Birding Puerto Vallarta’s Wild Side

Birds to Watch: 186

Location: Puerto Vallarta » Jalisco 

GPS: 20.706737”  / -105.137446

Mirador Mojoneras to Rancho Las Vegas Birds to watch 186 including Jalisco’s only known population of Black-and-White Owls

So close and yet so wild—this scenic, incredibly bird rich excursion will have you birding to your heart’s content in a beautiful, tropical wilderness setting… beginning just 20-minutes from Downtown Puerto Vallarta (please see map).

It’s a birding national park in the making, replete with a ranch-style restaurant on an authentic working rancho that has converted to ecotourism, set in the backcountry:-)

Tour Description

Endemics galore: The area rocks from a birding standpoint… with Puerto Vallarta’s most accessible and robust populations of beautiful regional endemics such as both Rufous-bellied (in the lowlands) and West Mexican (in the uplands) chachalacas; Elegant Quail; Golden-crowned Emerald; Colima Pygmy-Owl; Citreoline Trogon; Golden-cheeked Woodpecker; nesting Lilac-crowned Parrot and Mexican Parrotlet; Flammulated Flycatcher (common and vocal during the spring and summer months); Golden Vireo; Black-throated Magpie-Jay and San Blas Jay; Happy and Sinaloa wrens; Blue Mockingbird; Rufous-backed Robin; West Mexican Euphonia; Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow; and Red-breasted Chat… the latter surprisingly vocal and common during the spring and summer months.

A Cuckoo Paradise: The region of Mirador Las Mojoneras to Rancho Las Vegas is also far and away Puerto Vallarta’s best locality to, with luck, actually see (not just hear) Lesser Ground-Cuckoos… which are joined by resident Squirrel and summering Mangrove cuckoo’s in season.

Uncommonly Common: The early bird catches the worm! We get our clients out to this beautiful natural enclave early in the morning when some amazingly uncommon birds are surprisingly common. For instance, during the crepuscular hours it is not unusual to see and hear flocks of majestic Military Macaws wheeling and screeching in the skies. The sizable and vocal Crested Guan can be seen in the more remote regions beyond the turnoff for Rancho Las Vegas while Russet-crowned Motmot and Elegant Trogon are both common in the region, especially during the spring and summer months when they vocalize. Large woodpeckers grace the scenes here, with both Lineated and Pale-billed woodpeckers tantalizing visitors at this time of day in particular.

Both Ferruginous and previously mentioned Colima pygmy-owls are frequently heard and seen, as well, much to the delight of birding clients.

Colorful Icterids, such as Streak-backed Oriole and Yellow-winged Cacique abound in this habitat, where they often join mixed species flocks… and this is particularly true of the Yellow-winged Cacique, which frequently associates with similarly-sized San Blas Jays.

Rufous-capped Warblers and Rosy Thrush-Tanagers may also be seen, along with Nutting’s Flycatchers, Tropical Kingbirds and more.

The most frequently seen raptors include Short-tailed, Gray and Zone-tailed hawks, all of which ride the mid-morning and afternoon thermals, and during the extreme crepuscular hours the reclusive Collared Forest-Falcon gives its distinctive, far-carrying vocals.

Spectacular Neotropical Migrants: There are two sets of migratory birds to watch for here… the winter residents and summer residents.

Visiting birders will be thrilled by the presence of abundant neotropical migrants that nest in northern North America and winter on the west coast of Mexico. Examples of the latter include Ruby-throated and Violet-crowned hummingbird; Greater Pewee, Least, Western, Vermilion, and Ash-throated flycatchers; Thick-billed Kingbird; Black-capped, Bell’s, Cassin’s, and Plumbeous vireos; Northern Rough-winged and Barn swallows; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Lincoln’s Sparrow and sometimes Green-tailed Towhee; Orchard, Hooded, and Bullock’s orioles; Louisiana and Northern waterthrushes; Black-and-White, Orange-crowned, Nashville, MacGillivray’s, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, and Wilson’s warblers; Summer and Western tanagers; Blue Grosbeak and Painted buntings, etc.

Spring and Summer residents include abundant Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and Yellow-green Vireo… the latter possibly the most abundant passerine in the region, where they sing from dawn to dusk.

