Palenque and Cozumel, Mexico (1 Viewer)

[richardrae]

Hi,
I will be travelling to Mexico in about a weeks time for a birding trip encompassing the Yucutan Peninsula and some sites in Chiapas.

I have heard some reports that there are now restrictions on access to the best birding areas at Palenque archaeological site, and possibly some security issues at this site (along the access road). Does anybody have any up-to-date info on the situation here?

We had until recently been planning to finish the trip with a visit to Cozumel, but several recent reports have made reference to the very difficult birding here post-Wilma, and indeed the apparent total absence of the endemic Cozumel Emerald. Has anybody got any info from the last couple of months?

Other sites we are planning to visit include Felipe Carillo Puerto, Rio Lagartos, Calakmul, Usumacinta Marshes, the San Cristobal Area, Sumidero Canyon and Tuxtla Zoo. Any recent birding info and/or advice on security issues at these sites would also be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Richard

 

[Dave B Smith]

Richard,
I don't have any real recent info on Mexico. We left in late 2004. Palenque was one of my favorite birding areas. One of the main birding trails has been closed now for several years, but I wouldn't let this discourage you. Lots of good areas still open. Some of the sites outside of Palenque referenced by Howell in his Bird-finding Guide to Mexico have been deforested considerably since the writing, but still lots of good areas left.

You can do a search of posts created by user name "Dave B Smith" and title "Mexico" and find a number of brief trip reports similar to this one from Palenque . There are reports on several of the areas you've mentioned.

Hopefully you'll get some more up to date info here shortly. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[richardrae]

Dave,
Thanks very much for the info.

cheers,
Richard

 

[dave365]

cozumel???

if it is of any interest the trendy tropical paradise that is Isla Mujures is reported to be less of a barren featureless desert than post-wilma cozumel.......and is good for Kildeer