The Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco, reached one of its main goals when completing the project of building the Construction of a Lodge in the Reserve Ecological Jorupe. It is located a few kilometers from the Macara city in the Province of Loja.

The inauguration of this Lodge was held on August 14, 2009, and is now open to visitors. 

Objective.- The objective of this construction is to motivate citizens not only Ecuadorians but also international visitors who love birds and interested in conservation, to come and enjoy the beautiful place the Jocotoco owns here. This place has provided now the accessibility for the visitors to overnight for several days and understand the importance of the Protected Forest. Visitors now can be a witness of the infinity of bird species that live in this place among which many of them are endemic.

Location.- It is constructed over a hill overlooking the Jorupe Valley and Peru. It finds itself within the Tumbesian forest giving the visitor the feeling of belonging to the natural surroundings.

Some of the bird species visited at the lodge are: White-tailed Jays, Ochre-breasted Dove, Slaty Becard, and in luck Rufous-necked Woodrails. These may be observed from the main dinning area and from the cabins.

Around the lodge, many majestic Kapok trees stand being the characteristic of the dry forest. These trees are home of birds like the Gray-breasted Flycatchers, Grey-breasted or Harris' Hawks.

Accommodations.- The area of the main dinner has been designed with an open concept. It is a building with ceiling windows for ventilation which permits a more natural circulation of air and also permitting birdwatchers keep an eye on the surrounding forest.

The dinning room is closed by an almost invisible mesh which will not permit the entrance of insects which may bother the visitor.

It has several open porches that provide an area to birdwatch or to meet informally. Each porch is designed to make the best of the light in different angles permitting good views of birds and landscape.

The lodge has six individual cabins which are comfortable but most of all are located one separated from the next to provide the most privacy. Inside, the cabins have two beds with a private bathroom. Each count with a private inviting porch where visitors may sit and enjoy the view of the valley.

Invited: Invited to the event and present at the inauguration were Heather Hodges, USA Ambassador; Linda Cross, UK Ambassador; Rubén Bustamante, Prefecto Of the Loja Province; Jorge Jaramillo, Vice-Prefecto; Pedro Quito, Mayor of Macara; Ismael Betancourt, Vice-Mayor of Loja; Mireya Villavicencio, President of the Tourism Chamber among others

Testimony:

Robert Ridgely (President of the Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco), assures that after purchasing the habitat the next dream was to building a touristic infrastructure. For that purpose the appropriate measures and proceedings were done national and internationally The Municipality of Macara has supported us with the machinery to open the road to bring material for the construction of the lodge.

Pedro Quito (Mayor of Macara).- Agreed to sign an ordinance to prevent invasions and irregularities that may hinder the protection of the reserve..

Rubén Bustamante, Prefecto Provincial, thanked the people who promoted the project for the initiative of protecting the forests. “Is very important to do an international campaign to obtain the necessary resources and strengthen the mutual efforts". He confirmed that it is very important to develop visits from schools and universities.

Heather Hodges, USA Ambassador,  expressed how impressed she was of the place and that these projects are selfsustained and accessible.  “Jocotoco works on marvelous projects in this country, and I hope to return soon to the forest." She stated.

In the future, the protective reserve will build a few meters away from the Macara-Sozoranga-Cariamanga road, a specialized infrastructure for environmental education

The Fundación Jocotoco welcomes visitors with interest in conservation, birdwatching and tropical ecology.

If you wish to buy accommodations at Jorupe, the best way is to contact one of the local ecotourism companies in Ecuador. These companies facilitate the reservations at the lodge, provide transportation and organize your accommodations.

Neblina Forest

Mindo Bird Tours

Cabañas San Isidro

Tropical Birding

Andean Birding

Or contact Fundacion Jocotoco and the person in charge of Eco-tourism to the following email:

reservations@fjocotoco.org

The construction of the lodge was financed by the World Land Trust-US and designed by David Agro and Robert Ridgely, with the collaboration of an Ecuadorian Constructor Diego Patino and his team from Mindo, Ecuador.

For more information on the Reserva Jorupe and how to support the purchase of more habitat of dry forest, please visit the web page under DONATIONS.

The name of "Urraca Lodge" is after the emblem bird of this protective forest.