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February 26th to March 9th 2010
COST-$ 3,200
Contact info. Keith Hansen, P.O. Box 332, Bolinas, CA. 94924. 415-868-0402
E-mail: birdhansen@mac.com
Although we started our first trips in the Yucatan, we have now branched out to include Guatemala, Panama, Coast Rica and now Oaxaca where Keith and Peter will be leading this tour. Our spouses, Patricia and Rowena will be joining us in Oaxaca, enhancing the experience with their unique perspective and support. Join us, as we will take you to various and beautiful locations in this unique, diverse and historic region of tropical Mexico.
OAXACA. Most veteran travelers to Mexico find themselves returning to Oaxaca time and again. Three large and fertile, high-elevation (4500-5000') valleys intersect at the Monte Alban ruins, on a hill overlooking the city of Oaxaca. With a gentle and amiable climate, many and various peoples have occupied the valleys and surrounding mountains for thousands of years, converging on Oaxaca to exchange crafts and foods (maize, or corn, originated from these valleys). As a result, Oaxaca presents a rich and colorful tapestry of culture, art, history, and fine cuisine unmatched anywhere else in Mexico, if not the Western Hemisphere.
Relative to its small size, Mexico has the highest diversity of avian endemism of any country in the world, and an astounding 772 species of birds have been recorded in the centrally located state of Oaxaca (see complete list here), surpassing the list of breeding birds recorded in the entire United States. Located at the meeting of several bioregions, Oaxaca offers a rich mosaic of montane, desert, cloud-forest, thorn-forest, estuarine, and oceanic habitats. During this 12-day trip we will explore these varied habitats in search of Oaxaca's spectacular avian and wildlife diversity. And when not out birding we will take in the rich culture of Ciudad Oaxaca visiting ruins, gardens, markets and museums. In addition we will offer a hands-on cooking class. For all of those who would like to join us, we will visit culinary chef Susana Trilling for an introduction to Oaxacan food. Susana owns “Seasons of my Heart Cooking School”. While in the city we will be based at Casa Colonial, a unique, small Mexican courtyard-style hotel that provides not just charming accommodations but a quiet, lushly vegetated, and birdy oasis, and a complete library on the history of central Mexico. Casa Colonial is located within easy walking distance of Oaxaca's famous central zocalo and its surrounding markets, museums, and cultural venues.
SACRED MONKEY TOURS
Our primary goal is to provide you, the participant with an experience that will be unique, memorable and most of all fun! Because Guatemala is such a wonderful place, it will be a pleasure to be your guides. We will strive to provide you with a comfortable, safe and easygoing tour. Tour size will be limited to 12 participants. We will be attentive to your needs and are passionate about the quality of your adventure. Being in tune with the environment we trust that you will enjoy the many wonderful natural experiences that Oaxaca has to offer. Come along for a great birding adventure!
KEITH HANSEN has been watching birds, since the age of ten. His passion for all things natural has taken him far and wide. While he lives full time in northern California much of his interest in birds lies in the neotropics. Keith has led birding tours to various countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador. Keith has a gallery where he produces his art in Bolinas. He is currently illustrating a book entitled, “A Field Guide to the Birds of the Sierra Nevada”.
PETER PYLE has been birding and banding since the age of four and has been traveling to Mexico since the early 1980s. During the mid 1980s and early 1990s he led over 15 birding tours to Mexico, Central America, and elsewhere. A researcher with the Institute for Bird Populations, Peter specializes on studying bird molt as well as bird distribution in Hawaii, where he grew up. Peter is author of the Identification Guide to North American Birds series.
PATRICIA BRICEÑO is a native of Yucatán, México. Patricia is a fiber artist and part owner of Coastal Artisans in Bolinas.
ROWENA FOREST has worked as a field botanist for the U.S. Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, and as a historic ecology researcher for the Presidio Trust, U.S. Park Service, and privately. For the past seven years Rowena tracked marine environmental issues while serving as the Sanctuary Advisory Council Coordinator for Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. She has lifelong field experience in the West, including California and Hawaii, and is active in environmental issues along the California coast through her website Coastal Zone CA. Her family owns and operates Casa Colonial in Oaxaca, and she has spent extended visits in there learning the city and its cultural treasures, as well as exploring the natural history of the outlying countryside.
ITINERARY
For Days 1-7 (26 Feb-4 Mar 2010) we will be based in Ciudad Oaxaca. A typical day will begin with an early morning of birding among the many various habitats within easy reach of the city, followed by a traditional and delicious Mexican comida and short siesta. Afternoons will be spent visiting markets and cultural sites, with emphasis on those located in open or forested areas inhabited by birds, and we'll typically be back in the field for the last hour or two of daylight.
Specific birding locations around Ciudad Oaxaca include the open brush and forest around the ruins at Monte Alban and Yagul, the pine-oak and cloud forests of Cerro San Felipe, the deserts of Teotitlán del Valle, and the varied habitats along Rte 175 north of the city. We also plan for a morning of bird-banding at a Research Station participating in the Institute for Bird Population's MoSI Program. We will seek many Oaxacan avian specialties, including Dwarf and Slaty Vireos, Elegant Euphonias, Ocellated Thrashers, Boucard's Wrens, Oaxaca and Bridled Sparrows, Dwarf Jays, Great Swallow-tailed Swifts, Aztec and Black Thrushes, Mountain and Elegant Trogons, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercers, Red, Rufous-capped, and Crescent-chested Warblers, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireos, and Beautiful, Dusky, Garnet-throated, Berylline, and Amethyst-throated Hummingbirds. Various raptor species will be dotting the sky and we will see a host of North American migrant species in their winter quarters.