Swifts above us: Several species of swifts are regularly seen in season, including the large White-collared variety, the widespread Vaux’s, and even Chestnut-collared swifts; even the endangered White-fronted Swift, which breeds only in Southwest Mexico, while the wintering range is still unknown. Greg Homel knows which promontories and when to watch for these specialty birds.

Nocturnal Surprises: Be sure to inquire about birding after dark because Buff-collared Nightjar, Common Pauraque, and Mottled Owl are frequently seen and heard with the help of ethical playback by our guides. Our pioneering guide, Greg R. Homel discovered Jalisco’s first pair of Black-and-White Owls here as well in 2022… and since that time he and our intrepid guides have not only confirmed the continuing presence of this and other pairs in the area… they have also been able to regularly bring clients to add this large and striking neotropical owl to their life lists:-) Topping off the list of exciting nocturnal denizens regularly encountered in this region is the Middle-American Screech-Owl.

**Be sure to inquire about the Black-and-White Owl when booking this excursion. It is still the only known area in Jalisco where they may be seen regularly.

Join us to discover the birding magic on Puerto Vallarta’s wild side:-)

You’ll be glad you did. See you there!

Location & Full Tour Description

– State of the Republic: Jalisco

– Location: This birding hotspot is located in the foothills directly to the east of Puerto Vallarta, and offer staggering views of the city on clear days (which see cover image).

– Popularity of this tour: This excursion is a newly added attraction since 2022 and has the potential to be very popular with birders of all levels due to its close proximity to the city.

– Tour name:  Puerto Vallarta’s Wild Side.

– Number of Recorded Bird Species:  186 species and counting

– Address: Mirador Mojoneras and Rancho Las Vegas, Jalisco, Mexico.

– Short description: Mirador Mojoneras is located on the central pacific coast of Mexico, in the Sierra Madrean foothills just inland (east of) Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

From the highest vantage points near Mirador Mojoneras, it is possible to view almost the entire City of Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Corrientes to the southwest, Valle de Banderas on the northeast, Punta de Mita on the north and the Islas Marietas National Park and Marine Reserve offshore to the northwest.

A tributary of the Rio Mascota drains from the Sierra Madres Occidental mountain range, and bounds Rancho Las Vegas.  The entire area is cloaked by unbroken Sinaloan Thorn Forest in the lowlands and adjacent foothills, with sections of Palm and Oak forest on the higher slopes.

The mountains above are still richly cloaked in their original vegetation ranging from tropical deciduous forest on their lower to middle slopes to encinal (pine-oak-and juniper woodland) and even coniferous (pine and fir) forest at their highest extremes.

They, especially the Sierra Vallejo—now a government designated Biosphere Reserve— also form an interesting biological barrier for at least three bird species—the Sinaloa Crow (which doesn’t usually cross into the area).

The high mountains bounding the east edge of the valley are a part of Mexico’s largest mountain range—the Sierra Madre Occidental—and rise to over 2452 m / 8,047’ near the historic silver mining town of San Sebastian del Oeste well inland.

The interesting mix of geographic and meteorological conditions produced by this geological and biological juxtaposition has resulted in a great variety of habitats for birds and birders alike to enjoy and explore—all in close proximity—providing a paradise of sorts where species freely interact, influenced by differing seasons and available food resources—creating a perfect location for an introductory birding tour where you, our guests, can experience an incredibly wide diversity of species during a comparatively short birding day.

Our combined birding list has the potential to reach or exceed 100 species on this tour, especially during periods of migration.!

– Itinerary: See specific details by clicking the itinerary tab

– List of popular birds, with endemics highlighted in bold print: See full eBird list by clicking the bird list tab

– Gallery: See Site Gallery by clicking this tour’s gallery tab

– Frequently Asked Questions or Recommendations to make your Visit as Enjoyable as Possible: Click on this tour’s FAQ button for specifics

Location & Full Tour Description:

Located near the serene mountain hamlet of El Tuito, Cabo Corrientes (Currents Cape), Rancho Primavera, with its intact habitats, perennial ponds, and inspiring vistas, is emerging as one of West Central Mexico’s premiere birding destinations, and is easily accessible by road from Puerto Vallarta.

