Photo Gallery
Photos by Rich Hoyer
On our first morning we visit the botanical garden of Puerto Morelos, which often has an unwary troop of Central American Spider Monkeys.
On the way south we take a stroll through the ruins of Tulum, perhaps the most stunning setting of all the Mayan ruins.
While we spend time birding near taller forest, where this Collared Aracari…
…and this Yellow-lored Parrot are found,…
…we also find a huge variety of birds at forest edge and in agricultural clearings, called milpas. Here a Couch’s Kingbird (confirming its identity by calling) and a Social Flycatcher,…
…here a pair of Yellow-bellied Elaenias…
…and here a Yellow-tailed Oriole, one of eight oriole species possible on this tour.
Occasionally we get distracted by the butterflies such as this lovely Mexican Cycadian.
On our boat ride through the estuary of Ría Lagartos, we check the mangroves for roosting Boat-billed Herons…
…and occasionally find a Bare-throated Tiger-Heron as well…
…and then continue our search for Greater Flamingos, in high natural color…
It’s a pleasure to stay in the historic Hotel Meson del Marquez in Valladolid, with its charming courtyard by the dining area.
A view from the Great Temple at Chichén Itzá.
This is a sunning Groove-billed Ani, a daily presence on this tour, though on Cozumel Island we also have a chance to see Smooth-billed.
Black Catbird, a charming Yucatán endemic, is abundant on Cozumel Island…
…where we’ll also have our best chances of seeing the regional endemic Yucatan Woodpecker.
The area has as well many North America wintering birds, here a Black-throated Green Warbler.