World-class experts in bird observation and study perennially stress the importance of visiting the Yucatán; it is an exceptional place to observe native bird species, such as the Yucatecan matraca (Campylorhynchus yucatanicus), that can be seen nowhere else. The peninsula’s native flora, equally unique, contribute to the phenomenon. Even beginning birdwatchers, not certain of what they’ll find, comment that the Yucatán’s bird life is its “best kept secret.” The region is home to 533 species, nearly fifty percent of all bird species in Mexico.

Besides the richness of its bird variety, the Yucatán also offers some of Mexico’s best trained bird-watching guides, as well as fascinating settings in which to practice this ever-more-popular pastime. The rosy spectacle of thousands of flamingos reflected in an estuary’s tranquil waters is usually more than sufficient for a first time out. However…your boat silently penetrates a canal hidden in the mangroves, then stops. At only an arm’s-length away, you catch a glimpse of a gaily-colored kingfisher perched among a mangrove’s roots, who dives suddenly, then returns to his perch, a fish firmly trapped in his beak. And the adventures just keep coming!

There’s still plenty more to discover, based on the habitats you visit. Bird watching is about a lot more than just birds…the important part is your intimate experience with nature. In other places, birdwatchers frequently lament a lack of safe, tranquil pathways within with to get lost, if just for a moment. Catherwood provides an almost extreme solution: it offers visitors exclusive access to selected private properties that act as wildlife refuges, all with unpaved forest clearings. Most feature incredible cenotes that attract hundreds of birds at the same time they offer the perfect atmosphere for a refreshing dip. Catherwood Travels excursions can always include breakfast or a gourmet fête champêtre.