Although most birders visit during the so-called “dry season,” running from November-March—a time when resident neotropical birds and wintering species from the US, Canada and Alaska occur together—birding is excellent here year round. In April and May, the hottest, driest months, the namesake Primavera Trees on the Rancho bloom in a riot of yellow colors while resident birds start singing and nesting. During the humid months of June through October, the so-called “wet season,” warm temperatures with often dramatic mid to-late-afternoon monsoonal thunderstorms prevail, and the whole area is impressively verdant and green.

No matter the timing of their arrival at Rancho Primavera, visiting birders will discover an outstanding array of endemic, indigenous and migratory song and aquatic birds—punctuated by a resident population of colorful and skulky Rosy Thrush-Tanagers, which are perhaps most easily encountered here than anywhere else in Mexico—and one or a few migratory, endemic, Sinaloa Martins, which, for a few weeks in March and April, regularly come to bathe at one of Rancho Primavera’s tranquil ponds each day (usually during the mid-morning and / or late-afternoon hours), on their migratory passage.

A quote from Greg R. Homel, who has been guiding visiting birders to Rancho Primavera for over a decade and has served as Keynote Speaker at the Vallarta Bird Festival five consecutive times, says it all about this remarkable Vallarta birding hotspot: “Rancho Primavera’s ever-growing bird list reads like a who’s who of Jalisco’s impressive lineup of colorful and endemic dream birds!”

Along those lines, during your half-day visit to Rancho Primavera, we’ll seek out its most exciting bird specialties at an array of easily accessible on site birding destinations—starting with the ranch house’s impressive feeder system—where a diverse lineup of fruit, seed and nectar feeders are present and stocked daily to attract Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, San Blas and Black-throated Magpie- jays, Yellow Grosbeak, Yellow-winged Cacique, Streak-backed and Black-vented orioles, Grayish Saltator, Stripe-headed Sparrow and others for remarkably close views and excellent photographic opportunities.

As if these were not enough of a draw, nectar feeders here regularly attract stunningly beautiful Violet-crowned, Broad-billed and Ruby-throated hummingbirds, in season, in addition to Plain-capped Starthroat, while flowery gardens and adjacent natural habitats provide excellent opportunities to see less commonly encountered hummingbirds, including the endemic Golden-crowned Emerald, wintering Calliope and resident Berylline hummingbirds, etc. Even the limited range, endemic, Mexican Woodnymph has been sighted by a few lucky birders on the Rancho.

After our first exhilarating stop at Rancho Primavera’s feeders, it’s onward toward the best territory where—with the seasoned assistance of Alex or Greg—birders may not just hear but can regularly see Rosy Thrush-Tanager, the keystone specialty of the Rancho!

Several ponds in the area also provide excellent opportunities to view Least Grebe, and the Vallarta region’s most reliably sighted Bare-throated Tiger-Herons. Green and Ringed kingfishers in addition to more commonly encountered waterfowl, shorebirds and long-legged wading birds round out the potentialities at any of five ponds on the Rancho.

With its friendly proprietors, close proximity to Puerto Vallarta, regularly stocked bird feeders, nearby food services (in El Tuito or Hacienda El Divisadero; and on site for guests of the Rancho itself), and the fact that it functions as a de-facto (and actual) wildlife sanctuary in the interior of Selva El Tuito, Rancho Primavera has earned its rightful place as a requisite stop on any birder’s dream list of can’t miss destinations they should plan on reaching during their stay in the Vallarta region goes a long way toward explaining why local and international birders from far and wide dream of birding Pat and Bonnie’s amazing rancho!

After your journey to lovely Rancho Primavera, you’ll be among the lucky visitors who know from personal experience why birders regularly return to this Jalisco birding hotspot year after year!

As a special note: Visiting birders have the fortuitous option to lodge on site here—instead of in a hotel miles from nature. Rancho Primavera offers “hotel-style rooms” in the ranch house itself, or for the ultimate in privacy surrounded by nature, they have three beautiful rental homes in the vicinity of their largest pond.

Please inquire with us if you are interested in lodging at beautiful Rancho Primavera. We have known the owners for over a decade and developed a very good relationship with them… so we can easily arrange for your stay here, with or without professional birding guide, if desired.

