Churute Mangrove Reserve tour: Wildlife walking experience

Red mangrove roots that look like they're walking across the water

A full-day tour of Ecological Reserve Churute Mangrove near Guayaquil combines boat travel through protected wetlands with guided walking to observe threatened species including coastal crocodiles and the canclón water bird. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a professional guide who speaks English or Spanish. The reserve was designated a Ramsar site in 1990 for its international wetland significance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Churute Mangrove Reserve

• Hotel pick up in Guayaquil
• Explore red mangrove ecosystem

The experience

The reserve protects three distinct ecosystems packed into a relatively small area, and the boat carries you through all of them. The red mangrove is the signature feature: its roots arch and tangle in ways that make locals call it the "walking mangrove" because they seem to advance into the estuary with each tide. This is the habitat where the canclón, a water bird now rare elsewhere on the coast, still nests and feeds in the lagoon. Coastal crocodiles, which have vanished from other stretches of Ecuador's shoreline, remain here because the reserve's size and protection let them survive.

Your guide meets you at your hotel in Guayaquil and drives you to the reserve. Once there, you travel by boat through the waterways, then walk a marked trail (the sendero) on foot. The whole outing runs about seven hours from pickup to drop-off. The operator runs the tour in all weather and provides a multilingual guide. Bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and mosquito repellent, as the wetland environment demands it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Guayaquil.
• boat travel through the reserve's river and waterways.
• guided walking on the sendero trail.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• all transportation during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Jefferson Berlin Salvatierra Valero

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see threatened species in their actual habitat rather than in a zoo or sanctuary setting. The seven-hour commitment and walking trail mean you need a full day and comfortable shoes, but that's what lets you reach the mangrove ecosystems and the crocodiles and water birds that live there.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see on this tour?

The reserve is home to coastal crocodiles and the canclón water bird, both species that have disappeared or become rare in other coastal areas of Ecuador. The wetland's size and protected status make Churute one of the few places where both still live.

How much of the day is spent on the boat versus walking?

You travel by boat through the river and waterways to reach different parts of the reserve, then walk the sendero (marked trail) on foot. The full outing takes about seven hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, combining both boat and walking time.

What does the hotel pickup include?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within Guayaquil's urban perimeter. Your guide collects you from the hotel lobby and returns you there at the end of the day.