Chiapas Birding Adventure - 2026

Participants: 6–10
Dates: March 6th - March 20th 2026
Tour Price: TBD
Guides: Valente Gonzalez and Benedict Simmons

Birding in the state of Chiapas is an experience like no other. Nearly 700 bird species inhabit this remarkable region, found across an incredible diversity of habitats—from tropical rainforest and deciduous forest to wetlands and pine-oak woodlands. Rich in both natural beauty and cultural heritage, Chiapas offers the unique opportunity to observe some of Mexico’s most sought-after birds while standing beside ancient Mayan pyramids and immersed in lush ecosystems. Along the way, we’ll stay in colonial towns, enjoy regional Mexican cuisine, and experience the vibrant presence of Indigenous cultures throughout our journey.

Click the map below to see an annoted route map.

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Day 1.
Morning arrival at Villahermosa airport. Some relaxed birding on the hotel grounds will ease us into the trip before a welcome dinner and an early night—ready for the days ahead.
Overnight: Villahermosa

Day 2.
We’ll head to a nearby ranch where exciting species await: the endangered Yellow-headed Amazon—now confined to just a handful of sites in Mexico—alongside the enormous Jabiru and the cryptic Spot-tailed Nightjar, which appears at dusk.
Later we transfer to Palenque, with birding stops along the way.
Overnight: Palenque

Day 3.
We’ll explore the famous archaeological ruins of Palenque, where forest and temples intertwine. Amid the calls of Howler Monkeys, we’ll search for Scarlet Macaws, Tody Motmots, Tropical Royal Flycatcher, and the striking Keel-billed Toucan, with raptors often soaring over the ancient city. In the afternoon we continue to Frontera Corozal.
Overnight: Frontera Corozal

Day 4.
By boat we travel up the Usumacinta River to Yaxchilán, a remote site where intact forest still cloaks the riverbanks. It’s among the country’s most diverse birding hotspots, and here we’ll look for King Vulture, White-whiskered Puffbird, White-necked Puffbird, Gray-headed Tanager, and Scaly-breasted Hummingbird.
Overnight: Lacanjá.

Day 5.
From Lacanjá we visit the Mayan site of Bonampak, deep in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. The forest trails here hold possibilities such as Black-crested Coquette, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Tody Motmot, King Vulture, Purple-crowned Fairy, and three hawk-eagles—Black-and-white, Ornate, and Black. By day’s end we move on to Nahá.
Overnight: Nahá

Day 6.
Nahá is one of Mexico’s finest birding areas. In a single morning, it’s possible to tally more than 100 species here. Among the highlights are Lovely Cotinga, Highland Guan, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Nightingale Wren, Red-capped Manakin, White-collared Manakin, and Smoky-brown Woodpecker. Raptors include Bicolored Hawk and three species of Hawk-Eagle—Black-and-white, Ornate, and Black. Hummingbirds range from Stripe-tailed to Purple-crowned Fairy, while ground-dwellers include Orange-billed Ground-Sparrow and Spotted Wood-Quail. After dark, the forests come alive with owls—Black-and-white, Spectacled, and Crested—and Tawny-collared Nightjar.
Overnight: Nahá

Day 7.
We journey from Nahá toward the Chiapas highlands, with birding stops en route (roughly 7 hours with two breaks). By afternoon we’ll reach the wetlands near Comitán, where targets include Grass Wren, Cassin’s Kingbird, nighthawks, Sora, Common Yellowthroat, White-tailed Kite, and White-tailed Hawk. The day ends with a relaxed pizza night.
Overnight: Comitán

Day 8.
Full day at Montebello National Park, a landscape of striking blue lakes set amid pine-oak-liquidambar forest. Highlights here include Resplendent Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Azure-hooded Jay, Spotted Woodcreeper, Flame-colored Tanager, Grace’s Warbler, Green-throated Mountain-Gem, Slender Sheartail, and an array of highland thrushes and solitaires. Highland Guan and Emerald-chinned Hummingbird are also possible.
Overnight: Comitán

Day 9.
Morning birding at Tenam Puente, with possibilities including Slender Sheartail, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Belted Flycatcher, and Lesser Roadrunner. After lunch in Comitán, we continue to San Cristóbal de las Casas. The evening will be devoted to owling in the nearby Montetik reserve, where Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Bearded Screech-Owl, and Whiskered Screech-Owl all occur.
Overnight: San Cristóbal de las Casas

Day 10.
Our final day takes us to the communal pine–oak reserves of San Cristobal, the last fragments of local cloud forest, offering the chance to seek some of the trip’s most eagerly anticipated species. We’ll focus on Pink-headed Warbler, the jewel of the highlands, while scanning the canopy for the striking Black-throated Jay and catching the stunning flashes of wine-colored gorget on the tiny Wine-throated Hummingbird.
Overnight: San Cristóbal de las Casas

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