Crescent-chested Warbler Photo by Michael Retter
Day 1
Arrival in Tuxtla and transfer to our lodge in Nuevo Paraiso Ranch. Night at Comon Yajnop Tic Organitation.
Day 2
Our first real morning of the tour we will be exploring the northern edge of the famous El Triunfo biosphere reserve. Unfortunately Horned Guan, the reserves star bird, is not much of a possibility this time of year, but do have a good chance of finding Azure-rumped (Cabanis’s) Tanager! Black Hawk-Eagle, Long-tailed Manakin, & Tody Motmot will be some of our other targets. After lunch we’ll make the drive to San Cristobal de las Casas with some birding stops along the way. Night in San Cristobal.
Day 3
We’ll be up extra early this morning in hopes of finding some of the regions owls. Mottled, Northern (Guatemalan) Pygmy, Bearded Screech & Unspotted Saw-Whet Owls will be our targets. By dawn we’ll be searching for cloud-forest birds like Highland Guan, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Blue-throated Motmot & Blue-and-white Mockingbird. We’ll spend the day birding around San Cristobal before heading east to Lagos de Montebello for the night. Night at Hotel Tziscao.
Day 4
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Photo by Michael Retter
We’ll spend the majority of our 4th day birding the lush pine forests around Lagos de Montebello. Resplendent Quetzal, Sharp-shinned (White-breasted) Hawk, Azure-crowned, Unicolored, & Black-throated Jay, and Strong-billed Woodcreeper will be some of our targets. Late in the day well take a drive down into the lowlands of eastern Chiapas along the Guatemalan border to our next lodge. Night at Las Nubes Lodge.
Day 5
Today we will have a chance to experience a truly tropical lowland rainforest. Many of the species here are widespread in Central America although fairly limited in Mexico. Keel-billed Toucan, White-necked Puffbird, Red-capped Manakin, White Hawk, & Great Antshrike are just a few of the targets. In the afternoon we’ll head back up into the mountains to Comitan for the night. Night in Comitan.
Day 6
We’ll leave early from our hotel this morning for a long drive to El Porvernir. Our effort will be rewarded mid-morning when we are greeted by Pink-Headed Warblers upon arrival along with many great highland species. After birding we’ll head back down to Mapastepec on the Pacific coast. Night at Hotel San Carlos.
American Pygmy-Kingfisher Photo by Michael Retter
Day 7
Today we will take a lovely boat ride in the coastal mangrove near Mapastepec. We hope to have up close and personal looks at species like Agami Heron, American Pygmy, Amazon, Ringed, & Green Kingfisher, Black-collared Hawk & Northern Potoo. Night at Hotel San Carlos.
Day 8
Our last day of the tour we will have a chance for some morning birding on the Pacific coast. Giant Wren, Citreoline Trogon, Yellow-winged Cacique, Rufous-naped Wren, & Pacific Screech-Owl. We will then make the drive back to Tuxtla to settle in for the GBNA meeting, with potential stops along the way for Rose-bellied (Rosita’s) and Orange-breasted Bunting. Tour ends this evening in Tuxtla.
Photos
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Entering Mexico
As a general rule for international travel, your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. US citizens only need a passport to enter Mexico. A tourism card will be issued upon arrival. Citizens of other countries may need to acquire a visa. Be sure to contact the Mexican Embassy if you have any questions.
Exiting Mexico
There are no exit fees when leaving Mexico.
Country Information
Contrary to popular belief, Mexico is a stable and safe place to visit. Yes there are unsafe places in Mexico. No, we will not be in these areas. As a tour company we would not take people to an area where they would be in danger. If you have any concerns or questions about safety please contact us. As with any country (including the USA), the large cities can be mildly threatening but we will not be spending much time in these areas. The national language spoken in Mexico is Spanish. There are often english speakers in larger towns but you shouldn’t count on it. While our accommodations, food, etc are great in Mexico, international ecotourism is not as well developed as it is in other latin countries like Costa Rica. This means we’ll be staying in nice hotels instead of eco-lodges and eating at restaurants and on the road. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State’s Mexico relations page here.
Health Considerations
There are no required inoculations when visiting Mexico from most countries. However, it is a good idea to make sure your tetanus vaccinations are up to date. You should consult further with your doctor about the CDC’s recommendation and what action you should take. You can review the CDC latest advisories for Mexico here.
Special medications (your prescriptions) may not be available during the tour so it is important that you bring enough to cover your needs for the entire trip plus additional time in case of emergency or unexpected travel delays.
Biting insects can be prevalent at certain birding sites however they typically do not cause a problem during the tour. The leaders will advise you whenever it is necessary to apply insect repellent.
Intestinal issues are a serious concern when traveling in Mexico.Being careful about the water that you ingest generally eliminates the risk of intestinal problems. We suggest that you only drink bottled water while on this tour (including to brush your teeth). There will be bottled water available throughout the trip. Other bottled drinks are also fine to drink. Some travel clinics will recommend taking along an antibiotic in case of intestinal issues, again consult your doctor.
