[2][3] With an area of 29.72 square kilometres (11.47 sq mi), it harbors the largest mangrove forest in Peru.

[2][3] Seasonally dry forest and scrubland can also be found in some parts of the sanctuary; tree species representative of this ecosystem being: Pithecellobium excelsum, Cordia lutea, Mimosa acantholoba, Parkinsonia praecox, Ceiba trischistandra, Loxopterygium huasango, Bursera graveolens, Cochlospermum spp., Prosopis pallida, Capparis scabrida; and some seasonal herbaceous species: Aristida adscensionis, Bouteloua aristidoides, Stylosanthes spp., Crotalaria spp.,Tephrosia cinerea, Cyperus spp., Scirpus spp., Distichlis spicata, Antephora hermaphrodita, Paspalum racemosum, Ipomoea spp., and Bidens pilosa.

[2] Mammals found in the area include the crab-eating raccoon, the silky anteater and the neotropical otter.

[2] It is possible to navigate, by kayak or canoe, the waterways inside the mangrove forest in the zone accessible to tourists (137,5 hectares = 4,61% of the sanctuary).

[3] Introduced plant species like Tephrosia purpurea, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Eragrostis cilianensis and Brachiaria mutica are found growing inside this protected area.