Durango Highway - San Blas

The best bird diversity of Western Mexico

By combining a visit to the northern Sierra Madre along the Durango Highway with some time in the tropical lowlands surrounding San Blas, it is possible to see more than 25 percent of the bird species that exist in the entire country of Mexico, including more than a third of Mexico's 100 endemic birds!

Moving from low elevation to high we will visit large estuaries with extensive mudflats, to the vast stands of dry, tropical deciduous forests in the foothill region of Concordia and Copala, one of the richest plant communities on earth. Then on to gallery oak forests that hold dozens of the 200 plus oak species found in Mexico. Finally, reaching the coniferous forests at the highest elevations with more a dozen species of pines, including the rare "Sacred Fir" (abies religiosa). By visiting all of these distinct habitats in one trip, it is not unreasonable to expect more than 300 species of birds!

Itinerary