  1. Private Pickup
    6:30-7.00 a.m.Private pickup at your hotel or an appointed nearby location, followed by participant introductions and a description of your tour’s logistics, replete with a map so you can get your bearings.
  2. Driving between Vallarta and Today’s Birding in Mexico Hotspot—Rancho Primavera
    7:00-8:00 a.m.After your private pickup, we will follow coastal Highway #200 south from Vallarta, which leads through a beautiful array of still largely intact habitats—beginning with deciduous Sinaloan Thorn Forest in the coastal lowlands where the highway borders the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, then passes by a small chain of islands — Los Arcos National Park and Marine Reserve — where Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, Blue-footed and Brown boobies, and Gray-breasted Martins may easily be seen, to reach Boca Tomatlan, located at the mouth of the Rio Los Horcones, and gateway to serene Yelapa, which is accessible by water taxi.From Boca Tomatlan, the highway turns inland, grading through montane tropical forest and encinal (pine-oak woodland) as we ascend a dramatic barranca (canyon) carved by the Rio Los Horcones — which is one of the only unobstructed, naturally flowing rivers remaining  locally—to reach the small community of Las Juntas y Los Veranos and the Vallarta Botanic Garden a few kilometers beyond.Sometimes, while making this early morning drive, we can safely pull aside at a strategic pullout to observe a haze of White-collared Swifts swirling above the highway, as our transit coincides their activities as they leave their roost site deep in the canyon of the Río Los Horcones, early each morning.Military Macaws and Lilac-crowned Parrots are also frequent overhead while driving this route, so keep an eye out for their silhouettes in the sky as we ascend the grade.Beyond the Vallarta Botanic Garden, the highway levels out a bit and sinuously meanders through a habitat dominated by pine-oak woodland (encinal), home to nesting Military Macaws.  In season we occasionally stop at one of their most active natural nesting and roosting sites on our way back to Vallarta, to try to sight them.Upon reaching El Tuito, we enter a placid agrarian valley at an altitude of 600 m / 1900’ above sea level, surrounded by mountains covered in dry pines-oak woodland (encinal).Rancho Primavera is accessible 3 kilometers northwest of El Tuito, via paved Camino Chacala.
  3. Arrival at Today’s Birding in Mexico Hotspot
    8:008:00 a.m.  (timing is approximate and may vary due to traffic and weather conditions)After leaving the main Pan American Highway (#200) then passing through the outskirts of El Tuito, Camino Chacala will give you your first glance at Rancho Primavera’s impressive expanse, which is always impressive!  To access our first stop— the ranch house feeders — we will turn off of paved  Camino Chacala, onto an “intentionally inconspicuously marked dirt road” while fording a small stream where a Green Kingfisher is often seen.As mentioned in the introduction to this site, Rancho Primavera’s diverse lineup of fruit, seed and nectar feeders are stocked daily to attract Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, San Blas and Black-throated Magpie- jays, Yellow Grosbeak, Yellow-winged Cacique, Streak-backed and Black-vented orioles, Grayish Saltator, Stripe-headed Sparrow and others for remarkably close views and excellent photographic opportunities.
  4. Breakfast Snacks
    8:00-9:15 a.m.Upon arrival, while watching the interesting, sometimes comical morning bird antics going on at the Rancho’s ample seed, tortilla, fruit and nectar feeders, we too will boost our energy by enjoying some complimentary light breakfast snacks —“continental breakfast” if you would like — usually consisting of yogurt, fruit, juices, granola bars and other nutritious options.  Cold, bottled fresh water and a selection of soft drinks—including diet options—are also readily available throughout the tour.  We apologize if your preferred flavor is not available.There are no public facilities at Rancho Primavera, though the owners often provide this service as a courtesy to Birding in Mexico guests.Comfort stops are offered at select restaurants in nearby El Tuito a few kilometers away, and we will take advantage of them after we complete our birding outing at Rancho Primavera.If you are not comfortable with answering the call of nature outdoors, please consider moderating your intake of diuretics like coffee and tea ahead of our excursion.
  5. Rosy Thrush-Tanager Adventure
    9:15 – 10:15 a.m.Following our first exciting stop at Rancho Primavera’s feeders, we’ll take a short walk to a reliable location where Greg Homel and Alex Martinez have been able to see (not just hear) Rancho Primavera’s most famous avian resident — the colorful Rosy Thrush-Tanager —and to show our valued clients these birds through the use of ethical voice playback!Along the way to reach the Rosy Thrush-Tanager territory, we will pass a small pond where Least Grebes are regularly seen, along with the possibility of glassing the exotic-lookingBare-throated Tiger-Heron, etc.Surrounding encinal habitat here also supports an exciting array of migratory and resident flycatchers, warblers, vireos, buntings and other exciting birds.
  6. Birding Casa Carpintero Pond
    10:30 am – 12:00 p.m.After seeking out the snazzy Rosy Thrush-Tanagers we will, depending on your physical ability and desire, walk or drive one kilometer across the rancho — birding in route — to a tranquil and bird-rich wetland surrounding Rancho Primavera’s largest pond to observe myriad aquatic birds in comfort while seated on one of the ranch’s easy chairs that have been placed on a shaded dock at the south side of the pond, which is beautifully adorned by flowery vines hanging from a latticed trellis above you.Commonly encountered aquatic birds of note here in season include Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Blue-winged Teal; Least and Pied-billed grebes; Neotropic Cormorant; Sora and American Coot; Black-necked Stilt, Northern Jacana and Spotted Sandpiper; Wood Stork (roosting each afternoon in a large pond on the north side of the pond); and a variety of herons, including Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Green and Great Blue herons; Great, Snowy, Little Blue and Cattle egrets, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned night-herons; White and White-faced ibis; Osprey; and three kingfisher varieties—Green, Ringed and Belted, etc. Other notable birds frequenting two ponds here and adjacent cabins—replete with flowery gardens—include one or a few migratory, endemic, Sinaloa Martins, which, for a few weeks in March and April, regularly come to bathe at one of Rancho Primavera’s tranquil ponds each day (usually during the mid-morning and / or late-afternoon hours), on their migratory passage.
  7. Lunch and Extra Time:
    12:00 – 2:00 pmWe will have a bit of extra time to use restaurant facilities or order from the menu.
  8. Repatriation to your Hotel, Pickup Point or Home:
    2:00 – 3:00 p.m.Each participant will be cordially returned to their starting point, with pleasure, and it is our sincere hope that you’ll return very pleased and richer for your Birding in Mexico experience.

