Perhaps the highlight of a visit to Puerto El Morro is the year- round possibility of encountering wild dolphins swimming and jumping around the tourist boats during the navigation tour: a natural marine park surrounded by lush tropical nature.  But there is much more to this magical site close to Guayaquil city…

Puerto El Morro is a small town with approximately 3.000 inhabitants, a humble community mostly dedicated to inshore fishery: crabs and mollusks, as well as several small fish species.  At the pier one finds large fishing boats that are being repaired, but they belong to fishermen from the nearby ports and come to Puerto El Morro only to be refurbished.

A couple decades ago the townspeople ventured into a new activity: tourism.  They formed the Eco Club Los Delfines with the objective of promoting local development and improving their quality of life, whilst creating a conscience of conservation of the environment.  They managed for the Ministry of Environment to declare this area as wildlife refugee in 2007. 

People from Puerto El Morro have built a small and basic pier, from which they offer two routes, both of which include a navigation tour through the “Olmos” Estuary, surrounded by mangroves and observing the rich wildlife, especially a diversity of marine birds and several fish, crustaceous and mollusks. Both tour options include a hike through paths built within the mangroves, and a visit to an observation tower from which you have a beautiful view over the forest’s canopy.  Mangroves include the following species: red, white, black and jeli species.  Each with its distinct color, flowerings and fruits, these plant species form some of the richest ecosystems in the world in regards to diversity.

Although the pier is very basic, the boats are in good conditions, they have life- vests for all tourists and trained local guides who are eager to share with visitors. During the journey one is also able to observe the locals fishing with traditional methods.  The guides are happy to share not only about the nature but about the activities of their families and other townspeople. 
Route 1: mangroves, fishing activities and dolphins.
Estimated time: 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Price: $5.

Route 2: mangroves, fishing activities, dolphins and hike through the “Isla de los Pájaros” (Bird Island).
Estimated time: 3 hours.
Price: $8.

* Tourists can also arrange a fishing trip and share traditional fishing methods with locals from Puerto El Morro.

Beyond an interesting visit:
promoting local development and
conservation of natural resources
The shrimp industry in the region has created big impacts in the environment, especially with the reduction of the mangroves.  Tourism presents an alternative that promotes the conservation of the mangroves, and has also increased the education level of the townspeople, as they prepare to guide and welcome tourists.  At the moment, approximately 40 families that live in Puerto El Morro are involved in tourism, which means that more than 100 people are benefitting from this activity. 

Important information:

• Distance from Guayaquil: 100 km or 62 miles (1 1/2 to 2 - hour drive).
• Public transportation is available from Guayaquil, however, we recommend that you hire private transportation.
• A group of min 8 people is necessary in order to carry out a navigation tour.
• Although some of the guides have little knowledge of English, we recommend that if you speak no Spanish, you bring a guide or translator along.

Phone: (593 4) 2529 496
Cel: 09 283 4542, 09 793 1574
E-mail: puertoelmorro@yahoo.com
www.puertoelmorro.blogspot.com

Text by: Cristina Vallejo.
Photos by: Guido Sánchez Santur.

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