This half-day tour explores two important green areas located within and around Mérida. The morning begins at Cuxtal Reserve, south of the city, an environmentally important protected area that supplies a significant portion of Mérida’s freshwater. Birding takes place along the roads surrounding the old hacienda and village of Dzoyaxché, where low scrub vegetation, agricultural fields, gardens, and mature native trees create a mosaic of habitats attractive to many bird species.
Typical species in the area include Lesson’s Motmot, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Yucatán Woodpecker, Yucatán Jay, Orange Oriole, and other regional specialties. The hacienda grounds, with their gardens and water features, also provide favorable conditions for bird activity.
The second part of the morning includes a visit to Acuaparque, an urban wetland within Mérida often considered a small oasis for birds. Formed from an old flooded quarry, the site preserves shallow water bodies with dense riparian vegetation, reeds, and water lilies that attract a variety of waterbirds, including Least Grebe, herons, egrets, Snail Kite, and Limpkin.
Typical species in the area include Lesson’s Motmot, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Yucatán Woodpecker, Yucatán Jay, Orange Oriole, and other regional specialties. The hacienda grounds, with their gardens and water features, also provide favorable conditions for bird activity.
The second part of the morning includes a visit to Acuaparque, an urban wetland within Mérida often considered a small oasis for birds. Formed from an old flooded quarry, the site preserves shallow water bodies with dense riparian vegetation, reeds, and water lilies that attract a variety of waterbirds, including Least Grebe, herons, egrets, Snail Kite, and Limpkin.