Bird Watch List

** The number of birds per trip may change

List of popular birds, with endemics highlighted in bold print:

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck; West Mexican Chachalaca; Least Grebe; Groove-billed Ani and Squirrel Cuckoo; Common Pauraque; Plain-capped Starthroat, Broad-billed, Berylline, Cinnamon and Violet-crowned hummingbirds; Northern Jacana; Wood Stork; Bare-throated Tiger-Heron; Gray Hawk; Colima and Ferruginous pygmy-owls, Mottled Owl; Citreoline & Elegant trogons; Russet-crowned Motmot; Ringed and Green kingfishers; Golden-cheeked, Pale-billed and Lineated woodpeckers; Collared Forest-Falcon; Lilac-crowned Parrot, Orange-fronted Parakeet and Military Macaw; Ivory-billed Woodcreeper; Pacific-slope and Nutting’s flycatchers; Tropical and Thick-billed kingbirds; Golden, Black-capped and Bell’s vireos; Black-throated and White-throated magpie-jays; San Blas Jay; Sinaloa Martin; Happy and Sinaloa wrens; Orange-billed Nightingale thrush and Rufous-backed Robin; Rosy Thrush-Tanager; Stripe-headed Sparrow; Yellow-winged Cacique, Black-vented and Streak-backed orioles; and Summer Tanager, etc.

Please click on the following link to obtain a free, up to date, printable eBird List for Rancho Primavera: https://ebird.org/printableList?regionCode=L1437214&yr=all&m=

Recommended footwear for today’s excursion?

All-terrain shoes with ankle support are generally recommended for today’s outing, even though most of the area is very easily birded with the use of our excellent high-clearance, 4WD vehicles; tennis shoes are also acceptable—especially in the lowlands and at roadside—if you do not have high-top footwear.  We highly recommend the former due to possibly rough, rutted, rocky or slippery surfaces on one 300 m trail we like to bring you to see swifts, raptors, chats, and ground-cuckoos.

What kind and Color of Clothes should I Wear?