Climate
July is considered the “green” or “rainy” season in southern Mexico. This means, we are very likely to encounter rain at some point during the trip. Rain is often limited to afternoons and generally light though consistent. Occasionally stronger storms may occur that can inhibit birding. It is important to bring rain gear such as an umbrella rain jacket, rain pants or all of the above. The temperature in southern Mexico at this time of year is quite tropical and pleasant with highs usually in the 80’s to 90’s and lows in the high 70’s. Some mornings may be cool at higher elevations, especially if it rains and a light jacket is recommended. Long sleeved shirts are recommended because of the exposure to the sun, but short tees are fine if you choose. It is relatively humid at all times – the thing that makes this tolerable is that you are bird watching, so who cares.
Dress
Dress is casual throughout. Being in a tropical environment, it is a good idea to bring lots of light weight non-cotton clothing. Once cotton is wet, it will not dry! While shorts, t-shirts and sandals will be okay for lodges and leisurely hikes, it is always a good idea to bring lightweight pants and long-sleeve shirts to help prevent bug bites and protect from the sun. A sturdy, sun protective hat is also important in the harsh tropical sun. Be sure to bring a lightweight rain jacket or umbrella in case of rain, and of course sturdy boots for hiking. A headlamp is recommended for owling.
Laundry
Laundry is typically available for a fee at our hotels and is not covered by BRANT. It can be very convenient to do laundry during a trip to drastically reduce the amount of luggage that you must bring. If you decide to do laundry be sure to plan your laundry for a time when we will be staying at the same lodge for two nights in a row. Ask your guide to help you with this if you need. Otherwise there is not enough time to get it done.
Group Size
Maximum group size is 12 participants. We typically have 2 guides for this tour.
Tour Pace
As with any birding tour, we will have many early mornings and full days. Most of our birding will be on short, fairly easy hikes. Hikes through the jungle often feature lots of tree roots, slippery rocks and occasional mud so it is important to have proper footwear.
Food
Ecotourism is not as well developed as it is in other latin countries like Costa Rica. This means that many of our breakfasts and lunches will be from the grocery store. Dinners will be taken at reputable restaurants throughout. The food in southern Mexico is EXCELLENT! You will not be disappointed.
Transportation
Transportation will be in a large bus with ample room for people and equipment as well as windows for viewing.
Accommodations
Accommodations are at locally run hotels throughout. Ecotourism is not as well developed here as it is in other latin countries but don’t worry, our lodging will be excellent.
References
For this tour we recommend purchasing Howell and Webb’s A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. For information on other guide books, please contact us.
Before deciding to register for this tour, please read over the the following information as well as the “What To Expect” tab on this page. After you have read and understood the all important tour information please fill out the Registration Form at the bottom of this page and complete you payment under the “Payment” tab. Please note that your spot on the tour is not reserved until we have received your deposit in full. If you need help or have questions at any time feel free to contact us via email or phone.
What’s Included
The tour price includes all travel from the point of departure (Tuxtla International Airport) all lodging while on the trip, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials, and all services of the tour leaders. Tips for included meals, porters, drivers, and other service providers are also included.
Lodging is booked on double occupancy, most lodging in the U.S. can allow us to arranged for single rooms at an additional charge; lodging outside of the U.S. is usually in small locally-owned lodges and will almost always be double occupancy. If you are traveling single we will match you to appropriate roommates and can discuss any changes once the group has established. Double occupancy means that you are sharing your room with another individual, single occupancy means that you are paying for the room for just yourself, and you do not want a roommate.
Items that are not included in the tour price are as follows: passports, visas, airfare , departure taxes, immunizations, baggage charges, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, room service, snacks, emergency evacuation fees and medical fees, and other personal purchases you desire to make in the course of the trip.
Travel to Point of Departure
Your fees include travel arrangements for the trip at/from point of departure. For example if your trip begins in Albuquerque, NM, you will need to make arrangements to get to Albuquerque, NM. From that point we will pick you up and provide all other transport. If you are traveling internationally we will provide you with suggested airline and travel times for you to book your flight. We will provide specific information about arrival and departure times in the trip packet sent to you after registration. If you would like assistance with your travel plans please feel free to contact us and we will help you out.
Departure & GBNA Conference
This tour is being run in conjunction with the GBNA conference in Tuxtla. The tour ends the day before the start of the conference, so if you are attending the conference you will need to make reservations at the conference hotel in Tuxtla for the night of the 8th. This will allow you a full day of rest before field trips for the GBNA conference begin.
If you are not attending the conference please arrange to fly out of Tuxtla on the afternoon/evening of the 8th or even the next day. Let us know your travel arrangements and we will get you to the airport on time for your flight.
Gratuities
BRANT always provides tips for local guides on international trips. Local guides are incredibly valuable and knowledgeable and often underpaid so additional tips are always welcome. It’s important to show our support and appreciation for these individuals.
At BRANT we take care to pay our guides well enough that they do not need to rely on tips from participants. In a sense, the tips for your guides are already included in the cost of the tour. If you feel inclined to tip your guides above and beyond, I am sure they will be very appreciative. Rest assured that all tips will be split among guides fairly.
