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Casa de la Cultura:
This museum holds the most valuable prehistoric gold work collection in Ecuador, belonging mostly to the ancient inhabitants of the coast. You will see ceremonial pots, snake-shaped bracelets, nose rings, gold pieces that were used on the lips and cheeks, elaborated pins used to fasten clothing, chest shields, ceremonial masks and earrings. The abundance of gold evoked the greed of the Spanish conquerors who hoarded and sent vast quantities of this precious metal back to Spain. Thus, gold workmanship disappeared due to the Indian belief that gold was bewitched, being the main cause of having Spaniards come to their lands.

Archeological objects, such as the Ocarinas (clay whistles), stone head rests, molds for gold masks and clay seals are believed to be of Egyptian influence. There are many colonial art pieces too. Anonymous painters’ works, as well as the know artists of the colonial perios, such as Goribar and Rodriguez, can be seen at the museum.

The Municipal Museum:
Located at the corner of Sucre Street and Pedro Carbo. This museum has four divisions: Archeology, History, Colonial Art and Modern Art. Each division with a wonderful collection of pieces. One of the things you will see are the "tzanzas" (shrunken heads), certain tribes of the jungle made them with a secret process to reduce the size of human heads, especially from their enemies. The mystery of this process has not been discovered yet.