About our birding tour company
A Shared Passion for Birds and Mexico
Birding Mexico Expeditions is a company born out of the love for nature and, more importantly, a passion for the great birds of Mexico. Our team members all share a similar story: we grew up exploring the outdoors, and that passion for discovery has led us to become experts in Mexican birdlife. We are professional birding guides with extensive training and experience leading tours throughout the country. Throughout all these years, we have traveled across every corner of Mexico, ranging from the dense cloud forests habitat of amazing birds like the Horned Guan to the arid but mega-biodiverse deserts. This deep knowledge of the landscape, combined with our expertise in bird behavior and distribution, allows us to offer both the most popular itineraries and also unique itineraries that are unlike anything you'll find elsewhere.
Meet the Team
Biol. Joel Ortega
Birding guide and Company Leader
Guiding experience: All Mexico
Joel, as a wildlife biologist, has participated in several research and conservation projects, such as bird diversity in natural protected areas, nesting ecology, bioacoustics, and behavior research. He is very interested in the sustainable development of local communities. He is also an official nature guide certified by the Mexican government, which ensures both safety and quality in his service. Birds are his job, his hobby, and his passion. Joel is responsible for leading most of our multiday tours and has extensive guiding experience throughout Mexico, offering birders memorable experiences across the country and especially in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Angel Castillo
Biridng guide and co-founder
Guiding experience: Yucatan Península
As a Mayan, Angel is proud of his heritage and enjoys sharing the culture and traditions of his people. With connections to villages near Chichén Itzá, he offers intimate cultural experiences. He is a professional birdwatching guide specializing in the Yucatán Peninsula, known for his knowledge of regional birds, natural history, and his skill in identifying species by sight and sound.
Biol. Sandra Mendiola
Local Guide and Community Manager
Birding experience: Mérida, Yucatan
Biologist with deep knowledge of Yucatán’s ecosystems and species interactions. Sandra brings a warm, friendly presence and a strong commitment to excellent service. She is our local expert for birding in and around Mérida, including urban parks, low forests, and coastal habitats, offering a rich variety of birdlife and landscapes just outside the city.
Victor Marín and Victor Marín Jr
Local Guides
Birding experience: Yucatan Península
Originally from Celestún, Yucatán, they represent the first and second generation of birdwatchers in the region. Experts in the protected area dedicated to bird conservation, they are also experienced photographers and guides. Both are well known for their attention to detail, and high-quality services that combine local knowledge, conservation awareness, and a commitment to showcasing the region’s avifauna.
Mission:
To promote knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment of Mexico’s birdlife through carefully designed ornithological expeditions led by expert local guides, fostering birding tourism that supports the conservation of sites recognized for their natural and cultural importance, while encouraging active participation in the birding community and the systematic exploration of the country’s ecosystems.
Vision:
To be recognized as a national leader in responsible bird tourism, distinguished by technical excellence, community engagement, and the dissemination of Mexico’s natural heritage in order to inspire appreciation and protection of the country’s biodiversity.