Birding Reserves
JOCOTOCO Reserves
Rio Ayampe Reserve
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
This reserve was created to protect the Esmeraldas Woodstar that is critically endangered. This hummingbird inhabits only a small area of the western Ecuadorian lowlands, mainly along the Pacific Coast endangered. This hummingbird inhabits only a small area of the western Ecuadorian lowlands, mainly along the Pacific Coast
Province: Manabí
Nearby community: Las Tunas
Creation date: 2012
Area: 2.000 hectares (property of the local community)
Annual average temperature: 24 °C
Ecosystem: Dry Tropical Forest, Semideciduous Lowland Forest, Mangrove.
Altitudinal range: 0 240 m
Featured species: Estrellita Esmeraldeña, White Bat, Dorsigris Sparrowhawk, Cachetigris Parakeet, Guayaquileño Woodpecker, Little Girl, Slatey Cabezon, Attila Ocrácea, Capuchirrufa Rascahojas.
Birds Checklists:
Buenaventura Reserve
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
The Buenaventura Reserve was created to protect the home range of the El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi), which was discovered in 1980 by Robert Ridgely. In the 1990s, the forest cover of this area was reduced and substantially devastated, due to the creation of extensive pastures. The reserve protects one of the most extensive patches of piedmont cloud forest in the western foothills of the Andes in southwestern Ecuador.
This reserve protects the water sources for El Oro province.
Province: El Oro
Nearby community: Piñas
Creation date: 1999
Area: 9,271 acres
Temperature: 14 26 °C
Ecosystem: Tropical Rainforest
Altitudinal range: 400 – 1450 masl
Featured species: El Oro Parakeet, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, El Oro Tapaculo, Western White Capuchin Monkey, Western Two-Toed Sloth, Spotted Tigrillo and Coati.
Birds Checklists:
UMBRELLA BIRD LODGE
Services and Facilities
- Wi-Fi in social areas
- Hot shower
- Electricity (110v)
- Panoramic dining area
- Easily accessible
- trail network and scenic route
- Bird feeders and feeders for other species
- Permanent coffee & tea station
- Laundry service with biodegradable products
RIO CANANDE RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
Canandé Reserve was established with the aim of protecting one of the most important and threatened biodiversity hotspots the Chocó, known as the non-Amazonian locality with the largest herpetofauna in the world.
The Reserve is located in one of the most diverse and highly threatened ecosystems in the world: the Chocó Forest. Here you can see a great variety of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Province: Esmeraldas
Nearby community: La Yuca and Hoja Blanca
Limits: South of the Esmeraldas province
Creation date: 2000
Area: 20,974 acres
Temperature: 30 °C
Ecosystem: Tropical Rainforest of the Choco
eco-region, lowlans evergreen forest
Climate: Tropical
Altitudinal range: 100 – 500 masl
Featured species: Great Green Macaw, the Baudó Guan, Plumbeous Forest Falcon, Banded Ground-Cuckoo, Long-watled Umbrellabird, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis and the Yellow Green Bush- Tanager are registered. The enigmatic Sapayoa is observed, along
with the Black and White Hawk Eagle, the Chocó Poorwill and the Great Jacamar. Amphibians such as the Kiki, the Horned Marsupial Frog and glass frogs are also protected in the reserve.
CHOCO LODGE
Services and Facilities
- Wi-Fi in social areas
- Hot shower
- Electricity (110v)
- Panoramic dining area
- Laundry service with biodegradable products
- Bird feeders and feeders for other species
- Trail network with varied difficulty levels
COPALINGA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
This reserve was created in 1998 by Boudewijn and Catherine Vits, who traveled from their native Belgium to change their lifestyle and settle in Ecuador. Twenty years later, they returned to their home country and sold the reserve to Fundación Jocotoco to guarantee its perpetual conservation.
Less than 10% of the area has been altered, the rest is covered by primary forests. There is great biodiversity in flora and fauna. There are approximately 220 bird species in the lower part of the reserve.
