Tumbes National Mangrove Sanctuary
30 km / 19 miles from Tumbes (50 minutes by car)
The sanctuary is composed of a forest made up mainly by five species of mangrove trees and is spread over 2972 hectares. This ecosystem, particularly rich in wildlife, is home to species like the silky anteater, as well as 100 species of birds, 14 mammal species, 34 crustaceans, dozens of snail species, 24 mollusks with shells, and more than 100 species of fish.
In order to enter the sanctuary, an authorization from the National Institute for Natural Resources (INRENA) is required.
Tumbes Reserved Zone
51 km / 32 miles northeast of Tumbes (3 hours in a 4×4 vehicle)
The Tumbes Reserved Zone is spread over 75.102 hectares and is home to species characteristic to the Amazonian jungle, the highlands, and the coast such as the jaguar, the Andean condor, and the coastal fox. It is also an important refuge for endemic endangered species of birds, animals, and plants like the American crocodile, the northwest nutria, the mantled howler monkey and the white-fronted capuchin – the only two primates of the Peruvian coast – and the rubber tree.
There are many different wildlife species such as the yellow-faced parakeet, the gray-cheeked parakeet, the anteater, the gray-backed hawk, the jay, the ovenbird, and a great variety of flora like ceibo trees, carob trees, angolo trees, quipo trees, palo santo trees and guayacán trees. The place is a representative example of the Pacific tropical forest ecosystem, unique to Peru, and has been included to the Northwest Peruvian Biosphere Reserve for its value. This is a fragile ecosystem that preserves areas with little human incursion. The zone can be visited throughout the entire year, but it is difficult to get there during the rainy season (January – March) or when El Niño phenomenon occurs.
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