The Yucatan + Oaxaca
The best of Mexico in a single trip (15 days)
In this expedition we visit the two main birding routes in Mexico: The Yucatan Peninsula and Oaxaca, this combination is perfect to have chances to see many endemics. Habitats visited in this trip are very diverse: Mangroves, coastal sand dune, low and tall forest, dry mountain shrubland, oak - pine forest and the sea.
Most of the birds between the routes are different so we expect to see around 400 species.
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Day 1: Arrival day - Pick un in Cancun Airport
We will pick you up at Cancun airport and transfer to the hotel in Puerto Morelos, a charming little Caribbean town and one of the oldest ports in Quintana Roo. Depending on your arrival time we can plan to go birding in the evening to try some crepuscular and nocturnal birds. We will have dinner together and will review the itinerary of the trip and answer any questions you may have.
Day 2: Puerto Morelos - Rio Lagartos
We will start birding in Puerto Morelos Reserve, a well preserved medium forest area where our targets will be the Yucatan Flycatcher, Green-backed Sparrow, Orange Oriole, Rose-throated Tanager among other ~70 species that we will see in the morning. An early lunch will be provided by a local family. Then we will drive to Rio Lagartos where we will take a boat tour in the mangrove ria to search for the American Flamingo, Mangrove Warbler, Clapper Rail, several species of herons, egrets, terns, shorebirds and more. Once the sun goes down and still in the boat we will look for the Yucatan Nightjar, bird difficult to find in other places.
Day 3: Rio Lagartos, Dzilam de Bravo and Valladolid
This morning we will be birding in the coastal sand dune and mangrove vegetation at Rio Lagartos Reserve, a site with a very particular habitat, home of restricted range birds. The Mexican Sheartail, Yucatan Wren, Black-throated Bobwhite, Zenaida Dove, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Lesser Roadrunner will be some of the birds we will search. After lunch we will drive to Dzilam de Bravo to search for the Yucatan Gnatcatcher an endemic restricted to Northwest of the Peninsula. Then we will drive to Valladolid area an in the evening we will try for crepuscular and night birds, the main target is the Yucatan Poorwill.
Day 4: Valladolid
This day we will start birding in Xocen Reserve, with avery active trail where we will have chances to find several forest species like Thicket Tinamou, Mayan Antthrush, Rose-throated Tanager, Gray-throated Chat and several others.
Day 5: Calakmul
Full day birding at Calakmul Reserve, with an incredibly vast biodiversity, there's lots to discover in one the largest tropical forest in the Mayan region. We will go to the Archaeological Zone of Calakmul, and on the way we will stop at several spots to see interesting species such as Ocellated Turkey, Yellow-lored Parrot, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Mayan Antthrush, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Red-capped Manakin and Blue Bunting are just some of the amazing species we can find in this magic reserve in the south of the Peninsula.
Day 6: Hormiguero - Kohunlich - Tulum
Early morning birding in the Hormiguero area and archaeological site, we will visit some small lagoons with chances for the Russet-naped Wood Rail, Northern Jacanas, Keel-billed Toucan, also we can find interesting forest birds like Northern-barred Woodcreeper, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Plain Xenops and many other birds that like the fruits and seeds of the trees in the area. Afterwards we are going to the archaeological site of Kohunlich with amazing ceremonial and residential Mayan buildings, we will have chances to find the Gray-headed Dove, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Red-capped Manakin, White-necked Puffbird among others. Then we will drive to Tulum area where we will spend the night.
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Day 7: Cozumel Island
On this day we will travel by ferry to the amazing island of Cozumel, where we will explore al day in the forest, mangroves and coastal dunes. The Cozumel Emerald and the Cozumel Vireo will be our main objectives, but the island is home of many more species, as well as endemic subspecies and interesting caribbean specialties. We will have our meals in the Island, and then we will return to Playa del Carmen where we will spend the night.
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Day 8: Flight Cancun - Oaxaca
We will fly from Cancun airport to Oaxaca city, we will have time to go birding in the early morning before going to the airport.
