Churute Adventure: Howler Monkeys and Cocoa Farm

Embark on a full-day wildlife and culinary adventure in Churute Forests and Cocoa Farm. Explore the tropical dry forest, spot exotic birds and mammals, and observe howler monkeys in their natural habitat. Indulge in a delicious open-air lunch featuring traditional Ecuadorian cuisine.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Reserva Ecologica Manglares Churute - “We will begin our adventure by visiting a remarkable protected reserve, home to an astonishing diversity of wildlife. Here, we will encounter 54 distinct species of mammals, including the majestic Howler Monkey, as well as 221 species of birds, 8 species of amphibians, and 12 varieties of reptiles. After…

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Local guide
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • Driver/guide
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Transport by private vehicle
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Hello, adventurers!
Trip to Churute
We depart from Guayaquil towards a hidden treasure called Churute, an hour and a half away. Upon arrival, we will connect with the local community. Some of its members are dedicated to fishing for red crab, while others are engaged in agriculture.
Howler Monkey Trail
Next, we will arrive at the howler monkey…

Location
Viasam day trip. Tours privados
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(50 Ratings)
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1 star
Shannonhq3688ke
Jul 3, 2025
Amazing!!! - Our guide was amazing! We saw so many howler monkeys, and the chocolate-making/tasting experience was incredible. Very cool to learn so much about the cultivation of cacao and fruit trees. Lunch at the farm was delicious! Do prepare for mosquitoes on the hike… wear thick enough clothing that they can’t bite through and a good repellent. Glad we didn’t miss out on this VERY cool opportunity!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rblais
Jul 1, 2025
Awesome tour guide and tour - It was a great day. From the pickup until the drop off Yamil kept the whole trip interesting. We learned about this history of Equador and a great deal about chocolate. We went to Cerro Blanca where we got to go on a very nice hike. The trail was easy to navigate and our guide pointed out many interesting plants and wildlife. Afterwards we headed to a chocolate plantation where we got to try some chocolate and then toured the plantation. Lastly we stopped for a wonderful lunch with amazing food. I highly recommend taking a tour with Yamil as I am sure you will have a wonderful time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Santiagobd4250ry
Jun 29, 2025
Excellent experience - An unforgettable experience surrounded by lush nature and the warm hospitality of our guide and the hosts of the cacao and mango farm. Magical moments in harmony with nature! The importance of knowing your country and valuing the work and effort of our producers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bertrand
Apr 27, 2025
A perfect tour! - Perfect day trip, nature, agriculture, wildlife… and a very kind and passionate guide! A private tour, much better than expected!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenniferwo3709ms
Jan 2, 2025
Don't pass by this trip, it is an amazing experience! - This trip was AMAZING! We saw several Howler Monkeys on the hike with our excellent guides Jamil and Roberto. Please do follow their advice and bring A LOT of bug spray and wear long sleeves and pants, this makes the hike far more enjoyable. Jamil shared the most delicious mangos and pineapple I have ever tasted. Cacao and Mango was the highlight of our trip. Young Jamil and family served up a tree to table meal that was worthy of Michelin Stars. The freshest ingredients pared with artistic plating can't be beat. Then the cacao. This was the best chocolate I have ever tasted, from the pods we harvested to the dried pods we roasted and peeled. They smelled and tasted like brownies baking in the oven! Don't pass this trip up! It is a once in a lifetime experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J6208zlemilys
Oct 5, 2024
Fun, educational, and delicious! - This trip is really fun. It's a long drive from downtown Guayaquil to the National Park, but there was so much to see along the way that that the time went quickly. Simon was a wonderful guide and full of information, and was happy to answer all our questions, not only about the activity but also about life in Ecuador. We saw only a few monkeys, but the hike was enjoyable - although we had to bundle up because of the mosquitoes. Then the cacao farm tour was so educational, and delicious - especially the lunch that was almost completely from products from the farm. It was great seeing not just cacao but also all the many other fruit grown there. And it was fun seeing cacao go from tree to hot chocolate! We highly recommend this activity!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Evan_r
Jun 28, 2024
Delicious and exceptional excursion outside of Guayaquil! - This was an incredibly memorable, educational, and fun excursion. The care given by Simon and Yamill was first class. They had exceptional knowledge and ability with tours, driving, howler monkeys, chocolate, coffee and farming. The knowledge of the area and working with the monkeys was very helpful to our tour. The lunch that was prepared for us was 3 courses and was beyond our expectations. Ending with the house made coffee was a treat! Then we made chocolate from harvesting a pod on property all the way to roasting it, grinding it, and preparing a spectacular hot chocolate. We ended with our own homemade chocolate bar personalized to our tastes. The entire group highly recommends this excursion!
Review provided by Viator
Stacy_n
Jun 15, 2024
Amazing day! - Our guide was amazing! He was so knowledgeable, kind and really put his heart into our experience. The food at the cacao farm was top notch and getting see chocolate from seed to bar was the icing on the cake. I definitely recommend this trip. We did have some mosquitoes but that is to be expected.
Review provided by Viator
Lori_a
May 9, 2024
Jungle and Field - Pick up at our hotel was great! Our guide, Simon, knew, lots about everything, and was able to answer all of our questions. We did not end up, seeing as many hollers, as we heard, which was a little bit disappointing, but the jungle hike Was good nonetheless. Afterwards, our lunch was spectacular at the Cacao and mango plantation. The information we got about all kinds of native plants and how they’re used was awesome - making chocolate “the old fashioned way” and then the “modern way” also really cool.
Review provided by Viator
Matchpoint
Dec 30, 2023
Our guides were... - Our guides were amazing…very informative and always willing to help however we were not prepared , despite using insect repellents and covering up, for the mosquitos and unfortunately we all ended up covered with mosquito bites
Review provided by Viator
From $205
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).