4 days · Pacific slope to the volcano
Volcano Endemics
A focused push for the northern Central American highland endemics, from the Pacific slope up into the cloud forest of Tacaná Volcano on the Guatemalan border. The prize is the Horned Guan, reached by a long, hard hike, alongside a run of specialities found nowhere else in Mexico.
This is a sample itinerary showing the kind of route we run. Exact days, sites and pace are tailored to your trip.
On this trip
A selection of birds from this route. Tap to enlarge.
Day by day
- Day 1
Tapachula → Piedra de Huixtla → Chiquihuite
Starting from Tapachula, we visit the Pacific-slope foothills at Piedra de Huixtla for Long-tailed Manakin, Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous-and-white Wren, Gray-crowned Ground-Sparrow and White-bellied Chachalaca, then move up to the high town of Chiquihuite for the night. We will have a one hour walk to our accommodation, which will give a sense of the following day's hike intensity.
Overnight · Chiquihuite
- Day 2
The Horned Guan hike → Papales
A steep climb of several hours through cloud forest to the Horned Guan site, with Wine-throated Hummingbird and Pink-headed Warbler on the same mountain.
We stay at Papales, a rustic cabin above 3,000 m, with a chance of Unspotted Saw-whet Owl after dark, allowing for a calmer descent the next day.
Overnight · Papales (rustic cabin, above 3,000 m)
- Day 3
Back down to Chiquihuite → Unión Juárez
A hike back down, catching more hummingbirds like Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem. A rest with afternoon birding near Chiquihuite for Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Hooded Grosbeak and Guatemalan Tyrannulet.
Overnight · Unión Juárez
- Day 4
Talquián → Tapachula
A last morning on the humid Pacific slope near Talquián for Azure-rumped Tanager, Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Sabrewing, White-faced Quail-Dove and Black-capped Swallow, then down to Tapachula for the airport drop-off.
Trip ends · Tapachula airport