With nearly 700 species, Oaxaca has the biggest bird list of any Mexican state, and almost 100 of these are regional endemics. With impressive ruins, a bustling capital city rich in commerce and architecture, a vibrant native culture, and some of the world's most beautiful beaches, Oaxaca offers even the non-birder much to write home about. If you're looking for a trip that's also good for a non-birding partner, we highly recommend this one. On many days afternoon birding is optional, and those wishing to take it easy or sight-see may do so.

Day 1: Oaxaca. After we meet you at the airport, you might want to relax at the hotel in preparation for tomorrow’s exhilarating morning of birding, but we'll make sure we check the courtyard for Rufous-backed Robin and Dusky Hummingbird.

Day 2: Teotitlán del Valle. Birding the arid scrub above the village will yield our first dry interior endemics: Ocellated Thrasher and Bridled and Oaxaca Sparrows will be our main targets, but we’ll also keep an eye and ear out for Dwarf Vireo, Boucard’s Wren, and the odd-looking southernmost race of Western Scrub-Jay. After birding today, we will stop in the village of Teotitlán del Valle to shop within its world-famous rug market and attend a weaving demonstration. The hand-woven tapetes are made of local wool and dyed with all natural, locally made pigments derived from materials as diverse as walnut hulls, indigo, and scale insects.

Day 3: Monte Albán and Yagul. Today, we will stand in awe among some of the most exquisite native ruins to be found in all of the Americas, the Zapotec capital of Monte Albán. These impressive ruins tower over the city of Oaxaca, and the slopes surrounding them are a good place to search for a number of localized Mexican endemics. Rock and Canyon Wrens that have taken up residence in the ruins will keep us company as we search for these that include White-throated Towhee and Blue Mockingbird alongside other targets such as Gray Silky-flycatcher, Varied Bunting, and the staggering Slaty Vireo. An afternoon trip will visit Yagul, one of the best sites for Gray-breasted Woodpecker and Beautiful Hummingbird. Black-vented Oriole, Rufous-capped Warbler, and the elusive Pileated Flycatcher may also grace us with their presence. 

Days 4-5: Cerro San Felipe. Two mornings are planned at this highland humid pine-oak site. This is the best place in the world to see the endemic Dwarf Jay, in addition to a range of other highland birds. We’ll look for the jays among noisy flocks of Steller’s Jays and Gray-barred Wrens. Along the way we hope to see exciting resident birds like the shocking Red Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer. Long-tailed Wood-Partridge is also common in the area but seldom seen.

Day 6: North to Tuxtepec. Today we will concentrate on the road north of Cerro San Felipe towards the Gulf lowland town of Valle Nacional. With luck, Gulf-slope cloudforest will yield birds like Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Slate-colored Solitaire, and Azure-crowned and Unicolored Jays.

Days 7-8: Tuxtepec. Today we will bird the lowland rainforest and humid foothills surrounding Tuxtepec. Keel-billed Toucans are always a favorite, and those who love colorful birds should not be disappointed: Slaty-tailed Trogon, Green Shrike-Vireo, Violet Sabrewing, Black-crested Coquette, Green Honeycreeper, and Crimson-collared and Golden-hooded Tanagers are all possibilities. More subtle beauty may be found in the form of Pheasant Cuckoo, Mexican Antthrush, White Hawk, and the endemic Sumichrast’s Wren.

Day 9: Back to Oaxaca. This morning we'll bird the foothills and cloudforest on the way back to our hotel for a pleasant evening in Oaxaca City.

Day 10: Sierra de Miahuatlán. Numerous endemic birds occur in the Sierra. Wagler’s Toucanet is the most conspicuous, but we’ll also search for White-throated Jay, Red-headed Tanager, “Violet-throated” Hummingbird, and the gorgeous little Blue-capped Hummingbird. We’ll spend the night in the cozy beach town of Puerto Ángel.

Day 11: The Pacific Ocean. At dawn we’ll embark on a pelagic adventure. Our main target is the endemic Townsend’s Shearwater. Additionally, we hope to see Black-vented, Christmas, and Pink-footed Shearwaters among the more numerous Wedge-tailed and Galápagos Shearwaters. Black, Least, and Wedge-tailed Storm-Petrels all also occur in the deep waters just offshore. Closer to shore, we should see Red-billed Tropicbirds cruising the offshore winds and Brown Boobies plunging into the sea. Returning by early afternoon, those who wish to may lounge on the beach and feast on seafood.

Day 12: Puerto Ángel and Zipolite. Today we will bird the coastal thorn-scrub around Puerto Ángel and the world-famous beach town of Zipolite. Here we find an entirely new avifauna: Doubleday’s Hummingbird, Citreoline Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Red-breasted Chat, Happy Wren, Colima Pygmy-Owl, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, and Orange-breasted Bunting are all found here, and those are just the endemics. White-throated Magpie-Jays and Yellow-winged Caciques are also quite common in the area.

Day 13: Back to Oaxaca. Birding again in the Sierra Madre del Sur, we’ll search for Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird, West Mexican Chachalaca, Golden-crowned Emerald, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, and Hooded Yellowthroat.

Day 14: Departure. The tour ends at the airport in the morning.



Isthmus pre-tour extension (5 days)
Starting before the main tour, this extension focuses on the endemic birds of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which is surprisingly diverse in habitats.  We’ll search for Rose-bellied (Rosita’s) Bunting in the arid foothills, Sumichrast’s Sparrow on the dry plains, Giant Wren in the lush Soconusco Plains, and Nava’s Wren in the mythical karst-strewn Gulf-slope rainforest.  Other possibilities include Black Hawk-Eagle, Long-tailed Manakin, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Orange-chinned Parakeet, and Lovely Cotinga.

Day 1: Arrive in Oaxaca. You will be transferred to our hotel for the evening.

Day 2: Oaxaca to Mapastapec. After an early start, we drive east onto the dry plains of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The open thornforest here is home to Sumichrast’s Sparrow and Lesser Ground-Cuckoo. As evening falls, we’ll bird a stretch of gallery forest where Yellow-naped and White-fronted Parrots roost by the dozens. Night in Mapastapec.

Day 3: Mapastapec. We awake to find ourselves on the lush Soconusco Plain, to which the comical and well-named Giant Wren is endemic. Other birds we’ll look for in the Pacific-slope rainforest include Long-tailed Manakin, Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow, White-bellied Chachalaca, Pacific Parakeet, Red-legged Honeycreeper, and Turquoise-browed Motmot. Night in Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Day 4: El Ocote. The haunting songs of Slate-colored Solitaires, Nava’s Wrens, and Nightingale Wrens ring throughout the mythical karst rainforest of El Ocote.  Black-headed Shrike-Vireo, Montezuma Oropendola, and Slaty-breasted Tinamou are just some of the many Gulf-slope birds that live here. Night in Arriaga.

Day 5: Arriaga to Oaxaca. We’ve saved the best for last. This is the morning we look for the unbelievably beautiful Rosita’s Bunting in the arid Pacific-slope foothills just above Arriaga. Green-fronted Hummingbird is also possible here. Once we’re satisfied, it’s back to Oaxaca City to meet the other tour participants for dinner. Note that this is Day 1 of the main tour.

TOUR INFO:

CLIMATE: Pleasant in most areas, with cold, crisp mornings in the highlands and hot afternoons in the lowlands. We may run into some rain on the Gulf slope..

DIFFICULTY: Easy. Almost all birding is done on roads and easily accessible trails.

ACCOMMODATION: Good to excellent throughout.