Yucatan Peninsula
November 6-11, 2005 &
January 15-20, 2006
Yucatan is the perfect place to combine excellent birding with visits to the abundant Maya archeological sites and beautiful white sand beaches. The endemic (and quasi-endemic) species of the Yucatan Peninsula include: Yucatan Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Wren, Yucatan Poorwill, Yucatan Nightjar, Yucatan Bobwhite, Yucatan Vireo, Yucatan Parrot, Mexican Sheartail, Rose-throated Tanager, Orange Oriole, Black Catbird, and Ocellated Turkey. There are also an additional three endemics on Isla Cozumel including: Cozumel Emerald, Cozumel Vireo, and Cozumel Wren. The Cozumel Thrasher hasn't been documented in about ten years, but hopefully it's still extant. The state of Yucatan also boasts the only colony of American Flamingos in Mexico, with over 30,000 individuals.
Because of the similarities of northern Yucatan’s coastal vegetation with the Caribbean region there are birds from that region found nowhere else in Mexico including: Zenaida Dove, Caribbean Dove, White-crowned Pigeon, Caribbean Elaenia, and Stripe-headed Tanager. The White-lored Gnatcatcher also has a unique distribution occurring mostly on the west coast of Mexico and Central America, and in a relatively small area on the north coast of the state of Yucatan.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Sun)- Fly into Cancun late afternoon/PM and travel to Puerto Morelos with birding on way if still daylight, nighttime walk after checked in. Night in Puerto Morelos.
Day 2 (Mon)- Drive south and bird Jardín Botánico and area in morning with local guide Luis Ku. Travel to Tulum. Lunch at Tulum. Afternoon birding at Muyil and area with local guide Ishmael Caamal. Nighttime walk near hotel. Night near Tulum.
Day 3 (Tue)- Full day of birding in Felipe Carrillo Puerto area including road into Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and road to Laguna Ocum. Travel to Valladollid. Night near Valladolid.
Day 4 (Wed)- Early morning birding around Río Lagartos, boat tour later in the morning with local guide Ishmael Navarro. Lunch in Río Lagortos. Afternoon birding on way back to hotel. Second night near Valladolid.
Day 5 (Thu)- Morning birding at Chichén Itza. Drive to Playa del Carmin. Take ferry to Isla Cozumel. Afternoon birding on island. Night on Isla Cozumel.
Day 6 (Fri)- Full morning of birding around Isla Cozumel. Tour ends late afternoon. Participants can extend their stay on Cozumel or the mainland or depart from Cozumel or Cancun in the PM.