Life still revolves around the zocalo or town square in the charming city of Oaxaca, a colonial city founded by the Spanish conquerors. Colonial-style buildings, draped with brilliant bougainvillea bursting in the sunshine, line the streets. The bustle of everyday life is offset by long, languid afternoons in the cafes that ring the zocalo. At 1700m, the city and valley floors are sunny and mild during the day and pleasantly cool at night. Oaxaca is the destination of choice for many travellers as it combines memorable views of nature with relaxed colonial surroundings, archaeology, colourful markets and local artisans in a relaxed, secluded corner of Mexico.

Itinerary
(Breakfast – B, Lunch – L, Dinner - D)


Day 1 Mon. Feb 11
Arrival in Oaxaca, Mexico
On our arrival at the Oaxaca Airport, we’ll clear customs and immigration, and meet Mike. After collecting our luggage, we’ll be driven to our comfortable hotel in Oaxaca.  In the evening, we’ll gather for a welcome briefing and dinner.
o/n Hotel Mission de Los Angeles, Oaxaca (D)

Day 2 Tues. Feb 12
Oaxaca Valley:  Tlacochahuaya / Teotitlan Del Valle / San Felipe
We’ll be in the field after an early breakfast.  We have a number of interesting stops planned including the lovely church of Tlacochahuaya where we hope to see Nutting’s Flycatcher, Canyon and Rock Wrens and Rufous-capped Warbler.  We’ll then continue into the Teotitlan Valley, famous for its weavings, where we’ll meet the artists in their home workshops and have wool dyeing and rug weaving demonstrations. 
 
After a mid afternoon rest or swim at the pool, we’ll travel to nearby San Felipe to hike the pine oak forest of the lush river valley to look for birds such as the Blue-hooded Euphonia, Oaxaca Sparrow and Golden Vireo.
o/n Hotel Mission de Los Angeles, Oaxaca (B, L, D)

Day 3 Wed. Feb 13
Monte Alban
After an early breakfast, we’ll drive to the site of Monte Alban, a Zapotec religious and commercial centre that lasted for over 1200 years and which reached its zenith in 300AD.  We’ll enjoy the early morning bird life that may include White-throated Towhee, Crested Caracaras, Boucard’s Wrens and Grey-breasted Woodpeckers perched on the tall cacti, and Dusky, Beautiful and Berylline Hummingbirds feeding from the nearby Morning Glory trees.  Then, with an archaeologist/guide, we’ll explore the great plaza, ball court, pyramids and observatory of Monte Alban, built on a flattened mountaintop, with terrific views of the valley. There will be time to wander among the maze of temples and palaces, through subterranean tunnels with numerous reliefs, glyphs, paintings and friezes.

When we return to Oaxaca, we’ll have a walking tour of this spectacular colonial city.
o/n Hotel Mission de Los Angeles, Oaxaca (B, L, D)

Day 4 Thurs. Feb 14
Sierra Norte
After a hearty early breakfast, we’ll ascend to the Sierra Norte, with magnificent vistas of pine-oak forests echoing with the songs of Brown-backed Solitaire and Crescent-chested Warbler and the strange hoots of Mountain Trogons.  Here, at an elevation of almost 3000 m, we’ll be in the midst of epiphyte-laden, humid pine-oak forests where scores of hummingbirds zip back and forth at close range.  We’ll be looking for some of the many orchids that grow here and also such montane bird species as Black Robin, Red-faced Warbler, Dwarf Jay and that brilliant avian beauty, the Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo.
o/n Hotel Mission de Los Angeles, Oaxaca (B, L, D)

Day 5 Fri. Feb 15
Sierra Madre del Sur – The Pacific Slope
This morning we’ll leave the Oaxaca Valley and drive west over the mountains to enjoy the mountain vistas, birds and butterflies of the Pacific Slope.  From pine-oak highlands we’ll descend through cloud forest, tropical evergreen forest and tropical deciduous forest to arrive in Puerto Escondido on the coastal plain. Numerous tropical and western migrant warblers in the highlands will give way to Orange-fronted Parakeet, Yellow-winged Cacique and White-throated Magpie Jays in the lowlands. We will lodge in a colonial style hotel located on Zicatela Beach, with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean surf.
o/n Hotel Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido (B, L, D)

Day 6 Sat. Feb 16
Manialtepec Lagoon
We have a boat trip in the Manialtepec Lagoon scheduled for this morning.  The conjunction of a large salt-water lagoon, mountain river and seacoast at Manialtepec provides a wonderful mix of aquatic habitats that are rich in wildlife.  We’ll explore the lagoon from a comfortable motor launch, often cutting the motor to quietly approach some of the 12 species of herons, ibis, Wood Stork, Common Black Hawk, Northern Jacana and White-fronted Parrots inhabiting these coastal wetlands.  We’ll have lunch at our hotel and then relax until the late afternoon when we’ll have the option of driving out to the arid tropical deciduous coastal foothills in search of coastal endemic species.
o/n Hotel Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido (B, L, D)


Day 7 Sun. Feb 17
Turtles and Iguanas
Today we’ll do some coastal birding and visit a Green Iguana Hatchery en route to the Mexican Turtle Centre.  This is a fascinating research and educational aquarium complex on the Pacific Ocean, near Puerto Angel.  A guide at the centre will interpret the outdoor and indoor live turtle exhibits where seven species of sea turtles are housed in deep water aquarium facilities.  Nesting behaviour, sea turtle ecology and satellite tracking technology are well presented in the centre’s educational hall. After a picnic lunch on the beach, we’ll return to Puerto Escondido to stroll along the famous surfing beach, enjoy the hotel pool, or town market.
o/n Hotel Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido (B, L, D)

Day 8 Mon. Feb 18
Life in the Tropical Pacific Ocean
This morning we’ll board an ocean-cruising launch and spend some time at sea searching for dolphins and Pacific Ridley Sea Turtles.  Pelagic birds and surface marine life such as crustaceans and jellyfish are often encountered upon these rich, inshore waters.  Later, from a beautiful isolated beach, we’ll enjoy snorkelling and swimming amid the reefs with tropical fish.  We’ll return to the hotel for lunch and a mid-day break.

In the afternoon, we’ll depart for a sunset cruise at a nearby salt-water lagoon.  Exploring these tranquil lagoons at sunset is an unforgettable tropical experience; we’ll be in place to view increased bird activity as the long purple shadows creep down the mountainsides of the Sierra Madre and the sunsets over the Pacific. 

On our return to the hotel, we’ll gather for a festive, farewell seafood dinner.
o/n Hotel Santa Fe, Puerto Escondido (B, L, D)

Day 9 Tues. Feb 19
Departure Day
After an early breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport in time to catch our flights home.  (B)