Lightweight clothing—especially light weight slacks—with neutral or earth tone colors (no bright colors or whites please, as they may alert the area’s shy, sharp-eyed birds to our presence, and they may fly away prematurely without giving us our hoped for reasonably close or prolonged looks, which would be a shame).  Short sleeve shirts are fine, but be aware of jejenes (“no-see-ums” during the humid, summer months… and mosquitoes near water).

Be sure to bring bathing attire, as we may enjoy lunch at Rancho Las Vegas, and a refreshing swim in the Rio Mascota when the water is calm and pleasantly clear.

*Changing rooms and rest rooms (one in the same here) are available at Rancho Las Vegas.

Please also don a hat or cap with a visor or brim (again, no bright colors or whites), to avoid glare, water reflections and sunburn in the Valle de Banderas’ often hot climate.

We discourage your wearing of shorts, skirts, bathing attire, or cutoff shirts that expose the mid-rift while on hikes or other outings due to the possible presence of biting insects and to avoid injuries if you stumble.

Weather—especially during the summer Monsoon season—is variable according to altitude. We may visit varying habitats and elevations on this excursion, ranging from Sea Level to 183 m / 600’.

Tropical weather is unpredictable at best, so be prepared for any contingency, knowing that at any time of year the weather can turn surprisingly wicked, so please carry a light duty windbreaker and a fleece to provide comfort during a sudden downpour, especially during the summer monsoon season.

Sun Protection?

YES.  Puerto Vallarta, its beaches and surrounding foothills are famous for their clear skies and sunny conditions.  This is the “tropical sun” however, so those unaccustomed, beware!  We will be exposed to direct sunlight throughout most of the trip, except while riding in the vehicle or during lunch at a shaded, palapa-style restaurant at Rancho Las Vegas.

We recommended using sun screen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor of 30 (preferably 50 SPF or higher for lighter complexions) on your face and other exposed skin to avoiding sunburns, especially in the coastal and marine environments we will be visiting by foot or vehicle.

Insect Repellent?

YES.  Jejenes or “no-see-ums” are a possibility during still mornings, especially during the wet season, but mosquitos are not too much of a problem during the dry season (November-May).

Insect repellents containing DEET will vastly improve your outdoor comfort on this expedition.

Biting insects can seem almost absent on most of our regional expeditions, and for most of the daylight hours, but can appear unexpectedly, so be prepared by arming yourself with both knowledge and repellent.

To be sure to avoid being bitten by black flies (i.e., “Jejenes” or “No-See-Ums”) or Mosquitoes, we recommended that you carry repellent with DEET as its active ingredient, applying it liberally on an impromptu basis to counter these blood suckers, while spraying your pant cuffs and socks for chiggers before every outing, regardless of the season.

You’ll be glad you did, especially during the wet season (June-October)!

Where chiggers are concerned—as chiggers like and are spread by livestock—and livestock may be present at Rancho Las Vegas, you may not even realize you’ve been bitten until 12-24 hours after exposure if you do not preempt by spraying your socks, shoes and pant cuffs; and by then it’s too late and the itching can be formidable.

Thankfully, it’s easy to avoid chigger bites by applying repellents containing DEET, and spraying them liberally, as mentioned, onto your pant cuffs, socks and shoes before every outing, regardless of the season.

We recommend a repellent that is sprayable via a non-aerosol propellent, since the pump style repellents may leak inside your daypack, potentially ruining your food, camera gear, or other often expensive equipment carried.  Roll-on-style repellents do not efficiently cover your skin’s surface, nor your pant cuffs or socks, so you are discouraged from using them in favor of a propelled spray.

Bring your Camera Gear

It is assumed you have your own binoculars, as this is requisite to fully enjoy our outings!

We have limited stocks of binoculars for loan, so inquire ahead of your excursion.

If you are also an avid bird and / or wildlife photographer, Birding in Mexico offers select Bird Photography Expeditions with world renowned wildlife photographer, writer, lecturer and bird tour leader Greg R. Homel, throughout Mexico… and the world, for that matter.

Please inquire if you are interested in learning more about our bird and wildlife photography-oriented expeditions.

Our day trips—unless otherwise specified as bird photography-centric—are focused on birding specifically, and photography as an exciting sidebar.

Regardless of the venue, all tour participants should consider themselves welcome, or even encouraged, to bring their cameras to practice this enjoyable pastime during any excursion.

