Birdwatching/Photography Tour
Rio Lagartos, Yucatán — Led by Diego Núñez & Rio Lagartos Adventures
Discover the wild beauty of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve — one of the richest birding and photography destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula.
With Diego Núñez, an expert birder and nature guide, you’ll explore estuaries, mangroves, wetlands, coastal dunes, scrublands, and forests — habitats that together host nearly 400 species of birds (about 70% of the Yucatán region’s total).
Diego Nuñez your professional bird guide will lead you on a private tour, just for your group. As a resident, native and experienced birder, he knows all the places to go and will help you spot and identify your sightings. You’ll tick off plenty of the species on your target list, which could include most of the Yucatan´s Endemic birds plus all local, migran and many others.
The tour lasts 4 hours, so expect to see a lot of birds and beautiful untouched parts of the Ria Lagartos Bio reserve. However the amazing nature here is a great pleasure year round with several bird species resident to the lagoon and diverse habitats that include the sea, coastal dune, scrub, an extensive estuary, salt flats, fresh water wetlands, as well as both dry and humid forest.
Excursion includes: Ground transportation, specialized guide, breakfast picnic, water and snacks during the trip.
Binoculars can be provided if you do not have your own, just ask at the time of booking.
Trusted Since 1995 We’ve been sharing this place with nature lovers for nearly 30 years. Come see why we’re a top-rated tour operator in the Yucatán.
Reservations are required to ensure a personalized, low-impact experience !
Rates :
1-6 Person – Birding – Photography Land Tour MXN $ 4,250.00 pesos USD $ 200
Not Included $120 MXN per person, per day, for fee collection, cash only.CONANP/Ria Lagartos National Park entrance fee. Older adults, pensioners and retirees, people with disabilities and children under 12 years of age will be exempt from paying fees, whose quality will be accredited once they enter the at Natural Protected Area.
Birding – Photography Tour By Land In the Rio Lagartos Bio Reserve
Birding Tour:
Discover endemic and migratory species with expert guides who know every call and habitat. Perfect for those wanting to expand their life list.
Focuses on identifying, observing, and listing as many bird species as possible. Participants are usually birdwatchers (sometimes “listers”) who want to see specific endemic or migratory species.Fast-paced — cover more habitats to see a greater number of species.
Birding Guide: Expert in bird calls, identification (visual and vocal), and habitat recognition.Equipment & Group Size
Birding: Binoculars and spotting scopes, often shared. Small groups or individuals.
📋 Goal: Spot and identify birds.
Experience Type Birding Tour: Educational, checklist-focused, ideal for passionate birders.
Photography Tour:
Designed for photographers — slower pace, perfect lighting, and expert guides who help you get close without disturbing the wildlife. Focuses on getting beautiful, high-quality shots of wildlife and scenery. Participants may spend longer at each location for composition, light, and behavior.Slower — guides move gradually, often waiting for the right moment, light, or bird behavior.Skilled at positioning the boat or vehicle for the best angles and light, minimizing disturbance, and anticipating animal behavior for great shots.
Equipment & Group Size Cameras with long lenses, tripods, smaller private tours (to avoid crowding or movement).
Experience TypeCreative, patient, and immersive — ideal for nature or wildlife photographers.
📸 Goal: Capture stunning wildlife images.
The Yucatan’s Endemic Species
Yucatan Wren (Campylorhynchus yucatanicus)
Mexican Sheartail(Doricha eliza)
Yucatan Flycatcher(Myiarchus yucatanensis)
Orange Orioles (Icterus auratus)
Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus)
Yucatán Black-throated Bobwhite (Colinus nigrogularis)
Yucatan Woodpecker or Red-vented Woodpecker( Melanerpes pygmaeus)
The following are commonly seen on our land birding trips
White-lored Gnatcatcher (Polioptila albiloris)
Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox)
Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)
Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota)
Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)
Canivet’s Emerald or Fork-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon canivetii)
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina splendens)
Gray-crowned Yellowthroats (Geothlypis poliocephala)
Rufous necked Wood-rail (Aramides axillaris).
Grey necked wood rail (Aramides cajaneus)
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture also known as the Savannah Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus)
King Vulture(Sarcoramphus papa) monotypic New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Zone-tailed (Buteo albonotatus)
Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens)
Laughing Falcon also called the Snake Hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans),
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria cinnamomea/solitaia)
American Pygmy-Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea)
jabirú o tuyuyu (Jabiru mycteria)
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia, formerly Dendroica petechia)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
Yellow-throated Vireo – Vireo flavifrons
Rufous-browed Peppershrike – Cyclarhis gujanensis (+insularis)
Northern Parula – Parula americana
Yellow Warbler – Dendroica petechia (bryanti)
Magnolia Warbler – Dendroica magnolia
Palm Warbler – Dendroica palmarum
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – Pheucticus ludovicianus
Indigo Bunting – Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting – Passerina ciris
White-collared Seedeater – Sporophila torqueola morelleti
Eastern Meadowlark – Sturnella magna
Great-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus mexicanus
Hooded Oriole – Icterus cucullatus
Tennessee Warblers. Oreothlypis peregrina
Mangrove Vireo. (Vireo pallens)
Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)
Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia).
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
Vermillion Flycatchers (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Northern Waterthrush, (Parkesia noveboracensis)
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica erythrogaster
Green Jay – Cyanocorax incas
Ladder-backed Woodpecker – Picoides scalaris
Least Flycatcher – Empidonax minimus
Great Kiskadee – Pitangus sulfuratus
Social Flycatcher – Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird – Tyrannus melancholicus
Other notable birds included :
White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Ruddy Ground-Dove – Columbina talpacoti
Aztec Parakeet – Aratinga astec
Groove-billed Ani – Crotophaga sulcirostris
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
Mangrove Swallows (Tachycineta albilinea).
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius),
Common Ground-dove (Columbina passerina pallescens)
Rudy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti)
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana termophila),
Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus melanocephalus)
White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus)
Gray Hawk (Buteo nitidus or plagiatus)
Northern Caracara, or Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)
Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)
Hook-billed Kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus fuliginosus)
Lesser Nighthawks (Chordeiles acutipennis micromeris),
Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinali yucatanicus)
Ferruginous Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum
Snowy (Egretta thula brewsteri),
Great Egrets(Ardea alba egretta)
White Ibises (Eudocimus albus)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus cachinnans)