Tour description

VERACRUZ RIVER OF RAPTORS
PRONATURA VERACRUZ

VRR TOURS

9-Day Tour

Our basic 9-day Veracruz River of Raptors tour specializes in witnessing the greatest migration spectacle in the world. Here in central Veracruz, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, every fall season the monitoring team from Pronatura Veracruz counts well over 5-million migrating raptors, of over 25 species! And where a good day sees over 100,000 migrant raptors and vultures, and a Big Day may see over 500,000! Additionally the spectacle of the passerine and waterbird migration can be just as amazing with over 10 million daytime migrants estimated to pass through each fall. Aside from the bird migration, teams of biologists have recently estimated the insect migration of butterflies and dragonflies, where along the coast we have counted over one million individuals in one day!

During our tour, we also make sure to experience the great variety of the local resident birds of the region, where we have compiled a list of over 540 species in central Vercruz, including over 25 endemics. We will have plenty of time due to the fact that the raptor migration is usually concentrated in the middle hours of the day, which allows us to make early morning and afternoon expeditions into the surrounding lowland forests and coastal lagoons in search of resident specialties. We also include a two-day visit to the cloud forests and pine-oak forests surrounding Xalapa, at over 4,500 feet elevation yet only 90 minutes away from our base near the coast.

While visiting the area of central Veracruz we will be able to observe how the region also serves as a crossroads in the bird communities of North and Middle America, and eastern and western Mexico. For example, we have species in the mountains surrounding Xalapa from both the lowlands of eastern Mexico and the highlands of central and western Mexico, such as Rufous-tailed and Berryline Hummingbirds, or Brown Jay and Dwarf Jay. We also have resident tropical species side-by-side with North American species that reach the southern limit of their ranges, such as Clay-colored and American Robin, or Black-headed Siskin and Pine Siskin. Additionally, during migration and winter we find migrant species from both western and eastern North America side-by-side, such as Western Tanager and Summer Tanager, or Eastern and Western Wood-pewees, or Black-throated Green Warblers feeding with Hermit and Townsend’s Warblers. All this makes for a very exciting and dynamic region, and very exciting birding!

The tour includes very full and active days, yet in a comfortable setting, as we will only have two bases of operation. These are: the coastal town of Cardel, closest to the great migration spectacle and the lowland forests and lagoons; and Xalapa, the beautiful colonial capital city of Veracruz, in the mountains surrounded by cloud forest, shade-coffee plantation, and pine-oak forest.

Also included are several visits to local archaeological sites, including La Antigua and Cempoala, where Hernan Cortez had his first Spanish colony and initial contact with the local Indians. Additionally, we will include a visit to the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa, one of the finest and most beautiful of its kind.

Days 1-4: The tour begins with the arrival in Veracruz International Airport, time depending flight schedules.
These days will be based out of Cardel, where will concentrate on the raptor migration. Each morning we will also visit one of the surrounding lowland dry thorn-forest sites, coastal lagoons, and/or beaches—often all included at the same site. We also include a delightful river boat-trip, ending at sunset. Birding highlights may include many of the local raptor species such as Grey Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, Great and Common Black Hawk, and Aplomado Falcon. Additionally, other local species provide a great introduction to tropical birding with species that include Altamira Oriole, the very local Rufous-naped Wren, Black-headed Trogon, Rose-throated Becard, Black-headed Saltator; all five kingfisher species, Montezuma Oropendola, Aztec Parakeet, and Masked Tityra. At each of the sites we will also hope for a spectacular passerine and waterbird migration. Additionally, the butterfly and dragonfly migration can be spectacular as well.
We can expect excellent local seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, deliciously flavored Mexican-style, quite a bit different than what you may expect from your local Mexican restaurant in the US!

Days 5 and 6: For two nights we will be based out of Xalapa, just a short ride up the mountains from Cardel. This colonial city is quite pleasant, with beautiful architecture, a pleasant climate, and very fine Mexican cuisine, quite different than the coast. Here we will be visiting several sites in the surrounding cloud forest and pine-oak forest, including shade-coffee plantations, a beautiful waterfall, and a spectacular 2000-foot canyon. The habitat of the higher elevations supports many endemic species as well as excellent birding of migrants and other residents, especially of mixed warbler-flocks. We will hope to see endemics such as the Blue Mockingbird, Red Warbler, Brown-backed Solitaire, Grey Silky, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, and Rufous-capped Brushfinch, among others.

Days 6-9: We will return to Cardel for more of the raptor migration, hoping to catch one of the big days, if we haven’t already. We will continue to visit the surrounding habitat, including slightly different habitat at a local reserve, and also in tropical savannah where we hope to see specialties such as Double-striped Thick-knee and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture. We will also visit an extensive wetland and lagoon system where we may see Mangrove Swallow, Black-collared Hawk, and Pinnated Bittern. We will then finish the tour with our last night in the festive port city of Veracruz, where our favorite hotel is located on the main square, active every day of the week with outdoor cafes, live music, and dancing.

Additionally, the butterfly and dragonfly migration can be spectacular as well.
We can expect excellent local seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, deliciously flavored Mexican-style, quite a bit different than what you may expect from your local Mexican restaurant in the US!

We will then finish the tour with our last night in the festive port city of Veracruz, where our favorite hotel is located on the main square, active every day of the week with outdoor cafes, live music, and dancing.

The tour ends with morning or mid-day flight out of Veracruz International Airport.
We also offer a 3-day Tour Extension to the Catemaco rainforest area, where many tropical bird species can be found.