Refugio de Vida Silvestre Manglares Estuario Río Muisne

The Manglares Estuario Río Muisne Wildlife Refuge encompasses 92,246 hectares of marine ecosystems, including mangroves, estuaries, and coastal waters along the Ecuadorian Pacific coast.

Established in 2003, the refuge emerged as a response to the extensive destruction of mangrove forests during the 1980s caused by shrimp farming activities.

Local communities rely on the estuarine ecosystem for traditional fishing practices, collecting mollusks and crustaceans within the protected mangrove areas.

Visitors can access the refuge by traveling from Quito to Esmeraldas and taking a boat from the Muisne dock to explore the mangrove channels.

The refuge provides nesting sites for four sea turtle species and contains six distinct mangrove species, supporting 253 documented animal species.

GPS coordinates: 0.37891,-80.19648

Latest update: March 19, 2025 19:38