Oaxaca Birding and Culture tour 

 11 day Birding and Culture tour

 February 1st-11th, 2024

Discover the natural beauty and cultural richness of Oaxaca on this 11-day tour that takes you through some of the most stunning birding sites in the region. From the historic city of Oaxaca to the tranquil beaches of Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, this easy-paced birding and culture itinerary offers a diverse range of experiences that will leave you enchanted.

Feb 1st  Day 1: Oaxaca City - Cerro del Fortin.

Your adventure begins in the charming city of Oaxaca, where you will be staying at the Hotel Misiòn de los Ángeles. After settling in, we will head to Cerro del Fortin, a hill located in the heart of the city that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Here, you will have the opportunity to spot a variety of bird species, including the endemics Black.vented Oriole, Green-fronted Hummingbird, Rufous-capped Warbler, White-throated Towhee, Blue Mockingbird and many other bird species that make this suburban forest their home.


Feb 2nd Day 2: Oaxaca City – Montealban
On day two, we will explore the ancient ruins of Montealban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once the capital of the Zapotec civilization. As we wander through the ruins, keep an eye out for the Boucard`s Wren, Berylline Hummingbird, White-throated Towhee, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, which are some of the birds commonly found in the area. We will eat at the site`s restaurant to return for an afternoon exploring Oaxaca city`s historical center and prepare for some high altitude birding the next morning.

During the afternoon we will head to Teotitlan del Valle, a small town known for its traditional weaving techniques. Here, we will stay at the charming Hotel La Cupula for the following two nights.

Feb 3rd Day 3: Teotitlan del Valle - Sierra Norte

After breakfast at our hotel, we will spend the day exploring the Sierra Norte, a mountain range that is home to a variety of bird species, including the Dwarf Jay, Aztec Thrush, Mountain Trogon Mexican Violetear, Rivoli`s Hummingbird, Collared Towhee, Blue-throated Mountain Gem followed by some delicious traditional cuisine.

During the afternoon we will head to Teotitlan del Valle, a small town known for its traditional weaving techniques. Here, we will stay at the charming Hotel La Cupula for the following two nights.

Feb 4th Day 4: Teotitlan del Valle- Teotitlàn - Benito Juàrez
On day four, we will have an early morning bird walk at the surrounding thorn forest from La Cupula and after breakfast we will leave for the day to Presa Piedra Azul nearby Teotitlàn where we will find a large array of aquatic birds and will explore the unique oak and pine forests enroute to the town of Benito Juarez, where some of the potential specialties are Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Red Warbler, Gray-silky Flycatcher, White eared Hummingbird, In the evening, we will return to Hotel La Cupula for a relaxing evening and a presentation on their weaving art by our hosts at La Cupula..

Feb 5th Day 5: San Jose del Pacifico- Cabañas Puesta del Sol
Today, we will make our way to San Jose del Pacifico, a small town located in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountain range. Here, we will stay at the beautiful Cabañas Puesta del Sol and spend the day exploring the surrounding forests, where we will have the opportunity.

En route to San Jose del Pacifico we will make a culture and nature stop at San Martìn Tilcajetes which hosts one of the most impressive forms of Oaxaca`s art called “Alebrijes”.  We will learn from the experts about the origin of this magical form of art. We will have the opportunity to admire the creation process of the alebrijes and visit their art gallery and shop. We will have lunch and some birding at their gardens filled with native plants and wildlife.

Feb 6th Day 6: San Jose del Pacifico - Cabañas Puesta del Sol

Our adventure begins in the picturesque mountain village of San Jose del Pacifico, nestled in the heart of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Upon arrival, we will check into our cozy accommodations at Cabañas Puesta del Sol, where we will spend the night surrounded by the lush montane forest.

This unique ecosystem is home to a variety of endemic bird species, including the Bumblebee Hummingbird, White-throated Jay, Olive Warbler, Mountain Trogon, Russet. Nightingale Thrush and many more resident and migratory birds. In the evening, we will return to Cabañas Puesta del Sol for a delicious dinner featuring local cuisine. Afterward, we will gather to share our bird sightings and discuss the day's highlights.

