Chichen Itza + Valladolid + Coba + Cozumel
A 4-day multi-day expedition through key forest and coastal habitats of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Post-congress tour
Our tours are tailored to complement the XXIX International Ornithological Congress ® Mexico 2026 activities. This post-congress excursion departs from Mérida, the day after the Congress has finished. Our services include transportation from hotels in Merida to the various tour destinations, 3 nights lodging and drop off at Cancun airport.
This tour combines birding with a rich cultural experience, visiting impressive Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza and Coba, and traditional Mayan towns like Chankom and Xocen. The only disadvantage is that chances to see the Ocellated Turkey is relatively low even when it is possibility in Coba, is not always there.
Departing from Merida this tour leads you to this
main birding spots:
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Chankom
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Chichen Itza
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Xocen (Valladolid)
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Coba
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Cozumel Island
Cancún is the final destination.
Day 1: Chankom - Chichen Itza - Xocen (Valladolid)
Drive from Merida to the Mayan village of Chankom, very close to the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá. It’s an ideal destination for a morning of birdwatching, thanks to its mix of tropical lowland forest, open areas and secondary vegetation that support a rich bird diversity, including several Yucatán endemics and other regional specialties.
Among the key target species for this area are the Rose-throated Tanager, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Yucatán Woodpecker, and Yucatán Flycatcher, species such as the Black Catbird, Gray-throated Chat, and the Yellow-lored Amazon.
Then, we drive 20 minutes to mix the birding experience with a cultural visit to Chichén Itzá to explore its impressive Mayan ruins and enjoy the contrast between nature and history in a single morning.
In the late afternoon we will arrive at Xocen to search for target birds and wait for the night to search for the Yucatan Poorwill and Middle American Screech-owl.
Day 2: Coba
During the morning we will bird again in Xocen Birding trail to search for missing targets and in the afternoon we will visit Coba archaeological site where sometimes the Ocellated Turkey is easy to find.
In the Coba lagoon and surroundings we can find Yellow-winged Tanager and Blue-gray Tanager, Rudy Crake, Snail Kite, and Pinnated Bittern. On the lagoon can be found some special aquatic birds, such as the Least and the Pied-billed Grebe. In this area, both in the vegetation and the water, you can also find the Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, the Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, and Limpkin.
Day 3: Cozumel
On this day we will travel by ferry to the amazing island of Cozumel, where we will explore all day in the forest, mangroves and coastal dunes. The Cozumel Emerald, Cozumel Vireo and Cozumel Wren will be our main objectives, but the island is home of many more species, as well as endemic subspecies and interesting Caribbean specialties. We will have our meals in the Island, and then we will return to Playa del Carmen where we will spend the night.
Day 4- Drop off
Morning birding in Puerto Morelos for those with afternoon flights. Just a short drive from Cancun International Airport, this place offers excellent birding in a lowland forest that blends wetlands and jungle. The area hosts many species, including endemics and specialties such as Yucatán Woodpecker, Orange Oriole, Gray-collared Becard, White-fronted, Yellow-lored Parrots, Mayan Antthrush and Thicket Tinamou.
Price and Reservation
$1140 USD $19,950 MXN
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Guiding services
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Entrance tickets
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Transportation from Mérida to all spots and Drop-Off at Cancun airport
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Accommodation in double room occupation (+$170 for single room lodging)
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Meals, Snacks and Water
Mayan Ruins, December 2026
Mayan Ruins, December 2026