We challenge you to find another birding tour that offers the same value for a lower price—if you do, we’ll match it!

• Birding by sea kayak (no previous experience necessary), boat, foot, and air-conditioned van. Plus snorkeling!

• Fine cuisine ranging from organic, fresh-baked items, and vegetarian specialties prepared in our restaurant, El Girasol, to gourmet Mexican seafood.

• An array of well-chosen accommodations including a bed & breakfast on an organic farm, elegant inns, and colonial hotels.

• Meaningful cultural experiences such as our visit to a women’s organic, shade-grown coffee cooperative— bursting with birds—which we actively support in our on-going efforts to conserve critical bird habitat while promoting sustainable economic development.

• Exclusive access to birding spots such as the unspoiled tropical deciduous forest of El Tamarindo resort www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com/thetamarindo/ , and the Cuixmala River, which borders the Cuixmala Ecological Foundation www.cuixmala.com .

• Medical Insurance from MetLife México included in tour price.

• A portion of proceeds go toward our non-profit organization, Costa Alegre Conservation Alliance & Land Trust.

• We do not use tape recordings in the field to call in birds!

Birding by Kayak

Volcan de Fuego (foreground) and Nevado de Colima,

Courtesy: Sigi Pablo

La Manzanilla, Jalisco, http://www.lamanzanilla.info/

Generally, due to the tropical heat, we will get very early starts on the day, rest at mid-day, and bird again in the afternoon, and sometimes into the evening. Breakfasts—fresh-baked goodies, fruit, organic yogurt and coffee—will often be eaten in the field, and lunches, when taken in the field, will usually consist of sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies, and juice. When not in the field, we will be sampling some of Mexico’s finest cuisine in select restaurants. Vegetarian diets can be easily accommodated. The pace of the trip will depend largely on the group, but you can count on birding the majority of the time and still having ample time to relax. No strenuous exercise, such as walking long distances uphill, will be required. Rather, the activities will be steady and reasonably paced. The sea kayaking may sound daunting at first, but it’s really as easy as walking when done on calm waters as we will do it. In sum, it is a busy birding schedule, but not a hurried one. If you have any concerns about the level of activity, please feel free to contact me directly and discuss them: info@immersionadventures.com

Day 1: Fly into Manzanillo International Airport where you will be met by your guide. Bird the airport marshes right away on the way out. Here we’ll be walking along the marshes and aquaculture ponds and viewing birds from the van. Endemic birds we may encounter include the Mexican Parrotlet and Ruddy Crake. We’ll also be on the lookout for the White-throated Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Oriole, and Wood Stork. We’ll then look for some dinner at an ocean-side restaurant before heading to the Rancho Cuixmala (1.5 hours north), an organic farm and bed and breakfast located on 500 acres.

Day 2: Morning begins by getting oriented to our sea kayaks and getting onto the tranquil and scenic Rio Cuixmala in time to do some extraordinary riparian birding by kayak. The Purple Gallinule, Northern Jacana, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Common Black Hawk, and Belted, Green, and Ringed Kingfisher will prevail. We’ll enjoy a snack and refreshments on a stunning and desolate beach with views of the famous Goldsmith castle and the Cuixmala Ecological Foundation in the distance. After our river journey we’ll head to the town of Tenacatita (30 minutes south) for a fresh seafood lunch and some snorkeling. Then we’re off to La Manzanilla (25 minutes south) where we’ll check into a local inn, or several different inns depending on numbers of people and availability.

Day 3: We’ll start this day by driving to the nearby Barranca El Choncho canyon (about 30 minutes east) where we’ll bird by foot under the tropical-deciduous forest canopy. Endemic species here include the Lilac-crowned Parrot, Red-breasted Chat, and West Mexican Chachalaca. After our morning jaunt we’re off to the town of Cuzalapa (1.5 hours east), which lies within the pine-oak forests of the Sierra Manantlán Biosphere Reserve. Here you’ll be introduced to a women’s coffee cooperative that has saved several century-old organic, shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee plantations from being transformed into pasture land. A walk beneath the ancient fruit-tree over-story will also provide opportunities for finding birds, including such endemics as the Great Swallow-tailed Swift, Amethyst-throated hummingbird, Sparkling-tailed Woodstar, Fan-tailed Warbler, and Spotted Wren. We’ll head back to La Manzanilla that afternoon, stopping for dinner along the way.

Day 4: We’ll begin this day, weather permitting, by driving toward Manzanillo, Colima (one hour south) where we’ll be catching a panga boat out to an islet to view one of the world’s largest populations of Red-billed Tropicbirds and numerous other tropical seabirds. If we’re lucky, we may also catch a glimpse of humpback whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. If the weather does not cooperate (not likely) we’ll go instead to an alternate site outside of Manzanillo. After the boat ride, we’ll catch lunch in Manzanillo—the Mexican Pacific’s most important port city—and head back to La Manzanilla in time for a siesta followed by another late afternoon, early evening panga trip through the spectacular La Manzanilla mangrove where, in addition to seeing numerous American crocodiles (don’t worry; the panga provides an adequate safety zone!), we should spot such beauties as the Boat-billed Heron, Orange-fronted Parakeet, and Red-billed Pigeon. In addition, as dusk envelopes us, we may be greeted by the low-flying Greater Fishing Bat!

