Advice needed for Yucatan, Mexico trip (1 Viewer)

Initial plans to hit Belize changed to Mexico, so am researching sites.
I will be based in Cozumel (3 nights) and then in Tulum (5 nights) from 18-27th Nov.

I will be travelling with my girlfriend, so not a "Full-on" expedition, but my plan is to bird as much as possible. I plan to have a car for most of the trip.

Anyone suggest nice place e to stay on Cozumel and some of the better birdy spots?

Any good nightjar and poorwil spots close to Tulum to try?

Which spots within range of Tulum and the nearby forest does anyone recommend? I plan to hit Coba for ruins and birding.

Any recent gen will help with the prep.
Thanks in advance.

Hi Julian,

Check out my trip report for the Yucatan from this past January:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=337893&highlight=yucatan

also a concurrent trip by Larry:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=338774&highlight=yucatan

Near Tulum, I found the forest along the dirt road that leads into Quintana Roo National Park to be very birdy, some of the best of the trip. It's a road that leads west out of the village of Francisco Uh May, it's a bit rough especially at first but passable in a regular small car. I did most of my birding there at and around the ecolodge set about an hour down the road (12 km), but good birding is possible anywhere, especially after you've gotten away from the town - I had Ocellated Turkey, Great Curassow, Keel-billed Toucan, Mayan (Black-faced) Antthrush, and lots more. Also heard Yucatan Poorwill at night, though I never saw it.

Larry had a good spot for Yucatan Nightjar on Cozumel, details can be found in post #6 in his thread.

The best birding I had on Cozumel was along the dirt road on the northwest side of the island that leads to a sewage lagoon. You pretty much just follow the main road that hugs the west side of Cozumel north until it turns into dirt, which runs through good scrub habitat where all the island endemics can be found. Here and there are also some unmaintained trails that lead off westward into the brush.

We rented an Airbnb room during our stay in Cozumel, which at $21 a night was a great alternative to the hotels, though that might not be what you (or your girlfriend) have in mind.

Best of luck, I'd be happy to answer any more questions if I can!

Best place in all of Yucatan that I know of for night birds (and very good for day birding as well) is called Xocen. Just look in ebird for details.

The only place I can see in ebird named Xocen is a road "Carretera Valledolid-Xocen".

Julian, do remember to look at this section of BF: http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=557 - many of the threads are about Yucatan.

From Tulum, a day trip can take you to http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L262300 = Camino Vigia Chico which goes from Filipe Carillo Puerto. A good deal closer you have Muyil (http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L315682) which is also a worthwhile half day ruins + birding destination.

Here is the Bar chart for QRoo - notice that nightjars are not impossible at this time of year, but not as reliable as March-May. Unfortunately, because I will be in the area mid October myself, and those night birds are still on the list of misses.

Niels

njlarsen said:

The only place I can see in ebird named Xocen is a road "Carretera Valledolid-Xocen".

Julian, do remember to look at this section of BF: http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=557 - many of the threads are about Yucatan.

From Tulum, a day trip can take you to http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L262300 = Camino Vigia Chico which goes from Filipe Carillo Puerto. A good deal closer you have Muyil (http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L315682) which is also a worthwhile half day ruins + birding destination.

Here is the Bar chart for QRoo - notice that nightjars are not impossible at this time of year, but not as reliable as March-May. Unfortunately, because I will be in the area mid October myself, and those night birds are still on the list of misses.

Niels

Click to expand...

if you look up Yucatan Poorwill it will show a recent siting in red. click on that it will come up reserva xocen (privado). The 7km road into the forest is open.

Thanks, that is a place I did not know about. Unfortunately, this trip I will be close to Calakmul and to Coba, only 5 days total.

Niels

njlarsen said:

Thanks, that is a place I did not know about. Unfortunately, this trip I will be close to Calakmul and to Coba, only 5 days total.

Niels

Click to expand...

Yes this is a little known site. It's mainly used by local birders. I believe the local Yucatan bird watching club even has a club house in the forest, which i believe you can stay in with advance notice. If not Valladolid is a great city with great architecture/restaurants/accomadation. I just car camped in the forest. The night birds seem to be abundant here at least the time of year I was there. For example I stopped about every .5km along this road and at each stop heard at least 1 Poorwill and sometimes 3-4 at once. This site is less than 1 hour from Coba.