Bird Watching Tours Among Ancient Cities Of The Maya

There are so many different varieties of birds to see and admire on the Yucatan Peninsula that is a difficult decision to make where to go in order to best enjoy living paradise. Hiking trips are one of the best ways to get to the more obscure areas and are led by tour guides that can offer you valuable insight into the species that you are viewing on the bird watching tours.

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most renowned birding areas in the world because of where it is located. Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side, the Caribbean Sea on the other side and the Yucatan Channel on the northern coast, the climate and surroundings are perfect for our flying friends. More Bird Watching Tour here.

Birds Watching Tour

Over 546 different species of birds live here in this mix of ocean and jungle, with the Mayan ruins often providing a home for the more reclusive species of birds. In addition to the protected areas around the Mayan ruins, there are two large biosphere reserves in the Yucatan. The Ria Lagartos is in the northwestern area and the Sian Ka'an, which is the third largest area such protected area in Mexico. Sian Ka'an has over three hundred species of birds just within the area of islands, lagoons, dunes and wetland areas.

The tour departs from the Playa del Carmen, Cancun or the Riviera Maya every day of the week. There are two tour options available: either a full day in the Rio Lagartos Reserve or a half-day in the Sian Ka'an Reserve. Both of the tours have an expert guide familiar with the bird species of the area as well as the geographical area itself.

The Rio Lagartos Reserve tour starts in the morning after leaving the hotel, riding by automobile to the beginning of the Peten Tucha trail, located near the Rio Lagartos village; from there, the trek into the jungle area begins. Some of the species of birds found here are the Yucatan Jay, Crested Caracaca, Laughing Falcon and Vermilion Flycatcher.

There are two main climates in the Rio Lagartos wetlands region on the bird watching tour: the Mexican mangroves and the dry forests of the Yucatan. There are at least ten different types of vegetation enclosed within the Rio Lagartos Reserve; these vary in height from mere centimeters to over 10 meters in height. The small island areas made up of small tightly growing types of trees nearby springs have the most variety in floral species. The all day tour includes fees, birding guides, boat tour, and lunch and pick up at the end of the day to return to your hotel.

Half Day Tour

The half-day tour is in the Sian Ka'an Reserve, over thirteen million acres of area, measuring nearly 120 kilometers in length from south to north along the Caribbean coastline. Starting at 5 am, with a pick up from the hotel, you ride by car to the Muyil entrance of the reserve. The large core zones in the reserve are set up to facilitate scientific research and limit the building of cities or villages to preserve the heritage of the preserve. The name of the preserve itself means "where the sky is born".

Among the species of birds that are to be found in this great diversity of aquatic wetlands are the brown pelican, roseate spoonbill, Yucatan woodpecker and the tri colored heron are some of the unique birds found here. The bird watching tours will give you the experience of a lifetime and the photos of a lifetime as well. Mexico's Mayan ruins are abandoned only by people, but are alive with the birds and scenery in this beautiful tropical paradise. For something completely different, a bird watching tour of the Mayan area is nothing less than breathtaking.