San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a wonderful mountain town at 2200 m among pine-oak and cloud forests. It hosts many Mexican endemic species, including the Pink-headed Warbler, and is also the cultural hub of Chiapas. With beautiful colonial-style walking streets with plenty of restaurants and cafés, and breathtaking mountain views, and a melting pot of indigenous culture, San Cristobal is a must-visit.

Species list:
Pink Headed Warbler, Blue-Throated Motmot, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Rufous-collard Robin, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Bearded Screech Owl, White-breasted Hawk, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Singing Quail, Scaled Antpitta, Hooded Grosbeak, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Swallow, Black-throated Jay, Unicolored Jay, Crescent-chested Warbler, White-naped Brushfinch.

Sumidero Canyon

Sumidero Canyon is a spectacular natural wonder, towering at over 1,000 meters above the Grijalva River. Visitors can take in the scenery from five different viewpoints, each with excellent birding opportunities, as well as take a boat ride along the river below.

Species list:
Lesser Ground Cuckoo, Flammulated Flycatcher, Varied Bunting, Gartered Trogon, Belted Flycatcher, Lesser Roadrunner, Streak-backed Oriole, Slender Sheartail, Highland Guan, Plain Chachalaca, Plain-capped Starthroat, Canivet's Emerald, Middle American Screech Owl, Russet-crowned Motmot, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow, Hooded Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Red-breasted Chat.

Montebello Lakes

The Montebello Lakes, a stunning collection of over 50 turquoise and emerald lakes, are nestled in the pine-oak forests of Chiapas, near the Guatemala border. This UNESCO-recognized area is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to a mix of highland endemics and migratory species. The diverse habitats, from cloud forests to tranquil lakes, create the perfect setting for spotting birds like the Resplendent Quetzal, Azure-rumped Tanager, and Blue-throated Motmot.

Species List:
Resplendent Quetzal, Azure-hooded Jay, Pinnated Bittern, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, White-throated Thrush, Green-throated Mountain Gem, Brown-capped Vireo, Northern Emerald Toucanet, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Slate-colored Solitaire, Black-headed Nightingale Thrush, Yellow-backed Oriole, Least Grebe, Highland Guan.

Tacaná Volcano

Rising to 4,060 meters on the Mexico-Guatemala border, Tacaná Volcano is a dramatic and biodiverse destination for birdwatchers and adventurers. This stratovolcano is part of the Central American Volcanic Arc and offers a range of habitats, from cloud forests to high-altitude páramo. The challenging yet rewarding trails provide not only incredible birding opportunities but also breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.

Species List:
Horned Guan, Highland Guan, Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge, Fulvous Owl, Resplendent Quetzal, Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Black-crested Coquette, White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Azure-rumped Tanager, Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, Guatemalan Tyrannulet.

Comitán

Comitán, a charming highland city in Chiapas, is surrounded by lush forests, wetlands, and ancient archaeological sites. Birdwatchers can explore diverse habitats, from tranquil wetlands to cloud forests, spotting species like the Green-throated Mountain-gem, Blue-and-white Mockingbird.

Species List:
Slender Sheartail, Sora, Least Grebe, Northern Jacana, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Belted Flycatcher, Yellow Grosbeak, White-eared Hummingbird, Botteri's Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Rock Wren, Lesser Roadrunner.

El Ocote Biosphere Reserve

A stunning biosphere reserve that ranges from thick, bushy vegetation to tropical rainforests. El Ocote has spectacular high viewpoints, a 200m deep canyon, waterfalls flowing into La Venta river, and is home to Mexican endemics such as the Nava's wren, Flammulated Flycatcher, and a host of impressive tropical hawk species. Sabes Aves maintains a good relationship with the guardians of this forest who always take good care of us with local cuisine and a comfortable lodge.

Species List:
Nava's Wren, Flammulated Flycatcher, Red-breasted Chat, Black Hawk-Eagle, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Lovely Cotinga, White Hawk, Long-tailed Manakin, Crested Owl, Black-and-white Owl, Spectacled Owl, Little Tinamou, Thicket Tinamou, Great Tinamou, Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Black-crested Coquette, Blue-throated Goldentail, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Black-faced Grosbeak, Green Shrike-Vireo.

Chiapas Coastline

A fabulous region for Mexican endemics and waterbirds. Sabes Aves birding tours go along the underappreciated Chiapas coastline, visiting mangroves, an archaeological site, coastal plains, and wetlands. Fresh Mexican seafood, boat-rides, and some of Chiapas' rarest birds await.

Species List:
Giant Wren, Yellow-winged Cacique, Pacific Parakeet and Yellow-naped Parrot, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Turquoise-browed Motmot, White-bellied Chachalaca, Agami Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, Spot-breasted Oriole, Black-collared Hawk

La Sepultura

A rarely visited mountainous region ranging from low tropical deciduous forest up to cloud forest at its peaks. Home to the highly threatened Rose-bellied Bunting and Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, La Sepultura also hosts over 1,000 plant species including orchids,bromeliads and ferns.

Species List:
Pacific Parakeet, Orange-breasted Bunting, Rose-bellied Bunting, Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, Green-fronted Hummingbird, Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird, West Mexican Chachalaca, Flammulated Flycatcher, Citreoline Trogon, Long-tailed Manakin