Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve

General Information

• Area: 123.500 acres (49.984 ha)
• Date of Creation: September 26, 1979
• Altitude: 0 — 2.297 ft (0 - 700 m)

The Manglares Churute Reserve was included by the RAMSAR Convention in the list of the most important marine habitats of the world. The reserve is part of the Guayaquil Gulf, where the water from many rivers joins the ocean. This has formed many islands and canals, perfect for the growth of a mangrove forest and many animal species, especially during their juvenile stage. However, the deforestation of mangrove forest near the reserve to create pools for shrimp breeding is impacting the whole area.

Flora and Fauna

In the reserve there are four types of mangrove forest: the red, white, black and jelí species. Manglares Churute is a refuge for fifty migratory, aquatic bird species. Apart from that there are 219 more bird species, among them great blue herons, ducks, flamingos, eagles, hawks and pelicans. The most important mammals are the guanta, the smallest anteater of the world, known as balsa flower, the howling monkey and the bottle-nosed dolphin. The mangroves are a habitat for the Morpho butterflies, too.

Tourism

The reserve is only two hours away from the biggest city of Ecuador, Guayaquil, by boat. The Matorrillos canal permits a direct access to the mangrove forest. One can also use the highway to Machala, which leads to the administrative and information center of El Mate Hill after about 28 miles. In El Mate Hill one can take a five-hour trail that tours the dry and humid tropical forests of the zone. The 8-hectare El Canclón Lake and Pancho Diablo Hill are good bird watching places.