Location: Guayas Province Map
Area: 350.41 km2
Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve is located in Guayas Province of Ecuador. These mangrove forest of Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve covers an area of 350.41 km2. The closest large settlement is the city of Guayaquil located about 40 km (25 miles) from the entrance to Churute Mangroves. Although the reserve offers a network of hiking trail, the best way to explore the mangrove forest is by canoe. Aquatic birds, many species of crustaceans and many tortoises are most abundant on the border between water and mangrove forests. Keeping it quiet and restrain from any sudden movements will allow to approach fauna of this Ecuadorian Ecological Reserve fairly close.
Key Highlights and Biodiversity
Mangroves: Home to five of
Ecuador’s seven mangrove species, dominated by red mangroves (Rhizophora
mangle). The intricate root systems support a rich ecosystem, filtering
water, preventing erosion, and nurturing marine life.
Wildlife:
Birds: Exceptional for birdwatching (nearly 300 species reported).
Common sightings include roseate spoonbills, wood storks, herons (Cocoi,
little blue), kingfishers, ibis, cormorants, ospreys, magnificent
frigatebirds, snail kites, and the horned screamer. Water levels peak
around January for more waterfowl.
Mammals: Mantled howler monkeys
(often seen on the “Howler Trail”), white-throated capuchin monkeys,
iguanas, raccoons, armadillos, anteaters, and possibly sloths.
Other:
American crocodiles/caimans, crabs (especially red mangrove crabs
harvested at low tide), shrimp, tortoises, and various insects.
Flora: Mangroves along waterways; dry forests with oak, ebony,
silk-cotton (ceiba), balsa trees; abundant orchids and bromeliads.
Many tours combine the reserve with a visit to a local cacao farm
for a chocolate-making demonstration and lunch, adding cultural depth.
How to Get There
From Guayaquil: Most visitors join organized day
tours (recommended for convenience, guides, and transport). Private or
small-group tours typically include hotel pickup, last 1–1.5 hours one
way. Public buses from Guayaquil’s Terminal Terrestre head east; ask to
be dropped near the reserve entrance (around Km 49 on the
Guayaquil-Machala highway), then take a taxi or arrange local transport.
Self-drive: Feasible but less common; follow signs toward Naranjal or
Posorja area. A visitor center and dock provide access points.
Best Time to Visit
Dry season (roughly June–December) offers better
trails and fewer mosquitoes, though wildlife viewing remains good
year-round.
Wet season (January–May) brings higher water levels in
lagoons (great for birds) but more rain and insects.
Tide timing
matters for boat rides and crab activity—tours often align with optimal
conditions. Mornings are generally best for cooler temperatures and
active wildlife.
Main Activities and Tourist Tips
Canoe/Boat
Ride through Mangroves (1–2 hours typical):
Motorized canoes navigate
estuaries and channels, gliding under natural “tunnels” formed by
mangrove roots. Guides explain the ecosystem, symbiosis with crabs, and
point out birds and wildlife.
Tip: Bring binoculars and a zoom
camera. Stay quiet for better sightings. Life jackets are usually
provided.
Hiking Trails:
Sendero El Aullador (Howler Monkey
Trail): Popular ~1.4 km interpretive trail through tropical dry forest.
Good chance to see (and hear) howler monkeys, birds, and plants.
Moderate difficulty; can be muddy.
Other short trails exist; only a
few are designated for tourism. A raised boardwalk or interpretive paths
may be available near the entrance.
Tip: Wear sturdy, closed-toe
hiking shoes or water sandals that dry quickly. Trails can be slippery
or uneven.
Wildlife Watching & Photography: Focus on lakes (e.g.,
El Canclón or Churute) for aquatic birds and at salt flats for
shorebirds.
Visitor Center: Start here for maps, info on flora/fauna,
and orientation. Local guides (often required or highly recommended)
enhance the experience.
Typical Full-Day Itinerary (from
Guayaquil tours):
Morning pickup → Canoe ride → Hike → Optional cacao
farm visit/lunch (learn about harvesting, processing, and tasting) →
Return by afternoon/evening.
Practical Tips
Entry & Costs:
Entry fee around $10–15 USD (older reports mention ~$13); local guide
~$50 (may be per group). Full-day tours from Guayaquil typically range
$70–$250+ per person depending on group size/private vs. shared,
inclusions (transport, guide, lunch). Book via reputable operators like
those on Viator, Civitatis, or local eco-tour companies.
What to
Bring:
Insect repellent (mosquitoes can be intense—apply thoroughly,
especially on legs).
