Bird Watching

Although there aren't many dedicated birding operators here, this region is perfect for the pastime. Vallarta has more than 350 species in a wide variety of habitats, including shoreline, rivers, marshes, lagoons, mangroves, and tropical and evergreen forests. In the mangroves, standouts are the great blue heron, mangrove cuckoo, and vireo. Ocean and shorebirds include brown and blue-footed boobies and red-billed tropic birds. Military macaws patrol the thorn forests, and songbirds of all stripes serenade the pine-oak forests at higher elevations.

Logistics

Most people come on trips through birding clubs or organizations or hire a private birding guide. Outfitters charge $50–$60 for half-day tours and $100–$125 for full-day tours.

Outfitters

Wings. It's a Tucson, Arizona–based operator that leads at least one weeklong tour each year to the mangroves and tropical forest around San Blas, Jalisco, and Colima. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. 520/320–9868; 888/293–6443 in U.S. and Canada. www.wingsbirds.com..