The coastal plain along the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz is the site of one of the greatest natural spectacles in the birding world. Each autumn, millions of birds of prey traverse this narrow corridor in the world’s greatest raptor migration. We’ll spend some time at the observation sites of the Veracruz River of Raptors Project to watch the raptors (over 450,000 Broad-winged Hawks in a

September 23  We arrive at Veracruz City this evening, and meet our driver for the short trip to Cardel, where we check into the hotel we’ll be staying in for the next three nights. Overnight Cardel.

September 24-25 For the next two days we’ll enjoy both the great birding and the spectacular raptor migration

September 26-29  After some early morning birding, we depart for the mountains of the interior of Veracruz, and the statecapital of Xalapa. On the way, we’ll stop by Pronatura’s second count site in the town of Chichicaxtle, on a two-story observation tower constructed in the town’s soccer field. While in Xalapa, we have an opportunity to bird in the mountains, shade-coffee plantations and

Sep. 30-Oct. 2 This morning we leave the hills of Xalapa and journey to the tropical forests of the Catemaco region. Here, at the northern-most extension of tropical rain forest in the Americas, we’ll stay in a village exquisitely located on the shores of an ancient crater lake at a point where the Tuxtla highlands meet the Sierra Santa Marta just twelve miles from the gulf coast. For the next two days, many birding sites in a variety of habitats including rain forests, wetlands, coastal

October 3-4  After some final early-morning birding in the rain forest, we journey up the coastal plain, enjoying the birds of the fields and wetlands enroute to Cardel. We have another opportunity to experience the raptor migration, and to see how it has changed in the week since we were last there. While in Cardel, we’ll also visit a shade-coffee plantation with great birds in the foothills west of the town. Overnights Cardel.

October 5 We depart early this morning to visit the shade-coffee farms of the village of Amatlan, home of the rare and local Sumichrast’s Wren, and many other birds. In the afternoon, we return to Veracruz City and check into the Hotel Colonial, located on the historic Zocalo (town square). We’ll have a chance for shopping, a  visit the famous aquarium, or simply enjoying the colorful life of the Zocalo. Overnight Veracruz City.

This is the list of birds that have been seen on this tour in recent years. A typical trip list from this tour will be about 330-350 species. Birds marked with an asterisk (*) are rare and not to be expected on most trips.