Feb 7th Day 7: Pluma Hidalgo - Hacienda San Gabriel

After a healthy breakfast, we will depart San Jose del Pacifico and head towards Pluma Hidalgo, a small town known for its coffee plantations and rich birdlife. Our destination for the day is Hacienda San Gabriel, a charming eco-lodge nestled in the heart of a working coffee plantation. Upon arrival, we will be greeted by the friendly staff and enjoy a tour of the coffee plantation, learning about the cultivation and processing of this important crop. Afterward, we will embark on a birdwatching walk through the plantation and surrounding forest, where we will have the opportunity to spot endemic species such as the Northern Emerald Toucanet, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker and an amazing blend of high and low elevation species that make their home in the surrounding coffee plantations. In the evening, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at Hacienda San Gabriel, featuring locally sourced ingredients and freshly brewed coffee from the plantation. As the sun sets, we will relax on the terrace, listening to the sounds of the forest and reflecting on the day's discoveries.

Feb 8th Day 8: Santa Cruz Huatulco - Hotel Santa Cruz

 Today we will have the opportunity to do some early morning owling from the terrace to look for Mottled Owls, Collared forest Falcon,  and Common Pauraque before sunrise and admire the colorful bird symphony as birdlife awakes in the coffee plantations. After breakfast we will leave the cool highlands behind and descend into the tropical lowlands of Santa Cruz Huatulco. Upon arrival, we will check into our accommodations at Hotel Santa Cruz.

After a refreshing dip in the hotel's pool or the nearby ocean, we will set out to explore the nearby Huatulco National Park. This protected area encompasses a diverse range of habitats, from mangrove swamps to dry tropical forests, providing a haven for a variety of bird species. Our guide will lead us on a birdwatching walk through the park, where we will have the chance to spot endemic species such as the White-throated Magpie Jays, Citreoline Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Lilac-crowned Parrot, White-fronted Parrot, Orange-breasted Bunting together with dozens of other resident birds and neotropical migrants. As the sun sets, we will return to Hotel Santa Cruz for a relaxing evening.

Feb 9th Day 9: Puerto Escondido - Hotel Punta Zicatela

Our second morning in Huatulco will be dedicated to exploring the region's coastal habitats of the Huatulco National Park. After a full morning of birdwatching, we will return for lunch to Hotel Santa Cruz to check-out around noon and head to Puerto Escondido for the last two nights. En route to Puerto Escondido, we will visit a nearby sea turtle conservation area where we will have the opportunity to support and learn about their community efforts to preserve Olive-ridley turtles.

We will settle at Hotel Punta Zicatela and have the opportunity of exploring the vibrant beach of Puerto Escondido as we prepared for dinner at one of the local restaurants with great seafood opportunities.

Feb 10th Day 10: Puerto Escondido. Hotel Punta Zicatela

 Today is our full last day together of birding and cultural experiences on this Oaxaca journey. After breakfast, we will embark on a boat tour of the Manialtepec Lagoon which has a large mangrove preserve with potential sightings such as Mangrove Swallows, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Ringed Kingfisher, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-fronted Parrots and many other mangrove and lowland bird species. We will lunch at one of the local markets and continue to have some birding near the hotel to enjoy our last farewell dinner together enjoying the sunset from our hotel`s terrace.

Feb 11th Day 11 Farewell and departure

 Today is our last day of this amazing experience throughout Oaxaca`s most diverse habitats and the most amazing sceneries. We will have breakfast at the hotel and we will have available for our group a shuttle service to the Puerto Escondido airport according to your flight schedules.

Tour Details

Dates: Thursday Feb. 1st -  Sunday Feb 11th 2024 (10 nights, 11 days)

Tour Begins: Oaxaca city airport

Tour Finishes: Puerto Escondido airport

Main tour guide: Marine biologist Luis Morales.

Tour includes:

-    All meals, accommodation at highly reviewed hotels.

-  Land transportation in recent model vehicle and local vehicle driver. 

-      Knowledgeable bilingual birding guide.

-       Entries to archeological sites and nature preserves

-       Ebird checklists with photographs for each birding location.

-       Tour size is limited to 6- 10 participants.

Pricing and Reservations: 

Price per person in double accommodation: $3225 USD

Single room supplement: $495 USD 

1st 50% deposit by November 31st 2023. 

Full payment completed by January 15th 2024.

Please contact Luis Morales for more information and reservations.

Email: mxbrdtrvl@gmail.com

Phone or Whatsapp: +52 (322)139 7242

OAXACA

Birds, Nature and Culture

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