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Los Tarrales nature reserve is an important area for the conservation in Guatemala. It is home to the endemic and endangered Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus) and the Azure-rumped Tanager (Tangara cabanisi).
The Horned Guan is an odd large bird which is living in the cloud forest canopy. The Horned Guan belongs to the Cracids, a bird family which is restricted to the Neotropics. Many Cracid species are endangered due to the loss of habitat and hunting. Los Tarrales is one of the few sites, where this rare bird is still living. Its range of distribution is limited to the mountains of Chiapas and Guatemala.
The Azure-rumped or Cabanis’ Tanager is restricted to a small area along the volcanic belt of Chiapas and Guatemala. Both species are listed as threatened in the IUCN Red List.
Los Tarrales was declared protected area by the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) in 2000.
The Spanish word tarral means amount of bamboo stands. Los Tarrales Reserve was named after the abundant bamboos, which occur in various species in this area.
The area is situated on the south slope of Atitlan volcano, southern Guatemala, covering pristine forest from the upper slope of the volcano in 3,000 m (9,800 ft) down to 700 m (2,300 ft). The area is part of two biomes, subtropical humid forest and mountain forest. The reserve protects important watersheds which provide several communities with drinking water.
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| Los Tarrales Reserve protects natural habitat at the southern slope of Atitlan Volcano. The cloud forest on the volcano slope is habitat of the Horned Guan. |
Thanks to the efforts which were made to prevent hunting in Los Tarrales since three generations, it is easy to spot animals like White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), White-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis leucogastra) and Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens). Also the Puma (Puma concolor) is seen frequently.
The reserve is private and autosustainable, costs for its conservation are covered from profits of the zone of multiple use and through providing tourism services. In the zone of multiple use coffee and ornamental plants are grown.
Los Tarrales Reserve provides income to 60 Maya Kaqchikel families, which live within the protected area. People work mainly in cultivation and processing of coffee and ornamental plants. Some work as forest rangers preventing forest fires and illegal extraction of ressources. Also touristic services provide income to the local people. We are recently training a team of guides, which will interprete our trails outlayed in subtropical humid forest, mountain forest and shade coffee plantation. They also explain the processing of coffee and cultivation of ornamental plants to our visitors.
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| Cultivations of coffee and ornamental plants in the zone of multiple use provide work to local people. |
Los Tarrales is providing social services for the people living within the protected area. A private primary school is run in order to asure the children's education. Classes in nature science and conservation are included in the educational program. The administration is organizing sessions of medical care provided by specialized national and international organizations.
Recently we began the development of sustainable tourism in Los Tarrales. With your visit you will support the conservation of a beautiful piece of earth and the well being of the local people living within the reserve.
Los Tarrales is member of the National Association of Private Protected Areas (Asociación Nacional de Reservas Privadas) and the National System of Protected Areas (Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas - SIGAP). We collaborate in the following programs:
