Reserva Jorupe, Macará, Loja, Ecuador

Flora and fauna: 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.

Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco built a lodge in 2008 to receive visitors at the reserve and encourage educational activities in the area. Virtually all the endemic birds can be observed in the trails inside or close to the lodge. In addition, there is a vast system of trails that cross several habitats.

An important remnant of Tumbesian Dry Forest is protected at the reserve. In this region there is one of the highest global concentrations of endemic species and species with restricted geographical distribution, many of these in serious 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.

From the city of Macará: Head North out of the city, and shortly after take a road going East, in the direction of Sozoranga. The reserve starts in about 10 km; the entrance to the lodge is 2 km further away. If the door is closed, Alex Arellano (reserve park ranger) and his family can help, as they live close by.

The hours of service for visiting the trails are from 07h00 to 15h30.

NOTE: The animals in the reserves must be fed ONLY by the persons in charge.

In this zone, dry Tumbesian forests extend from southern Ecuador (Loja) almost to the city of Lima, Peru. The vegetation in this region is very diverse, with numerous special habitats. These include arid scrub, deserts, deciduous tropical forest and premontane deciduous forest, whose distribution depends on altitude, humidity, and rainfall.

The site where the Jorupe Reserve is located is an area with the most extensive remnants of forest in the region still in good condition. The reserve covers an important altitudinal gradient.

For this reason, Jorupe is home to numerous threatened or restricted-range species. The reserve includes abandoned pastureland with good potential to be reforested and to bridge significant habitat patches.

In Jorupe, almost 190 species of birds have been registered, including almost all the endemic species of Tumbesian dry forests that can be found in Ecuador. These endemic species include 15 globally threatened species. Jorupe is also an excellent place to observe the King Vulture.

It is possible to stay within the Jorupe Reserve, at the Urraca Lodge, managed by Jocotours. To know more about accommodation services and touristic offers, please get in touch with our touristic operator.

Outside the Lodge

• Dry Tumbesian forest.
• Flowering Guayacán trees (mid-January) at 45 minutes from the reserve.
• Border with Peru less than 20 min. by car.