It is estimated that over 1,000 plant species are endemic to the region, and mammals such as fox, deer, puma, mountain tapirs, and spectacled bears are also known to occur.
Province: Zamora Chinchipe
Creation date: 2020
Area: 269 acres
Temperature: 16 – 30 °C
Ecosystem: Humid temperate / subtropical climate
Climate: Tropical
Altitudinal range: Between 950 m. – 1600 m altitudinal.
Featured species: Barred Hawk, Jasper Hummingbird, Coatí, Yaguarundi. As for plants, Orchid Bee. It is estimated a total of 220 species of birds only in the lower part of the reserve.
COPALINGA LODGE
Services and Facilities
- Wi-Fi in social areas
- Hot shower
- Electricity (110v)
- Panoramic dining area
- Laundry service with biodegradable products
- Feeders for birds and monkeys
- Trails of varied difficulty levels
CERRO DE ARCOS RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
The reserve was created to protect the Andean highland ecosystems that are important for the survival of the Blue throated Hillstar, discovered in 2017 and described as a new species in 2018. This particular area is called Cerro de Arcos (Arch Hill) due to the rock formations that create natural arches, product of the geological composition and decomposition over many years.
Province: Loja
Nearby communities: Guambusari
Creation date: 2020
Area: 958 acres
Temperature: 4 – 17 °C
Ecosystem: Paramo
Altitudinal range: 3440 – 3650 m
Featured species: Blue-throated Hillstar, Andean Fox, Peregrine Falcon, Baird’s Sandpiper, Mountain Caracara and other fauna found in paramo ecosystems.
Birds Checklists:
CHAKANA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
The Chakana Reserve is just 30 miles from Quito, the capital of Ecuador. If the sky is clear, you will get stunning views of the snow-capped Antisana Volcano, which provides an amazing contrast to the rolling green páramo grasslands that surround it.
Created in 2011, this reserve protects the moorlands and wetlands of critical importance for the Andean Condor.
Province: Pichincha–Napo
Nearby communities: Pintag
Limits: It is located on the western slopes of the Antisana Volcano, 48 km (30 miles) southeast of Quito.
Creation date: 2011
Area: 12380 acres
Temperature: 3 – 17 ºC according to the altitude.
Ecosystem: Paramo
Climate: Cold and temperate
Altitudinal range: 3300 – 4600 m
Featured species: Andean Condor in nesting sites, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Andean Ibis, Andean Bear, Puma, Andean Fox, and White-tailed Deer
TAPICHALACA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
Tapichalaca is the first reserve of Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco. The Reserve was created to protect numerous other globally-threatened birds such as Bearded Guan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, White-breasted Parakeet, and Spot-winged Parrotlet. Additional birds of interest include Rufous-capped Thornbill, Masked Saltator, Coppery-chested Jacamar, and the Masked Mountain Tanager.
Province: Zamora Chinchipe
Nearby communities: Yangana and Valladolid.
Limits: North Valladolid, South of the Podocarpus Natioanal Park.
Creation date: September 1998
Area: 9,699 acres
Temperature: 10 – 20 °C
Ecosystem: Cloudy and humid montane forest, up to 5000 millimetres of rain per year.
Climate: Temperate
Altitudinal range: 1800- 3400 masl
Featured species: our reserve is home of the Jocotoco Antpitta, Andean Potoo, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Chesnut-naped Antpitta, Tapichalaca Tree Frog, White-capped Tanager, Little Red Brocket, Spectacled Bear, Andean T apir and Puma. Some of the flora that stand out are the Sangre de Drago trees, the liana Bomarea longipensen and Romerillos.
CASA SIMPSON
Services and Facilities
- Feeders for the Jocotoco Antpitta and feeders other species
- Wi-Fi in social areas and rooms
- Hot shower and heating in the rooms
- Electricity (110v)
- panoramic dining area
- Laundry
- service with biodegradable products
- Permanent coffee & tea station
GALAPAGOS RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
Created in 2018, it contributes to the protection of the endemic Galapagos Petrel andthe water sources of the highlands of San Cristobal Island.
Province: Galapagos
Location: San Cristobal Island
Limits: near El Junco Lagoon, via Puerto Chino.
Creation date: November 2018
Area: 297 acres
Temperature: 20 °C
Ecosystem: Forest on the upper part of the island and bushes year.
Climate: Dry
Altitudinal range: 320-560 masl
Featured species: wildlife protected in the reserve include Galapagos Petrel, San Cristobal Mokingbird, Medium Ground Darwin Finch, Small Tree Finch, among other endemic species. What stands out in flora are the forests of Miconia robinsoniana.
Birds Checklists:
JORUPE RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
The reserve protects an important remnant of Tumbesian dry forest. In this region you find a great number of endemic species and species with restricted geographical distribution, many of them in danger of extinction.
The reserve covers a total of 50% of the Jorupe river basin. At the top of this basin is the Jatumpamba mountain range, declared a Protected Forest by the Ecuadorian Government. Although the structure of the forest -in which the Ceibo trees predominate, remains almost intact, the majority of fine wood trees disappeared during the last century, especially in lower areas. Jocotoco is working on the reforestation of land previously devoted to pasture and on the restoration of forest species in the areas.
Province: Loja
Nearby communities: Macara.
Limits: Southern border of Ecuador
Creation date: 2009
Area: 4,673 acres
Temperature: 17 to 24 °C
Ecosystem: Dry Tumbesian Forest.
Climate: Tropical and sunny.
Altitudinal range: 200 2400 msnm
Featured species: Some of the birds that can be observe at the reserve are the White-tailed Jay, King Vulture, Watkins’s Antpitta, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Spectacled Owl, among other birds. The structure of the forest, in which Ceibo trees predominate, remains almost intact, but most of the fine wood trees disappeared in the course of the last century, especially in low-lying areas.
URRACA LODGE
Services and Facilities
- Wi-Fi in social areas
- Hot shower
- Electricity (110v)
- Panoramic dining area
- laundry service with biodegradable products
- Bird feeders and feeders for other species
- Easily accessible trail network and scenic route
LAS BALSAS RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
Las Balsas Reserve was created to protect the roosting sites of the Lilacine Amazon, an endangered bird species, endemic from Ecuador.
The Amazon Lilacine inhabits on the Coast of Ecuador and is threatened by habitat loss and illegal trafficking. This reserve also protects a population of Great Green Macaw, a critically endangered species, with less than 60 individuals in the wild.
Province: Santa Elena
Nearby communities: Las Balsas
Creation date: 2019
Area: 244 acres
Temperature: 25 °C
Ecosystem: Dry Forest.
Climate: Subtropical
Altitudinal range: 80 – 100 msnm
Featured species: Lilacine Amazon (Amazona lilacina), Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus guayaquilensis), Ecuadorian Capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis), Bototillo (Cochlospermum vitifolium), Carob tree (Prosopis pallida), Ceibo (Ceiba trichistandra).
Birds Checklists:
NARUPA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
Created in 2006, it’s an area of high biodiversity in the foothills of the eastern Andes.
In this region you find a great variety of birds and other wildlife, many of them in danger of extinction.
Province: Napo
Nearby communities: Narupa y La Merced de Jondachi
Creation date: 2006
Area:5,840 acres
Temperature: 25 °C
Ecosystem: Low montane forest
Climate: Rainy and temperate
Altitudinal range: 1000- 1580 masl
Especies destacadas: las aves que se pueden escuchar y ver en la reserva incluyen Tinamou negro, guacamayo militar, jacamar de pecho cobrizo, Foothill Elaenia y Woodnymph de cola de horquilla. Además, en la reserva se han registrado grandes mamíferos como el puma, el ocelote y la danta .
