Ecoparque El Espino

13.69937 , -89.27302

El Salvador

El Espino Coffee State was a huge property that for many years has been dedicated to grow coffee after the land reform in 1980 it was divided in many small parts the park belong to El Espino Coop which is former employees of the family that owned the whole state. These people organized to continue growing coffee and eventually in 2007 they opened El Espino Ecopark to offer an outdoor space to the people of San Salvador Metropolitan area. The extension of the park is 35 hectars aproximately. It ranges from 800 to 1200 meters above sea level and it is locates on the southern slope of San Salvador volcano, in fact the park has the only know "geysers" of the volcano in an area called "Los Infiernillos" where there is station to monitor the activity of the volcano 24/7. Most of the park is a secondary forest that provides shade to coffee plants that is still being grown but not in the whole extension of the park. 

The semidecidous forest that covers most of the park host an amazing quantity of bird species along the year. Being the most important the close to endemics: White-bellied Chachalaca, Bar-winged Oriole and Bushy-crested Jay, As well as many other species of the aproximate total of the 140 reported in the park. It is an important area for parakeets breeding since Orange-fronted Parakeets and Orange-chinned Parakeets breed in the park, both species endangered for poaching. It is easy to spot mammals like Central American Agoutis, Nine-banded Armadillos, White-tailed Deer among others. The whole extension of the park is being protected by members of the Coop in order to preserve the Ecosystem that the Park provides.

The Coop built downhill tracks for Mountain Biking and if you visit the park on the weekend you have to be careful to stay away from those tracks to avoid accidents, they are well identified and marked though. 

It is one of the most interesting hotspots for birding in the country since it is virtually inside the Metropolitan Area, from anywhere in the city you are less than an hour away to the park with good access, it is not necessary to have a 4x4 vehicle to reach the park. 

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

Coordinates were changed by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos : 13.6994/-89.2730 (2021-07-31 16:43:47 )

Site name was changed by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos into "Ecoparque El Espino" (2021-07-31 16:43:47 )

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 13.6965/-89.2644 (2021-01-22 17:49:01 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Ecoparque El Espino & Parque Del Bicentenario" (2021-01-22 17:49:01 )

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-07-31 16:44:04
El Espino Coffee State was a huge property that for many years has been dedicated to grow coffee after the land reform in 1980 it was divided in many small parts the park belong to El Espino Coop which is former employees of the family that owned the whole state. These people organized to continue growing coffee and eventually in 2007 they opened El Espino Ecopark to offer an outdoor space to the people of San Salvador Metropolitan area. The extension of the park is 35 hectars aproximately. It ranges from 800 to 1200 meters above sea level and it is locates on the southern slope of San Salvador volcano, in fact the park has the only know "geysers" of the volcano in an area called "Los Infiernillos" where there is station to monitor the activity of the volcano 24/7. Most of the park is a secondary forest that provides shade to coffee plants that is still being grown but not in the whole extension of the park.  The semidecidous forest that covers most of the park host an amazing quantity of bird species along the year. Being the most important the close to endemics: White-bellied Chachalaca, Bar-winged Oriole and Bushy-crested Jay, As well as many other species of the aproximate total of the 140 reported in the park. It is an important area for parakeets breeding since Orange-fronted Parakeets and Orange-chinned Parakeets breed in the park, both species endangered for poaching. It is easy to spot mammals like Central American Agoutis, Nine-banded Armadillos, White-tailed Deer among others. The whole extension of the park is being protected by members of the Coop in order to preserve the Ecosystem that the Park provides. The Coop built downhill tracks for Mountain Biking and if you visit the park on the weekend you have to be careful to stay away from those tracks to avoid accidents, they are well identified and marked though.  It is one of the most interesting hotspots for birding in the country since it is virtually inside the Metropolitan Area, from anywhere in the city you are less than an hour away to the park with good access, it is not necessary to have a 4x4 vehicle to reach the park. 
Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-07-31 12:08:25
El Espino Coffee State was a huge property that for many years has been dedicated to grow coffee after the land reform in 1980 it was divided in many small parts the park belong to El Espino Coop which is former employees of the family that owned the whole state. These people organized to continue growing coffee and eventually in 2007 they opened El Espino Ecopark to offer an outdoor space to the people of San Salvador Metropolitan area. The extension of the park is 35 hectars aproximately. It ranges from 800 to 1200 meters above sea level and it is locates on the southern slope of San Salvador volcano, in fact the park has the only know "geysers" of the volcano in an area called "Los Infiernillos" where there is station to monitor the activity of the volcano 24/7. Most of the park is a secondary forest that provides shade to coffee plants that is still being grown but not in the whole extension of the park.  The semidecidous forest that covers most of the park host an amazing quantity of bird species along the year. Being the most important the close to endemics: White-bellied Chachalaca, Bar-winged Oriole and Bushy-crested Jay, As well as many other species of the aproximate total of the 140 reported in the park. It is an important area for parakeets breeding since Orange-fronted Parakeets and Orange-chinned Parakeets breed in the park, both species endangered for poaching. It is easy to spot mammals like Central American Agoutis, Nine-banded Armadillos, White-tailed Deer among others. The whole extension of the park is being protected by members of the Coop in order to preserve the Ecosystem that the Park provides. The Coop built downhill tracks for Mountain Biking and if you visit the park on the weekend you have to be careful to stay away from those tracks to avoid accidents, they are well identified and marked though.  It is one of the most interesting hotspots for birding in the country since it is virtually inside the Metropolitan Area, from anywhere in the city you are less than an hour away to the park with good access, it is not necessary to have a 4x4 vehicle to reach the park. 

