Our eco resort is proud to announce the latest additions to the parrots that we have at our eco resort. We have received two yellow-naped parrots named “Pancho” and “Patricio.” Pancho was given to La Cocotera after he was found in an abandoned house in El Salvador by the police. The police did not know what to do with him so they gave him to La Cocotera. We do not know much about Pancho’s background; but, we can assume that he was taken care of by a few women because he will say women’s names like, “Carmen” and “Maria.” At La Cocotera, we are very impressed by his extensive vocabulary. Patricio is only a baby parrot and Pancho has been teaching him to talk. Pancho, for example, would say, “¡abarra la puerta!” Now, Pancho and Patricio say, “¡abarra la puerta!” which means in English, “open the door.” Patricio was found in the area near La Cocotera as a chick in a nest that had been poached.
Our two new yellow-naped parrots are a great new addition to the Scarlet Macaws that are part of our Species Reintroduction Program. Yellow-naped parrots are endangered. Deforestation of the regions these birds are from along with the illegal removing of the young for pet trade contribute to the decline in numbers of yellow-naped parrots. Yellow-naped parrots are all green when they are young and as they mature they develop the “yellow-nape” on their necks.
When you’re staying at La Cocotera, be sure to check out the yellow-naped parrots! See if you can even teach the parrots some new words to say, they love to talk!
El Salvador is the perfect destination for any nature lover seeking an eco-friendly travel experience. Staying at an eco resort and lodge in El Salvador is the first step to your ecotourism experience in El Salvador. La Cocotera was built following the “green leaf” system utilized by the Certification Sustainable Tourism (CST). Our goal at La Cocotera was to build a resort that our guests would find luxurious at no expense to the environment or residents. La Cocotera allows you to have a place to stay in El Salvador and be a tourist without damaging the environment while you are visiting.
At La Cocotera, we built an eco resort that seeks to try to minimize the impact that conventional tourism has on the environment. We attempt to reduce the negative environmental impact by using solar energy, energy saving light bulbs, biological (not chemical) waste water recycling treatment, environmentally safe shampoos, soaps, and all cleaning supplies, ionization pool filtration, and recycling of plastics, paper, and glass.
The Barra de Santiago is an excellent location for bird watching. La Cocotera is part of El Salvador’s official program to reintroduce Scarlet Macaws into the country. Scarlet Macaws have been extinct in El Salvador for the last fifty years. While bird watching in El Salvador and staying at an eco resort, you can learn more about the Scarlet Macaw program and ask questions to the people involved while they are staying at our eco resort.
We also have an Olive Ridley turtle release program. In the Olive Ridley turtle release program, we buy turtle eggs that would otherwise be sold to be eaten, allow the eggs to hatch, raise the turtles, and then release the Olive Ridley turtles into the Pacific Ocean. The conservation of the Olive Ridley turtles is a serious concern and we are so pleased that at our eco resort we can help the Olive Ridley turtles.
El Salvador is a nature-lover’s paradise. With a large variety of unique plants and wildlife, its geographic location is ideal for those seeking an eco vacation. With so many sights to see, from the breathtaking volcanic lake, Lake Coatepeque, to El Imposible National Park, El Salvador is the perfect place to experience the beauty of nature first hand. Many nature tours in El Salvador are available through La Cocotera Resort as well as various tour groups in the area.
La Cocotera offers exciting eco and nature tours including an exploration of the Ruins of Joya de Ceren and San Andres, a Santa Ana Volcano Tour and a day hike in El Imposible National Park.
Ruins of Joya de Ceren
Visit the Mayan ruins of Joya de Ceren and San Andres on this unique, full day nature tour. Named a UN World Heritage Site, this archaeological region offers unforgettable panoramic volcanic views from beautiful Cerro Verde. Tour includes transportation, a pack lunch, park entrance fees and a guide. Cost: $175 for up to 2 people.
Volcano Tour
This tour is for the athletic and adventurous. Climb the Santa Ana Volcano, the highest in the country, with magnificent views of other volcanoes and lakes. The effort will be well worth it! This full day trip is relatively strenuous and sturdy shoes are necessary. Transportation, lunch, entrance fees and a guide are all included. Cost: $165 for up to two people.
El Imposible National Park
The San Salvador area is well known for El Imposible, a tropical rain forest and El Salvador’s largest national park. Explore its diverse collection of animals and plants on this educational hike. During the nature tour, you will also learn about the Scarlet Macaw reintroduction program. The trip is a 1/2 day hike and includes transportation, drinks, entrance fees and guide. Cost: $150 for up to 2 people.
Other types of nature tours and activities that are readily available at or near La Cocotera Resort include ocean and estuary kayaking, deep sea fishing, birdwatching, and a behind the scenes eco tour of our resort.
If you have other nature tours in El Salvador that you would like to book while staying with us, we would be glad to help point you in the right direction.
Great news! We have officially received two Scarlet Macaws as part of an educational component of a larger reintroduction program with SalvaNatura, El Salvador’s largest NGO. Their names are Lily and Tito. No one knows their exact age, but they came to us from a rescue center where they had spent the last 15 years of their lives in a cramped cage. The birds now reside in an aviary that we have built for them and are happily enjoying the larger space.
