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.
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.
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.
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:
- Banded Wren
- Blue Bunting
- Brown-crested Flycatcher
- Cassin's Vireo
- Citreoline Trogon
- Golden-cheeked Woodpecker
- Orange-breasted Bunting
- Pacific Screech-Owl
- Pale-billed Woodpecker
- Rufous-backed Robin
- Scrub Euphonia
- Spot-breasted Oriole
- Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird
- West Mexican Chachalaca
- White-lored Gnatcatcher
- 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment