Nature Treks and Passages
presents
BIRDING IN ALAMOS, MEXICO: TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST AND RIO MAYO
November 15-20, 2008 with
Desert Botanical Garden
December 12-17, 2008
January 27 - Feb. 1, 2009
February 20-25, 2009
$1599
For a trip list of birds seen on our previous Alamos birding trip see "Alamos Bird List."
Join us 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.
OUR ITINERARY
Day One: Leave Phoenix at 8AM (on the November trip only) and Tucson at 10AM 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 have dinner at a local restaurant near the Plaza de Armas.
Day Four: This morning we’ll explore the tropical deciduous habitat of the nearby Cuchujaqui River, a short distance from Alamos. The birds and other wildlife there are spectacular. In the afternoon we’ll take a walking tour of the historic and architecturally charming town center of Alamos. We’ll enjoy tonight's dinner at a comfortable Alamos restaurant..
Day Five: This morning we’ll drive to one of the most pristine mangrove estuaries on the Sea of Cortez near the tiny fishing village of Agiabampo where there are large numbers and varieties of sea and shore birds. In a small power boat driven by a local guide we take a ride out to the bay and walk a short distance over dunes to the shore of the Sea of Cortez. We’ll enjoy our farewell dinner at an Alamos restaurant high above town with an outstanding view and great food.
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.
YOUR GUIDE
Larry Liese came by his love for the outdoors at an early age. Raised in Vermont, he spent much of his youth backpacking and hiking. After migrating to Arizona, Larry fell under the spell of birding and now makes regular forays into Mexico to discover birding hotspots there.
Retiring early from a career in power electronics, Larry served as a member of Tucson Audubon Society's Board and as Chairman of their Education and International Trips Committees. Besides leading close to one hundred of their field trips, Larry also authored a long-standing monthly column in their newsletter on bird identification and a series on habitat. All this led him to a second career leading birdwatching and natural history trips to Mexico and other Central America countries. Larry loves sharing his passion for birds with people of all birding levels. His excitement and enthusiasm are contagious.
TRIP COST AND REGISTRATION
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 us at (781) 789-8127or info@naturetreks.net.
TRIP CANCELLATION POLICY
Refunds are made according to the following schedule. Cancellations in writing made more than 90 days before departure will forfeit $200. Cancellations made 70 to 90 days before departure will forfeit 50% of the trip price. There is no refund for trips cancelled less than 70 days before departure. No substitutions can be made for cancellations. It is highly recommended that you consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance to cover your financial investment in this trip. You may purchase this insurance by clicking the "Travel Insurance" button at the top of this page.
On the rare occasion when Nature Treks and Passages must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be refunded. Nature Treks and Passages is not responsible for non-refundable airfare or trip insurance.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Either a US passport or an authenticated birth certificate and state-issued ID is required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Mexico for details.