Mexico - Yucatán & Palenque
Saturday 15th to Sunday 30th November 2008
Saturday 21st November to Sunday 6th December 2009
AA8038
AA9037
The
Yucatán Peninsula is the perfect setting for an exotic birdwatching holiday.
If the idea of looking at colourful tropical birds amidst historic Mayan
ruins stirs the explorer in you, then this is the holiday for you! Our
fifteen-day circular tour visits many varied habitats, verdant tropical
forests, blue lagoons, golden beaches, coastal desert scrub and mangrove
inlets, ensuring a wide selection of species. Motmots, trogons, toucans,
tanagers, parrots and potoos, can all be added to our list, with the extra
attraction of migrant North American warblers for those who enjoy a real
challenge! The Yucatán boasts many endemics that bear its name; Yucatán
Woodpecker, Flycatcher, Jay, Parrot, Nightjar, Poorwill and Bobwhite are all
possible.
We will also enjoy a day exploring coastal inlets by boat with a local
guide. Flamingos, Roseate Spoonbills, Boat-billed Heron and Bare-throated
Tiger-Herons are star birds in this watery paradise.
After a week on the limestone peninsula, we move up country to the famous
Mayan ruins of Palenque, where the easily accessible tropical rainforest
supports a wide range of new species. Colourful jewels such as sabre-wings,
hummingbirds and kingfishers will catch our eye whilst the calls of orioles
and woodpeckers attract our attention. In the temple clearings we check the
skies for spectacular kettles of kites, hawks and falcons.
Our hotels are situated close-by the historical Mayan sites in bird-rich environs, so that early morning strolls can be enjoyed and afternoon siestas
taken. The local beer is good and compliments the tasty and plentiful
Mexican food. This new tour offers superb birding in a Mayan paradise.Day 1: We fly into Cancun on the shores of the turquoise Caribbean and within half an hour can be birding on golden beaches watching Brown Pelicans in aerial ballet and Magnificent Frigatebirds in acts of piracy. Our English-speaking guide will give us a gentle introduction to the more common species near Puerto Morelos, as we bird our way down the Mayan Riviera to our lakeside hotel.
Overnight – Coba
Days 2 - 6: These days are spent birding in and around the world-famous Mayan sites of Coba, Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Mystical pyramids and scattered ruins of palaces and astronomical observatories are backdrops to exciting endemic species, such as Black Catbird, Rose-throated Tanager, Canivet's Emerald and Orange Oriole. At Coba there is lakeside birding which is good for seven types of heron, Anhinga, Limpkin, Spotted Rail, Ruddy Crake and Crocodiles. At dusk we watch and listen for Yucatán Poorwills, Yucatán Nightjars & Northern Potoos. From Chichen Itza we take a day trip to Rio Lagartos on the north coast; on our way we watch for Crested Caracaras, Vermilion Flycatchers, Mexican Sheartails, Yucatán Bobwhite and the amusing antics of the Lesser Roadrunner. A boat-trip through mangroves and coastal lagoons may bring us to the photogenic Flamingos, Black Skimmers, Boat-billed Herons and Pygmy Kingfishers. We travel through the pretty colonial town of Merida en route to atmospheric Uxmal, site of the Magician’s Pyramid (with hundreds of Cave Swallows), reputedly built by a dwarf in one night. The forest here is good for Yucatán Jays, Yucatán Flycatchers, White-bellied Wrens and Blue Buntings. Turquoise-browed Motmots are common.
Overnights - Coba, Chichen Itza & Uxmal.
Days 7 - 10: We move area now to the lush forested slopes of Palenque in Northern Chiapas region. Our long journey there will be punctuated with fruitful birding stops on the Gulf of Mexico and the Usumacinta River. We have four nights here birding amongst Mayan jungle ruins, waterfalls and forest edges. Palenque yields typical Neotropical species: Great and Slaty-breasted Tinamous, Black-headed Trogon, Collared Trogon, Blue-crowned Motmot, Emerald Toucanet, Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, Montezuma and Chestnut-headed Oropendulas plus tanagers, woodcreepers, leaf-tossers, orioles and dozens of North American wood warblers. The latter group may include such gems as Ovenbird, American Redstart, Black-and-white, Worm-eating, Kentucky and Prothonotary Warblers. Green-backed Sparrow, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing and Black-throated Shrike-Tanager are some of the Mexican endemics occurring here. Double-toothed and Hook-billed Kites, Black Hawk-Eagle and Bat Falcons are regularly seen. Lovely Cotinga and Double-striped Thick-knee will be sought after species on the Ocosingo and La Libertad roads.
Overnights – Palenque
Days 11 & 12: Our return journey gives us stops at Usumacinta Marshes, travelling across Reserva Biosfera Calakmul back to the Caribbean coast. The following day offers relaxed birding along the Vigia Chico road and in the Shian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. We may even track down the elusive Great Curassow and Ocellated Turkey.
Overnights - Felipe Carillo Puerto
Days 13 & 14: An optional boat trip to Isla Cozumel to search for four Cozumel endemics or for those who prefer to relax in some last minute winter sunshine, there is an
option to visit the snorkelling paradise of neighbouring Xcaret Ecopark.
Overnights - Playa de Carmen
Day 15: After a final morning birding in the Botanical Gardens, we will drive to the airport for our overnight flight to the UK, where we arrive on Day16.