Recommended equipment should include digital cameras with telephoto lenses equal to the 35 mm equivalent of at least 400 mm or greater for your bird photography efforts to be worthwhile in the first place.  Tripods are not recommended on excursion, since it’s reasonable to assume they may interfere with other participants’ freedom of mobility and our logistics.

Most modern lenses and many of today’s cameras are equipped with motion countering technology (IBIS), anyway, making a tripod unnecessary under the conditions we will be operating within.

Please don’t forget to bring extra batteries and memory cards specific to your camera brand, as well.

Lens tissue should also be considered requisite to keep your lenses clean or to wipe incidental water or sea spray off of their (and your binoculars’) objective elements, as environmental conditions are unpredictable in the often wild regions we will be visiting.  If you do not have “lens cleaning tissues,” don’t fret—in a pinch, normal, one ply napkins or toilet paper will work just as well as expensive lens tissue.

*Please inquire about loaner binoculars if you or one of your party does not have binoculars but would like to partake in this excursion.  We may have one or two available for your use.  Apologies in advance if the loan binoculars are already claimed or unavailable for this tour.

What is this Expedition’s Level of Physical Difficulty?

Walking conditions here range from EASY (primarily) to MODERATE throughout this excursion.

Visitors on this lovely excursion will generally encounter easily negotiable trails and foot paths (some, steep with ruts, rocky stretches, wet or muddy conditions, depending on recent weather) in the lowlands, grading to more moderately challenging walks in the highlands of the foothills—though most or all birding there will involve easy walking by the roadside.

You should be prepared for any contingency with good cheer and a spirit of adventure, while being aware that if you have to answer the call of nature when we are far from facilities, you may be relegated to using what we affectionately call the “green latrine.”

There is a  183 m / 600’ potential altitudinal gain on this excursion so you should be prepared for this, though our vehicle will be doing most of the “climbing” and overland travel for you.

If possible, we tend to adjust our walking pace to match the physical capabilities of each group.

In the event that two leaders will accompany your group (which is not guaranteed), it is possible that we will split the group to accommodated clients of varying athletic capabilities.

If you have specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us in advance of your trip and we will do our best to provide you with accurate information pertinent to your specific needs, while advising you whether or not you would gain commensurately from the excursion you are contemplating.

What is Included on my Tour?

  • All Birding in Mexico excursions include one or more specialized, Government-certified (applicable to Alejandro Martinez, a Mexican Citizen, or other Mexican guides), bilingual guide(s)
  • Your guide(s) will carry their own private binoculars at all times during the tour, and where productive, a high quality spotting scope, as well
  • Complimentary Birding in Mexico checklists specific to the region may be handed out at your pickup point and an excellent regional field guide authored by Greg R. Homel will be offered for sale. We may send you an eBird checklist reflecting our day afield in lieu of the printed checklist.
  • Breakfast-snacks are included
  • Throughout this tour, all entrance fees, complimentary snacks, fruit, purified water, and soft drinks are provided with pleasure. Lunch at Rancho Las Vegas in extra and may be included in the price of your tour or you can pay independently while there.
  • Private ground transportation in a modern, air conditioned vehicle, with pickup and drop-off between Puerto Vallarta and all birding destinations is also included
  • For your safety and wellbeing a First aid kit is carried on all Birding in Mexico excursions
  • If you are not a Mexican Citizen, please carry a valid copy of or your actual Passport (or Passport Card) on all Birding in Mexico excursions, since occasional government or military “Puestos” (road checks) may be encountered and require this.
  • Mexican Citizens should have valid government-issued identification with them, as well
  • Also it is wise to bring sufficient cash and your ATM card (please know your PIN), to cover unexpected expenses in the event of an emergency

Map

We are experts in bird watching. BirdinginMexico.com offers tailor-made tours and expeditions through specific areas for birders. We have tours in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay, San Blas Nayarit, El Tuito Jalisco, Marietas Islands and many more areas. The tropical forests and estuaries of this region allow the sighting of endemic birds. If you are fond of photography or you like bird watching, you will like to venture together with Greg Homel and Alejandro Martinez, experts specialized in ornithology and naturist adventure. Bird watching with specialists throughout Mexico.