Recommended footwear for today’s excursion?

All-terrain shoes with ankle support are recommended; tennis shoes are also acceptable if you do not have high-top all terrain footwear.

What kind of Clothes should I Wear?

Lightweight clothing displaying neutral or earth tone colors (no bright colors or whites please, as they may alert often shy birds—such as the skulky Rosy Thrush-Tanager—to our presence from afar, preventing our close approach). We also recommended you don a hat or cap with a visor or brim (again, no bright colors or whites), to avoid glare and sunburn in the tropical climate we will be operating within.

Weather here at 600 m / 2000’ is usually very pleasant with mild temperatures. However, this is unpredictable. At any time of year Rancho Primavera’s weather can turn surprisingly cold, foggy or rainy, and quickly, so please carry a light duty windbreaker and a fleece to provide comfort during a sudden downpour, or warmth during the sometimes chilly early morning hours, respectively.

Sun Protection?

YES. We recommended using sun screen with a minimum sun protection factor of 16 (preferably 30 SPF or higher) on your face and other exposed skin to avoiding sunburns, especially in coastal, marine or high altitude environments.

Insect Repellent?

YES. During the dry season (November-May) biting insects are usually not very bothersome in Cabo Corrientes region generally, and Rancho Primavera specifically, but there are exceptions—especially where chiggers are concerned (as livestock is present on the Rancho), and you may not even realize you’ve been bitten until 12-24 hours after exposure; thereafter it’s too late and the itching can be formidable.

To be sure to avoid being bitten by chiggers, mosquitos or black flies, we recommended that you carry repellent with DEET as its active ingredient wherever you go, applying it liberally on an impromptu basis for mosquitos and black flies, 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)!

We recommend a repellent that is sprayable via a non-aerosol propellent, also, since the pump style repellents may leak inside your daypack, potentially ruining your food, camera gear, or other often expensive equipment. 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

If you are an avid bird and / or wildlife photographer, Birding in Mexico offers select Bird Photography Expeditions with 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 specified as bird photography-centric—are focused on birding specifically, and photography as an exciting sidebar. All tour participants are, of course, welcome to bring their cameras to practice this enjoyable pastime on all of our excursions.

Recommended equipment should include digital cameras with telephoto lenses equal to the equivalent of at least 400 mm for your bird photography efforts to be worthwhile in the first place.

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

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.

What is this Expedition’s Level of Physical Difficulty?

Visitors to Yelapa 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 near Yelapa Tapa.

You may also be required to board floating watercraft on the beach with no dock (we have able bodied staff to assist you), and may have to wade in shallow water between the shoreline and your boat, or cross the Rio Tuito on occasion, though this scenario is unusual.

Nonetheless, you should be prepared for this contingency with good cheer and a spirit of adventure.

We will provide free of charge, motion sickness options for the water taxi for sensitive individuals.

Walking conditions here range from EASY to MODERATE throughout the excursion.

There is a  823 m / 2700’ potential altitudinal gain on this excursion—depending on whether you day trip or overnight option—and you should be prepared for this, though our vehicle will be doing most of the “climbing” and overland travel for you.

Yelapa and surrounding birding areas are not wheelchair accessible.

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 will be handed out at your pickup point and an excellent regional field guide authored by Greg R. Homel will be offered for sale
• Breakfast-snacks are included
• Throughout this tour, all meals, lodging, ground and water-borne transportation, entrance fees, complimentary snacks, fruit, purified water, and soft drinks are provided with pleasure
• Private ground transportation with pickup and drop-off between Puerto Vallarta and Boca Tomatlan is also included
• As is water taxi transportation to and from Yelapa and Boca Tomatlan
• 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