February 2025 Tours
Now Open

Leader: Selene Barba (Luna Azul)
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Duration: 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Group Size: Limited to 10
Language: English and Spanish

Highlights:

The Macaw Sanctuary is a 70-hectare (170-acre) rugged pine-oak forest in the Cabo Corrientes at the southern end of Banderas Bay. It has been in the Espino family for 23 years and through endless efforts they have been providing a safe nesting area for the wild Military Macaw population since 2006. The private property is dotted with 30 specialized wood nest boxes, some of which are monitored via camera traps. The boxes are routinely cleaned and surveyed. In a typical year, all of the nest boxes successfully produce offspring. This refuge for wildlife also protects many plant species.
The short walking trail winds through pine, oak and mixed hardwood before reaching a viewing blind and then loops back to the parking area. While mostly flat, the trail has a few steep spots, tree roots, and a few steps. Although this trip is mainly a Military Macaw walk, you will spot warblers, vireos, jays, woodpeckers, and many other birds.
Leaving the Macaw Sanctuary, you will drive a short distance to the beautiful Vallarta Botanical Garden where you can visit the bird feeders. Plenty of birds are possible including Green Jay, many species of buntings, orioles, and hummingbirds. You may stay at the Garden if you wish but transportation back via bus, or taxi is your responsibility.

What to Bring:

Binoculars, camera, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, hat. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Price: $1,200.00 pesos MXN (Festival registration required)

Note:

• No children under 10 years; all children must be accompanied by an adult
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Fitness level: ability to walk on narrow, uneven trails with some incline/decline

Itinerary:

• Depart El Centro at 6:30 a.m.
• Second pickup at 6:45 a.m. (both locations to be determined)
• Third pickup at 7:00 a.m. Vallarta Botanical Garden
• Duration: 5 hours

Field Trip

Leader: Mark Stackhouse

Title: Morning Bird Walk at the VBG

Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025

Duration: 7:30am – 10:00 am

Group #: Unlimited

Language: English and Spanish

Highlights: The Vallarta Botanical Garden is a prime birding location nestled in the beautiful Cabo Corrientes that is not to be missed. A visit to the bird feeders is always fun and often yields Green Jays, San Blas Jays and more. Flocks of Orange-fronted Parakeets fly by daily. The hummingbird feeders and floral gardens attract several species including the Sparkling-tailed Woodstar, Golden-crowned Emerald, and Mexican Hermit.
Join this birding walk through the Garden for an early exploration of the various trails to see what birds are visiting the Horcones River area. You may find several species of orioles, Military Macaws, many warbler species, West Mexican Euphonias, Citreoline Trogons, Blue and Painted Buntings, and Squirrel Cuckoos. There have been sightings of the elusive Crested Guan. The river attracts Spotted Sandpipers (wintering), Black Phoebes, several types of flycatchers, Black Vultures, and sometimes even cormorants.
The tour will finish in time for the presentations and children’s activities in the Hall of Flowers.
What to Bring: binoculars, camera, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, hat.

Price: $300 pesos MXN paid at entrance to the Vallarta Botanical Garden (Festival registration greatly appreciated)

(Followed by included Canopy River Mexican Buffet)

Leader: Ric Chamblee
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Duration: 6:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Group Size: Limited to 10
Language: English and Spanish

Highlights:

The spectacular Jorullo Point viewpoint is a new glass-floored viewpoint where you can see everything from the sea to the mountains and the Cuale River. The sun rises over the mountains and the morning bird chorus commences. You may capture stunning photographs with expert guide, Ric Chamblee, or you may simply enjoy the experience of a sunrise and wonderful chorus as everything begins to wake up and sing and forage.
Leaving the platform, you may catch a sighting of Crested Guan, Lilac-crowned Parrot, Military Macaw, and various raptors, so be ready!
Next stop is the Canopy River Mexican Buffet. Los Coapinoles restaurant is situated as part of the Canopy River Park and serves a traditional Mexican country breakfast buffet offering handmade tortillas, quesadillas (squash flower, huitlacoche, mushrooms, rajas poblanas, or just cheese), pellizcadas, golden tacos and much more! Mariachi performances and Charros show their beautiful horses during brunch.

What to Bring:

Binoculars, camera, sunscreen, insect repellant, water, hat.
Price: $1,400.00 pesos MXN (Festival registration required)

Note:

No children
Not wheelchair accessible

Itinerary:

Depart at 6:45 a.m. sharp 

Café 449, C. Fco. I. Madero 449
Romantic Zone (Corner of Calle Jacaranda and Calle Francisco I. Madero
 (about one block south of the Cuale River) Location

Leader: Steve Shunk
Date: Saturday, February 22
Duration: 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Group Size: Limited to 10
Language: English and Spanish

Highlights:

This 81 hectare (200 acre) ranch is a premier birding destination in western Mexico. Once an overgrazed cattle ranch, it is now a living example of the biological diversity that the wide array of habitat in the Cabo Corrientes can support. It is a birder’s/naturalist’s paradise.
Well over 250 species of birds and other abundant wildlife—from bobcats and bats to fox and turtles—inhabit the area, and the list keeps growing as restoration matures. This walk begins at the bird feeders followed by an easy 20 minute walk to a large pond with birding along the way. Broad-billed and Cinnamon Hummingbirds, Mexican Hermits, myriad other Passerines (small perching birds like warblers and sparrows) spend the winter here. Least Grebes, Soras, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and several egret species, among others, frequent the pond. Grey Hawks and vultures circle overhead as you enjoy the tranquility of the ranch.

What to Bring:

Binoculars, camera, sunscreen, insect repellant, water, hat. long pants and closed-toed shoes are strongly recommended.
Price: $1,200 pesos MXN (Festival registration required).

Note:

• No children
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Fitness level: ability to walk on a semi-level dirt road and trails

Itinerary:

• Depart El Centro at 6:30 a.m. (exact location to be determined)
• Second pickup 6:45 a.m. (exact location to be determined)
• Third pickup 7:00 a.m. at Vallarta Botanical Garden
• Duration: 5 hours

Leader: Cynthia Macuilxochit
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Duration: 8 am – 12 noon
Group Size: limited to 8 participants
Language: English and Spanish

Highlights:

This boat trip will travel to the Marietas Islands, an archipelago of small uninhabited islands a few miles off the coast of the state of Nayarit. You will circumnavigate the islands scanning for the Blue-footed Booby, Brown Booby, Neotropical Cormorant, several species of gull, Royal, Elegant, and several other species of terns, Magnificent Frigatebirds; Raptors are often circling overhead. This trip is often full of may surprise with additional, less common bird species, including Brandt’s Cormorant, Brown Noddy, Bridled Tern, and more. Your marine tour leader is experienced with the Bay of Banderas, so you’ll get plenty of tips on how to distinguish the marine wildlife, one from another.
This is an excellent photographic opportunity!
On the return, you will spend some time scanning the waters for Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Olive-Ridley Turtles, and other marine wildlife.

What to Bring:

Binoculars, camera, sunscreen, water, hat, snacks, and anything else you will want or need on a boat for several hours (e.g., medications?)
Price: $1,700 pesos MXN ($500 Festival registration required)

Note:

No children
Not wheelchair accessible

Itinerary:

Depart La Cruz Marina at 8 a.m. (duration 4 hours)
Transport to the Marina is not included. You must select a self-transportation option, such as to departure location. Parking available. Taxi, Uber, carpool, etc. Are other options. There is abundant free parking at the marina, Directions will be provided.
We can assist with contacts for transportation options.