Maquipucuna

Overview

Setting

Located within the Choco-Andean corridor, one of the top five ‘biodiversity hotspots’ on earth, Maquipucuna is surrounded by 35,000 hectares of primary and secondary forests and is a great place for birding Choco Endemics and birds of the western Andes. A pioneering conservation project in Ecuador which has been working for over 20 years, the lodge itself is located in a 6,000 hectare private reserve which covers a range of altitudes from 1,000 to 2,800 meters above sea level. 80 percent of Maquipucuna consists of steeply-sloped, undisturbed cloud forest.

As well as a bird list of over 350 species the reserve is home to nearly 2,000 species of plants and at least 45 species of mammals including the Spectacled Bear, Ant Eater and Agouti and countless varieties of invertebrates including the beautiful Blue Morpho Butterfly

Making A Difference
Fundación Maquipucuna has broken new ground in many areas of conservation in Ecuador.
It is the first organization in Ecuador that carried out land purchase for conservation in Ecuador and also was the first to integrate local communities into ecotourism related activities, which has subsequently proven to be one of the most effective means to protect biodiversity and generate employment in forested areas.
The Maquipucuna Ecolodge at the Maquipucuna Reserve and the two surrounding local community-based ecotourism operations has received national and international awards.
Maquipucuna pioneered community-based conservation in southeast Ecuador in the buffer zone of the Podocarpus National Park starting in 1989. The program implemented agroforestry community development, provided potable water to local communities, studied the impact of mercury contamination due to mining, established a community-based sugar-processing factory, and helped solve land tenure conflicts with the communities in the buffer zone of the Podocarpus National Park.

• Andres Leon (Toucan Barbet)
• Andy Taylor (Potto and Euphonia)
• Santiago Molina (Cock-of-the-Rock)

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.

Facilities

Rooms

Simple but comfortable accommodation, with open spaces designed to allow intimate contact with nature and the soothing sounds of the rushing Umachaca River.

A network of trails allows tourists and scientists to easily access a variety of natural habitats in different stages of succession.

The lodge provides accommodation for up to 30 guests in five separate bedrooms, with shared bathrooms, and has 3 suites with private bathrooms (which is what we recommend for our guests). It also has a family cabin with a private bathroom, all with hot showers.

Enjoys a great porch where you can relax to the sights and sounds of the forest.

3 meals a day provided using the best of local ingredients and recipes with an abundance of fresh vegetables grown and served from the Reserve’s own organic garden. Approximately 12 members of the local community work in and around the lodge.

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.

Birding

Elevation

Elevation 1,000m to 2,800m above sea level.

The Maquipucuna Reserve is the gateway to the Chocó Andean Corridor, one of the earth’s top biodiversity hotspots. Established in 1988, the Maquipucuna Reserve became Ecuador’s first protected area and reserve has 14,000 acres of cloud forests of indescribable beauty and ecological value. Over 20% of Ecuador’s bird diversity has been registered at the Maquipucuna Reserve. Dr. Grady L. Webster described the Maquipucuna Reserve as the “Crown Jewel of the Andes” due to its unique biological richness.

Research Station
Maquipucuna Reserve & Foundation has hosted many researchers at the Thomas H. Davis Research Station and/or related Maquipucuna's conservation projects. Interpretive materials are being developed for the Reserve and library resources are available at the Foundation's office in Quito.

Research Projects
The Maquipucuna Reserve manages thousands of hectares of primary cloud forest, extremely rich in epiphytes, many of which have not been identified. The total number of plant species exceeds 2200 or 13% of Ecuador's plant diversity. The Reserve harbours at least 350 species of birds or 4% or the earth's bird diversity. 45 species of mammals and more than 250 species of butterflies also inhabit the reserve. Other groups have yet to be studied in detail.

Visiting Researchers
Aside from inventory work, there are an infinite number of questions that need to be answered about cloud forest ecology and conservation. The Maquipucuna Foundation encourages scientists of all types to conduct studies on basic natural history and especially on applied topics which can be related to improving management of natural and cultural resources in and around the Reserve.

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.