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Day 9: Teotitlan del Valle and Yagul Archeological site
Teotitlan del Valle is a small mountainous town near Oaxaca City, located at 1.670 m over the sea level, surrounded by fields and mountain dry shrub lands. This site is known for its cultural heritage of textile crafting with natural dyes, as well as for its colonial beauty. There are different spots like Presa Piedra Azul, the road to Benito Juarez area, and Presita to spend the first part of the day. Here are high chances of finding the Oaxaca Sparrow and the Bridled Sparrow. Near that, there is a Zapotec archaeological site named Yagul, also an important birding site for the Beautiful Hummingbird or the Gray-breasted Woodpecker. ain targets: Gray-breasted Woodpecker Oaxaca Sparrow Bridled Sparrow Beautiful Hummingbird Dusky hummingbird Dwarf Vireo Pileated Flycatcher Ocellated Thrasher Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Boucard's Wren and more
Day 10: Sierra Norte - La Cumbre Ixtepeji
La Cumbre is a natural state reserve near Ixtepeji town. In this park, we will walk along trails and paths through the pine-oak forest at an elevation from 2700 to 2900m over the sea level. Being a different ecosystem, this allows us to observe different species like the Dwarf Jay and many species from pine forests like the Red Warbler, the Gray-barred Wren, and the Collared Towhee. We can go birding during the morning on the road to the site and spend the day birding in the area. Main targets: Dwarf Jay Collared Towhee White-striped Woodcreeper Long-tailed Wood-Partridge Gray-barred Wren Russet Nightingale-Thrush Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Mountain Trogon Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Fulvous Owl Mexican Whip-poor-will
Day 11: Montealban
Located 8 km from Oaxaca city, Monte Alban is the principal Zapotec ancient city, which is considered a World Heritage Site for its emblematic cultural and natural properties. This part of the Oaxaca Valley is characterized by its warm climate and moderate rainfall. We can arrive early in the morning to bird inside and near the archaeological site, which is usually very active for several birds, including the Ocellated Thrasher, Slaty Vireo, and the Pileated Flycatcher. We will drive in the afternoon to spend the night at San José del PacÃfico. Main targets: Slaty Vireo White-throated Towhee Ocellated Thrasher Blue Mockingbird Black Vented Oriole Pileated Flycatcher Happy Wren Elegant Trogon
Day 12: San José del Pacífico and road to Pluma Hidalgo
San José del PacÃfico, located at 2300m over the sea level, is a small town surrounded by forestry hills and mountains. This is a perfect place for some specialties like the Bumblebee Hummingbird, Garnet-throated Hummingbird and Hooded Yellowthroat. Then, we will start driving to Pluma Hidalgo. There are some spots along the road with high chances to see special species like the Blue-capped Hummingbird, Gray-crowned Woodpecker etc. These two magnificent sites are on our way to the coast line. Main targets: White-throated Jay Blue-capped Hummingbird Mexican Hermit Golden-crowned Emerald Red-headed Tanager Bumblebee Hummingbird Garnet-throated Hummingbird Hooded Yellowthroat Gray-crowned woodpecker
Day 13: Pluma Hidalgo and Huatulco
Pluma Hidalgo is a small town at 1200m over the sea level. There is a natural reserve dominated by cloud forest and it is known for the production of gourmet coffee. The quality of the coffee produced there is related to the region's climate: cool in the mornings and not too hot during the day. Some specialties of the area are the Northern Emerald Toucanet, the Mexican Hermit, and the Golden Vireo. Then, we will drive in the afternoon to continue birding at the National Park in Huatulco to search for nocturnal local species at the National Park like the Pacific Screech-Owl, Colima Pigmy Owl and the Northern Potoo. Main targets: Red-headed Tanager Happy Wren Red-breasted Chat Orange-breasted Bunting Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird Flammulated Flycatcher Citreoline Trogon Russet-crowned Motmot Spot-breasted oriole Golden-cheeked Woodpecker White-lored gnatcatcher West Mexican Chachalaca Lesser Ground Cuckoo Rufous-naped Wren Golden Vireo
Day 14: Pelagic trip and Huatulco
Start really early in the morning to take a boat to travel offshore to get into pelagic waters. There's a high chance to see different pelagic species like the Least and Black Storm-Petrel, the Pink-footed Shearwater and the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, amoung others. After that, there would be enough time to get to Sendero Sanate, which is a hiking route near the Bay to search for some lowland species and specialties of the area, like the Flammulated Flycatcher. Main targets: Black Storm-Petrel Least Storm-Petrel Pink-footed Shearwater Galapagos Shearwater Wedge-tailed Shearwater Black-vented Shearwater Pomarine Jaeger Sabine's Gull Brown Booby Red-footed Booby Nazca Booby
Day 15: Huatulco missing targets/ optional drop off in airport
We will use this morning to search for the missing targets of the Huatulco area. Sendero Las Ninfas is a great option, we will have early lunch and then take you to the airport for your departing flight.
If necessary and better suited to schedules, we can plan the drop off for day 9 in the morning.