REFUGIO CERULEAN
Services and Facilities
- Coffee & tea station
- Fully equipped
- kitchen Balcony
- Hummingbird feeders and feeders for other species
- Trail network of varied difficulty levels
- Camping area
- Internet and electricity (110v)
TESORO ESCONDIDO RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
One of the last well preserved forests in the Ecuadorian Chocó region, a world biodiversity hotspot. There are healthy populations of one of the most threatened primates on earth, as well as a great variety of endangered amphibians and birds
Provincia: Esmeraldas
Comunidades cercanas: Cristobal Colón, Simón Platatorres, Unión Ganadera, Hoja Blanca, Chontaduro, Gualpí.
Fecha de creación: 2014
Área: 4.569 acres
Temperatura: 25 °C
Ecosistema: Tropical rainforest of the & -Chocó-, lowland forest.
Clima: Humid – tropical
Rango altitudinal: 200 – 650m msnm
Especies destacadas: Mono araña cabeza marrón (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps), Aullador de manto (Alouatta palliata), Capuchino cara blanca (Cebus capucinus), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Puma (Puma concolor), Nutria neotropical (Lontra longicaudis), Anillado Cuco terrestre (Neomorphus radiolosus), Águila arpía (Harpia harpyja), Paraguas de barbas largas (Cephalopterus penduliger), Rana mache cochran (Cochranella mache), etc.
UTUANA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
Created in 2001, it protects remnant ever-green montane forests. Utuana, is a small reserve, but important for the protection of biodiversity.
Provincia: Loja
Comunidades cercanas: Utuana
Limits: Sozoranga South Podocarpus National Park
Fecha de creación: 2001
Área: 237 acres
Temperatura: 15 °C
Ecosistema: Western Montane Wet Forest
Clima: Tropical
Rango altitudinal: 2120 2640 masl
Featured species: Among the birds that can be observed in the reserve are the Rainbow Starfrontlet, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Piura Hemispingus, Chapmans Antshrike, Purple-throated Sunangel, Ochre-bellied dove, and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, among others.
YANACOCHA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
This reserve was created to protect the Black-breasted Puffleg, Quito’s hummingbird 5 emblem that is critically threatened and has a very limited range of distribution.
Provincia: Pichincha
Comunidades: Quichua
Limits: Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde
Fecha de creación: 2001
Área: 2.667 acres
Temperatura: 8-19°C
Ecosistema: High Andean Forest and páramo
Clima: Templado y cálido con, con una cantidad significativa de lluvia durante el año.
Rango altitudinal: 3200 4400 masl
Featured species: Black-breasted Puffleg, Tawny Antpitta, Rufous
Antpitta, Sword-billed Hummingbird and Andean Guan.
CAFÉ DEL ZAMARRITO LODGE
Services and Facilities
- Camping area
- Restaurant
- Interpretation center
- Self-guided trails
- Hummingbird garden Bird feeders
- Souvenirs
YUNGUILLA RESERVE
JOCOTOCO FOUNDATION
It was created to protect the last remaining habitat of the pale-headed brushfinch, a bird that was considered to be extinct for over two decades until it was rediscovered 3 in 1998. Almost 90% of the brush finch population is found inside this reserve and its survival depends on our work in the area
Provincia: Azuay
Comunidades cercanas: Yunguilla valley
Limits: Cuenca city, vía Girón – Pasaje
Fecha de creación: 1998
Área: 485 acres
Temperatura: 20– 25 °C
Ecosistema: Subtropical
Clima: Dry, low levels of humidity and precipitation.
Rango altitudinal: 1600 2000 msnm
Featured species: We can find a variety of birds in the reserve, including the Pale-headed Brushfinch (Atlapetes pallidiceps), the Buff-fronted Owl (Aegolius harrisii), the Little Woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus), and the Andean tinamou (Nothoprocta pentlandii) endemic to the plateau of Cajas. Additionally, the Ameivas del Jubones (Holcosus orcesi) is present in the reserve, a lizard endemic to Ecuador (Andrango, MB. 2019).
