Dates and Cost

February 20-March 2, 2012
$3150 ($625 single supplement)

Images

About This Trip

The state of Oaxaca is located in the southeastern portion of Mexico, and it lies at the western edge of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the narrowest point of the North American continent. Two mountain ranges come together on this narrow neck of land, the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Sur. In between them, lie the valley of Oaxaca, and the city of the same name. Within the political boundaries of the state, you can experience rugged Pacific beaches, dense humid pine and oak forests, Mexico’s largest cloud forest, arid valleys, and the tropical lowlands of the Gulf of Mexico. More than 700 species of birds have been recorded within Oaxaca’s borders, including 40 Mexican endemics.

As rich as it is in habitat and avi-fauna, Oaxaca is equally rich in cultural diversity. Twelve distinct indigenous groups inhabit the area around Oaxaca City, and utilize the same number of languages. The richness of the culture and history is evident on every corner of the city and throughout the surrounding countryside. Although we will be concentrating on the birds of the state, we will take a little time to experience the heart of the city a couple of times, and to enjoy the human side of this wonderfully rich place.

Starting in Oaxaca City, we will spend the first few days picking up the endemic species found in the central valley – Oaxaca and Bridled Sparrow, Ocellated Thrasher, Piliated Flycatcher, Dwarf and Slaty Vireo, White-throated Towhee, and Boucard’s Wren. One added benefit is that most of these birds can be found at such significant archeological sites like Monte Alban, where we will spend a morning. Leaving the valley takes us over the mountains to the north, through the exceptional pine-oak forests of Cerro de San Felipe and then the humid cloud forest of the Sierra Madre Oriental. We will explore the tropical lowlands that surround Tuxtepec, and make at least one trip up into the cloud forest. From Tuxtepec, we head east towards the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where we will look for a few key endemics, such as Rosita’s Bunting, before heading over to the beautiful beach town of Huatulco. Here we will explore a variety of Pacific slope habitats, from dry, tropical forest to cloud forest and coffee plantations. We will even have time to bird a golf course! The last day, we will head north, birding one last time in the cloud forest before arriving in back in Oaxaca City.

Accommodations

Our trip to Oaxaca offers the chance to bird in three diverse regions of the geographically-dynamic state. The pace of our trip is relatively relaxed, but unlike some other tours that emphasize the city and valley of Oaxaca, we will be doing a fair bit of moving to get us to the wide variety of habitats available in the outlying regions of the state. To help lessen the chore of changing hotels, we have given ourselves multiple nights in the various locations to help smooth the transitions.

Whether you are an experienced birder looking to add some Mexican endemics to your life list or a beginner who wants add a couple of hundred new birds to your list, our birding tour to Oaxaca has everything to make it your Mexican birding trip of a life time!

To book your trip or for more information, please contact us by email or call 888-383-0062.