Cancun,Quintana Roo birding tours
Cancun, as well as any other Rivera Maya tourism destination, is very popular among birders worldwide due to its ideal location. There are some special places to go for a single-day birding, such as Puerto Morelos´s Tho Reserve, Cozumel Island and its endemic species, and the archeological sites of Coba and Muyil which are located at the heart of the humid wetlands and forests, and very close to Tulum area. All these places are rich and diverse, which makes it worth spending a day there.
Here we describe different birding days from Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or any other Rivera Maya accommodation.
Puerto Morelos, Tho Reserve
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This tour begins by making stops along the way. It is a special area because you can appreciate the edge effect, which in ecology is defined as the intersection between two different ecosystems and is characterized by its greater biodiversity. There we will observe tall fruit and flowering trees, and cecropias (broad-leaved trees) that provide excellent views of bird species. On this site, we usually find almost all species of Orioles, such as Hooded, Yellow-backed, Altamira, Orange, Yellow-tailed, and Black-cowled. Similarly, on this path, you can easily find other species like the Squirrel Cuckoo, species of Saltators, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Collared Forest Falcon, Scaled Pigeon, and Red-billed Pigeon.
​The Toh Reserve is a vast area close to Puerto Morelos in Cancún. This area is part of the well-known route of the cenotes and is composed of a series of private lands to which we have access. The area represents the tropical forest ecosystem and open grassland areas characteristic of this part of the Yucatán Peninsula, home to the Yucatan Jay or the Yucatan Woodpecker.
We will continue along the same path, entering less-traveled trails with denser vegetation to find the Northern Bentbill, White-bellied Wren, Spot-breasted Wren, and Green-backed Sparrow. Further in, you can see the Golden-Olive Woodpecker, Rose-throated Tanager, and the Thicket Tinamou.
Pick-up time: 30 minutes before sunrise
Drop-off time: Before noon
Number of birds we can see in the morning: around 70 species
Vegetation types visited: Lowland forest, open grasslands.
Tour style: Ideal for birders and photographers. Short walks near the car. Breakfast at a cabin.
​​After birdwatching along these paths, we will have breakfast at La Casa del Pajarero. This small cabin is surrounded by a great vegetation area with flowers and fruit trees where we can continue observing the birds that come there before and after breakfast. In this place, we can observe the Gray-throated Chat, Mangrove Vireo, Orioles, Blue Bunting, Saltators, and several species of hummingbirds such as Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Canivet's Emerald, White-bellied Emerald, and the Buff-bellied Hummingbird, among others.
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After breakfast, we will continue looking around for the missing species and return to your hotel before noon so you can continue your stay.
Cozumel, endemics island
A day of birding on the island of Cozumel is perfect no matter where your accommodation is in the Riviera Maya. It's important to consider the travel time to catch the first ferry from Playa del Carmen to the island of Cozumel at 6 in the morning. The tour on the island is divided into three main routes that guarantee sightings of all the endemic species and the numerous diversity of subspecies that inhabit here.
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The first site we will visit is located in the south of the island, in a town called El Cedral, characterized by trails in open areas surrounded by vegetation with flowers. Here, the Cozumel Emerald and Cozumel Wren, endemic to the island, can be easily found, along with subspecies of the Bananaquit, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, the Rufous-browed Peppershrike, the Yellow-faced Grassquit, and the Rose-throated Tanager.
After walking through this open area, we will continue on trails with low jungle vegetation, where we will find special species like the endemic Cozumel Vireo. We will also see the subspecies of the Bright-rumped Attila and the Western Spindalis. Good views of species such as the White-crowned Pigeon, Rose-throated Tanager, Black Catbird, and Yucatan Vireo are also possible.
Pick up time: 5:30 am to take the ferri on time
Drop off time: Around noon
Number of birds we can see in the morning: 60 - 70 species
Vegetation types visited: Lowland forest, coastal sand dunes vegetation, and mangroves.
Tour style: Ideal for birders and photographers, we can adjust the time to spend in each place. Short walks near the car.
After finishing at El Cedral, we will head east of the island towards the north. On the way, we will make stops at various points with coastal dune vegetation, where we will see the landscapes of the Mexican Caribbean and have the opportunity to observe coastal bird species like shorebirds, terns, and gulls. Then, in the northern area, there is a wetland and mangrove zone that offers the opportunity to observe the Ruddy Crake and other species of this ecosystem, such as herons.