Lily and Tito, El Salvador Scarlet Macaws at La Cocotera Eco Resort
The Scarlet Macaw is an incredible bird, now extinct in El Salvador and most of Central America. Hunting, poaching for the pet trade, and the destruction of habitat through deforestation have all been contributing factors in their population decline. As an environmentally active eco lodge in Central America, we are working in conjunction with SalvaNatura to sponsor a project that reintroduces macaws into the wild and establishes a self-sustaining population.
SalvaNatura is a private, nonprofit organization recognized nationally and internationally for its successful work on the issue of environmental conservation in El Salvador. For more information, visit www.salvanatura.org. You can read more about the Reintroduction of the Scarlet Macaw to El Salvador here.
As an eco friendly resort, we constantly strive to ensure that our hotel and practices always put the environment at high priority. But what does that entail exactly? We wanted to take the time to share with you what makes La Cocotera truly an eco friendly resort.
La Cocotera was built following the “green leaf” system utilized by the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST). The planning of the resort involved mapping out how to carefully minimize footprints on the land and ensuring that structures were built around the natural landscape. Local natural materials such as palm fronds, sustainable teak wood, plant vines, natural stone and hand woven fabrics are used throughout. In fact, all the wood used in construction was derived from sustainable teak plantations.
Energy conservation and recycling are also important elements of our eco resort. We use solar energy, energy saving lightbulbs and kinesthetic power flashlights. We have a biological (not chemical) waste water recycling treatment plant and we utilize gray water recycling as well as black water recycling, which not many hotels do. All trash is presorted for recycling before it leaves the property.
At La Cocotera, we pride ourselves on the freshness of the food we serve. Mangoes, cashews, almonds and our own citrus trees are all grown on the property and we use them in our desserts. We will soon be buying Tilapia fish from the local elementary school, which is raising them, and will be adding a vegetarian menu. For drinks, we use plastic cups made from corn which are 100% compostable.
Ionization pool filtration, rather than chlorine and other chemicals
All rooms are non-smoking
Being a green hotel is more than just having environmentally friendly practices in place. We also educate our guests by offering a free Behind The Scenes Eco Tour that shows you all we are doing to be green. We educate all our staff in the same way.
As an eco friendly resort in El Salvador, we are glad to offer world-class accommodations in a beautiful and unique setting. We encourage environmentally conscious travelers, nature and luxury lovers alike to visit our green hotel in El Salvador for a different vacation experience surrounded by nature, far away from the stresses of everyday life.
El Salvador is an area that offers not only striking beaches, but a wide variety of exciting water activities. In fact, La Cocotera’s ideal geographic position allows for some of the best water activities in the world. Those seeking solitude will enjoy our ultra-remote location on the northern Pacific coast, known for its national park, estuaries and mangroves. In these groves, you’ll find our El Salvador eco lodge set in a tawny sandbar with thatched-roof bungalows in a stand of coconut palms.
The country’s Balsam Coast is known as a surfer’s paradise, well known for its beach breaks, river mouths, reefs and cobblestone points. For the longest wave in El Salvador that’s perfect for both long boards and short boards, try El Sunzal. The waves are big and surfer enthusiasts can often be found spending their time here.
Eco/nature/wildlife observation in the Barra de Santiago estuary
Kayaking
Scuba diving
Snorkeling
Jet skiing
Boogie boarding
Boat tours/sailing
Visits to local conservation projects
White-water rafting
Deep sea fishing
To better serve our guests, La Cocotera eco lodge offers life vests, boogie boards, kayaks and other equipment. Because we are not a large chain resort, these are easily accessible for our guests to enjoy.
After a day of nature and water activities, don’t forget to relax by the pool! Designed to be very private, relaxing and secluded, the La Cocotera pool is the perfect place to lounge and enjoy paradise. One of the most characteristic features of the pool is the design, which allows two mature palms trees to remain in the center of the pool. This is a testament to our commitment to not disturbing the natural surroundings and our effort to accommodate nature and our guests. The pool is environmentally friendly, with an ionization filtration system, eliminating any need for chemicals and chlorine.
Take your time and have fun with these uncrowded water activities. If you are looking for an all-inclusive eco lodge far away from the crowded beaches that allows you to be a conscientious consumer and tourist, then La Cocotera is for you!
One of the great advantages of ecotourism is having the opportunity to witness the wonders of nature first hand. Just one of the many unique and amazing animals that reside in our little area of El Salvador is the Olive Ridley sea turtle. If you are lucky, you may be able to see this sea turtle on the Barra de Santiago beach.
Olive Ridley turtles get their name from the coloring of their heart-shaped shell, which starts out grey when they first hatch, but becomes olive green once the turtles are adults. Olive Ridley turtles are one of the smallest species of sea turtle, with adults reaching 2 to 2.5 feet in length and weighing 80 to 110 pounds.
