Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Huatulco, Mexico – Jan 14

Huatulco, Mexico – Jan 14

This is our second time here and the last time we went sport fishing but didn’t catch much. Link to the photos from our first visit. https://photos.app.goo.gl/zNGqZsqtcvwi1WKk9

I tried to find a bird guide here which wasn’t easy. I went through Explore Huatulco.com and they weren’t sure they could get a guide but would know closer to sailing. They had a “stock tour” that started early in the morning and only was 3.5 hours which didn’t work with our ship’s arrival time of 8:00. I told them I wanted an all-day tour with a lunch break. I emailed several times, and they could not tell me how much it would cost. They told us it would be better to book a private tour for the 2 of us, but we’d have to pay the minimum of 3 people which we said was fine. About 3 days before we left, I asked again if they what the cost would be for a longer tour. I got a curt answer that he answered that in the beginning. Yes, for the short tour, but not the cost of a full day tour. So, I let it go and expected to have a private tour for 2.

We were met at the dock with a sign with our names and also the names of another couple. He said he needed to wait for the other couple. They came quickly and the 4 of us were together for the tour. They are a lovely couple (Jeff & Denise) who haven’t been birding long, (about 3 years) but they were good birders and a pleasure to bird with. (Perhaps they expected a private tour as well, I didn’t ask)

We proceeded to walk to the van and spent much time in the park near the port as there were tons of birds there. The tour hadn’t started, and we had seen quite a few birds already.

sail in





school children performing
performers arriving



Gray-breasted Martins
Rufous-naped Wren
Tropical Kingbird
Scrub-euphonia - male & female
Bronzed-cowbird
Bronzed-cowbird
Orange-fronted Parakeet

Our guide was Mateo, and our driver was Arturo. Both were nice guys and Mateo was a good bird guide. Our only suggestion would be to be more specific about what we saw. Not just say Chachalaca or Vireo when there are different types. He provided water and fruits.

We went to several different stops. Huatulco National Park, Copalita Eco Archeologic Park and more.

Rufous-naped Wren
Rufous-naped Wren
Rufous-naped Wren
Rufous-naped Wren
White-fronted Parakeet
White-fronted Parakeet
White-fronted Parakeet
White-fronted Parakeet
White-fronted Parakeet


White-lored Gnatcatcher
White-lored Gnatcatcher
White-fronted Parakeet
Pale-billed Woodpecker - male & female












Brown-crested Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Citreoline Trogon
Citreoline Trogon
Cinnamon Hummingbird
Cinnamon Hummingbird



Great Kiskadee
Green-winged Teal
Great Egret
Green-winged Teal
immature Vermilion Flycatcher
Green-winged Teal
Northern Jacana - immature
Northern Jacana - immature
Green-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Roadside Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Spot-breasted Oriole
Spot-breasted Oriole
Vermilion Flycatcher - female
Vermilion Flycatcher -male
Inca Dove
Citreoline Trogon
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker




views over the river


Oriole nest
Banded Wren
Orange-breasted Bunting

We got to the last place and the guide said our time was up and the driver could take us back to the port or we could continue to bird with the other couple. We chose to keep birding since that was what we had tried to set up in the first place.



White-throated Magpie Jay

dry toilets

dining area

bed frame & mattress
showers
Pacific-Screech Owl


Squirrel Cuckoo

We weren’t sure how they were going to charge us since originally, we agreed to pay for 3 people but for less time. We went about an hour and a half longer. They charged us for 3 people which was fine by us it was a reasonable for a tour that length.

We were back at the port around 1:30 and had lunch. We asked where they would recommend for lunch, and we gave it a try.

Hot sauce was HOT! Tasty, but it surprised me since normally places don’t have spicy hot sauce.  I had the best steak nachos I have ever had, and Greg had shrimp tacos which he said were also good.

Ve El Mar Restaurant




chips & salsa
shrimp tacos
steak nachos

We walked around a bit before going back on board and grabbing some ice cream and a cold drink. Still full from the huge late lunch, we wanted to eat later, but it was only the second night with an assigned table and we didn’t want to not show up, so we showered and got ready for dinner.














sail away



We got showered and went to dinner. The other couple that already were seated there had gone to Sabatini’s for dinner the first night we were at the table, so it was just the 4 of us the night before. Nice couple, Andy & Sherry (not sure how she spells her name) and they also are on for the full world cruise. There is room for one more couple if any others join us. It worked so much nicer just walking to the assigned table vs waiting in line for 10 minutes or more in the line with reservations.

We made it to the evening show in time which was a musician Dan Downey who also plays in the Bayou Café and is married to the port lecturer. His act was early 70’s music and honestly every song he sang sounded alike. If we would have been on the end of the row where we could easily have left, we would have joined quite a few of the others that walked out. I'm sure many enjoyed him. 

We went to the Liars Club game show. Always a hoot. They only did 3 words and we have seen them described before (and still got 1 wrong…lol). 

Karaoke came on afterwards, so we stayed for a few people singing. One lady was really good. She killed Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT.

We needed to wash out our birding clothes and clean our hiking shoes, so back to the room to take care of that before bed.

It was a productive day of birding for us. We saw around 49 total species, 16 of which were new for us.

New birds for our life list:

  1. Banded Wren
  2. Blue Bunting
  3. Brown-crested Flycatcher
  4. Cassin's Vireo
  5. Citreoline Trogon
  6. Golden-cheeked Woodpecker
  7. Orange-breasted Bunting
  8. Pacific Screech-Owl
  9. Pale-billed Woodpecker
  10. Rufous-backed Robin
  11. Scrub Euphonia
  12. Spot-breasted Oriole
  13. Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird
  14. West Mexican Chachalaca
  15. White-lored Gnatcatcher
  16. White-throated Magpie-Jay

If we were to return, we would contact Mateo directly to set up a tour.

For larger photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hPAtnNKvLP3hVwSq6

Tomorrow, we have a relaxing day at sea.


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