Binoculars, camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
Lightweight long sleeves/pants for sun/insect protection.
Sturdy
shoes, rain jacket/poncho (weather can change), water bottle, snacks.
Passport/ID copy.
Health & Safety: Moderate physical fitness
needed for hikes. Not wheelchair accessible. Watch for slippery
surfaces, wildlife (don’t feed or approach closely), and sun exposure.
Drink plenty of water.
Respect the Environment: Follow “leave no
trace.” Do not disturb wildlife or mangroves. Support conservation by
using local guides and eco-friendly tours.
Language: Many local
guides speak Spanish primarily; English-speaking guides are available
via tours.
Accessibility & Limitations: Limited infrastructure; it’s
a natural reserve, not heavily developed. Surveillance can be an issue
in some areas, but visitor zones are generally safe.
Pre-Columbian and Indigenous History
The area has a deep human
history spanning over 4,000 years. Archaeological evidence shows
settlement by ancient cultures including Valdivia, Chorrera, Guangala,
Jambelí, Guayaquil, and Milagro. These groups left behind remains such
as camellones (raised agricultural platforms on flood-prone soils) and
tolas (earthen mounds used for burials, housing, ceremonies, or
lookouts) in the plains, hillsides, and around Laguna El Canclón.
These pre-Columbian societies relied on the rich estuarine
resources—fish, shellfish, crabs, and mangroves—for sustenance and
likely engaged in early forms of resource management. The region’s
mangrove-human interactions in the broader neotropics represent the vast
majority of such history, with mangroves playing key roles in
livelihoods long before European contact.
Later Indigenous and local
communities continued traditional uses, including fishing, crabbing
(especially the red crab or guariche, Ucides occidentalis), and
agriculture. Several communities (around 11 noted in some accounts) were
already present when formal protection began, and their ancestral rights
have been largely respected, with special permits for sustainable
resource use.
20th Century: Establishment and Early Protection
(1970s–1990s)
The reserve was officially created on July 26, 1979,
via Acuerdo Interministerial No. 322 (published in Registro Oficial No.
69 on November 20, 1979). It was initially around 35,000–49,000+
hectares (sources vary slightly on exact initial figures, often cited
near 49,383–49,984 ha), encompassing mangroves, dry forests, and hills.
It was one of the first protected mangrove areas on Ecuador’s
continental coast and the only one in the national system focused on
this ecosystem at the time.
Boundary adjustments followed:
Acuerdo
Ministerial No. 513 (December 23, 1987) for modifications.
Acuerdo
Ministerial No. 0376 (July 23, 1992) for expansion and redefinition of
boundaries.
In 1990, it was designated a Ramsar Site (Wetland of
International Importance) due to its extensive aquatic environments,
supporting diverse habitats and species.
Early management involved
collaboration between institutions like INEFAN (Instituto Ecuatoriano
Forestal y de Áreas Naturales y Vida Silvestre) and organizations such
as Fundación Natura, leading to management plans (e.g., Phase 1
proposals in the mid-1990s) that addressed zoning, socio-economic
issues, and threats like land tenure conflicts arising from the 1992
expansion.
Biodiversity and Ecological Significance
The
reserve protects ~60% mangrove forest (five of Ecuador’s seven mangrove
species, dominated by red mangrove) alongside dry forests, garúa (mist)
forests on hills, estuaries, and lagoons. It supports rich fauna: howler
monkeys, crocodiles, caimans, jaguars, anteaters, numerous birds (over
300 species, including migratory and emblematic ones like the canclón),
and marine/estuarine life critical for fisheries.
It serves as a
refuge for threatened species and a nursery for commercially important
marine life.
Post-Establishment Challenges and Conflicts
(1990s–Present)
Despite protection, the reserve has faced ongoing
pressures typical of coastal areas near a major city like Guayaquil:
Shrimp farming (aquaculture): Major driver of mangrove loss. Farms
existing before 1979 could continue but not expand; post-1979 ones were
supposed to be removed. Illegal expansion, deforestation, and pollution
from effluents persist. In 2008, an executive decree required eviction
and reforestation of illegal ponds, but enforcement has been
inconsistent.
Land tenure and human settlements: Expansion in 1992
created conflicts with local possessors and agricultural expansion.
Communities rely on crabbing and fishing; ~2,000 families (organized in
associations) depend on the mangroves.
Other threats: Illegal
logging, poaching, fires, overgrazing, pollution, invasive species, and
weak enforcement due to limited resources (staff cuts, equipment issues
like boats). Limits are not always physically marked, leading to “no
man’s land” perceptions.
