Why Yucatán is bird country
With 456 species recorded (CONABIO, 2021), birds far outnumber the state's other vertebrates. Geography explains it: the peninsula has a long coastline of estuaries, mangroves and dunes, and lies on the route of many birds heading south from North America for the winter.
Ría Celestún is in fact recognized as an Important Bird Area.
Birds to look for
- American flamingo: the star of Celestún and Río Lagartos.
- Yucatán wren: a regional bird CONANP lists among Celestún's representative species.
- Waterbirds: herons, pelicans and cormorants are common in estuaries and mangroves.
- Migrants: in winter, species from farther north join the residents.
Where to go near Mérida
- Ría Celestún: by boat, with flamingos and waterbirds.
- Sisal: by kayak or flat-bottomed boat through the coastal wetland.
- Chuburná: the Bird Island area and wetland, according to the Diario de Yucatán.
- Ría Lagartos: to the east, a resting site for migratory birds and a flamingo nesting area.
When to go
Mexico's protected-areas commission (CONANP) recommends November through February for the largest concentrations of flamingos and migratory birds in Celestún. Resident birds are around year-round, in different proportions.
Birding tips
- Binoculars and, if you have one, a field guide or ID app.
- Go early: birds are most active in the morning.
- Neutral-colored clothing and quiet.
- Respect the minimum distance: 50 meters from flamingos in Celestún.
- Never feed the birds.
Birds on day trips from Mérida
Mary Tours runs four trips with birdwatching: Celestún (boat through the estuary), Sisal (kayak through mangroves), North Coast and Isla Columpios (bird-filled mangroves) and Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos (flamingo-viewing areas). The office is on Calle 61 in Mérida's historic center; schedule and price are in the booking section.
Fun facts
- Birds are Yucatán's most diverse vertebrate group.
- Ría Celestún is recognized as an Important Bird Area.
- The Yucatán wren is one of Celestún's representative species.
Related tours
Nature · 9 h
Celestún and the pink flamingos
The largest flamingo colony in North America
from $1,600 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half west, out to the port.
- 9:30 AM Boat ride — Flamingo and bird watching, the mangrove tunnel, the freshwater spring and the Maya bath on the sandbar.
- 11:00 AM Lunch by the beach — Fish, octopus or shrimp from the gulf, at a table facing the sea.
- 1:00 PM Free time on the beach — Almost three hours to swim, walk the shore or do nothing at all.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat ride, Lunch from a set menu
Not included: Drinks
Beach · 9.5 h
Sisal: kayak, flamingos and beach
A magic town that is still a fishing port
from $1,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half on the road to the port.
- 10:00 AM Kayaking in the coastal wetland — A paddle by kayak or flat-bottomed boat through the mangrove, with birdwatching — pink flamingos included — and a dip in a freshwater spring.
- 11:45 AM Sisal beach — Over four hours free. There are seafood places along the shore and palapas you can rent for shade.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour and a half back.
Included: Transport, Kayaking in the coastal wetlands, Free time on the beach
Not included: Food, Drinks, Palapa rental
Nature · 12 h
Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos
Genuinely pink lagoons, and flamingos in the estuary
from $1,400 MXN per person
See itinerary
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 7:00 AM Departure from the office — Almost three hours to the north coast, with a stop halfway.
- 9:50 AM Las Coloradas — A guided walk beside the pink, white and orange pools of the salt works. No swimming: it is a protected area.
- 11:00 AM Cancunito beach — A rustic beach inside the reserve, calm water and hardly anyone around.
- 12:30 PM Boat ride through the estuary — Channels through the mangroves, flamingo watching areas, crocodiles in their habitat and the mineral mud bath.
- 2:15 PM Lunch in Río Lagartos — Fresh fish, ceviche, octopus or tikin xic on the waterfront of the fishing village.
- 4:15 PM Back to Mérida — Nearly four hours back, arriving around eight.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat ride, Lunch from a set menu
Not included: Las Coloradas entrance, Drinks
Beach · 8 h
North Coast and Isla Columpios
Wooden swings driven straight into the sea
from $1,250 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a quarter to the Chuburná harbour, where the boat leaves from.
- 11:30 AM Isla Columpios — Turquoise water barely past your knees, swings and hammocks over the sea, and mangrove all around full of birds.
- 1:00 PM Chuburná dunes — White sand mounds shaped by the wind, with nobody around. Good for walking and for photos.
- 2:30 PM Puerto Progreso — Free afternoon: eat on the seafront, walk the pier or stay on the beach.
- 5:30 PM Back to Mérida — Half an hour back, arriving around six.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Boat and Isla Columpios entry
Not included: Food, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
How many bird species live in Yucatán?
456, according to CONABIO (2021).
When is the best time for birdwatching?
November to February, when migrants arrive and Celestún has the most flamingos.
Where can I go birding near Mérida?
Celestún, Sisal, Chuburná and, farther away, Río Lagartos.
What should I bring?
Binoculars, a hat, water, repellent and neutral-colored clothing.