Day 5: We head out of La Manzanilla early in the morning in order to reach our next birding destination, the thorn-forested Playa de Oro road (one hour south), where we’re likely to see such endemics as the Citreoline Trogon, Orange-breasted Bunting, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Happy Sinaloa, White-bellied wren and, if we’re lucky, the Flammulated Flycatcher. From here we’ll continue on to Colima (two hours east) where we’ll check into the historic downtown Hotel Ceballos in time to rest or take in the city center before dinner.

Day 6: From Colima we’ll head toward the soaring Volcán de Fuego until we reach the Laguna La María (30 minutes north) area where we’ll start birding. Some endemic species here include the Dwarf and Golden Vireo, Red-headed Tanager, Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, and Swallow-tailed Swift. After birding in the morning we’re off to lunch in the historic town of Comala, one of Mexico’s “Pueblos Magicos,” and some say one of the settings of Juan Rulfo’s famous novel, Pedro Páramo. We’ll then head back to Colima for a little siesta in the hotel. Later in the afternoon we’re off to La Cumbre (20 minutes east), a splendid hilltop which makes for some excellent late afternoon and early evening birding. Endemic species here include the Lesser Roadrunner, Banded Quail, and Black-chested Sparrow. We’ll stick around for some night birding where we may catch a view of some more endemics like the Colima Pygmy-Owl and Balsa Screech-Owl. After perhaps our longest day of birding we’ll head back to Colima for a late dinner before turning in for the night.

Day 7: We’ll start the morning off by heading once again toward the Volcán de Fuego (one hour north), but on a different route toward Ciudad Guzman. The humid, coastal-facing slopes of the volcano make for some excellent birding mosty from the vehicle. Endemic species include the Thick-billed Parrot, Aztec Thrush, Long-tailed Wood-Partridge, Bumblebee Hummingbird, Red Warbler, Green-striped Brushfinch, Grey-collared Becard, and Grey-barred and Spotted Wren. There is plenty of ground to cover and many birds to see around the volcano, so it will take up most of the day. We’ll turn in at a hotel in nearby Ciudad Guzman (45 minutes east) to cut down on driving and put us closer to the next day’s birding spot.

Day 8: This day will be dedicated to birding the Ciudad Guzman and Laguna Sayula area where we encounter numerous water birds including the Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Virginia Rail, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Avocet, Least, Pied-billed, Eared and Clark’s Grebe, and the Green-, Blue-winged, and Cinnamon Teal. After exploring various sites in the area we’ll drive back to La Manzanilla (3.5 hours southwest) where we’ll spend our last night.

Day 9: Our last morning will be spent birding in the unspoiled tropical-deciduous forest of the exclusive El Tamarindo resort where we will have a chance to see any lowland birds we might have missed. Depending on schedules there should be time for an early lunch at the exquisite and private beach-side restaurant before driving to the Manzanillo airport to say our farewells.

What Is and Is Not Included Expedition includes insurance, ground transportation, lodging, all meals, sea kayak and snorkeling instruction and equipment, and use of spotting scopes and numerous bird guidebooks. Not included: flights to and from Manzanillo International Airport; alcohol beyond two drinks with dinner, and one with lunch.

Boat-billed Heron

Immersion Adventures presents nine days of world-class tropical birding in the states of Colima and Jalisco, Mexico. Over 400 bird species are found here, including 40 Mexican endemics, and many other scarce species. Join us as we explore the best birding spots in the area, and catch a taste of some real Mexican culture and cuisine along Jalisco’s southern coast, and around the colonial city of Colima in the Western Central Highlands. Discover a diversity of birds in varied habitats: from pristine rivers, beaches and mangrove lagoons to tropical deciduous and montane forests, Immersion Adventures offers a unique birding journey that includes much more than simply birding.

DAVE COLLINS: Director of Immersion Adventures, freelance writer, and bilingual guide—will co-lead this journey. After five years of living and working in the Colima/Jalisco region—first as a humanities instructor, and later as Director of Immersion Adventures—Dave has acquired a knowledge of, and passion for, its avifauna, in addition to the Spanish language and Mexican culture. Dave provides more than just a first-rate birding expedition, he helps open the door to understanding and appreciating the depth of modern Mexican society and culture as he leads you to the best birdlife, places and people in the Colima/Jalisco region.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Shade-grown, organic cofee

Cuzalapa, Jalisco

Birding in and around the   

Great Egret

Casa Azul

Rancho Cuixmala