Day Birding
Teotitlan Del Valle which is a 45 minute drive east of Oaxaca de Juarez offers a selection of diverse habitats starting from the valley floor then leading to the foothills with a reservoir then up the mountain to 2500 meters (8200 feet) in pine forest.
This is a private event with you and your friends to a maximum of 5 people. The day offers pickup and drop-off at your place of stay, transportation, village entrance fees, catered lunch, fantastic views and of course lots of birds. We say that this is a combination of birding and sight-seeing at a relaxed pace.
In the morning we arrive in the Teotitlan lowlands and stroll along an open stream where we have the opportunity of seeing Berylline and Dusky hummingbirds, Vermilion Flycatchers, Crested Caracaras and even egrets among others. We cross this section into a dry cactus area with Curve-billed Thrashers and Lessor Roadrunners to end this section in an open field with man made waterholes that attract sandpipers and herons.
We then drive through the village and are dropped off to stroll the rim of the village reservoir. Here we may see Green Kingfisher, sandpipers, Blue-winged Teal, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy and Cattle Egrets depending upon the season. By this time we are approaching noon and lunch. We walk through the bush that opens up onto a prepared lunch in the shade of a tree.
We are now in the hottest part of the day when most birds seek shade. So we drive up the mountain to the village of Benito Juarez and check-in at the tourist office. Behind the tourist office there are paths through the pines where we may see warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, Mexican Chickadee, Gray-barred Wren, Steller's Jay and the allusive Dwarf Jay.
An option that we recommend is to drive further up the mountain to a lookout point. Below, the whole eastern valley opens up and the city of Oaxaca is visible. Spectacular views.
It is now time to head back down to the valley and back to the city. What a great day!
Pricing:
1-2 guests: 3,300 pesos
3+: 500 pesos per additional guest
Times: Daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Dates: Available by request