Mexico

Alamos

• November 2017
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• December 2023
  • Trip Report

Butterflies & Birds

• February 2020
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• February 2022
  • Trip Report
• February 2023
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• February 2024
  • Species List
  • Trip Report

Oaxaca

• October 2021
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• August 2022
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• October 2022
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• August 2023
  • Trip Report
• January 2024
  • Species List
• July 2024
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• October 2024
  • Species List
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• December 2024
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• February 2025
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• October 2025
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• January 2026
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• August 2026 (St. Louis Audubon)
  • Species List

Rancho Primavera

• April 2025
  • Trip Report

Sea of Cortés

• March 2017
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• February 2019
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• March 2022
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• March 2023
  • Trip Report

Veracruz

• September 2019
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• September 2021
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• October 2022
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• October 2025
  • Species List
  • Trip Report

Rancho Primavera

• April 2025
  • Trip Report

This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!

Ahead of Your Tour

• Make sure your passport will be valid at time of entry into Mexico through the date of departure. We highly recommend validity 3 months beyond the end of the tour in case of unforseen return travel delays. See "Passports, Visas & Documentation" section below for details.
• No Visas are required for U.S. citizens for length of this stay in Mexico. If you are not a U.S. citizen, contact your embassy website for travel document requirements.
• Please check current CDC recommendations for travel to Mexico and consult with your doctor about general travel vaccinations you should have as precaution for travel. See the “General Health and Inoculations” section below.
• Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is strongly recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance. 
• Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Passport & Documents

Guidelines and regulations can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s documentation requirements 60-90 days ahead of traveling. Information for U.S. citizens can be found at Information for U.S. citizens can be found at travel.state.gov for Mexico. If you are from another country, please contact the tour destination’s embassy website for guidelines.

Passport: You must have a passport in good condition and valid at the time on entry into Mexico. However, we highly suggest at least 3 months validity beyond the end of the tour to allow for unexpected delays in return travel. Please check your expiration date carefully! We advise having at least one blank passport page per entry stamp. U.S. citizens attempting to enter Mexico at an airport with a U.S. passport card only may be denied entry. 

Visa: At the time of writing, a tourist visa is not required for the length of this stay. It is recommended to check the link above at least 4-6 weeks ahead of your tour for any changes in requirements.

As a precaution for lost or misplaced documents you carry on your person during travel, we highly recommend you keep hard and digital backup copies on your phone (either photo or PDF scan), as well as a hard copy left with your emergency contact at home. The recommended important documents to copy include, but are not limited to; your passport ID page, travel visa, the front and back of your credit card(s), the airline barcode on your luggage. This will greatly expedite getting new ones if necessary – we hope everyone will always keep travel documents close so that losing them will not be an issue.

General Health & Inoculations Information - Be Prepared!

Health requirements for entry to any country can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s health requirements and recommendations 60-90 days ahead of traveling. A helpful website for planning is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for Mexico or by phone (800) CDC-INFO or (800) 232-4636.

We will share your health information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important as we want to be best prepared in case of a medical emergency.

Vaccinations: Please bring your up-to-date vaccination records with you. The CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date with routine vaccines and basic travel vaccines (such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid, etc.).  Consult with your doctor for recommendations at least 4- 6 weeks before departing on your trip as some vaccines may require more than one dose and time to become effective prior to your departure. 

Mosquito and tick-borne illness: The CDC will have updated information regarding recent disease outbreaks, such as Malaria or other mosquito or tick-borne diseases, as well as extra precautions to take depending on the area(s) you will be traveling through. Travelers should reduce their risk of mosquito and/or tick-borne diseases (including yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever, zika, Japanese encephalitis, etc.) by protecting themselves from bites using protective clothing, insect repellant (containing DEET, Picaridin, OLE, etc.) and prophylactics where applicable. Check the CDC and with your doctor to see whether your trip destination is currently at risk for malaria transmission and whether you should consider anti-malarial medication. For repellent permeated clothing, see Packing List for our recommendations. See the “CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel” website for more information: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/yellowbook-home.

Prescriptions: It is a good idea to pack any meds you take regularly in your carry-on luggage.  Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications you use, a copy of the prescription and a list of generic names of your medicines as “back-up” in case it is necessary to purchase drugs while abroad. You’ll want to keep medications in their original, labeled containers. 

