Puerto Vallata Macaw Sanctuary. A True Natural Sanctuary in Puerto Vallarta. In the heart of the Sierra Madre lies one of the destination’s best-kept secrets: the Macaw Sanctuary.
To talk about the Macaw Sanctuary, we must first tell the story of Francisco Espino Ibarra. As a child, Francisco first visited the place where the sanctuary is located today, but back then it was quite the opposite. That area of the Las Juntas and Los Veranos ejido filled him with profound sadness; hundreds, perhaps thousands, of felled trees gave the place an air of desolation.
The timber resources were being overexploited by locals and outsiders alike. The turning point came when Francisco saw a tree with a macaw nest that had been cut down without any consideration. Of course, there were no birds left alive inside. It was then that he decided to become its guardian.
As a descendant of one of the founding members of the ejido (communal land), he petitioned the assembly for the land to build a cabin and care for it. Thus, in 2006, the Macaw Sanctuary was born, a space dedicated to the conservation of the Mexican green macaw (Ara militaris) in its natural habitat.
Since then, Francisco and his sons, Jesús Adrián and Jorge Yamil, have dedicated their lives to this noble work. They climb to the tops of the trees to place wooden nests they build themselves to facilitate the species’ reproduction. They also place metal sheets around the tree trunks to prevent the region’s large felines—such as ocelots and pumas—from climbing and preying on the nests.
To better study the macaws’ habits and the hunting techniques of predators, they place cameras hidden in small cages that are activated by movement. Thus, they discovered that the collared forest hawk could enter the nests to plunder them, so they reduced the size of the entrance hole, successfully preventing this from happening.
Today, their efforts are paying off. In the wild, green macaw chicks have an average survival rate of only 16%; within the sanctuary, that percentage rose to almost 50% in 2024, when 14 chicks successfully fledged. This year there are 29 chicks in 19 nests, so the survival rate could be surpassed compared to last year.
Their work is sustained by contributions from visitors and the support of benefactors interested in sponsoring the sanctuary. One of the best ways to visit is with Authentik Tours, one of the tour companies that operates in support of the sanctuary. This agency promotes positive impact tourism. In addition to observing the macaws from a distance without invading their space and with the utmost discretion so as not to disturb them, they are responsible for providing valuable information that raises awareness throughout the tour.
Dr. Juan Luis Cifuentes Lemus—Doctor Honoris Causa and Professor Emeritus of the University Center of the Coast, who throughout his life championed important projects for the conservation of species in the region—used to say that “what is known, is valued; and what is valued, is protected.”
When visiting the sanctuary, one can learn amazing facts, such as that macaws are monogamous; that is, they choose a mate for life, and if that mate dies, they do not mate again for years. They form a home with the love of their life, living as a family with their offspring until they reach reproductive maturity (generally two to four years). Another similarity with us is their lifespan, which averages sixty to one hundred years.
To date, this species remains endangered due to illegal trafficking and habitat loss, making the work of Francisco and his family invaluable. They not only protect the macaws but the entire ecosystem; with the help of volunteers, they have planted 11,500 pine trees in the last two years to reforest the area.
The Macaw Sanctuary is a true haven of peace. In its vicinity, the only sound is the powerful squawking of the macaws. When they are silent, the place falls into absolute stillness, conveying an unparalleled sense of calm and tranquility; an encounter with oneself and with nature in its purest form.
Once again, Puerto Vallarta and its people demonstrate a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, recognizing the value of all that coexists in the destination and joining forces to rescue and protect its greatest treasure: biodiversity.
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