9
days
7
full birding
days
days
+250
birds
3
states
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Relaxed arrival
Arrival Day
Cancun Airport → Puerto Morelos
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 and look for some crepuscular and nocturnal species. We will have dinner together, review the trip itinerary, and answer any questions you may have.
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Day 2
Forest & night birds
Puerto Morelos & Valladolid
Puerto Morelos → Valladolid
We will start birding in Puerto Morelos Reserve, a well-preserved area of medium-height forest where our targets are the Yucatan Flycatcher, Green-backed Sparrow, Orange Oriole and Rose-throated Tanager, along with around 70 other species we'll see that morning. An early lunch will be provided by a local family. Our next stop is the Valladolid area, where we will bird the late afternoon and evening in a nature reserve managed by young Maya birders who will help us spot the endemic Yucatan Poorwill and try for other night birds.
Yucatan Flycatcher
Green-backed Sparrow
Orange Oriole
Rose-throated Tanager
Yucatan Poorwill
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Day 3
Flamingos & mangroves
Río Lagartos Ría
Valladolid → Río Lagartos
We will start the day with early-morning birding near Valladolid for forest birds, including the White-fronted Parrot, Lesson's Motmot, Gray-headed Tanager and Gray-throated Chat. Then we will drive to Río Lagartos, stopping in Kikil town to search for the Yellow-winged Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager and others. In Lagartos we will take a boat tour through the mangrove-lined estuary to search for the American Flamingo, Mangrove Warbler, Clapper Rail, several species of herons, egrets, terns, shorebirds and more. Once the sun goes down, still in the boat, we will look for the Yucatan Nightjar, a bird difficult to see in other places.
White-fronted Parrot
Lesson's Motmot
American Flamingo
Mangrove Warbler
Clapper Rail
Yucatan Nightjar
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Day 4
Restricted-range endemics
Yucatan Coastal Endemics
Río Lagartos → Mérida
This morning we will be birding in the coastal sand dune and mangrove vegetation of Rio Lagartos Reserve, a site with a unique combination of coastal habitats, home to several restricted-range species. The Mexican Sheartail, Yucatan Wren, Black-throated Bobwhite, Zenaida Dove, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture and Lesser Roadrunner will be some of the birds we will search for. After lunch we will drive west along the coast of Yucatan to look for the Yucatan Gnatcatcher, an endemic species found only in this part of the peninsula.
Mexican Sheartail
Yucatan Wren
Black-throated Bobwhite
Lesser Roadrunner
Yucatan Gnatcatcher
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Day 5
Wetlands & boat trip
Campeche WetlandsMérida → Campeche
Today we will drive to Campeche state, making several stops along the way. First we will visit a small reserve south of Mérida city, then stop near Campeche city at a beautiful reserve with water springs and a lagoon. The main birding activity of the day is a boat trip in the Mamantel area searching for the Sungrebe, with chances for several other interesting species along the way.
Sungrebe
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Day 6
Rainforest biodiversity
Calakmul Biosphere ReserveFull day at Calakmul
Full day birding at Calakmul Reserve, home to an extraordinary diversity of birdlife in one of the largest tropical forests of the Maya region. We will head to the Archaeological Zone of Calakmul, stopping at several spots along the way for species such as the Ocellated Turkey, Yellow-lored Parrot, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Mayan Antthrush, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Red-capped Manakin and Blue Bunting, just some of the species found in this remarkable reserve in the south of the Peninsula. In the evening we will arrive at the Volcán de los Murciélagos, where we will witness the spectacular emergence of millions of bats from the cave, and with luck, some raptors hunting them.
Ocellated Turkey
Yellow-lored Parrot
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Mayan Antthrush
Red-capped Manakin
Blue Bunting
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Day 7
Ruins & forest birds
Hormiguero, Kohunlich & BacalarHormiguero → Kohunlich → Bacalar → Playa del Carmen
Early morning birding in the Hormiguero area and archaeological site, where we will visit small lagoons with chances for the Russet-naped Wood Rail, Northern Jacanas and Keel-billed Toucan, plus forest birds, including the Northern-barred Woodcreeper, Stub-tailed Spadebill and Plain Xenops, among many others drawn to the fruits and seeds of the trees in the area. Afterwards we head to the archaeological site of Kohunlich, with its impressive Maya ceremonial and residential structures, where we will have chances to find the Gray-headed Dove, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Red-capped Manakin and White-necked Puffbird among others. We will have lunch at the beautiful Bacalar lagoon, then drive to Playa del Carmen for the night.
Russet-naped Wood Rail
Keel-billed Toucan
Northern-barred Woodcreeper
Stub-tailed Spadebill
Gray-headed Dove
White-necked Puffbird
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Day 8
Island endemics
Cozumel IslandPlaya del Carmen → Cozumel Island → Playa del Carmen
On our last day of birding we will travel by ferry to the island of Cozumel, spending the day exploring its forests, mangroves and coastal dunes. The Cozumel Emerald and the Cozumel Vireo will be our main objectives, but the island is home to many more species, as well as endemic subspecies and interesting Caribbean specialties. We will have our meals on the island, then return to Playa del Carmen for the night.
Cozumel Emerald
Cozumel Vireo
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Day 9
Farewell birding
Departure Day
Playa del Carmen → Cancun Airport
Depending on your flight time, we may be able to go birding at some spots near the airport before your departure.
Yucatan Bird Gallery
On top of everything featured in our Classic Route gallery, this itinerary gives you the chance to see these specialty species:
