Tourist attractions in Ecuador
Churute Estuary in the Manglares-Churute Reserve
Churute Estuary in the Manglares-Churute Reserve
BuenTrip Travel APPAddress:
Km 49 Guayaquil-MachalaNearby attractions
Places to visit within 30 km.
El Deseo Organic Cacao & Fruit Farm
The organic chocolate tasting, obtained by the tourist himself, is possible in the farm "El Deseo", Yaguachi canton, Guayas province. For the last 6 years, agrotourism has represented an important business line of the farm, which receives visitors from Monday to Sunday, with previous reservation. He works with 11 tourism agencies. The entrance to "El Deseo" is located halfway between Virgen de Fátima and Milagro, at the foot of the road (km 5, 8). The experience consists of a tour of the cocoa, banana, avocado, timber and fruit plantations of guava, sapote, orange, grapefruit, lemon and mango. The visit continues through the cocoa collection centre, with an explanation of the fermentation and drying processes. "El Deseo" supports a cocoa production of 2,000 tonnes per year, of which 68% is exported to Switzerland and Germany. Finally, tourists are led to the space of the hut which has all the comforts such as light and seating, where they receive talks and have the opportunity to prepare their own organic chocolate and taste it with a mixture of tropical fruits. The whole journey takes about an hour. There you will also find a delicious lunch consisting of shrimp encocado or dried chicken. Choose breast or thigh. Finca "El Deseo" is affiliated to the Union of Peasant Cocoa Organizations of Ecuador (UNOCASE), which is dedicated to the promotion and marketing of cocoa, bananas and mangoes. The El Deseo enclosure, Yaguachi Viejo parish, where the farm is located, is an area of great agricultural production. Its social structure is based on solidarity, since the enclosure, in the physical and geographical space of the Ecuadorian countryside, is the result of the union and cooperation of small and medium sized family groups dedicated to agriculture. Family farmers' enterprises promote neighbourhood relations for planting and harvesting cocoa, coffee, rice, corn and raising livestock. The result is the farm as a minimum unit. The El Deseo site promotes the "Humitas Route" (wrapped in corn) and the "Cocoa Route", as tourist alternatives and complementary to agro-ecological production.
7.33 Km.
Cacao & Mango Family Farm
Ecuador is a land of entrepreneurs. A large segment of the production moves through initiatives of what is called Popular and Solidarity Economy (EPS). Cacao and Mango, a small family farm, gave a twist to its business. Now it not only carries out agricultural activities. It also has experience in adventure tourism taking advantage of its proximity to the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve, gastronomy and EPS. The history of Cacao & Mango begins in the 1950's, when the Ecuadorian state distributed mangrove plots of 12 hectares each to farmers in the area of Puerto Inca, to expand the agricultural frontier. Since then, generations of the Lara family have grown cocoa, mangos, dragon fruit, bananas, lemongrass and spices. Today a new generation, the brothers Jairo, Leni, Jamil and Ninfa Lara, have merged agriculture with tourism since their professions. Jairo is a naturalist guide who does adventure tourism to the nearby Manglares-Churute Ecological Reserve. The reserve covers 50,000 hectares of winding mangrove channels, dry tropical forest and salt flats. Leni Lara, a professional chef, prepares cocoa in all combinations, with fruits such as mango, araxá, coconut and passion fruit, to serve the most delicious desserts to visitors. Ninfa and Jamil Lara attend with passion to proudly show their heritage. Cacao & Mango is a farm that produces these and other fruits. The cocoa beans are transformed into rich chocolate. Ecuador is internationally recognized as the producer of the finest cocoa. The Lara family loves to share this experience with people. Tourism is an important source of income for this company. There is a symbiosis with the neighboring farms, which provide other products to Mango and Cocoa: meat, fish, crabs, eggs, in order to serve the tourists. Additional jobs are generated and the owners and workers are enthusiastic. A tour of the farm starts with the botanical garden where they grow orchids, a tilapia pool, rice plantations and the tropical fruit garden. There is also a nursery for the cocoa plants in the growing stages, planted or grafted. In the cocoa plantations you learn about their cultivation, pollination and production. During the harvest season, the tourist has the experience of picking ears of corn and using them to make cocoa juice or the house cocktail. In the traditional chocolate workshop, the process of changing from cocoa to chocolate is practiced by roasting, peeling and grinding. Finally, a hot and spicy chocolate is prepared. As a souvenir, you have to buy handmade chocolate bars.
18.70 Km.