Cenegón del Mangle

The Cenegon del Mangle Wildlife Refuge is located in the Herrera Province in Parita. The refuge was established in 1980 and has an expanse of 776 hectares which include lagoons, wetlands and everglades. The everglades here, known as, Ponedero de Garzas, are the nesting place of royal herons, white ibexes and egrets. Six different species of mangrove are found here: red, white, pinuelo, salt, mangalillo and mariangola. Mamals here include otters and crab eating racoons and reptiles here include the boa constrictor and crocodiles. This area is considered a flood zone as the Santa Maria River is part of its estuary. During the winter months the river overflows and in the dry season the water disappears.

The refuge is also home a scientific and archeological site, La Cueva del Tigre or the “Tiger’s Cave”, a is a prehistoric cave with small thermal wells, rich in minerals, that were used in the past for their medicinal benefits.