Tumbes: Mangroves, Nature and Regional Cuisine

Mangroves, Cultural Heritage and Cuisine

The mangroves of Tumbes combine nature experiences with cultural significance. The knowledge, know-how and practices involved in harvesting black mangrove cockles and red mangrove crabs from the mangroves of Tumbes were declared National Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture in 2022. The cuisine of the coastal region also reflects this connection: Cebiche de conchas negras is one of the best-known culinary specialties and is prepared with black mangrove cockles from the mangroves of Tumbes. The black mangrove cockles are the shared link between the cultural heritage and the dish.

Routes in the Santuario Nacional Los Manglares de Tumbes

At the Santuario Nacional Los Manglares de Tumbes, you can distinguish between two routes by what they offer. The Ruta Tradicional offers opportunities for birdwatching. The Ruta Especializada runs from the Embarcadero de Puerto 25 or the Puesto de Control El Algarrobo via Isla Matapalo to Punta Capones and includes a demonstration of how hydrobiological resources are harvested. The difference is clear when choosing based on your interests: birdwatching is mentioned for the Ruta Tradicional, while the Ruta Especializada combines its specified route with the demonstration. Consider which of these experiences you would like to make the focus of your trip.

There is a specific estimate for the drive to the Puerto 25 control post: the road journey from Zarumilla to the control post of the Santuario Nacional Los Manglares de Tumbes is 5 km and takes 10 minutes. If you are planning to visit the mangrove routes, you can treat this road leg as a separate part of your journey.

Rica Playa: Walks and Activities on the Río Tumbes

The Rica Playa sector is another hub for nature activities. It is the main access point to the Parque Nacional Cerros de Amotape and offers walks combining nature, adventure and relaxation. At Bocana Carrillo, visitors can travel along the Río Tumbes, as well as enjoy recreational fishing and canoeing. This gives you a choice of different activities: walks in the Rica Playa sector and river activities at Bocana Carrillo. When planning, you can consider whether you would prefer to include a walk or an activity on the water in your trip.

Rica Playa also has areas suitable for camping. If you want to plan your trip not only around activities but also around the type of stay, you can consider this alongside the walks and activities at Bocana Carrillo. The Reserva Nacional de Tumbes is part of the Reserva de Biosfera del Noroeste and is located in the provinces of Tumbes and Zarumilla in the Department of Tumbes. This adds another nature-related perspective on the destination to the specific visitor activities.

Experiences to Help Plan Your Trip

If you are planning a hotel stay in Tumbes, you can start your search by considering the experiences that matter to you: birdwatching in the mangroves, the Ruta Especializada with its specified route and demonstration, or activities in the Rica Playa sector. The regional specialty Cebiche de conchas negras adds a culinary connection to the mangroves to these nature experiences. This makes it possible to define the kind of trip you want based on specific destinations and interests.

Discover more destinations: Bocapán, La Bocana, Tumbes, Zorritos, Cardalito, Caleta Cruz, Zarumilla, Provincia de Tumbes, Provincia de Contralmirante Villar, Cancas, Canoas.

For the broader travel overview: Peru.