IMG
© Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos

Embalse Cerrón Grande RAMSAR Site

13.96027 , -89.01339

El Salvador

It is an artificial water reservoir that constitutes the largest freshwater body in the country. The reservoir provides relevant environmental products and services such as fisheries production and hydropower generation, water filtration and flood control. The site serves as a place of refuge, breeding and resting ground for several thousand waterbirds, both resident and migratory, and hosts the largest duck populations in the country. It has an extension of 60,000 hectares and it was designated as a RAMSAR site in 2005.

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 "Embalse Cerrón Grande RAMSAR Site " (2021-08-01 23:50:38 )

Coordinates were changed by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos : 13.9603/-89.0134 (2021-08-01 23:47:51 )

Site name was changed by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos into "Lake Suchitlan RAMSAR Site " (2021-08-01 23:47:51 )

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 13.9414/-89.0185 (2021-01-22 18:00:49 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Suchitoto Area" (2021-01-22 18:00:49 )

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-01 23:51:49
It is an artificial water reservoir that constitutes the largest freshwater body in the country. The reservoir provides relevant environmental products and services such as fisheries production and hydropower generation, water filtration and flood control. The site serves as a place of refuge, breeding and resting ground for several thousand waterbirds, both resident and migratory, and hosts the largest duck populations in the country. It has an extension of 60,000 hectares and it was designated as a RAMSAR site in 2005.

  • 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)

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)
Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-02 00:01:20)

Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-02 00:00:59)

Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:56:05)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:55:50)

Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:54:36)

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:54:03)

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:53:51)

Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:53:19)

Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:53:08)

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-08-01 23:52:56)

  • Timing and strategy

There is good birding all around the year at the articifial body of water and its surroundings. Depending the time of year some areas become available and other not mostly because of the dramatic change of water level from October when we have the highest level till April when we have the lowest level. The best base is the town of Suchitoto, there are multiple hotels in the town and a couple of tour operators that offer birding tours in the surroundings or simply go to Puerto San Juan and ask a local boat to take you either to Agua Caliente area or Isla de los Pajaros, the ride should cost you either way 30-40 usd. Suchitoto Adventure Outfitters offers a Kayak & Birding Tour at Agua Caliente mostly around the year or if you decide to do by boat they can offer you that service as well. The best strategy is to arrive to Suchitoto the night before and do the tour early in the morning at around 6 a.m. The tour should take around 3 hours.

The are of Colima is accesible and full of birds the first eight weeks of the year when thousands of duck winter in the area.

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 2021-08-02 20:36
There is good birding all around the year at the articifial body of water and its surroundings. Depending the time of year some areas become available and other not mostly because of the dramatic change of water level from October when we have the highest level till April when we have the lowest level. The best base is the town of Suchitoto, there are multiple hotels in the town and a couple of tour operators that offer birding tours in the surroundings or simply go to Puerto San Juan and ask a local boat to take you either to Agua Caliente area or Isla de los Pajaros, the ride should cost you either way 30-40 usd. Suchitoto Adventure Outfitters offers a Kayak & Birding Tour at Agua Caliente mostly around the year or if you decide to do by boat they can offer you that service as well. The best strategy is to arrive to Suchitoto the night before and do the tour early in the morning at around 6 a.m. The tour should take around 3 hours.hours. The are of Colima is accesible and full of birds the first eight weeks of the year when thousands of duck winter in the area.
Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-02 20:32
There is good birding all around the year at the articifial body of water and its surroundings. Depending the time of year some areas become available and other not mostly because of the dramatic change of water level from October when we have the highest level till April when we have the lowest level. The best base is the town of Suchitoto, there are multiple hotels in the town and a couple of tour operators that offer birding tours in the surroundings or simply go to Puerto San Juan and ask a local boat to take you either to Agua Caliente area or Isla de los Pajaros, the ride should cost you either way 30-40 usd. Suchitoto Adventure Outfitters offers a Kayak & Birding Tour at Agua Caliente mostly around the year or if you decide to do by boat they can offer you that service as well. The best strategy is to arrive to Suchitoto the night before and do the tour early in the morning at around 6 a.m. The tour should take around 3 hours.
  • How to get there

You can get there by driving along the Panamerican Highway to the East and then detouring at San Martin, you go through the town and follow the signs that marks Suchitoto then you drive for 25 kilometers more and then you are in Suchitoto. The total distance is around 55 kilometers and it takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

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

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-08-02 20:52
You can get there by driving along the Panamerican Highway to the East and then detouring at San Martin, you go through the town and follow the signs that marks Suchitoto then you drive for 25 kilometers more and then you are in Suchitoto. The total distance is around 55 kilometers and it takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

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
2019-07-08 Kayak Birding Tour at Embalse Cerron Grande with KImberly and Alan Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2019-10-24 Birding at Embalse Cerron Grande with Joachim and Emma for Suchitoto Adventure Outfitters 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
Embalse Cerrón Grande RAMSAR Site - Orniverse