Coba
Coba is located between Valladolid and Tulum, 45 minutes from any direction. Coba area is a great spot to mix birding and siting of amazing Mayan ruins. We have chances to see many bird species because we will walk in different habitats.
The tour begins near Coba, on a secondary forest trail where a mix of vegetation adjacent to the village houses is found, with shrubs, and medium-sized or small trees. This mix of vegetation promotes greater bird diversity. You can see the Yucatan Woodpecker, and hummingbirds like the Canivet Emerald, White-bellied Emerald, Yucatan Jay, and Orange Oriole. Occasionally, the Ocellated Turkey can be observed in this area, as well as the Yellow-winged Tanager and Blue-gray Tanager.
Next, we will move to the lagoon, located on the outskirts of the Coba archaeological area. This lagoon is surrounded by riparian vegetation such as cattail grass or aquatic grass, where the Rudy Crake, Snail Kite, and Pinnated Bittern commonly reside. On the lagoon can be found some special aquatic birds, such as the Least and the Pied-billed Grebe. In this area, both in the vegetation and the water, you can also find the Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, the Snowy Egret, the Tricolored Heron, and the Limpkin.
Pick-up time: 40 minutes before sunrise
Drop-off time: Around noon
Number of birds we can see in the morning: 60 - 70 species
Vegetation types visited: Lowland forest, riparian vegetation.
Tour style: Ideal for birders and photographers, we can adjust the time to spend in each place. Optional bike rental trip to move inside Coba archeological area.
​​Finally, we will visit the Coba archaeological zone. The archaeological site is a great place to learn about Mayan culture due to the well-preserved structures, such as the stelae that narrate Mayan life, as well as impressive structures like the pyramids, the ball court, and the freshwater distribution system. The archaeological zone is quite extensive, divided into three areas, with the option to rent bicycles to reach all the main ruins. Within this zone, the Ocellated Turkeys can be seen seasonally. The Black-headed Trogon, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Keel-billed Toucan, Squirrel Cuckoo, and Woodcreepers are also found here; it is common to see the Red-throated Ant-tanager, Red-crowned Ant-tanager, and Rose-throated Becard.
Muyil
Located a few minutes south of Tulum is the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, characterized by its representative vegetation of tropical forests. However, it also features extensive mangrove forests and riparian vegetation along the edges of large freshwater bodies of the region. In this area, you can find endemic bird species such as the Yucatan Flycatcher, Rose-throated Tanager, Green-backed Sparrow, Yucatán Woodpecker, Yucatan Jay, and Orange Oriole.
The birding morning consists of three main parts, with an optional fourth activity: a boat trip.
First, we will walk around the small town of Muyil for the first hour and a half. During this time we will see many species because there is a mix of vegetation like the secondary forest (shrubs and small trees), and the medium size forest, but also we can find plants with flowers and fruits in open areas so that we can have great views of the birds. We can find the Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Lineated Woodpecker, Blue-gray and Yellow-winged Tanager, Squirrel Cuckoo, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Black-headed Trogon and others.
Then, we will visit the archaeological site within the reserve to observe the structures of the ancient coastal trading city of Muyil. This is a protected area with taller trees home to other special species of the area such as the Golden-olive Woodpecker, Ruddy Woodcreeper, Gartered and Collared Trogon, Lesson’s Motmot, Collared Forest Falcon, White-crowned Pigeon, Red-throated and Red-crowned Ant-tanager.
Pick-up time: 30 minutes before sunrise
Drop-off time: Around noon
Number of birds we can see in the morning: 60 - 70 species
Vegetation types visited: Lowland forest, mangroves, and riparian vegetation.
Tour style: Walks into the archeological site paths and trails at a "birding pace". Optional boat and swimming on a slow river.
​​A nice boardwalk connects the archaeological site with the lagoon, we will walk slowly searching for other birds, while there is a transition from the forest to the mangrove vegetation. We can encounter species like the Northern Bentbill, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Long-billed Gnatwren, Scrub Euphonia, Black-cowled Oriole, Yellow-backed Oriole, Yellow-tailed Oriole, and on the edge of the lagoon the Russet-naped Wood-rail.
​​Optional boat trip
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After finishing the boardwalk from the archeological site, an optional boat trip takes you into the Muyil Lagoon. While birdwatching can be a bit slow on the boat, the main purpose is to enjoy the stunning views of the crystal-clear water and take a refreshing swim in a lazy river. The boat takes us to a canal in the mangroves where you can relax and let yourself be carried away by the gentle current. It's a truly wonderful experience.