Allergies: To be prepared for environmental triggers to allergies or breathing difficulties, please bring your allergy and/or asthma medication(s).  If you have severe allergies talk to your doctor about carrying an EPI pen and notify your guides. It is also recommended to carry with you an up-to-date record of known allergies, chronic medical problems and Medic Alerts so that, if necessary, emergency treatment can be carried out without endangering your health.

Common Ailments: We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and a supply of standard over-the-counter medications for prevention or treatment of common ailments (such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, cough, congestion, head or body aches, motion sickness, insect bites and sunburn); as well as ointments, moisturizer, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, and tweezers, etc.

Altitude Illness: According to the CDC's website, day trips to high-elevation destinations less than 8000 ft. with an evening return to a lower elevation are much less stressful on the body, depending on the time provided for your body to adjust. However, overnights at higher altitudes may have more adverse effects on your body and you should be informed about altitude illness and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) (see https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/high-altitude-travel-and-altitude-illness.html). The most general symptoms are headache and occasionally fatigue and dizziness. You’ll want to take it easy, particularly at first. The likelihood of these symptoms can be reduced by resting, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol, taking aspirin and optimize acclimatization by adjusting itineraries to avoid going “too high too fast." If you have worries about the altitude, ask your physician about medications (such as Diamox) that may be right for you. 

Weather & Climate

Mexico’s climate and temperatures will vary depending on topography. Central, inland communities at higher elevations (see altitudes listed in section above regarding altitude illness) such as Guadalajara are much dryer and more temperate than the coasts. Mexico City, with its much higher elevation, can reach freezing temperatures in the winter. The temperatures in the higher elevation butterfly reserves can be quite cold in the early mornings. February temperatures along your adventure will range from average highs of 85°F and average lows of 40°F.

You may want to check your favorite weather information website for forecasts and predictions closer to your date of travel. 

Annoyances & Hazards

Always listen carefully to any advice given by your local guide regarding pests and other biting insects or reptiles you may encounter.

Mosquitos, ticks and other insects: Even if you are traveling in the dry season, mosquitos, ticks and other insects can always be encountered in your travels, so don't risk illness. See the “General Health and Inoculations” section above regarding recommended preventative measures.

Chiggers are a part of lowland and mid-elevation habitats. You may encounter them at grassland or farm locations. Your guide should have a good read on whether chiggers are a concern. It is helpful to spray your shoes with repellent and tuck your pants into your socks .  When back, be sure to shower and air out your clothing.

Remember, sunburn can be both an annoyance and a hazard, so be prepared with proper sun protection.

Food & Drinks

Menus at the lodges are varied, sustainably based on the wonderful local ingredients available, and delightfully prepared in a sanitary environment. As with any case when traveling, we urge you to consider what your body is used to before you eat something. Trust your common sense when consuming food and beverages. This is the best way to avoid any unwanted problems. Ask for recommendations from your hotel or refer to a guidebook such as Frommers.  

Generally, sanitation and cleanliness have improved significantly in Mexico. However, tap water in Mexico is generally not potable. Bring a refillable water bottle that you can refill from larger bottles of purified water as needed for drinking and brushing your teeth; this helps enormously to cut down on the use of plastics. Purified water will be available everywhere you go, as well as purified ice. There will be a cooler full of drinks that your guide will keep stocked during the trip. A number of restaurants and hotels will use purified water, but you may want to ask first to be sure. 

There are some great refillable water filtering bottles on the market today that are great for travels abroad. We encourage you to invest in one (such as Lifestraw or GRAYL Ultrapress or SteriPen). 

Packing, Clothing & Laundry

See “Packing List” tab for more detailed information and checklists, but in summary, we emphasize that you pack light in soft-sided luggage (easier to load in vans and charter planes), plan for dressing comfortably in layers (for managing varying conditions in any given day), and please pack your personal medication, travel documents, optics, and other essential items in your CARRY-ON, not in your checked luggage. Laundry services are available at most lodgings for an additional fee, but be prepared to hand launder if you need to. 

Spending Money

The official currency in Mexico is the Peso. US dollar is accepted but not everywhere. We advise that you carry a mix of different types of payments, such as cash, an ATM card, and a credit card. For the current exchange rate, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com, or your bank. U.S. dollars in good condition (no rips or tears) are taken as a form of payment but shopping for smaller handicrafts may necessitate using local currency. Bring large U.S. bills ($50 or $100) that will give you the better rate when exchanging to local currency.

When using the ATM to withdrawal cash, keep in mind it might only accept cards from local banks or not allow cash advances on credit cards, and there are often transaction fees for withdrawals. Check with your bank before departure, and be sure you know your PIN number ahead of the journey.

