Manglares-Charute Ecological Reserve
General
This reserve includes part of what used to be
the extensive mangrove forest of the Gulf of
Guayaquil, and part of the Churute cordillera.
The most visited areas are El Mirador hill and
the Churute lagoon, named after a bird that
nests in the areas and is nowadays in danger
of extenuation.
Access
There are travel agencies in Guayaquil that can arrange tours into the Reserve, because
a canoe is needed.
Species
The most common mammals are red-rumped agouti, howler monkey, paca, ocelot, common opossum,
coati and crab-eating raccoon. The area is also rich in birds such as caracara, horned
screamer and the gallinule. Some common reptiles are the green iguana and the fresh-water
turtle.
Plants
Besides several species of mangroves such as red mangrove and the iguana-mangrove, there are
other important trees in the surrounding forests, like roble, guayacán, ebony, balsa tree
and laurel.
