Isla Corazón — Heart Island — is a mangrove island in the Chone estuary, accessible by small boat from Bahia de Caraquez or from San Vicente across the bay. The island is home to one of Ecuador's largest colonies of magnificent frigatebirds, and is also important for brown pelicans, herons, egrets, and other seabirds that nest in the mangroves.
Boat tours depart from both towns and take about 45 minutes to reach the island, followed by a guided walk along a wooden boardwalk raised above the mangrove roots. The frigatebirds are most impressive during their breeding season (roughly September to January), when the males inflate their scarlet throat pouches to attract females. The mangrove ecosystem itself is notable — Ecuador has lost much of its original mangrove cover to shrimp farming, and Isla Corazón is one of the better-preserved remnants on the central coast.