El Jaguar

Overview

Description

El Jaguar is in the department of Jinotega in north-central Nicaragua, within a critical cloud forest ecosystem. It features 247 acres (100 hectares), of which 200 acres (80 hectares) are pristine cloud forest and 50 acres (20 hectares) have organic coffee certified by the OCIA and Rainforest Alliance. El Jaguar is a very interesting place for researchers because it houses Pacific as well as Caribbean bird species and those that migrate here from the north. We also have an important confluence of birds and mammals from the highland areas of northern Central America.

The site is famous as a bird sanctuary which is why bird-watching is one of the favorite activities of visitors to the reserve. It is also an established site for research and bird banding (this activity is carried out on pre-defined dates). The reserve's cloud forests have an excellent conservation status and trails of different lengths for hiking. It also offers an organic coffee tour and visits can be made to the neighboring village of San Rafael del Norte, its museum, and church. There is horseback riding on the nearby Kilimanjaro farm and fishing in Apanas Lake.

We have:

• Two double-occupancy apartments with small living rooms, hot water baths in the shower, a terrace, and solar-powered lighting.
• Two quadruple occupancy (two double occupancy rooms) apartments with small living rooms, baths with hot water in the shower, a terrace, and solar-powered lighting. The total capacity in the cabañas is 13 people.
• A biological station with four rooms with bunk beds for students and researchers, an outdoor bathroom with hot water, and solar energy. Total capacity is 22 people.

Rooms

6 in the cabins and 4 in the biological station.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 5

Percentage of local employees: 100%

The El Jaguar Organic Farm and Private Reserve has become a model of sustainable production thanks to its environmental protection and social sustainability components, as demonstrated by the following:

• El Jaguar is a private reserve, officially declared by Nicaragua's Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in 2005. It protects 100 acres (80 hectares) of cloud forest.
• The reserve produces coffee certified by OCIA as organic and certified by Rainforest Alliance as sustainable.
• Birdlife International declared it an Important Bird Area (IBA NI 15).
• All of the installations have solar energy.
• We hire local staff and support the local school in Carril.
• We sponsor scientific research, mainly in the field of ornithology.

Rates

$51 – $75

From $51 to $100. This price includes food, lodging, and the reserve entrance fee.

For more information about the rates, write to jaguarinfo@cablenet.com.ni.

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.jaguarreserve.org/rates.html (available in English and Spanish).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Managua (MGA)

Distance, by land, to the nearest airport: 120 miles (190 km).

El Jaguar can be reached year-round in a 4 x 4 vehicle. For groups arriving by bus, we provide transport in a double traction vehicle for the last 1 1/4 miles (two kilometers) to the reserve.

Additional Information

Additional Web sites

• www.eco-index.org/new/stories/2009/february.cfm (available in English and Spanish). Interview with Georges Duriaux, owner of the El Jaguar Private Wildlife Reserve and Organic Farm in Nicaragua, in the Eco-Index feature "Stories From the Field", February, 2009.
• www.jinotegalife.com/directorio/VerEmpresa/70 (available in Spanish). "From misty Jinotega, coffee for the world". Describes the range of activities available in Jinotega, including visits to the Organic Farm and "El Jaguar" Cloud Forest Reserve.
• www.vianica.com/sp/activity/91/observando-aves-en-el-jaguar (available in English and Spanish). "Bird-watching in El Jaguar". Describes the attractions of the reserve with an emphasis on bird-watching.

Date This Information Was Provided

February 2009.

Photo courtesy of El Jaguar, Nicaragua, for SustainableTrip.org.