Dates and Cost

October 28-November 3, 2021 $3000 per person ($550 single supplement)

Images

About This Trip

The state of Oaxaca is located in the southeastern portion of Mexico, 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, lies the valley of Oaxaca, and the city of the same name.  The valley lies at an elevation of over 6000 feet and the surounding mountains reach 10,000!  This elevational gradient holds a great array of habitats which have allowed the developement of nearly a 12 birds endemic to southern Mexico and indeed the valley of Oaxaca itself!  Birds like Oaxaca and Bridled Sparrow, Ocellated Thrasher, Piliated Flycatcher, Dwarf and Slaty Vireo, White-throated Towhee, and Boucard's Wren. Another added bonus is that most of these birds can be found at such significant archeological sites like Monte Alban and Yagul, where we will spend a couple of mornings looking for birds, but also exploring the ruins. We will make a number of excursions out of the city and into the surrounding mountains to areas of exceptional pine-oak forests, where we may see Dwarf Jay, Chestnut-sided Shrike Vireo, Red Warbler, Long-tailed Wood-partridge and Bumblebee Hummingbird!  We will spend an entire week exploring a number of these areas and habitats, all of which are within in close driving distance of our hotel. 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 valley and surrounding mountains, 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 and diverse area. The pace of our trip is very relaxed, but this is not to say that we will not be taking advantage of all there is to see and do in Oaxaca!  We will be birding every morning and visiting ruins. Our afternoons will be spent enjoying the Day of the Dead festivities as well as visiting the botanical gardens, and exploring the plaza and the extensive municipal market.  Oaxaca is considered one to the gastronomical wonders of Mexico and we will be taking advantage of this fact at every opportunity! The time around Day of the Dead is a wonderfully cultural and colorful time to be in Oaxaca....and in Mexico. Accommodations Adding to the relaxed nature of this tour, we stay at only two places...our first three nights are in the city center where we get to see the great build up to the Day of the Dead festival. The last three nights are spent outside the city at a beautiful ecolodge in a small town where we experience another way of life (and it is much quieter!). This way you get to two sides of Oaxacan life. 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! This trip starts and ends in Oaxaca City.  

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