Canoe Tour of Isla Corazón
A mangrove island and important frigate bird rookery located in the Río Chone upstream from Bahía de Caráquez and San Vicente, Isla Corazón is a testament to the power of community conservation. Local fisherfolk restored the island by hand following an episode of deforestation that threatened to dismantle a key part of the ecosystem upon which their livelihoods depended. The island is currently protected by the national government and serves as focal point of a small tourism industry, yet nearby shrimp farms continue to pose dangers to the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem.