This reserve protects one of the most visited places in the central coastal region of Ecuador: Puntilla de Santa Elena. La Chocolatera and the adjacent sea area. La Puntilla, as it is also called, is the most extreme point on the coast of mainland South America, separating Santa Elena Bay from the Gulf of Guayaquil. The waters of the reserve are the source of income for many fishing communities and play an important role in protecting and restoring fisheries that have declined over the years due to overfishing. Apart from the marine area, the reserve includes beaches, cliffs, and a small area of scrub and dry coastal forests.