For Days 8-11 (5-8 March 2010) we will take a four-day drive over the Sierra Madre del Sur to the scenic Pacific coastal village of Puerto Angel. The first night of this excursion will be spent at San Jose del Pacifico, a town situated in the Pacific highlands, surrounded by pine forests. The next day we will then head to the coastal town of Puerto Angel near which we will take boat tours up a mangrove river, where numerous Herons, Egrets Gulls and Terns can be observed at ease, and to a seabird rock off shore to look for Boobies, Tropicbirds and Tubenoses (Shearwaters and Storm-Petrels), as well as Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Manta Rays. We will spend the night in Puerto Angel and after a morning of coastal birding, we will head to the famous Isthmus of Tehuantepec. After an entertaining night in Tehuantepec (famous for its colorful “Tehuanas”, matriarchs of the city who perform all of the trading and run the town), we will bird our way back to Oaxaca via scenic route on Rte. 190 which will take us through different habitats. Many specialties not found around Ciudad Oaxaca occur along this route, including Golden Vireo, Blue-capped and Green-fronted Hummingbirds, Red-headed Tanager, White-faced Quail-Dove, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Russet-crowned Motmot, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Yellow-winged Cacique, Sumacrest's (Cinnamon-tailed) Sparrow, Red-breasted Chat, Lilac-crowned Parrot, and Orange-breasted Bunting.
For Days 11-12 (8-9 Mar 2010) we will be back in Ciudad Oaxaca. We will build in a little free time here, so that participants can have the chance to taste a bit of the vibrant Ciudad Oaxaca on their own. The tour will end on March 9th, at which time we will be transporting participants to the airport or to other locations in Oaxaca for those wishing to extend their stay.
For more information on birding in Oaxaca, including many personal accounts and trip lists, see the Fat Birder page on the state.
BIRDING INFORMATION
As you know, in the tropics there is truly a wealth of life. With this in mind, we, as leaders, will do our best to make sure that you get to see and enjoy as many species as possible and to answer any questions that you might have. We will be responsive to the beginning birder as well as satisfying the experts. Tour leaders will have scopes, all of the appropriate field guides as well as walkie-talkies. Typically, we will rise, predawn to maximize our time in the field. In the tropics, the “golden hour”, around sunrise, is when most creatures are active. Typically, we will be naturalizing in the field until around noon when we will then stop for a well-deserved lunch. After that, where possible, we will try to make time for those who want to relax, wander about or continue birding. Some times this will be the opportunity to drive to our next birding spot. On evenings, where possible, & for those who still have the energy, we will take spotlights to look for night creatures. Each evening we will update our trip checklist.
WHAT THE COST OF THE TRIP INCLUDES
The Oaxaca Sacred Monkey Tour responsibilities officially begin when we pick you up at the Oaxaca National Airport (OAX) on Day 1 and end when we return you there on Day 12. The trip begins with the introductory dinner on the evening of Day 1.
TRANSPORTATION. All in-country transportation is covered beginning when we pick you up at the Airport until we return you there. This includes Taxi transportation to and from the airport. It, of course includes any travel by boat.
LODGING. Lodging choices have been made to keep you as comfortable & well taken care of as possible. All lodging is covered for the nights of Day one, through the night of Day 11. If you would like a single room supplement there will be an additional cost of $250.00. For those traveling on their own, we will attempt to pair you with a compatible roommate.
MEALS. All meals from the evening of Day 1, through the morning of Day 12 will be covered, including breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks. All efforts will be made to see that your meals will be provided in a timely manner, are wholesome and prepared in a way to meet proper safety standards. Water will be kept in the van at all times.
ENTRY FEES. Entry fees to any and all archaeological sites & nature preserves will be included.
TOUR LEADING. All tour leading and guiding throughout the trip, including any possible additional guides and drivers will be covered.
TIPPING. General tipping is covered for all meals, porters and additional guides. If, however you feel that you’ve received above average service from a porter, food giver, hotel staff or Sacred Monkey Tour leaders, you are welcome to tip.
INSURANCE. For peace of mind we recommend that you carry insurance coverage and if necessary purchase the appropriate additional coverage.
HEALTH. Participants should be in good health. Although not a rigorous trip by some standards, we will be visiting locations that may have uneven terrain, loose footing, some hills and warm and humid conditions. There will be a first-aid kit kept in the van at all times. If you have any personal conditions that require medical consideration, please report when you make your reservations.
NOTE. There are no hidden costs.
WHAT THE COST OF THE TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
Your personal flight & transportation to and from Oaxaca, Passport & Visa fees, any immunization one might need, excess baggage fees, telephone calls, laundry and room service, personally purchased snacks, alcohol, or anything of a purely personal nature.
RESERVATION, DEPOSIT, FINAL PAYMENT, CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
Reservations will be confirmed when we receive a deposit of $1000.00 per person and a completed reservation form no later than Oct. 15th 2009. The final payment for the remaining amount owed will be due no later than Jan. 15th 2010.
Cancellations will be honored, less a cancellation fee of $200.00 per person, if made before Dec. 1st 2009. Refunds will then be made.
We hope that this information gives you a good picture of what our Oaxaca Birding Adventure will be like and a little about what Sacred Monkey Tours is all about. Please, don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!
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