Travel tips

4 Reasons to travel with us

Our Staff

Manglares Churute Mangrove Adventures’ friendly staff come from the The “El Mirador” community located within the reserve. They will be your tour guides, cooks and hosts offering excellent hospitality and taking pride in showing you around their local attractions. The benefit of local hosts is that you get a truly authentic experience as you hear first-hand about the cultural connections that the El Mirador community has with the crabs, fishing and agriculture in the region.

Our Tours

Whether your passion is kayaking in and out of the mangroves or simply sitting back and enjoying a guided boat ride, you are sure to see an amazing diversity of wildlife and spectacular sights. You’ll learn about the fascinating stories and folklore related to the reserve and have a tasty local-style lunch. Who better to show you the beautiful setting and lead you on exciting adventures than people that were born and raised in the community? The full and half-day trips allow you to experience the cultural and natural highlights the area has to offer. An optional afternoon hike takes you through the forest to learn medicinal healing properties of plants and more.

Our Philosophy

Manglares Churute Adventure Tours is 100% community owned, and because our tours directly involve this local community, you will find no other tour company that better offers a more authentic exchange with the local culture and immersion of nature in the Mangrove Reserve. Your visit also gives the community the opportunity to expand reforestation and other conservation efforts. Your travel experience will not only be fun and memorable but it gives the community reason to preserve Ecuador’s largest mangrove reserve for the local residents and future travelers to enjoy.

Our Quality

Attention to detail and ensuring customer satisfaction are the cornerstones of our business philosophy. We value these concepts because “word-of-mouth” promotion is the best way to attract new clientele, and if you have a marvelous time with Manglares Churute Adventure Tours, we think you will share that excitement with friends & family.

Know before you go

Packing Check List

• small day pack/dry bag
• wind breaker
• rain poncho
• wide-brimmed hat
• light-weight comfortable clothes - long sleeves and pants
• hiking shoes
• bug repellant
• sunblock
• bathing suit (optional)
• towel
• sunglasses
• water bottle
• binoculars
• and of course you will want a camera but bring a waterproof bag

Optional

• Field guide for birding and wildlife* (in a plastic ziplock bag)
• Binoculars

*Suggested Reading

• Ecuador & Galapagos Islands - Lonely Planet By Regis St Louis et. al. (2009)
• The Birds of Ecuador, Vol. 2: Field Guide By Robert S. Ridgely, Paul J. Greenfield, & Frank B. Gill (2001)
• Travellers' Wildlife Guides Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands By David L. Pearson, Les Beletsky, & Priscilla Barrett (2004)
• Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands: the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide By David L. Pearson (1999)
• Tropical Nature By Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata (1987)

Health: It is always advisable to consult your physician about health measures and vaccinations before traveling to a foreign country. Please note that your trip to Manglares Churute may bring you from Quito, which is located at almost 9,000 feet (2,850 meters) above sea level, to the lowland tropical rainforest region at less than 450 feet (150 meters) above sea level. Please take any medication you may need with you, as the selection within our first-aid kit is limited for special needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

What Currency is used in Ecuador and how should I travel with money?

The official currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar. ATMs are available in all major city centers although they can often be out of service, so it is recommended that you travel with a backup source of cash as well as an additional credit card for use in Quito. It’s best to have cash available in small notes available when traveling outside cities in order to make purchases from vendors.

How are Gratuities & Tips handled?

Tips during your community tourism experiences are never expected, but always appreciated! In general, we feel that an appropriate tip may range from $3 to $8 per day for each community member who may have led you on a fantastic tour, cooked a superb meal, or somehow exceeded your expectations. Gracias!

What Health Concerns should I to consider before departing to Ecuador?

Can I drink the tap Water in Ecuador?

Tap water is generally not ‘agreeable’ with most travelers so it’s advisable to opt for bottled water for brushing teeth and drinking. Before drinking beverages served with ice, be sure that the ice is from filtered water.

What Timezones are there in Ecuador?

Ecuador Standard Time is GMT (UTC) - 5. The country does not recognize Daylight Savings Time from April through October.
In the Galapagos Islands, Standard Time is GMT (UTC) – 6

What is the departure tax in Ecuador?

Note that you should be prepared for a nominal departure tax payable on domestic and international flights at some airports in Ecuador.

Are children welcome on the tours?

Families with children are welcome on Manglares Churute Mangrove Tours however it’s generally not advisable to bring children under the age of 10 years on the kayaking packages, as they tend to be more challenging. As our excursion offer wildlife interactions, please be mindful to keep noise levels down so not to disturb the wildlife and to allow others to enjoy the experience.

Do you cater to special dietary needs?

Our lunch offering is a crab lunch on the full day tour and a light packed snack on the half-day tours. Visitors with special dietary needs should inform Manglares Churute Adventure Tours at least 30 days prior to their arrival. Every effort will be made to cater to your needs, subject to availability of products in the region.

If you have other specific questions about Manglares Churute Adventure Tours, please send them to info@mangroveadventure.com.

It is recommend that you travel with all your required mediations, as some excursions in Ecuador may take you into the wilderness far from medical assistance. While our first aid kits are available, they may not be equipped with supplies to meet all medical emergencies. It is advisable to use Insect repellant to avoid bites. Prior to departure, consult your local doctor or the Centers for Disease Control in the USA for the most up-to-date recommendations regarding vaccinations and health related precautions. Plan ahead for immunizations since they may need to be administered several weeks prior to departure. The USA’s Centers for Disease Control website wwwn.cdc.gov/travel provides up to date recommendations about medical requirements for travelers. Ensure that you have adequate health insurance for the unlikely event of an emergency.

Phrase Guide

Spanish is the official language of Ecuador.

Although English is spoken in most shops, at hotels, and at the airport, you may choose to learn a few common words and phrases before you depart for Ecuador. Attempting to speak a few words in Spanish will go a long way in helping you connect to the local people of Ecuador, which will ultimately make your experience more enjoyable!