Mexico ~ Oaxaca

January 20, 2024 to January 30, 2024 — 10 days

Tour Leader:

Chris Charlesworth

Red-breasted Chat (c) Eric Antonio Martinez

Visit Oaxaca, Mexico's birdiest state, with close to 800 species on the list!
Close to 100 regional endemics possible such as Bridled Sparrow, Oaxaca Sparrow, Ocellated Thrasher, Orange-breasted Bunting, Rose-bellied Bunting, Slaty Vireo, Dusky Hummingbird, Russet-crowned Motmot, Citreoline Trogon and much more.
Expertly guided tour by Mexico's Eric Antonio Martinez and Avocet Tours' Chris Charlesworth.
Pelagic out of Huatulco, with possibilities of boobies, jaegers, shearwaters like Pink-footed, Galapagos, and Wedge-tailed and more.
Oaxaca is at the heart of Mexico's cuisine and cultural region.
Evening birding for owls and nightjars.

Tour Details

Tour Description

Located in southwestern Mexico, Oaxaca is one of the country's best states for birding. Close to 800 species are on the state list for Oaxaca, and around 100 of these are regional endemics. Oaxaca is also the hub of Mexican culture and cuisine. Our tour begins in the capital city, Oaxaca City, located at about 5000 feet elevation and surrounded by mountains that jut up towards 10,000 feet in elevation. We will explore these high mountain areas of the Sierra Norte, searching for stunning birds like Red Warbler, Dwarf Jay, Gray-barred Wren, Collared Towhee, and Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo. Oak scrub forests north of Oaxaca City are home to more enticing birds such as Blue Mockingbird, Ocellated Thrasher, Slaty Vireo and the aptly named Oaxaca Sparrow. From Oaxaca we make our way southeast to the city of Tehuantepec, where we will explore thorn scrub forest for birds like Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, the striking Rose-bellied and Orange-breasted buntings, and with any luck Lesser Ground-Cuckoo and Lesser Roadrunner. We also plan to visit the renowned archeological site of Montel alban. Next, we head for the coastal city of Huatulco, a gorgeous resort area with some of the nicest beaches in the country. Lowland deciduous forests here are home to mouth-watering birds like Red-breasted Chat, Citreoline Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird and Happy Wren, to name a few. We'll take a pelagic out of Huatulco, hoping for birds such as Wedge-tailed, Galapagos, and Pink-footed shearwaters, as well as boobies, jaegers and more. Nocturnal birding may produce species like Mottled Owl, Pacific Screech-Owl and Buff-collared Nightjar, as well as Pauraque. Pine oak forest near the town of San Jose, our final destination on this fabulous tour, are home to more wonderful birds such as Brown-backed Solitaire, Bumblebee Hummingbird, and the elusive White-throated Jay. This trip will be led by Mexico's very own Eric Antonio Martinez, and co-led by Avocet Tours' Chris Charlesworth.

Tour Itinerary

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival to Oaxaca city international airport (IATA code OAX), meeting dinner in hotel. Overnight in Oaxaca city.

Day 2 - Early in the morning we will enjoy a nice breakfast and then head east in the valley of Oaxaca, we will be birding in thorn scrub, some of the species of interest include Boucard’s Wren, Dusky hummingbird, Gray-breasted Woodpecker, Bridled Sparrow, Black-vented Oriole, Berylline Hummingbird. As the day warms up we will move to other areas and enjoy a nice lunch, afterwards during the heat of the day we will check out a demonstration of the rug weaving in my home village: Teotitlan del Valle. Before heading to the hotel, we will do some more afternoon birding and then head back to Oaxaca city. Overnight in Oaxaca City.

Day 3 -After our usual breakfast we will drive up the Sierra Norte and reach an elevation of 9000 ft, where we will be birding in temperate habitat amongst pine and oaks, the temperatures here in the morning can be in the mid 40’s so a warm jacket might be wise to have, the species of interest here include the gorgeous looking Red Warbler, Dwarf Jays, Gray-barred Wrens, Collared Towhee, and chances for Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer and Chestnut-sided Shrike Vireo, in the quiet hours of the day we will check out a nice restaurant and continue with some evening birding before heading to the Hotel in Oaxaca city. Overnight in Oaxaca city.

Day 4 - After a revitalizing breakfast and coffee we will head north into the oak scrub where our main targets will be some of the most elusive species of the area, we will be looking for the striking Ocellated Thrasher, the well named Oaxaca sparrow, Slaty Vireo, Blue Mockingbird, and chances for other great birds, then we will check out other areas and enjoy a nice lunch, devoting time to some evening birding before heading back to Oaxaca for a nice supper in downtown Oaxaca, overnight in Oaxaca city.