Local crabbers and fishers have become
key advocates, denouncing violations and sometimes assisting patrols.
Institutional changes (e.g., closure of the Undersecretariat for Coastal
Marine Management around 2020) and budget constraints have complicated
responses.
Carbon stock studies show relative stability in recent
years (2015–2021), underscoring its value for climate mitigation.
Location and Size
Geographic position: Approximately 40–50 km
(25–30 miles) southeast of Guayaquil, near the towns of Posorja,
Naranjal, and Río Taura. Coordinates center around 2°30′32″S 79°44′38″W.
It lies in the lower basins of rivers flowing into the Gulf of
Guayaquil, part of the broader Guayas River estuary system.
Area:
Sources vary slightly due to boundary ambiguities, but it spans roughly
49,383–55,212 hectares (about 494 km² or ~135 square miles), with around
60–67% consisting of mangrove swamp/estuary.
Accessibility: About 45
minutes to 1 hour from Guayaquil by road, with access points along
highways like Durán-Boliche. It includes river ports like Soledad Grande
for boat entry.
Topography and Landforms
The reserve is not
flat mangrove-only; it features diverse relief:
Mangrove and
estuarine lowlands: Dominate ~87% of the area (low-lying, tidal flats,
canals, and islands at near sea level). These form a complex network
where freshwater meets seawater.
Coastal hills (Cordillera de
Churute): A small chain of hills rising from ~10–700 meters above sea
level (masl), occupying ~11% of the reserve. Key hills include Mate,
Cimalón, Perequete Chico/Grande, Pancho Diablo, Mas Vale, and Pechuga de
Niño. Higher elevations often experience fog ("garúa"), supporting more
humid vegetation.
Lakes and wetlands: Includes Laguna El Canclón (a
~800-hectare freshwater lake formed by rainfall, with smaller connected
lakes) and associated alluvial plains (~2% of the area) in the lower
Guayas basin.
Other features: Salt flats, tidal channels, and some
archaeological sites (e.g., ancient mounds from cultures like Valdivia
along the highway).
The terrain transitions from tidal mudflats and
dense mangrove tangles near the water to drier foothills and steeper,
fog-influenced slopes inland.
Hydrology and Water Dynamics
Estuarine system: A brackish zone where saline ocean water mixes with
freshwater from the Taura (main source, formed by Boliche and Culebra
rivers), Churute, Cañar, and Naranjal rivers. This creates dynamic
salinity gradients, tidal canals, islands, and sediment-laden waters.
Tides and sediments: Strong tidal influence; mangroves thrive in the
intertidal zone. Rivers deposit sediments, and flocculation (from
salt-freshwater mixing) adds more, building the muddy substrate.
Lakes: El Canclón is primarily rain-fed, contrasting with the brackish
estuarine areas.
Climate influence: Tropical megathermal climate with
distinct wet (Jan–May, peak rainfall) and dry (Jun–Dec) seasons. Average
temperature ~28°C (82°F); annual rainfall ~960 mm in hills (less at sea
level), but highly variable with El Niño events, which can cause heavy
flooding.
These dynamics make the area highly productive ("nurseries
of the ocean") but also challenging for biodiversity due to fluctuating
conditions.
Vegetation and Ecosystems
Mangroves (~60%+ of the
reserve): Home to five of Ecuador’s seven mangrove species, including
red (Rhizophora mangle), white (Laguncularia racemosa), black (Avicennia
germinans), jelí/button (Conocarpus erectus), and crawling (Rhizophora
racemosa). Structural types range from tall forests (>15m) to shrubby
forms. They act as "blue carbon" sinks, coastal buffers against
erosion/floods/tsunamis, and nurseries for marine life.
Dry and humid
forests on hills: Deciduous and semi-deciduous forests with species like
oak, ebony, silk-cotton (ceibo), balsa, Tabebuia chrysantha (golden
trumpet tree), and others. Epiphytes (orchids, bromeliads) are common.
Higher slopes have premontane evergreen elements and ferns.
Other:
Lowland shrublands, herbal marshes (e.g., water hyacinth), and secondary
forests recovering from past disturbances.
Ecological and
Geographic Significance
As a Ramsar wetland site and tentative World
Heritage candidate, it protects rare Pacific South American mangroves
(one of the best-developed and publicly accessible). It serves as a
natural flood barrier for nearby areas (Guayaquil is vulnerable to
flooding), supports carbon sequestration, and sustains local fisheries
(e.g., red mangrove crabs).
Note on challenges: Boundaries are not
always physically marked, leading to pressures from shrimp farming,
agriculture, and illegal activities, though it remains a vital protected
area.