The verdant forest remnants near the Mayan ruins of Palenque hold some of the best tropical birding in lowland Mexico. From our base near the ruins we will visit all of the better birding areas to experience as many habitats as possible.

We begin our tour in Villahermosa to insure easy flights from most US/Canadian cities. We'll work our way east through the Caribbean lowlands to Palenque, one of the most popular birding hotspots in tropical Mexico. Expected birds at the Mayan ruins and nearby rainforest include Ruddy Crake, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, White-bellied Emerald, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, "Mexican" Black-faced Antthrush, Gray-collared Becard, White-bellied Wren, Yellow-winged Tanager, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Green-backed Sparrow.

The well-known Usumacinta Marshes and surrounding savanna should yield Pinnated Bittern, Jabiru, Masked Duck, Black-collared Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Double-striped Thick-knee, Yellow-headed Parrot, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Grassland yellow-Finch.

During our visit to the highlands near San Cristobal de las Casas we will foray to higher altitudes as well. This will increase our chances at some of the wonderful highland endemics that call this region home. We have a shot at Singing Quail, Bearded Screech-Owl, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, White-eared and Garnet-throated Hummingbirds, Mountain Trogon, Blue-throated Motmot, "Guatemalan" Northern Flicker, Pine Flycatcher, Unicolored Jay, Rufous-browed Wren, Brown-backed Solitaire, Rufous-collared Thrush, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Gray Silk-flycatcher; Crescent-chested, Pink-headed, Rufous-capped and Golden-browed Warblers, White-naped Brush Finch, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, "Chiapas" Yellow-eyed Junco and Black-headed Siskin.

Join us for a spectacular December getaway to one of Mexico’s premier birding areas. Scenery, birds, great food, the wonderful tropical climate tempered by the highland coolness and the excitement of finding many of Mexico’s special birds will be the memories your take home with you.

December 2 - Arrive Villahermosa. Transfer to hotel. Night Villahermosa

December 3 - Departure to Palenque, birding enroute. Lowland forest. Arrive Palenque in PM. Check into hotel, PM birding. Owling will be offered to those who are interested. Night Palenque.

December 4 - 6 - We have so many options each day that it is difficult to decide where to go first! Our first morning will, obviously, have to be spent birding near the ruins of Palenque. These magnificent Mayan temples are surrounded by thick forest and offer the birder/naturalist loads of interesting sights. Possible species include Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Central American Pygmy-Owl, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Slaty-tailed, Collared and Violaceous Trogons, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, many flycatchers, wrens and tanagers. A few of the regional endemics we might see include the recently split Mexican Antthrush, Gray-collared Becard, White-bellied Wren, Yellow-winged Tanager and the magnificent Black-throated Shrike-Tanager. Lunch at the ruins. PM birding near town each day. Owling is possible any evening, weather and stamina permitting.

One day we’ll visit the famous Usumacinta Marshes. Here, and in the surrounding grasslands, we can find Pinnated Bittern, Jabiru, Masked Duck, Black-collared Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Ruddy Crake, Double-striped Thick-knee, Yellow-headed Parrot, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Yucatan Jay, a host of wintering North American migrants, Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Grassland Yellow-Finch. Nights Palenque.

December 7 - Early morning departure for the highlands of interior Chiapas. We’ll be based at the delightful city of San Christobal de las Casas. Situated in a montane valley the days are cool and pleasant. Owling at night may be downright cold! We’ll visit several well known birding areas and a few that are a bit off of the beaten track. A special effort will be made to find those birds considered specialties of the highlands of Chiapas like Bearded Screech-Owl, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Blue-throated Motmot, Pine Flycatcher, Black-capped Swallow, Unicolored Jay, Rufous-browed Wren, the striking Rufous-collared Thrush, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, a host of warblers highlighted by the unbelievable Pink-headed Warbler, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer and Black-headed Siskin. Night San Christobal.

December 8 - 9 - Continued birding from San Christobal. Each day’s itinerary to be determined by our success the prior day. Owling will be offered at least one night. Although this is not a prime time for owl vocalizations there are a number of interesting night birds for which we can search. Nights San Christobal.

December 10 - One last morning birding the highlands as we begin our return to Palenque. Particular attention will be paid to any of the specialty species that may have eluded us during our stay. Picnic lunch near midday and we’ll arrive back in Palenque near dinner time. Night Palenque.

December 11 - The day is left open and our destination will be determined by the group’s desires. A return to the Usumacinta Marshes and surrounding savanna is possible as is another day amid the spectacular ruins . Night Palenque

December 12 - Early morning birding to find any of the localized species we may have missed, reacquaint ourselves with the restricted range endemics we’ve seen during our trip, or to spend as you wish preparing for our return to Villahermosa. We leave in time to arrive at the airport a few hours prior to our flights. We will make a few stops en route before arriving at the airport. Our minds will then focus on our return flights to the states with those many memories of colorful birds, people and scenery to last us until our next visit to Mexico!