Day 5 -Today will be a day where we will combine some archaeology, birding and traveling, after our usual breakfast we will head near the archaeological site of Montel alban for some casual birding, once the site is open we will go in and admire the most important pre Columbian site in the state, this is a good area for some interesting birds such as Rock and Canyon wrens, as well as orioles and hummingbirds, after this we will drive to a restaurant where we will also have the opportunity to see few more birds to then do a 5 hour drive to the city of Tehuantepec. Overnight in Tehuantepec.

Day 6 - After breakfast we will head into thorn scrub where we will be looking for some of the most extraordinary birds of Mexico, some of the species possible include the restricted Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, the striking Rose-bellied Bunting, Orange Breasted Bunting, Stripe-headed Sparrow, and chances for Lesser-ground cuckoo and if we get lucky we may run into Lesser Roadrunner, then we will have a nice lunch and enjoy a bit of seaside driving to our next destination, the city of Huatulco. Overnight in Huatulco city.

Day 7 - Located along the pacific coast, the area of Huatulco hosts some extraordinary species of flora and fauna. After our very early breakfast we will explore the low deciduous forest where some species possible include Red-breasted Chat, Citreoline Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Happy Wren, Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird. The temperatures at sea level in this habitat can reach up to mid 90’s thus at mid-day when the heat is strong and bird activity is slow we will take a break and resume birding in the evening before dinner, overnight in Huatulco.

Day 8 -Today will be a sea day. After our breakfast we will get into a boat and go offshore. The continental shelf in Coastal Oaxaca is about 5-6 miles from the shore so its rather easy to get some extraordinary pelagic birding. Some species of interest include Black and Least storm petrels, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Galapagos Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater and chances for boobies, jaegers and many other cool birds. Later on, we will enjoy lunch at a nearby beach and take a break. In the evening we will have an early dinner and go out for some nocturnal species, such as Mottled Owl, Pacific Screech-Owl, and a chance for Buff-collared Nightjar and Pauraque. Overnight in Huatulco.

Day 9 - After our early breakfast we will drive into the mountains north of Huatulco where we will explore an area of coffee plantations and tropical semi-deciduous forest that hosts some extraordinary endemics. A sample of the birds of interest include the very restricted Blue-capped Hummingbird, Red-headed Tanager, Wagler’s (Emerald) Toucanet, Gray-crowned Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Emerald, and chances for Mexican Hermit. Next we will enjoy a nice meal at a coffee finca and continue our drive to the mountain town of San Jose del Pacifico where we spend the night.

Day 10 - Birding in pine / oak forest near the town of San Jose. This montane area of pine forest hosts some interesting species of birds such as Brown-backed Solitaire, Bumblebee hummingbird, Hooded Yellowthroat, and if we get lucky, we may find the very elusive White-throated Jay. After lunch we will start our drive back to Oaxaca city and prepare for next day departure. Overnight in Oaxaca city.

Day 11 - Departure from Oaxaca city international airport.

Tour Price:

Price $6000 CAD, based on double occupancy. $600 CAD for single room supplement. Deposit of $1500 required to hold space on tour.

Book this tour

What is included?:

Accommodations are included, starting with the night of January 20 and ending night of January 29. Food, beginning with dinner on January 20 and ending with lunch on January 30, included, as is drinking water. Ground transportation via air-conditioned van/bus included, as are all park entry fees. Pelagic boat trip out of Huatulco included.

Weather and What to Bring:

Weather in the Oaxaca Valley is generally quite pleasant during January, with daytime temperatures ranging from a low of 13 degrees C to a high of 25 degrees C. High up in the mountains, it can be cool in the early mornings, with temps possibly dipping down to 5 degrees C. Along the coast at Huatulco, it will be warmer and temperatures could climb into the low 30 degrees C. Bring along light and breathable clothing, including a jacket in case we encounter rain. Though it will be cool in the mornings in the high mountains, temperatures will quickly warm up and become comfortable. You will want to bring sun protection in the form of a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Don't forget your birding gear!

Pace of Tour:

Expect early mornings and full days out in the field. Most walks will be quite easy, though we will be up at 9000 feet elevation at some point, where even easy walking can be a little more strenuous.

Group Size:

4-8

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January 20, 2024 to January 30, 2024 — 10 days

Tour Details