Private tour from Guayaquil to Churute Ecological Reserve

Canoe through mangroves, then hike where howler monkeys live

A private tour from Guayaquil to Churute Ecological Reserve combines a 40-minute canoe ride through the mangrove estuary with a walk through the Howler Monkey trail in the tropical forest. A bilingual guide leads the full 5-hour outing, which includes hotel pickup and transfer back to the city. During rainy season, a 2-hour hike can reach a small waterfall on the reserve's southeast slope.

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Guayaquil and heads to the Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve, one of the largest estuaries on the Pacific Coast of South America. The 40-minute canoe ride takes you through the mangroves where freshwater birds congregate. The reserve is known for the sheer number of species that live here. The waterway itself is the draw: you're floating through the formation of one of South America's most significant estuaries, watching the ecosystem work around you.

After the canoe ride, you walk the Howler Monkey trail, a pathway through the tropical forest where the monkeys live in their native habitat. The hike is not strenuous. You move at an easy pace through the forest. If you're visiting during rainy season, your guide can take you on a separate 2-hour hike to a small waterfall on the southeast slope of the hill. Throughout the day, a bilingual guide (English or Spanish) stays with you, explaining what you're seeing and answering questions.

Comfortable shoes matter because of the walking involved, and bring a hat and bug repellent for the boat and forest sections. The tour runs 5 hours total. Hotel pickup and the return transfer to Guayaquil are included. The entrance fee to the reserve is not.

What’s included

• Canoe ride through the mangroves.
• bilingual guide (English or Spanish) for the full tour.
• hotel pickup and return transfer to Guayaquil.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (2 and older) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by BM TOURS SA

Is this one for you?Book this if you're comfortable combining a canoe ride through mangroves with a rainforest hike, and want a bilingual guide leading both sections from your hotel pickup.

Traveler reviews

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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: Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the canoe ride actually like in the Churute mangroves?

The 40-minute canoe ride floats you through the mangrove estuary where freshwater birds congregate in large numbers. You're seeing one of the largest estuaries on the Pacific Coast of South America, and the guide points out the birds and the formation of the waterway itself.

Will I actually see howler monkeys on the trail?

The Howler Monkey trail is a pathway through the forest where the monkeys live in their native habitat. The monkeys are there, and the walk is designed to move through their space at a pace that lets you observe them without exhausting yourself.

Is there a waterfall on this tour?

A small waterfall on the southeast slope of the hill is reachable by a 2-hour hike, but only during rainy season. Your guide can take you there if conditions allow and you want the extra walk.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes the canoe ride through the mangroves, the walk on the Howler Monkey trail, a bilingual guide for the full 5 hours, and hotel pickup and return transfer to Guayaquil. The entrance fee to the reserve is not included.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The canoe ride is relaxing, and the Howler Monkey trail walk is described as not harassing or tiring. You move through the forest at an easy pace. Comfortable shoes are recommended because there is walking involved, and the tour lasts 5 hours total.