The Gulf of Guayaquil-Tumbes mangroves are an ecoregion located in the Gulf of Guayaquil in South America, in northern Peru and southern Ecuador. It has an area of 3,300 km² (1300 sq mi).
The ecoregion is limited by plant formations of mangrove (Rhizophora spp.) forest that occur at the confluence of many rivers emptying into the Gulf of Guayaquil and the Pacific Ocean. These forests are adapted to permanently flooded conditions and the resulting environments, which offer little available oxygen. A diversity of flora and fauna can be found in this mangrove ecoregion including ducks, herons, and woodpeckers as well as iguanas and primates.
On Ecuador's side of the mangrove ecoregion, particularly near the cities of Machala and Santa Rosa in the province of El Oro, many shrimp farm ponds have been dug out for export of shrimp to the U.S., Europe and other regions. Shrimp are one of Ecuador's main exports together with crude oil and derivatives, bananas and ornamental flowers.
On the Peruvian side is the Tumbes Mangals National Sanctuary.
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—J.P. (John Phillips)
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