Veracruz Birding Tour
Each October, three to four million raptors pass through a narrow route between the costal mountains and the gulf of mexico. This forced concentration of hawks and vultures provides bird enthusiasts with a spectacular display of what has become known as the "river of birds". This exciting natural phenomenon is just one of the incredible sights you will sitness on our birding tour.
SATURDAY - Arrive Mexico City airport. Transfer by aircraft or coach to Veracruz. Overnight in Cardel.
SUNDAY - Visit archeological ruins at Cempoala. Hawkwatch from roof of our hotel. In the evening we will be treated to a display of local music and dance.
MONDAY - This morning we will travel to Antigua for a riverboat tbirding trip to the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico. In the afternoon we will enjoy the spectacle of the raptor migration from the roof of our hotel.
TUESDAY - Today we will travel to La Joya to enjoy an opportunity to view various endemic species. After lunch we will visit the new birding observation platform at Chichicaxtle to view a second stream of hawk migration.
WEDNESDAY - Today's adventure will take us to an extinct volcano that is now a park in Xalapa. Lunh will be enjoyed in a restaurant with a spectacular view of Mexico's most beautiful waterfall at Xico.
THURSDAY - Our day will begin with birding in the costal lowlands at La Mancha. The boat trip on the inland lagoons is a highlight for our birders. This afternoon will be our final viewing of the amazing hawk migration.
FRIDAY - This morning we will transfer to Veracruz for a city tour. Veracruz has gained a reputation for its history, music, dance as well as being a busy, fun port city. The swimming pool of our hotel on the 6th floor provides a fantastic view of the port to the left and the beaches to the right. Overnight in Veracruz City.
SATURDAY - Transfer to the aiport or to Mexico City for the trip home.
Please Note: We will be visiting more points of interest than are mentioned here but the main focus of this tour is the spectacle of the hawk migration and birding.
POSSIBLE SIGHTINGS:
Veracruz is considered to be one of the best locations in the Americas to observe eastern and western migrants and wintering birds sharing the same region.
| 30 species of raptors | Thrush |
| Bat falcons | Rufous capped brush fince |
| Laughing and aplomado falcons | Rufous capped warbler |
| Zone tailed and black hawks | Russet nightingale thrush |
| Boat billed heron | Slate-throated redstarts |
| Common tody-flycatcher | Ant tanagers, bright rumped Attila |
| Plain breasted ground dorve | Stub-tailed spadebill |
| Lesser yellow-headed vulture | White hawk |
| Ivory-billed woodcreeper | Bare threated tiger-heron |
| Ochre-bellied flycatcher | Sungrebe |
| Olivaceous | Grey headed kite |
| Swifts | Blue-crowned motmot |
| Red warbler | Red lored parrot |
| Dwarf jay | Long tailed hermit |
| Striped sparrow | Ferruginous pygmy owl |
| Olive, hermit and golden crowned warbler | Fork-tailed flycatchers |
| Collared plovers |
