The Cayapas – Mataje reserve is a mangrove forest. However, you will also find beaches, dry forests, swamps and large pools in the estuaries. It has a very special eco-system: most of the plants that grow there are resistant to the salty seawater.
The mangroves have played an important role in the life of the local population throughout history: all elements from the forest were used. During the 1940s and 1950s, tannins were extracted from tree bark for the chemical industry; Furthermore, a lot of wood was felled for the extraction of wood that is resistant to seawater. Today, all timber extraction is prohibited.

Deforestation has led to a sharp reduction in the number of shellfish, fish and crabs, among other things. This in turn had social consequences for the families living in the mangrove forest.

You can visit the reserve either from San Lorenzo, or you can travel from Esmeraldas to La Tola, which is located in the extreme south of the park.

There is a lot to see in the reserve.

Majugal mangrove swamps
These mangroves are said to be the highest mangrove forests in the world, with trees between forty and fifty meters high.

La Tolita (Pampa de Oro)
Here you will find the archaeological remains of the La Tolita civilization, which inhabited this area between 500 BC and AD. Thanks to finds made at this site, archaeologists have found that this civilization was highly skilled in ceramics and metalwork, gold and platinum in particular.

Palma Real
Located on the northern edge of the reserve, Palma Real is an attraction for the beautiful coastal scenery it has to offer. The area is rich in palm trees – hence the name – and also an important commercial center.

La Cascada o Salto (the waterfall)
Located in the area known as San Antonio, this waterfall is actually just outside the reserve’s boundaries. Commonly known as El Salto del Tigre, it offers a particularly impressive view. The waterfall forms the transition between the mangrove and the tropical rainforest.

La Marimba Esmeraldena (Marimba Music and Dance Festival)
One of the most prominent and appreciated cultural manifestations of the local communities is the Marimba music (a kind of xylophone) and the typical dances of Esmeraldas. San Lorenzo’s Marimba Schools teach a very diverse repertoire of dances. Every June, the city comes to life as the host of the international Marimba festival with participants from neighboring countries.

San Lorenzo
The town of San Lorenzo is just outside the edge of the reserve. Here are a lot of hotels and restaurants and you will find everything you need to make a trip inland.

La Chiquita
The science center La Chiquita offers very interesting and didactic information for anyone interested in the tropical rainforest. It gets its name from the swamp, La Chiquita. Research into the different flower species is the main activity that takes place in the area. There are some beautiful trails in the area.