CHIAPAS BIRDING DAY TOURS

Male Collared Trogon with vivid red belly and green back perched in Chiapas rainforest

Russet-crowned Motmot resting on a branch – iconic bird of Central America with racket-shaped tail

Mother hummingbird feeding chicks in tiny nest – intimate look at nesting behavior in Chiapas forest

Silhouetted waterbirds in flight during golden Chiapas sunset – birdwatching in Mexico’s wetlands

Wild crocodile resting on muddy riverbank – reptile sighting during Chiapas wildlife tour

Brightly colored Green Jay perched in treetop – striking tropical bird with vibrant plumage in south

Bearded Screech-Owl on branch – nocturnal bird species seen during Chiapas night birding trip

Photo credits: Nagi Aboulenein

San Cristobal de las Casas - highland endemics

At 2200 m and surrounded by pine-oak and cloud forest, San Cristobal de las Casas is the ideal place to look for the endangered Pink-headed Warbler, as well as the migratory Golden-cheeked Warbler, and altitudinal migrant Wine-throated Hummingbird.

On our day tours in the area, we travel to a mixture of locations including but not limited to a communal land pine-oak reserve, the last remnants of cloud forest in San Cristobal, urban birding locations overlooking the city, and other private properties exclusive to Cardellina, where we will see many hummingbirds, warblers, jays, and more, including migrants, residents and endemics.

🐦‍⬛Target birds

Pink-headed Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Amethyst-throated Mountain Gem, Singing Quail, Bearded Screech Owl, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Rufous-browed Wren, Red-faced Warbler, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Unicolored Jay, Black-throated Jay, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Mountain Trogon

⏳Duration: ~5-6 hours birding
💲Price: 265 USD (1-2 people)
✅Included: Guiding, Transport, Entrances
📍Pickup San Cristobal de las Casas

Palenque - Lowland jungle

We begin just before sunrise, observing birds along the access road to the stunning Palenque archaeological ruins. Early highlights include Keel-billed Toucan, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Black-headed Trogon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Montezuma’s Oropendola, and Collared Aracari.

Inside the park, we explore the shadier forest trails where target species include Orange-billed Sparrow, Red-capped Manakin, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Tody Motmot, Kentucky Warbler, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, and Chestnut-colored Woodpecker.

We have the option to enter the archaeological site if you have not visited already, where we have chances to see the King Vulture, Double-toothed Kite, and other soaring raptors.

We finish near our favourite hummingbird feeders, where it’s possible to see White-necked Jacobin, White-bellied Emerald, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Long-billed Hermit, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, and Violet Sabrewing.

⏳Duration ~5-6 hours birding
💲Price 290 USD (1-2 people)
✅Included: Guiding
🛒Additional extras: Park entrances, archaeological site visit
📍Pickup: Palenque

Sumidero - Birding above the canyon

A full morning at the Sumidero Canyon viewpoints from 1,000 meters above the Grijalva River. Excellent birding opportunities to observe an incredible range of species in this deciduous forest environment.

Target species include the Flammulated Flycatcher, Blue Seedeater, Bar-winged Oriole, Belted Flycatcher, Red-breasted Chat and Slender Sheartail. We also have excellent chances to see the Plain-capped Starthroat, Lesser-ground Cuckoo, Varied Bunting, Pheasant Cuckoo, Russet-crowned Motmot, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow, Mexican Fan-tailed Warbler, and White-throated Magpie Jay.

We will spend time enjoying the views as well as visiting varying habitats as the sun rises over this amazing underappreciated gem in Chiapas.

*This tour is NOT available on Tuesdays

⏳Duration ~5-6 hours birding
💲Price 330 USD (1-2 people)
✅Included: Guiding, Transport , Entrances
📍Pickup: San Cristobal de las Casas (1 hour transfer) / Tuxtla Gutierrez

One of the most underrated birding sites in all of Mexico, Comitán provides endemic species alongside archaeological gems, wetland birding, and a true off-the-beaten-track experience.

An early start at the Tenam Puente Mayan archaeological ruins, a stunning site for birding at the transition point between pine-oak and tropical deciduous low forests. Chances to see quasi-endemics such as the Slender Sheartail and Belted Flycatcher, plus Rock Wren, Botteri's Sparrow, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Blue-and-White Mockingbird and Lesser Roadrunner.

We continue onto lower elevations at the picturesque town of Tzimol, with ancient cypress trees hosting the Green Jay, Russet-crowned Motmot, Yellow Grosbeak, Canivet's Emerald, Bar-winged Oriole.

We finish at the wetlands of Comitan, with excellent chances to see the White-tailed Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Sora, Grass Wren , Pie-billed Grebe, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Tricolored Heron, Lesser Nighthawk.