Restrictions On Participation
In general there is only one absolute restriction to a nature tour, you absolutely cannot collect any plants, artifacts or animals during the tour.
Otherwise, there are no restrictions. We only ask that you let us know about any potential limitations or safety concerns that may hamper your ability to participate in any aspect of the desired tour. For example, walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, diet limitations, applicable phobias, etc. should be noted on the registration form. Our tours are typically not physically demanding however the level of physical difficulty for each tour is available under the “Pace of Tour” section of each tour. If there is any question about your ability to participate on a tour we would be more than glad to provide more information that you and/or your doctor may need to help make that decision. All hikes, on all tours, will be round trip, that is returning to the vehicle start point unless otherwise noted, allowing any participant to ‘sit one out’ if they feel inclined to do so. In addition to any walking, participants should be mindful that they will be required to be able to sit in any seat on our tour vehicles.
Tour Confirmation
Tour confirmation occurs at the time of invoicing or 3 months prior to the tour departure date. This tour will be confirmed no later than April 6th, 2015.
Tour Cancellations
In the event a tour is cancelled by BRANT (due to civil unrest, natural disaster, low participation, etc.) we will offer you an alternate tour option (same time/similar birding targets) or refund the full amount of your tour deposit and price.
Price Increase
Projecting the cost of a tour package months in advance is not an exact science. If unexpected increases do occur it may be necessary to charge participants up to 10% increases of the tour price. If greater than 10% increases are necessary, participants may withdraw from the tour without penalty.
Refunds, Transfers, and Cancellations
We hope that you will be able to join us on this tour, however, if circumstances cause you to cancel your trip we understand. If cancellations are made 3 months before the start of your tour, your deposit, less the non-refundable amount, will be refunded to you. If cancellations are made after 3 months before the departure date, your deposit is not refundable. If cancellation is made 45 days or less before the departure date all deposits and payments are non-refundable.
BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of a deposit to an upcoming tour date as long as the transfer takes place at least 45 days prior to tour departure date. Once a transfer has been made you will no longer be eligible for a transfer or refund of any amount at any time should you cancel again. Please contact us to discuss this option.
Registration Form
Please fill in all required fields. Remember that you must pay your deposit in addition to submitting this form before your spot on the tour is secured.If you have any questions or problems please contact us at anytime.
If you would prefer to fax or mail your registration form you can click here to print a hard copy. Our fax number and mailing address can be found here.
Mexico – GBNA Pretour – Chiapas Registration Form
Cost
The price of this tour may vary by the selected tour date. Pricing is as follows:
July 1st, 2015
$1,997 (+ tax)
Single Occupancy Supplement – TBD
Deposit Due at Registration – $425
Payment
Deposits can be made either online via PayPal or by check. Payments by check carry a significant discount, applied at the time of invoicing.
Make checks payable to BRANT Tours and mail them to the following address
7522 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
87113
To pay the deposit online select your departure date below and click “Buy Now”
July 1st, 2015
Trip Material
After you successfully register for a trip we will send you an information document that will include:
- Detailed tour itinerary
- Study/reference info
- What to bring list
- Receipt for deposit and invoice for remaining balance owed
- Information regarding travel to and from tour departure location
- Liability Waiver
Although your guides will be able to identify all of the wildlife for the area you are visiting, it is always a good idea for you to study up on the expected wildlife for your trip. If you want more information about any aspect of your trip prior to departure please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions and/or recommend any reference guides
Liability Waiver
BRANT has selected known areas in the US and internationally, we cannot, however, guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For the most part ecotourism is done in remote, outback, and jungle like areas. The terrain is often rugged and local services and government assistance is not available in an emergency. In many out of the US areas there may not be phone or internet services for a day or two at a time during the trip. (However, in most established lodges internet service is readily available.) Therefore, we require that you accept your personal responsibility and agree to release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by completing the Assumption of Risk and Liability Agreement provided in your tour registration packet. This agreement must filled out and returned to us prior to the departure date of your tour. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BRANT TOUR!
You can return the liability waiver to us via post or fax at anytime prior to your trip.
Liability Waiver (click to download PDF)
Health Preparations
Health precautions for trips in the US are minimal to none. If you have a health condition that requires medication please have the prescription filled for more than the numbers of days your trip encompasses, carry it in the original bottle, clearly labeled with instructions. If you have a health condition that you feel may affect your participation on the trip please discuss this with us so we can advise you and/or provide you with information to discuss with your physician.
Trips outside of the US may require immunizations. You can check with your physician and/or your local Travel Clinic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) will also have complete information concerning health precautions and immunizations that are necessary for traveling outside of the US. They may be contacted by phone, 877-FYI-TRIP, or web site: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. If you have any additional questions about immunizations please feel free to contact us.
Trip Insurance
Please check with your insurance agent for coverage you may already have and any limitations on national and/or international travel. Travel insurance may be purchased from several reliable companies; Travel Insured International (travelinsured.com) and Travelex (travelexinsurance.com) are two to consider. Travel insurance is purely voluntary and not required to participate on BRANT tours, however we HIGHLY RECOMMEND purchasing trip insurance. It’s generally inexpensive and will save you a lot of money should you need to cancel.
