Orientation Dinner, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas

We will have our orientation dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Overnight: Hotel Bonampak, Tuxtla Gutierrez

Tuxtla Gutierrez to Jaltenango

After a traditional Chiapaneco breakfast, we will visit the famous zoo, home to fauna found only in the state of Chiapas. We will then proceed to Jaltenango, arriving late afternoon.

Overnight: Hotel El Triunfo, Jaltenango

Jaltenango to El Triunfo

Day 3: Jaltenango to El Triunfo
After breakfast, we will depart Jaltenango for Finca Prussia, a remote village in the heart of the coffee zone and in the buffer zone of El Triunfo. This takes about 2 hours on rough four-wheel drive road. Finca Prussia is at 1030 meters (3,280 feet) elevation and we will be able to observe coffee processing. We will have a light snack/lunch at the trail head.

After lunch we begin the 760 meter (2,500 foot) ascent to our base camp in El Triunfo. We will pass through four different vegetation zones on our 14 kilometer (9.3 mile) hike. Normally the trip takes between 3 to 4 hours depending on how many distractions we encounter, which can be considerable depending on your area of interest. The trail is well designed with many switchbacks, and with the mules carrying all the weight, the hike-in is very enjoyable. Our goal is to reach base camp by 6:00 p.m. or just before sunset. However, due to the incredible biodiversity of the area, we are often sidetracked on the way in and hike the last half-hour or so in the dark (headlamps recommended!). If it's a clear sky, the entrance to the valley of the base camp is spectacular with the stars so close you can almost reach out and touch them.

Overnight: Campamento El Triunfo.

In the Heart of El Triunfo

Day 4: In the Heart of El Triunfo
From our base camp we will explore the diverse trails of the cloud forest. With luck, we should see the incredible flight of resplendent quetzal. This area is also home to the horned guan, endemic to the cloud forests of Chiapas and Guatemala. With the help of the reserve staff, we should be able to find tapir and jaguar tracks, and if we are really lucky see one of these elusive animals. Red brocket deer are abundant, and if you are very still and patient, not too difficult to encounter. We have a lot of flexibility and we will split into at least two groups for day hikes. We often have a group that wants to cover as much ground as possible and also some botanists and birders who are much more methodical in their exploration.

Overnight: Campamento El Triunfo

El Triunfo to Cañada Honda

Today we leave the base camp and begin our hike toward the Pacific lowlands. The great news is it's almost all downhill from here. We begin our leisurely four hour hike at 10:00 a.m. to Cañada Honda. As we hike over the crest of the Sierra Madres the views are spectacular as we leave the cloud forest and descend through a cypress dominated vegetation zone. We may be able to see the Pacific Ocean and, if we are extremely lucky, we will see the Azure-rumped Tanager, one of the rarest tanagers in the world. Cañada Honda is one of the only places in the world where the Azure-rumped Tanager is consistently spotted. Besides the great diversity of birds, Cañada Honda is also preferred habitat for the elusive jaguar and howler monkeys. Once we arrive at the campsite, the rest of the day is open to explore this unique area.

Overnight: Campamento Cañada Honda

Cañada Honda - Limonar

Day 6: Cañada Honda - Limonar
Today we depart on a beautiful hike through middle/lower montane tropical forest. This vegetation zone will be the last of the five different zones that we will experience. The lower montane tropical forest has an incredible array of biodiversity. On one trip we saw four different species of motmots in one day! We will have the afternoon to relax and explore this rich ecosystem.

Overnight: Campamento El Limonar

Limonar - Finca Paval - Acapetagua

Day 7: Limonar - Finca Paval - Acapetagua
We begin our final day in El Triunfo hiking out to the ejido of 3 de Mayo. While this hike is almost all downhill, it is rather long, about 7.5 miles. As we descend it becomes hotter, so the last couple of miles can be quite challenging. From ejido 3 de Mayo we continue to the town of Acapetagua, the gateway to La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, a spectacular coastal preserve. We will meet the boats and take about an hour boat ride to the research station of La Concepcion where we will spend the next two nights. This is a long day with a great finish. La Concepcion is nestled on the banks of the Huixtla River and we will be able to soak our tired bodies in the gentle current.

Overnight: Campamento La Concepción

La Encrucijada

Day 8: La Encrucijada
We will have the entire day to explore the reserve by boat and foot. We will begin the day with a morning bird walk along the interpretive trail at the research station, and depending how the hurricane and winter storm season progresses, we will climb the observation tower. From the top of the observation tower we have spectacular views of the surrounding area. After breakfast, we will take a trip down the Huixtla River, one of the major tributaries to the coastal area, which always has hundreds of shorebirds. We also spend time on the dramatic beaches where we can enjoy the sun and surf. Depending on conditions and the recommendations of the biologists, we may have an optional night adventure looking for crocodiles, some of which get to over 4 meters!

Overnight: Acampamento La Concepcion

La Encrucijada - Tapachula

Day 9: La Encrucijada - Tapachula
We will have a morning bird walk, optional boat trip, and a light lunch before we pack up and head to the regional hub of Tapachula. It's a nice town to stroll around and features some excellent deals on leather goods.

Overnight: Hotel Cabildo, Tapachula

Tapachula - Mexico City

We return to Mexico City in time for connecting afternoon flights.