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© Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos

Laguna del Jocotal RAMSAR Site

13.33368 , -88.24872

El Salvador

It was declared a RAMSAR Site in 1999. The site is formed by two permanent freshwater lagoons, Laguna del Jocotal and Laguna San Juan. It is one of the best examples of freshwater flooded wetlands in the Central America Pacific that in addition to its huge biodiversity, plays an important role in flooding control and climate regulation.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Site name was changed by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos into "Laguna Del Jocotal RAMSAR Site" (2021-08-01 14:42:25 )

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 13.3337/-88.2487 (2021-01-22 17:41:30 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Laguna Del Jocotal" (2021-01-22 17:41:30 )

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-01 13:00:32
It was declared a RAMSAR Site in 1999. The site is formed by two permanent freshwater lagoons, Laguna del Jocotal and Laguna San Juan. It is one of the best examples of freshwater flooded wetlands in the Central America Pacific that in addition to its huge biodiversity, plays an important role in flooding control and climate regulation.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)
Yellow-breasted Crake (Hapalocrex flaviventer)
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
Pinnated Bittern (Botaurus pinnatus)
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum)

Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 14:15:02)

Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:19:39)

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:18:34)

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:17:47)

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:17:37)

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:17:28)

Yellow-breasted Crake (Hapalocrex flaviventer) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:17:18)

Pinnated Bittern (Botaurus pinnatus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:17:02)

Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 13:16:52)

  • Timing and strategy

This is an amazing spot for birding, the only season to avoid is from September to October when the whole lagoon overflows and getting to the place is not possible. The rest of the year is a perfecto place to spot those rare bitterns and the crake. During migration time the mirror of water gets full of waterfowl and even American White Pelicans. 

The distance from San Salvador is 140 kilometers and it takes 2 hours and a half to get there. The best time to start birding is sunrise time. You can hire a local fisherman to take to "Puerto Viejo" area in the lagoon where there are high chances to spot the really shy Pinnated Bittern and the really complicated to see "Least Bittern" as well as the crakes. Starting from 7 a.m you can visit the birding platform where you can spot the local and the migratory birds that inhabits the lagoon at different times of the year. Also it is a good thing to just walk by the shores of the lagoon towards "Poza Los Abuelos" where it is easy to spot the Common Tody Flycatcher in the trees that surround that area of the lagoon.

If you want to organized a visit to Los Conacastes area this can be done by asking a local guide since the place is private. You need to have you own transportation since there is no public transportation to get to the place. 

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-01 14:36
This is an amazing spot for birding, the only season to avoid is from September to October when the whole lagoon overflows and getting to the place is not possible. The rest of the year is a perfecto place to spot those rare bitterns and the crake. During migration time the mirror of water gets full of waterfowl and even American White Pelicans.  The distance from San Salvador is 140 kilometers and it takes 2 hours and a half to get there. The best time to start birding is sunrise time. You can hire a local fisherman to take to "Puerto Viejo" area in the lagoon where there are high chances to spot the really shy Pinnated Bittern and the really complicated to see "Least Bittern" as well as the crakes. Starting from 7 a.m you can visit the birding platform where you can spot the local and the migratory birds that inhabits the lagoon at different times of the year. Also it is a good thing to just walk by the shores of the lagoon towards "Poza Los Abuelos" where it is easy to spot the Common Tody Flycatcher in the trees that surround that area of the lagoon. If you want to organized a visit to Los Conacastes area this can be done by asking a local guide since the place is private. You need to have you own transportation since there is no public transportation to get to the place. 
Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-01 14:14
This is an amazing spot for birding, the only season to avoid is from September to October when the whole lagoon overflows and getting to the place is not possible. The rest of the year is a perfecto place to spot those rare bitterns and the crake. During migration time the mirror of water gets full of waterfowl and even American White Pelicans.  The distance from San Salvador is 140 kilometers and it takes 2 hours and a half to get there. The best time to start birding is sunrise time. You can hire a local fisherman to take to "Puerto Viejo" area in the lagoon where there are high chances to spot the really shy Pinnated Bittern and the really complicated to see "Least Bittern" as well as the crakes. Starting from 7 a.m you can visit the birding platform where you can spot the local and the migratory birds that inhabits the lagoon at different times of the year. Also it is a good thing to just walk by the shores of the lagoon towards "Poza Los Abuelos" where it is easy to spot the Common Tody Flycatcher in the trees that surround that area of the lagoon.
  • How to get there

The lagoon is locate on the coastal highway or "Litoral" as it is called in El Salvador. You can reach it by taking the road towards the city of Usulutan, which you pass by and head to the city of San Miguel. It is mostly flat road in the middle of Sugar Cane plantations and cattle grazing lands. After 2 hours you arrive to the lagoon and it is well marked. If you do it by public transportation you can take at "Terminal del Sur" bus 302 to Usulutan city then at the same terminal you arrive you take bus 373 and ask the driver to leave you at "Laguna del Jocotal". There are no places to stay at the lagoon so the best chances to stay around are in Usulutan city or San Miguel city which is a larger one.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-01 14:19
The lagoon is locate on the coastal highway or "Litoral" as it is called in El Salvador. You can reach it by taking the road towards the city of Usulutan, which you pass by and head to the city of San Miguel. It is mostly flat road in the middle of Sugar Cane plantations and cattle grazing lands. After 2 hours you arrive to the lagoon and it is well marked. If you do it by public transportation you can take at "Terminal del Sur" bus 302 to Usulutan city then at the same terminal you arrive you take bus 373 and ask the driver to leave you at "Laguna del Jocotal". There are no places to stay at the lagoon so the best chances to stay around are in Usulutan city or San Miguel city which is a larger one.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Not available yet
  • Other attractions

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Not available yet

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Not available yet

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Not available yet
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

Local guides

Gallery

Reports

Season:
to
Species:
2021-11-24 to 2021-11-30 Birding El Salvador with Nigel Marven 2021 Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2020-01-07 to 2020-01-08 Birding & Photo Tour with Stephon Sterns Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2018-06-28 Handal's Salt Pans at Jiquilisco Bay & El Jocotal Lagoon with David Palmer Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2020-02-19 to 2020-02-22 Lorenz Hintz Birding Tour Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2019-11-08 to 2019-11-11 Chris Fischer's 2019 Central American Big Year El Salvador Trip 2 Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2019-06-21 to 2019-06-24 Chris Fischer's 2019 Central American Big Year El Salvador Trip 1 Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
Laguna del Jocotal RAMSAR Site - Orniverse