El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve

Partner
Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo / Nubliselva A.C. / EcoBiosfera El Triunfo S.C.

Location
Southern Chiapas, Mexico

Site Description
Located among the peaks of the Sierra Madre mountains in Southern Chiapas, enveloped in an almost constant mantle of fog lies the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. This 300,000 acre reserve is considered one of the most pristine and diverse natural areas remaining in Mexico. The Sierra Madre de Chiapas is a transition zone between the nearctic and neotropical biogeographical regions. As such, its flora and fauna are enriched by the northern and southernmost range extensions of many species. The Reserve features ten of the nineteen vegetation types found in Chiapas, among which is found two of the most threatened in Mexico – the cloud forest and the rain forest.  El Truinfo’s cloud forest is reported to host one of the most diverse arrays of tree species in North and Central America. Shrouded in the covering vegetation of the Reserve, emerge giant tree ferns, evergreen trees that reach over 90 meters above the forest floor, branches covered in vines, moss, bromeliads and beautiful orchids that give the image of hanging gardens.

The Reserve’s varied and complex vegetation types provide habitat for an equally incredible sample of fauna including 14 species of amphibians, 63 species of reptiles and 113 species of mammals.  The diverse sample of fauna found at El Triunfo includes the resplendent quetzal, spider monkey, tapir, five species of wildcats among which is found the jaguar, and hundreds of butterfly species. Its impressive avifauna also make El Triunfo one of the finest birding areas in Mexico.  El Triunfo is home to about 400 species of birds, including two of the rarest bird species in Latin America – the endemic Horned Guan and the Azure-rumped Tanager.

Ecotourism at El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve
The El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve has been a pioneer in ecotourism development within the protected areas system of Chiapas, Mexico. Through ecotourism, the Reserve aims to generate income to support and strengthen the Reserve’s management activities as well as to benefit local communities.  The non-governmental organization, EcoBiosfera S.C. was recently established to adequately manage El Triunfo’s Ecotourism Program. EcoBiosfera S.C. is dedicated to developing and marketing a diverse array of tours within the Reserve that directly benefit conservation and sustainable community development. 

El Triunfo’s ecotourism program offers different tour packages ranging from a four to ten day stay in the Reserve.  Visits are individually managed, however, a minimum group size of four people is required to enter the Reserve.  Additionally, a two-day extension visit to the La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, an extensive coastal ecosystem of mangrove estuaries, semi-deciduous tropical forest, and seasonally flooded coastal forest located along the Pacific Coastal Plain can be arranged.  La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve boasts some of the tallest mangrove stands in Mexico and a great variety of aquatic birds. Visited by about 200 persons annually, El Triunfo offers visitors enrichening experiences that focus on environmental education, flora and fauna identification, and an understanding of the conservation efforts in this spectacular natural area.

El Triunfo Base Camp
The journey to El Triunfo Base Camp is a walk back in time.  While physically challenging, requiring a three to four hour hike, the Ecotourism Program arranges for mules to carry gear, skilled birding guides, and various support service personnel, from local communities, to make the magnificent ascent to El Triunfo Base Camp the most comfortable possible.

The infrastructure at the base camp is basic and can host a maximum of 12 persons.  The facilities feature two rooms each with 3 bunk beds, shared bathrooms with hot water as well as a meeting room and a traditional kitchen hut.  The base camp also features a camping area for up to 25 persons and an extensive trail system.  Tours within El Triunfo are led by a trained, bilingual local naturalist together with park rangers.

Principle Attractions at El Triunfo

• Extensive array of vegetation zones: from tropical rainforest, pine, pine-oak, pine-oak-liquidambar to cloud forest
• Intriguing local communities situated in a mystical and ancient world
• Incredible avifauna, including two of the rarest species in Latin America – the endemic Horned Guan and Azure-rumped Tanager
• A myriad of sites that provide breathtaking vistas, including that of the Pacific Coastal Plain
• Excellent hiking and trekking – El Triunfo’s extensive system of trails take visitors from the  peaks of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains to the Pacific Coastal Plain