Female Olive Ridleys have a remarkable way of nesting that sets them apart from other animals. Large groups of turtles gather off shore, then simultaneously come ashore to nest and lay their eggs. The nesting rush is known as an “arribada”, which is Spanish for “arrival”. During these arribadas, hundreds to thousands of females come ashore to lay their eggs.
The Olive Ridley turtle’s conservation status is threatened, which means it is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve. In breeding populations on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, the Olive Ridley turtle is endangered. The main cause of the historical decline of the Olive Ridley sea turtle is the collection of eggs and killing of adults on nesting beaches.
Olive Ridley Turtles
At La Cocotera Eco Resort, we sponsor a turtle release program that allows guests to participate in the release of baby Olive Ridley turtles into the Pacific ocean. Our eco lodge aims to promote ecotourism and inspire guests to help preserve our natural environment. We purchase the eggs from locals and raise them until they are ready to be released. If you would like to learn more about our eco resort and the turtle release program, contact us at info [at] lacocoteraresort.com
El Salvador is slowly earning a reputation as the ideal place for sun, surf and peaceful solitude. Travel to this tropical area is on the rise as word gets out about ideal surfing conditions, unique wildlife, beautiful beaches and captivating culture. For those who seek a travel experience a little bit off the beaten path, but with the trimmings of a picturesque beach vacation, La Cocotera ecolodge should be your first stop. In her article for the Travel Section of The New York Times Online, Bonnie Tsui dotes on the charm and beauty of El Salvador:
“A lingering reputation of El Salvador as a war-torn place has kept many foreign visitors at bay, but the country’s beaches, volcanic craters, pristine cloud forests and bird sanctuaries are setting it up to be the next Costa Rica, without the crowds. Authentic local experiences abound: rustic roadside stands everywhere sell pupusas, the country’s famous corn tortillas, usually filled with gooey cheese and refried beans. Out on the water, seasoned oyster divers, their floats and nets bobbing on the surface, are ready to chat between trips down to the rocky seabed.”
Like any area that experiences a spike in travel, big hotels have begun to sprout. By traveling to smaller coastal villages such as Barra de Santiago, you will experience the same El Salvador that Tsui describes. With waves that are mellow but challenging, mouth-watering local fare, friendly local people and plenty of opportunity for nature exploration, staying at an El Salvador ecolodge is a travel experience you don’t want to miss.
Read the full article on El Salvador travel at travel.nytimes.com
Don’t forget to check out the bars and clubs that makeup San Salvador’s colorful nightlife during your stay at an eco resort. When you leave your El Salvador hotel for the evening, check out the Zona Rosa district, just west of the city center. Many cafes and restaurants can be found in Paseo General Escalon, in the Zona Rosa region, while nightclubs and cinemas (many of which show English-language films with Spanish subtitles) can often be found in shopping malls, like Metrocenter or Gran Vía. One of the area’s theaters is the beautifully restored Teatro Nacional.
Along with theaters and clubs, venues like the Feria Internacional for concerts, and Estadio Cuscatlán and Estadio Mágico Gonzalez for football (soccer) matches and concerts are great for a day out.
When you go into the restaurants remember to order the national culinary specialities:
Pupusa (a fried sandwich of tortillas, filled with pork, cheese, refried beans and/ or vegetables).
Típico salvadoreño (standard Salvadoran breakfast comprising eggs, local cheese, refried beans, fried plantains and tortillas).
Corn tortillas.
Tamal de elote (cornflour batter with meat filling, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed).
To read more about traditional and specialty cuisine, see our other post on El Salvador Food!
When you go out to the shops or clubs don’t pass up on drinking some of the local specialties:
Café (coffee).
Refrescos (natural fruit drinks).
Tic tac and torito (strong alcoholic beverages made from distilled sugar cane).
In El Salvador, the legal drinking age is 18. For night clubs and bars, remember that entry charges are common. For tipping in the area, give about 10% in El Salvador hotels and restaurants, and 15% is appropriate for smaller bills. Check before tipping because service charge is often included on bill.
FYI: Certain areas are best to avoid. The actual San Salvador downtown offers little to no in the way of entertainment and should be avoided for the most part at night. Outside the capital most places of entertainment (even hotels) close early.
The estuary and mangroves next to our eco friendly resort in Barra de Santiago may have a little more magic than just the chirping of birds and rustling of wildlife. Popular among villagers is a myth called The Legend of Chasca, a tale about the goddess of fishing.
According to the story, Chasca was once a beautiful princess who fell in love with a Prince named Acayet. When Chasca’s father, Pachacuet, discovered their love affair, he ordered that Prince Acayet be killed. Devastated by the news of her lover’s death, Chasca threw herself into the waters of La Barra de Santiago, and was never heard from again. To this day, people say that Chasca still appears on some nights, sailing in a white canoe and that it is a sign of good fishing conditions. On these nights, the villagers recite these verses:
“Fisherman the moon is out
Unwrap your fishing net
This night is of good fortune
Since the beautiful white canoe is coming,
Fear not, Chasca is good,
There is nobody like Chasca.”
You too can paddle through the enchanted waters of Barra de Santiago when you stay at our eco friendly resort. To learn more about La Cocotera and our beachfront accommodations, visit lacocoteraresort.com
