takes place on Chanduy’s main street and is considered an expression of the community’s Catholic faith. While the parish founding festival is associated with a set date, parades, and artistic performances, the Mesa centers on a religious practice. The two offer different perspectives on Chanduy: a community celebration and a local Catholic tradition.

Guayas as a wider travel destination

The wider travel destination of Guayas offers other distinct cultural and natural attractions. In the canton of Nobol, in Guayas Province, the Santuario Nacional Narcisa de Jesús, a pilgrimage site, lies on the banks of the Río Daule. The incorrupt body of Santa Narcisa de Jesús is kept there. Also in Nobol, Hacienda San José is a place to visit: Narcisa de Jesús was born there on October 29, 1832. These places offer a distinct regional perspective on religious heritage and life stories.

Another cultural highlight is Barrio Las Peñas in Guayaquil. Its 36 historic houses include galleries and workshops, among other things, and feature colonial-style architecture. The city government organizes weekly events there, including entrepreneurs’ markets, traditional games demonstrations, and performances by the Municipal Band. For nature enthusiasts, Guayas is also home to Reserva Natural Cerro Blanco: numerous birds, insects, and mammals live in its 6,000 hectares of tropical dry forest. The region’s attractions thus range from religious heritage and urban culture to the diversity of dry forest. The wider travel destination of Guayas also includes the cloud forest in Recinto La Esperanza Alta in the canton of Bucay, which has more than 40 waterfalls. At the Malecón in the canton of Nobol, Asociación de Servicios Turísticos Fluviales Nachita and ASONOB offer canoe trips on the Río Daule.

Discover more destinations

Valdivia, Santa Elena, Olon, Ayangue, Punta Blanca, La Libertad, Ballenita, Montañita

For the wider travel guide: Santa Elena.