In one day, you will learn how to catch crabs, ride a canoe through the mangrove forest, bird-watch, see howler monkeys during a jungle hike, and experience the process of turning cacao into chocolate on a local farm.
This tour begins with a canoe ride down a river through the mangrove forest. Here you will see many species of birds (listed below) and receive an explanation as to how the reserve preserves their habitat, as well as that of the local Mangrove Ghost Crabs. You may also see a Coastal Crocodile, though most likely not.
The tour continues with a hike on the ‘Howler Monkey Trail,’ where you will most likely (though are not guaranteed) to hear/see howler monkeys, as well as White-Fronted Capuchins. Your guide will also show you which trees and plants have medicinal or other useful purposes. The hike takes a little less than an hour and is not particularly strenuous, though there is an uphill portion and there are a lot of bugs. Administer bug spray. After the hike, you will receive a typical Ecuadorian lunch, cooked by a local community member.
In the final part of the tour, you will go to a local organic cacao farm and learn the process of making cacao into chocolate. You will eat the cacao raw, see the different stages of the tree’s growth, the steps in the process, and of course, try some 100% cacao, as well as processed chocolate.
Note: The price does not include transport to the Reserve. Please look below for directions.
Note: The tour is in Spanish. Please email us at info@keteka.com if you would like to arrange an English speaking guide.
In one day, you will learn how to catch crabs, ride a canoe through the mangrove forest, bird-watch, see howler monkeys during a jungle hike, and experience the process of turning cacao into chocolate on a local farm. Need we say more? OK, we’ll say a bit more. Manglare Churute is a 50,000 hectare nature reserve, just southeast of Guayaquil in southern Ecuador. It has one of the best preserved mangrove forests in the world, as well as several different eco-systems, including: coastal tropical dry rain-forest, mangrove forest, and sub tropical dry rain-forest. Tours through the reserve are administered exclusively by locals from the 14 communities that it touches, making it one of the best and most authentic community-based eco-tours in Ecuador.
*Indicates animals Keteka’s representative saw on one day trip
Birds:
Can also see:
From the Terminal Terrestre in Guayaquil: Go to the Ejecutivo SAN ticket window (#11 last time we checked) and tell the attendant ‘La Reserva.’ The bus will be bound for Naranjal. After about 45 minutes, you will see forested hills (as opposed to flat land) – now is a good time to remind the driver that you are getting off at La Reserva, because he might have forgotten. They will let you off across the street from the entrance; carefully cross the highway and walk inside and to the right.
Price: $1 for a local bus, $2.50 for a “direct” bus.
Trip Time: about 50 minutes
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After you book your experience, you will receive a confirmation email from us confirming that your payment went through. You will then be connected directly to the tour operator, in case you have any further questions. We are also happy to answer any questions about the tour, or travel in general in your country of destination.
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