The protected area covers ca. 120,000 ha between the southeast of Esmeraldas and the northeast of Manabi. It has a very diverse tropical forest with rivers and waterfalls. Moreover, there are ruins of the Coaque Chachi and Jama cultures at the starting area of the Tigua River.
There are no bus routes to the reserve. You can access the park with a 4WD from Esmeraldas, Atacames, Muisne or Pedernales. The main access route is the highway Santo Domngo-Esmeraldas, by the town of Rosa de Zarate in the county of Quininde. From there you have to pass the town of Herrera and the 'Y' (intersection) of La Laguna. Follow the Platano Stream until the Taguate River, on the east end of the park. This leads directly to the Cube Lagoon.