  • 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)

White-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis leucogastra)
Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis)
Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus)
Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus)
Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans)
Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens)
Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus)
White-faced Ground-Sparrow (Melozone biarcuata)
Bar-winged Oriole (Icterus maculialatus)
Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons)

Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 14:55:03)

Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 13:49:59)

Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 13:47:53)

Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 13:47:14)

Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 12:34:12)

Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 12:34:00)

Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 12:33:47)

White-faced Ground-Sparrow (Melozone biarcuata) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 12:33:36)

White-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis leucogastra) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 12:33:22)

Bar-winged Oriole (Icterus maculialatus) was added by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos (2021-07-31 12:33:08)

  • Timing and strategy

The best time to do a visit is early in the morning, there is good birding all the year round however the best months are from November to April because of the Neotropical migratory birds that come to the park for hundreds. Starting a visit around 6 a.m is the best for an amazing birding morning, and since is close to the city it takes less than hour to reach the park from anywhere in the city and if you are staying in the western side of the Metropolitan area 15 minutes.

The visit takes around 3 to 4 hours and you will walk around 4 kilometers maximum. The best area is the highest half of the park that ranges from 900 to 1200 meters above sea level. One of the most simple to follow routes if to walk along the old road which starts in the parking lot to the left once you reach the limit of the park you take a right to walk towards "Mirador 1" an amazing view to the western part of the metropolitan area of San Salvador and then go down by "Los Infiernillos" the only geysers known to San Salvador volcano and then following the road back to the parking lot. 

On a good day during migration time, you can spot or hear up to 60 species in one morning. There is a map of the trails in the office but they not well marked in the park so a local guide even though is not mandatory but reccomended. The whole place is absolutely safe to walk.

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 2021-07-31 12:26
The best time to do a visit is early in the morning, there is good birding all the year round however the best months are from November to April because of the Neotropical migratory birds that come to the park for hundreds. Starting a visit around 6 a.m is the best for an amazing birding morning, and since is close to the city it takes less than hour to reach the park from anywhere in the city and if you are staying in the western side of the Metropolitan area 15 minutes. The visit takes around 3 to 4 hours and you will walk around 4 kilometers maximum. The best area is the highest half of the park that ranges from 900 to 1200 meters above sea level. One of the most simple to follow routes if to walk along the old road which starts in the parking lot to the left once you reach the limit of the park you take a right to walk towards "Mirador 1" an amazing view to the western part of the metropolitan area of San Salvador and then go down by "Los Infiernillos" the only geysers known to San Salvador volcano and then following the road back to the parking lot.  On a good day during migration time, you can spot or hear up to 60 species in one morning. There is a map of the trails in the office but they not well marked in the park so a local guide even though is not mandatory but reccomended. The whole place is absolutely safe to walk.
  • How to get there

The main entrance of the park is located on the road to El Boqueron which is the crater of San Salvador Volcano, this road is concreted paved and once you enter the park is a dirt in relatively good condition and you drive around 300 meters to the main office where you pay the entrance fees which is 1.50 USD per person and 1 USD for parking. The best way to reach the place is by car, since buses won't stop at the main entrance of the park by the road..

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

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-07-31 12:32
The main entrance of the park is located on the road to El Boqueron which is the crater of San Salvador Volcano, this road is concreted paved and once you enter the park is a dirt in relatively good condition and you drive around 300 meters to the main office where you pay the entrance fees which is 1.50 USD per person and 1 USD for parking. The best way to reach the place is by car, since buses won't stop at the main entrance of the park by the road..

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

By the main entrance and parking there is a cafeteria, where you can give a try to our national dish: Pupusa, a corn tortilla filled with cheese, pork, beans or local herbs or combinations of them. There are toilets in this area as well. The park has 2 view points and the trails to get to each of them are well marked. The park also has 4 differents cabins where you can stay you can ask for info in the cafeteria for up to date rates. 

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

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-07-31 12:41
By the main entrance and parking there is a cafeteria, where you can give a try to our national dish: Pupusa, a corn tortilla filled with cheese, pork, beans or local herbs or combinations of them. There are toilets in this area as well. The park has 2 view points and the trails to get to each of them are well marked. The park also has 4 differents cabins where you can stay you can ask for info in the cafeteria for up to date rates. 

The whole park is being protected by members of the coop to prevent logging and hunting which are not allowed within the limits of the park, so there is no risk of robberies. During the rainy season there can be mosquitos, there is only one plant that is called Chichicaste (Chichicaste grandis) its leaves and stems have prickly, brittle hairs that will immediately attach and break off in your skin at the slightest of contacts. These hairs release chemicals that will cause a burning sensation right away.

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

Edited by Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos on 2021-07-31 12:54
The whole park is being protected by members of the coop to prevent logging and hunting which are not allowed within the limits of the park, so there is no risk of robberies. During the rainy season there can be mosquitos, there is only one plant that is called Chichicaste (Chichicaste grandis) its leaves and stems have prickly, brittle hairs that will immediately attach and break off in your skin at the slightest of contacts. These hairs release chemicals that will cause a burning sensation right away.
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:
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2019-11-02 Birding Layover with Adam at Ecoparque El Espino & El Boqueron Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2020-02-13 Layover at Ecoparque El Espino & Parque Nacional El Boqueron with Kim Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2020-02-24 Ecoparque El Espino & Parque Nacional Los Volcanes with Jon Lee Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2021-07-14 Birding at Ecoparque El Espino and El Boqueron with Lawrence Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
2017-12-31 Birding Layover at Ecoparque El Espino with Dorian Anderson Julio Cesar Acosta Burgos
Ecoparque El Espino - Orniverse