The Military Macaw Sanctuary
Duration
7hr
Season
Nov-Jun
Groups
up to 12
Offered
Eng / Spa
Macaw Sanctuary Tour Details
Mexico has among its natural treasures a group of very colorful and charismatic animals: the macaws. They are large birds, up to 80 cm long, and are found mostly on the coastal slopes of mountainous regions on both sides of the country, from sea level to 4900 and even 6500 feet. The macaws are selective when it comes to their sites for feeding and reproduction, so they act as an indicator of habitat health, thus in some disturbed regions it is one of the first species to disappear. Of the two species that fly in the Mexican skies (green and red), the green macaw has an endemic subspecies (Ara militaris mexicana). Because it is a very attractive bird, the illegal traffic, national and international, has greatly affected its numbers, disappearing entire populations in certain areas of the country.
In Puerto Vallarta we can find this wonderful species to the south of the city, in the mountains and coasts that we share with Cabo Corrientes. There are different areas of nesting and feeding that are protected by premises committed to the natural wealth of the area. One of these areas is the Sanctuary of the Guacamayas, a site where local efforts allow the design, construction and installation of artificial nests to support the growth of the local population of the green macaw. Likewise, because of the location of the sanctuary, it is an excellent site for sighting other striking birds such as the Colima pigmy owl, the brown-backed solitaire, orange-fronted parakeets, warblers, woodpeckers, among many others.
The conservation of the green macaw and its habitat has very important challenges and opportunities for Mexican society and local efforts to conserve their nesting sites are a very significant activity that you can be part of.
Available days
- Monday,
- Wednesday
- and Friday
Highlights
- Guide specialized in birds
- Binoculars and telescope available. Personal bird list.
- Identification material
- Small groups
Includes
- Ground transportation in vans with a/c
- Conservation fee for the Green Macaw Sanctuary
- Continental Breakfast and refreshments
Know Before You Book
Fitness level: Moderate flexible. Most walks are not difficult, but some moderate walks on natural trails or unpaved roads will be necessary.
- Children under 8 years of age and pregnant women are not allowed
- People with back, neck, heart or knee problems are not recommended
- Children from 8 to 11 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult
- Not accessible for wheelchairs
- All participants must be able to walk on their own for short distances over natural or unpaved trails
Itinerary
6:30 am
We will drive south of Puerto Vallarta, passing through the center of the city, entering the southern coast of the Bay, admiring the wonderful natural landscapes that it offers us. On the way we will stop to enjoy a light breakfast while we start our birdwatching activity.
Approximately two hours later we’ll be arriving at the Sanctuary, where we start to gain altitude to look for the star of this adventure. We will be some hours on the site and around 12 pm we start our return, making a stop in the coastal town of Boca de Tomatlan to enjoy some local snack, while we finish our observations with coastal birds and fill up our check list.
We’ll be arriving to to Puerto Vallarta approximately at 2.30pm.
SUPPORTING CONSERVATION
In Ecotours de México we pride ourselves on offering excellent services on all our nature tours. To achieve this, we believe it is vital to protect the most important thing we have: our environment. Therefore, throughout our more than 25 years of experience, we have participated and supported different associations, campaigns and conservation projects, both local and national. Some of them are:
ECOBAC.
– We are the main sponsor of ECOBAC (Ecology and Conservation of Whales, AC), a non-profit association that is responsible for the research and protection of humpback whales in Banderas Bay, as well as the diffusion of the NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, federation standard for whale watching.
– We participate in the FIBB Catalog providing photographs of humpback whales for identification.
– ECOBAC and RABEN (Network of Assistance to Entangled Whales) are responsible for dealing with cases of whales entangled in fishing gear; Ecotours has supported these activities by providing boats and trained personnel for rescue maneuvers.
– Distribution of ecological and conservation information for environmental education.
– Find more information at www.whalephoto.org
Boca de Tomatlán Sea Turtle Camp.
– Each season, Ecotours de México makes a donation of various materials necessary for the correct management of the camp (tarpaulins, buckets, boxes, rakes, diggers, etc.)
– Also, donations of teaching materials with information about turtles have been made.
– Likewise, a donation is made per person in each of our visits during our tour “Encounter with Nature at the Sea Turtle Camp”.
The Green Macaw Sanctuary.
– In 2017, an artificial nest was donated for the project of protection, conservation and reproduction of the green macaw in Las Juntas and Los Veranos, Jalisco.
– Ecotours staff also supported the assembly of the donated artificial nest.
– Also, a donation is made per person in each of our visits to the sanctuary during the “Green Macaws Sanctuary” tour.
Campaigns to clean rivers and beaches.
– Ecotours has organized and participated in various local campaigns to clean the rivers and beaches of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay.
– In the same way, we clean the areas we visit in our tours.
Fishing Garbage Tournament at Marietas Islands.
– Ecotours has promoted and participated of the cleaning activities organized by CONANP (National Commission of Protected Natural Areas) and the National Park managers.
Distribution of organic products.
– To further support the care of our environment, at our shop we have biodegradable products (Newen organic soap, solid shampoo, handmade soaps), environment-riendly products (bamboo toothbrushes) and reusable products (aluminum bottles, mesh bags and jute bags).
We do this because we really care about Nature.
What to bring
Bring your refillable water bottle or purchase your bottle at cost with us and get 10% discount in our store. Check the Ecofriendly products Link section.
Binoculars, all-terrain shoes or tennis, comfortable clothing, insect repellent, sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or cap), camera.
Cancellation Policies
- Cancellations 72 hrs in advance 100 % refund
- Cancellations 48 hrs in advance 50% refund
- Cancellations the day of tour, no shows or being late, No refund, forfeit the entire amount
- Activities may be changed due to weather conditions (hurricane, storm)
- All guests are required to sign a release of liability.
- All tours are non-refundable once taken
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