Juan Caicedo has a B.A. in Natural History and Cultural Studies from Prescott College in Arizona. For his senior thesis he worked with rural and urban communities in Sonora, Mexico to protect a riparian area important for birds and archaeological conservation....more
Matt Brooks didn't discover birding until (literally) the day after college, but that hasn't stopped him from turning it into a life-long hobby and obsession. He came into his own as a birder in Alaska while working for the Forest Service and Fish & Wildlife Service in various bird-related capacities over the years....more
To read the birds in the area see our reading lists.
Join Nature Treks & Passages for a journey to Colonial Alamos in Southern Sonora, Mexico, founded in 1684. Famous for its wealth in its silver mines, it is now famous for its charming Colonial architecture, its elegant ambience, and its restored haciendas. The Mexican government recently declared the town a National Monument due to its historic and aesthetic values. The facades, arches, columns, and portals of the buildings typify Colonial architecture. Alamos is now home to several North Americans who have restored many of its haciendas.
On this trip we will encounter the fascinating habitat of Sinaloa thorn forest combining the southern limits of the Sonoran desert 
with the farthest northern limits of tropical habitat. At an elevation of 1500 feet in the western foothills of the Sierra Madre, Alamos is surrounded by deciduous tropical forest. On the way to Alamos we enjoy an overnight stay at a beach-side hotel in San Carlos on the Sea of Cortez. The remaining nights are at a comfortable inn in Alamos. We’ll take an all-day river trip on the River Mayo, birding as we float 12 miles down the river. We’ll explore the banks of the Cuchujaqui River as we look for birds and other wildlife. We’ll also have time to take a tour of the city of Alamos and of the nearby old mining town of La 
Aduana. We expect to see more than 100 bird species, including neotropical ones such as Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Squirrel Cuckoo, Lilac-crowned and White-fronted parrots, Elegant Trogon, and Black-throated Magpie Jay.
Read Trip Report from 2-08
View Bird List from 1-08
Day One: Leave Tucson at 9AM and drive to the seaside resort town of San Carlos, Mexico by van, stopping for a picnic lunch on the way. Arrive in San Carlos in the early afternoon in time to check in to our comfortable hotel, right across the street from the beach. We spend the afternoon birding along the beach and at a “mirador” (lookout) perched high above the waves. In the evening we’ll enjoy the typical Sonoran seafood menu of a seaside restaurant.
Day Two: After breakfast we continue on to Alamos, about a three hour drive south of San Carlos. We stay at a charming inn, a former convent built in 1761, in the center of town. After settling into our hotel we’ll we drive to the semi -“ghost town” of La Aduana to tour the ruins of the historic mine, visit the church that dates back to 1670, and bird along the nearby wash. We’ll enjoy dinner tonight at our inn.
Day Three: After breakfast we take an all-day river trip on the River Mayo. This river is the second-largest river in the state of Sonora. Its waters are now used for irrigation. We will float down a 12-mile controlled flow section of the river, putting in directly below the dam. We stop at a few places with particularly interesting habitat and enjoy a picnic lunch along the river bank. After lunch we stop at a Mayo Indian village with a 17th century church that we can visit. Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner at the Mirador Restaurant high above town with a striking view of the city's night lights and great food!
Day Four: Today's destination will be a long causeway across the mudflats leading to a small island in the Sea of Cortez. Waterfowl and shorebirds of nearly every species common to the area can be seen here, the birding is spectacular. We will lunch in Navojoa on our way back to Alamos, birding along the way. Dinner this evening will be at Las Palmeras which offers mouth watering food in a picturesque atmosphere.
Day Five: This morning we’ll take a guided walking tour of the historic and architecturally charming town center of Alamos. Visiting restored houses experiencing history mixed with architecture and art giving us a view of life past and present. Lunch will be at a courtyard
restaurant followed by a mid-afternoon outing to the Rio Cuchajaqui. A natural area with a good-sized perennial stream, it can yield many birds, plants and wildlife. Dinner tonight will be at Hacienda de los Santos which belongs to an elite circle of the best 250 small resorts worldwide.
Day Six: We leave Alamos after breakfast and expect to return to Tucson by 8 PM.
Itinerary is subject to change, based on weather or other factors.
The trip price is $1599 based on double occupancy and a minimum of 8 people. The single supplement is $200. We will match you with a roommate of the same gender if you choose, but if this is not possible you will be charged the single supplement fee. The trip price includes van transportation from Tucson (and Phoenix on the trips that are in collaboration with Desert Botanical Garden), all accommodations, meals, guides, fees for all activities, tips, emergency medical trip insurance, and a contribution to Desert Botanical Garden on the trips that are in collaboration with that organization.
The following are not included: airfare to the starting place of the trip, alcoholic beverages, tips for the guides, and costs resulting from illness, injury, or emergency evacuation, program changes, and delays beyond our control.
To register for this tour, contact info@naturetreks.net or call(781) 789-8127 for a registration packet. A deposit of $200 per person is required to reserve a spot on the trip. Full payment of the tour fee is due ninety days prior to the tour departure. If you have any questions, please contact Nature Treks & Passages at (781) 789-8127or info@naturetreks.net.
November 12-17th, 2010
December 10-15th, 2010
January 7-12th, 2011
February 18-23rd, 2011
Price - $1599.00
A US passport valid six months beyond your anticipated date of return to the US is required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Mexico for details.