We suggest you have more than one card available, if possible. You may want to bring more than one brand of card (VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted; American Express is less common). You can use credit cards at lodges to pay your bar and gift tabs. Not every location will accept every card and some smaller shops and restaurants, or taxis often require cash, so it is always a good idea to ask before making a purchase. We recommend that you advise your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling abroad to avoid questions, card freezes, or charges. If you have a choice of cards, bring one with no foreign exchange fees.

Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted, and can be difficult to exchange. We do not advise that you use them.

Gratuities

We hope that you will be pleased with all professional services offered on this tour. All tips for all services of your tour are now included in your tour price, with the exception of your main (local) guides. Tipping to your guide(s) to show your appreciation is entirely at your discretion and should reflect your level of satisfaction with the service provided. Know that they appreciate anything you choose to give. The recommended rate is:

• $10.00 - $15.00 per day per guest 

If there is more than one local guide, they will share your gratuity. (Note that if participating in a tour extension and the local guide(s) are different from the main tour guide(s), they should be tipped separately from the main tour). 

You may also wish to tip your Naturalist Journeys guide/host if you have one on your tour - this should be done separately and the same suggested rate applies. We suggest you bring 2-3 envelopes or cards to make it easy to designate when providing gratuities at the end of the tour. 

Please note recommended tips are quoted in U.S. dollars. Tips should be converted and paid in local currency unless directed otherwise.

Cell Phones & Internet Service

Your guide is well connected and can help if any urgent communication need arises. However, it is highly recommended that you travel with a cell phone, if only as a precaution for the unfortunate occurrence of a medical emergency during an outing and needing swift accessibility to critical personal or medical contacts. 

Please check with your wireless provider to see if your phone and service will work in your destination country. Options include activating international roaming, purchasing a local SIM card at the airport (newer phones may not accept SIM cards), or simply turning off cellular service and relying on Wi-Fi to make calls and access the internet. If your phone can connect to Wi-Fi, you may be able to make voice and video calls free of charge. Another option if you have access to Wi-Fi is to use smartphone apps like Skype, WhatsApp, or Viber to send text messages, and make voice calls, or video calls. Many smartphones, tablets, or laptops come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download for free.

Your hotels and most local restaurants provide Wi-Fi at least in their common areas. Although it is generally a reliable service, it can be affected by adverse weather conditions due to the remote location.

Make sure if you do NOT want to use your cell phone that you turn off your cellular data. You could incur huge charges if you are not on Wi-Fi. Putting your phone in airplane mode if you mainly use it for photos will save the battery as well. 

Please refrain from taking or making cell phone calls in the vehicles when traveling with other passengers, unless it appears to be an emergency. This disrupts other guests, plan on cell phone call use on your own time.

Electricity

Mexico plugs are 110 volts AV (60 cycles), as they are in the U.S. and Canada. You will not need a power plug adapter if you are using U.S. or Canadian plugs. Mexican socket types are type A and B. We recommend you bring a 3 to 2 prong adaptor just in case type B sockets are not available. For more information: www.power-plugs-sockets.com/us/mexico

Time

Your Mexican adventure will be in the Central Daylight Time zone (CDT). A great website if you want to tell someone to check ahead of calling you is www.timeanddate.com.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone at our office: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey!

 

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role

Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Travel Insurance

You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

 

Please Pack Light!

Luggage: Soft-sided luggage is much easier for us to pack in vehicles or charter aircraft than a more rigid hard sided piece, so if you have the choice, please use your soft-sided luggage. Be sure to have your name and address on the inside of the bag, as well as on the luggage tag on the handle. It is our hope that you can pack in one checked bag that does not exceed 45 pounds. Please reconfirm your airline’s baggage weight and size restrictions about a week or so before departure.

Delayed Luggage:  Imagine NOT getting your checked bags upon arrival! Therefore, DO NOT pack any essential medications, vital optics (binoculars, camera, eye-glasses), or essential travel documents in your checked luggage! Pack these and other essential items in your carry-on bag and on your person (i.e. under-garment pouch). You will want a day pack for field trips, so this makes an ideal carry-on. Another suggested tip is to travel wearing your most important shoes for the field and have one day’s clothing change (including a change of underwear!).

Dress: Pack clothing that will keep you comfortable and dry for the anticipated temperatures and conditions (See “Weather & Climate” section in Essential Information).  Dress is informal throughout the trip. Dressing in lightweight layers is the best way to provide options to get you through a day of varying weather and temperatures comfortably. Lightweight long sleeve shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing as they are more protective from sun, vegetation and pests. Also, choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy and things that are loose-fitting, comfortable, and easy to layer and launder. 

