7 Day Endemic Birdwatching and Wildlife Tour in Baja California Sur

Facilities

Day 1: Arrivals - welcome to Baja California - briefing and dinner

Arrive on your own, check into the designated hotel and spread your wings. In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner and attend the briefing.

• Meals: dinner

Day 2: Enjoy birding from sunrise to sunset

Early in the morning, catch up a beautiful sunrise from the ocean and go in search of Belding's yellowthroat (Geothlypis beldingi). But, many more birds, such as warblers, sparrows and waterfowl will also be present. Then, get a free time - siesta time - because later you will go owling.

• Meals: breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Visit to a biosphere reserve in search of three endemics

You will go from a sea level to almost 3,000 feet to enjoy Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve in search of cape pygmy owl, San Lucas robin, and Baird's junco along with the subspecies such as the narrow-fronted acorn woodpecker, band-tailed pigeon with no band, lazuli and varied bunting among others.

• Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 4: In search of desert specialties

Today, you will go to the deciduous forest - a semidesert area in search of Xantus's hummingbird (Hylocharis xantusii) and gray thrasher (Toxostoma cinereum). In addition, you will also have the chance to encounter raptors such as zone-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk or Harris's hawk hosted by a ranchero family.

• Meals: regional brunch

Day 5: Pelagic birding on boat

Today, you will enjoy least and black storm petrels, Craveri's murrelet, red-billed tropicbird, pink-footed and black-vented shearwaters, masked and Nazca bobbies, and perhaps other interesting birds like south polar skua among other marine life. You could also have an encounter with sea lions, manta rays, dolphins, or even sharks.

• Meals: coffee and pastries plus light brunch

Day 6: Birding in wetlands and the sea

Today, your highlights will be Heermann's gull, endemic yellow-footed gull (Larus livens), along with many more gulls and terns such as elegant, royal, and Caspian fosterns and perhaps least tern. You will also visit the nesting blue-footed booby colony and more surprises such as the beautiful yellow mangrove warbler. By evening, you will have your farewell dinner.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch, and farewell dinner

Day 7: Departures

You will have coffee and pastries and return home. Come back soon!

• Meals: coffee and pastries

Notes: Please travel light and do not bring bird books / field guides as they are heavy and Birding Los Cabos will have them available.

Birds in target

• Belding's yellowthroat (Geothlypis beldingi)
• Xantus's hummingbird (Hylocharis xantusii)
• Gray thrasher (Toxostoma cinereum)
• Yellow-footed gull (Larus livens)
• Cape pygmy owl / Baja pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma hoskinsii)
• Cassin's vireo (Vireo cassiinii lucasanus)
• San Lucas robin(Turdus migratorius confinus)
• Baird's junco (Junco bairdi)

Other subspecies

• Least and black storm petrels
• Shearwaters
• Tropicbirds
• Woodpeckers
• Warblers
• Sparrows
• Raptors

You will depart / return to Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico. You will stay in San José del Cabo and spend your days birding in Baja California Peninsula. Baja California Peninsula was separated from the mainland six million years ago. Due to its natural history, geology, and location, it offers diversity in ecosystems. There are over 300 birds reported in Baja California Peninsula.

Los Cabos

Los Cabos is a municipality located at the tip of Baja California Peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez or Gulf of California, formed by minor and major capes such as Cabo San Lucas where the arch is located or San Jose where the airport is located.

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You will be served regional food and drinks. The food includes six breakfasts (coffee and pastries), five brunches, two lunches, and three dinners. Purified water will be available during the trips. You only have to bring a one-bottle Nalgene or similar to refill.

• 6 birding tours in search of endemics, resident, migrant, and vagrant birds
• Encounter with 7 endemic birds, other more than 200 birds, and perhaps wildlife
• Great photo opportunities of the flora and fauna
• Use of scope and appropriate bird books for identification
• Naturalist guide and keen birder certified by the Ministry of Tourism and NPS in partnership with local experts
• 6 breakfasts, 5 brunches, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners
• Purified water during the trip
• 6 nights' accommodation
• Checklists to take home
• Transportation needed for the activities and tours
• Parking and fuel
• An e-package with full description and itinerary sent upon registration

• Airfare from / to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
• Travel documents such as passport / visa / medical insurance / travel insurance
• Gratuities nor tips
• Alcoholic drinks
• Airport transfers on day 1 and 7 (available at an extra cost)
• Personal expenses such as phone calls or expenses of personal nature
• Any others not mentioned in the description

• A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.