Bird Watching Tours in, and around, Puerto Vallarta
THE BIRDS OF QUELELE LAGOON
Yellow Winged Cacique
Considered one of the 100 most attractive sites in Mexico for bird watching, the Quelele lagoon is a protected natural area.
The North side of the bay is dryer in comparison the east and south sides. Here you may encounter lagoons, small rivers and creeks, agricultural areas as well as a coastal environments. A lagoon is the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of a Purple Gallinule, an American Coot or a Green Heron. Near creeks and in forests, you may come across Vermilion Flycatcher, Rufous-backed Robin, Squirrel Cuckoo and even most likely see lots of Orange-fronted Parakeets.
TThese are
great birding tours, always small groups and guided by Vallarta’s
top birders, the team of Ricardo Barraza (biologist) and Karel Beets (naturalist) is led by eagle-eyed and bilingua lnaturalist Alejandro Martinez. He has been specializing in
ecotourism
since 1997 and published the guide and checklist for the birds of Puerto
Vallarta area in 1999, "The Birds from Paradise". While developing
this birding guide along with mentor, Professor Dennis W. Boddy, he became
an accomplished birder and a dedicated conservationist. In
2004 an improved and updated second edition was also published. The Birds of Paradise is available at the office..
El Colorado is an agricultural town, and the area is a semideciduos tropical forest, so we can see about 80 different bird species. Afterwards we continue the journey toward El Quelele Lagoon, one of the most beautiful coastal bodies of water close to the bay. It comprises more than 247 acres/100 hectares of tidal plain surrounded by white mangroves. The lagoon is also the natural habitat of river crocodiles, raccoons, coatimundis, turtles, many varieties of fish and shrimp, and an amazing range of both resident and migratory birds, including the the Crested Caracara, or Quelele in Spanish.
You are welcome to explore around the Banks of the Quelele Lagoon, there are days when you can see an extraordinary variety of birds there; like snowy egrets, white herons, tigers (we call them tiger egrets), yellow-crowned night herons, blue herons, wood storks, whistling ducks, white and white-faced ibises, many yellow-winged caciques, great kiskadees and roseate spoonbills that are quite spectacular.
Throughout the tour- energetic snacks, fruit, purified water and soft drinks are available.
Guacamole brunch and soft drinks will be served at a restaurant.
Guests are welcome to use restaurant facilities and order from menu if they wish (optional, not included).
Departure time for the tour in winter isat 6:30 am. from the South Side at Freddy's Toucan restaurant, Corner of I. Vallarta and Basilio Badillo. MAP.
Marina Office at 7:00am MAP or 7:15am outside the Hacienda Palma Real, in Nuevo Vallarta MAP.
In the summer times are 30 mins ealier.