Quick-dry fabrics are ideal to wear.  Include quick-drying socks in this decision, which are typically made from lightweight synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and polypropylene, or thin merino wool blends. Because these performance fibers wick moisture away from the skin and feature low-mass, thin weaves, they release trapped water rapidly. Avoid thick cushioning or cotton, which trap and hold onto water. These technical materials wick moisture away from the skin and evaporate sweat fast instead of trapping it like cotton. 

A lightweight and waterproof outer layer is essential as well as comfortable hiking footwear. Fabrics like fleece, as well as rain gear, will protect you from rain and wind and keep you warm. It is important to have a warm jacket when the tour includes cooler temps and/or higher elevations.

Laundry: Several of our lodges and camps provide laundry service for a nominal charge. However, just in case, consider packing laundry soap sheets in case you need to hand launder in a pinch and remember that quick-dry fabrics are best.

Treating your clothing to better protect you from insects: It is possible to purchase Permethrin spray (online or from REI) to treat your field clothing and socks before your departure. Another approach is to purchase field clothing permeated with insect repellent such as the Insect Shield collection.

Note on clothing colors: We recommend muted colors of tan, brown, khaki, grey or green, as they are spotted less easily than white or bright colors, though camouflage clothing is not recommended.

Valuables: WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing, and your mind will be at ease!

Clothing & Gear

• Lightweight or convertible hiking pants, 1-2 pair
• Shorts, 2-3 pair
• Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, 2-3
• T-shirts, sleeveless and short-sleeved or equivalent, 2-3
• Comfortable clothes for evening (a cleaner version of your field clothes)
• Personal underclothing (consider what dries quickly if you plan to do laundry)
• Socks – lightweight, easy to wash and dry
• Comfortable walking shoes (such as tennis shoes)
• Lightweight hiking boots
• Sandals for evenings, travel days (optional)
• Lightweight jacket: fleece fabric is ideal, or a pullover/sweater
• Lightweight hooded raincoat (great if this doubles as a windbreaker)
• Hat with broad brim
• Bandana (optional, great for cooling off when hot and sweaty)
• Bathing suit (optional)
• Field vest (optional), a great source is Big Pockets

Equipment & Miscellaneous

• Photo identification 
• Passport (and visa or other travel authorizations when traveling internationally) - Note: To avoid issues with confirming your identity when two forms of ID are required, the name on your Drivers License (or other secondary forms of ID) should match your passport.
• Airline tickets or E-ticket verification
• Travel insurance info
• Money & credit cards
• A secure pouch to carry the items above on your person at all times (such as a secure, under-clothing document pouch)
• As a backup: copies of all the above (phone and/or paper) packed in a separate location than on your person, plus a set given to your emergency contact at home as a backup. When carrying a passport, a copy of the ID and entry stamp pages.
• Small backpack, daypack or fanny pack for carrying your field gear (this can double as your carry-on!). Consider waterproof if excessive rain is expected.
• Cell phone and charger
• Binoculars with safety strap (a shower cap is great to cover these when raining)
• Camera and charger/extra batteries, memory cards/film, lens cleaning supplies and instruction manual (optional)
• Spotting scope and tripod (optional – guide will have them)
• Tablet/laptop for personal use and/or transferring photos, USB stick, USB cord and charger (optional)
• Rechargeable power bank (optional)
• Electricity converters and adapters for 2-to-3 prong electronics plugs if needed (See "Electricity" under "Essential Information")
• Reusable water bottle to reduce the use of disposible plastics (consider one with filters for destinations where tap water is deemed unsafe to drink - such as Lifestraw or GRAYL Ultrapress or SteriPen). 
• Umbrella – compact and not brightly colored
• Walking stick – we find that many travelers appreciate a walking stick on trails, sporting goods stores carry collapsible models that pack easily in your suitcase (optional)
• Small flashlight with fresh batteries
• Alarm clock
• Travel Sewing Kit
• Sunscreen/lip balm
• Sunglasses with neck strap
• Toiletry articles
• Washcloth (available some places and not at others)
• Laundry soap (consider laundry soap "sheets" that pack flat, and are lightweight and environmentally friendly)
• Notebook or journal and pen (optional)
• Field guides (optional)
• Earplugs – in urban and even rural areas barking dogs and traffic noise can be annoying
• A collapsible airplane footrest (such as an inflatable, foldable, or hammock type) may help make longer flights more comfortable. Some airlines may have restrictions, so confirm with your airline which types are allowed and where they may be not allowed, i.e. bulkhead or exit rows (optional)

Medical & First Aid

• Health insurance
• Vaccination records
• Personal Rx medications (in their original labeled prescription packaging)
• Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts (with plenty of wetting and cleaning solution)
• Copy of eyeglass prescription, medical prescriptions, and any medical alerts
• Epi-pen if needed for allergic reactions (include prescription label)
• Altitude illness meds (such as Diamox) if likely to be needed
• Common ailments: We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and a supply of standard over-the-counter medications for prevention or treatment of common ailments (such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, cough, congestion, head or body aches, motion sickness, insect bites and sunburn); as well as ointments, moisturizer, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, and tweezers, etc.
• Comfort remedies: Foot powder, lotions, etc.
• Hand sanitizer and/or hygienic cleansing wipes
• For areas that are at risk for Malaria and the need is anticipated: Anti-malarial prophylactics and antibiotic prescription in case of infection, prescribed by your physician

 

There are many titles of interest for Mexico the following are a few that we have enjoyed that can get you started.

Top Picks

Merlin App – Mexico Pack. A phone-based birding app from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Before departing the U.S., download the app for free, then from within the app, download the “pack” for Mexico.

A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America

Mexico - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Field Guides

A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America

Birds of Mexico and Central America

Sibley Guide to Birds

A Bird-Finding Guide to Mexico

Flowering Plants of the Neotropics

Natural History

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, a Poisonous Plant, and Their Remarkable Story of Coevolution

Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage

Four Wings and a Prayer: Caught in the Mystery of the Monarch Butterfly

A Naturalist’s Mexico

Wildlife Ecology and Management in Mexico

History & Culture

A Concise History of Mexico

Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans

The Oxford History of Mexico

Defending the Land of the Jaguar: A History of Conservation in Mexico

The Mexico Reader: History Culture, Politics

Easy Spanish Phrase Book: Over 700 Phrases for Everyday Use

There is a good selection of books available for sale at visitors’ centers, and your guide will also have a selection of reference books and materials for participants to share. As an Amazon Associate, Naturalist Journeys earns from qualifying purchases, and may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no added cost to you.

 

General

Mexico

Mexico City

Nature, Wildlife & Biology

Butterflies of Mexico

Monarch Butterflies in Mexico

Monarch Butterfly Migration Google Earth Tour – Awesome 12-min. production

Arrival of Monarch Butterflies in Sierra Chincua – 3-min. video

Sierra Chincua – Reuters Article about Hopes for a Monarch Comeback

Endemics of Mexico

Mexico Checklist

La Cima Checklist

Lerma Checklist

Jungapeo Checklist

Patzcuaro Checklist

Tacambaro Checklist

Conservation

Monarch Conservation

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO)

Reforesting Michoacán

Biodiversity in Mexico

The Nature Conservancy - Mexico

• https://www.tncmx.org/

Geology & Geography

Variety of Maps of Mexico

• https://geology.com/world/mexico-satellite-image.shtml

Geology and Stratigraphy of the Mexico Basin (Mexico City), central Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17445647.2019.1593251

Geological Oddities of Mexico

• https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/mexico/geological-oddities

Geography of Mexico

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Mexico

History & Culture

History of Mexico

• https://www.history.com/topics/mexico/history-of-mexico

Mexican Culture & Arts

• https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/mexican-culture
• https://www.facts-about-mexico.com/mexican-art.html
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico/Holidays-and-festivals

Spanish Phrases

• https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/this-spanish-course-will-prepare-you-for-your-mexican-vacation/

Helpful Travel Websites

Fast Facts

• https://www.frommers.com/destinations/mexico/planning-a-trip/fast-facts

Homeland Security Real ID Act

• https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• https://www.tsa.gov

National Passport Information Center

• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• https://www.cbp.gov/travel

ATM Locator

• https://www.visa.com/atmlocator/

• https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/find-nearest-atm.html

Foreign Exchange Rates

• https://www.xe.com/

U.S. Department of State International Travel Information - Mexico

• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Mexico.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Mexico

• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/mexico?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-leftnav-traveler

Canada Travel Advice and Advisories - Mexico

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico

Travel Health Pro (UK) - Mexico

• https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/147/mexico

Electricity and Plugs - Mexico

• https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/mexico/

Date, Time, and Holidays - Mexico

• https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/mexico
• https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/mexico/