Wildlife-Watching in Puerto Vallarta

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Wildlife-Watching

Banderas Bay and the contiguous coast and inland areas are blessed with abundant species of birds and beasties. Diverse habitats from riparian forests to offshore islands are home to a wide range of native and migratory birds, including about two dozen endemic species. Beyond birds, most of the wildlife spotting is marine: whales (late November through end of March), dolphins, marine turtles, and giant manta rays, among many other species.

Bird-Watching

Although there aren't a lot of dedicated birding operators here, this region is perfect for the pastime, as 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 shore birds 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.

Logistics

Most people come on trips through birding clubs or organizations like those below, or hire a private birding guide. Outfitters charge $45-$60 for half-day tours and $100-$125 for full-day tours.

Outfitters

Ecotours (Ignacio L. Vallarta 243, Col. E. Zapata. 322/223-3130 or 322/222-6606. www.ecotoursvallarta.com) runs a six-hour tropical forest tour approximately four days per week for $63. Bring plenty of insect repellent, especially in the rainy months. Clients of Immersion Adventures (Entrada Camino a La Manzanilla, La Manzanilla. 315/351-5341. www.immersionadventures.com) sneak up on their idols via kayak, accessing mangrove swamps and riparian environments as well as hiking along jungle trails. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (512/328-5221; 800/328-8368 in U.S. and Canada. www.ventbird.com) has several yearly small-group birding tours of the Puerto Vallarta from Rancho Primavera, just south of PV proper.

Mark Stackhouse, of Westwings Birding Tours (www.westwings.com), divides his time evenly between the U.S. and San Blas, Nayarit. According to Mark, a 30-year birder, it's possible to see about 25% of the birds found throughout Mexico on day trips from a San Blas Hotel. Contact Mark with plenty of lead time to arrange private birding tours. Wings (520/320-9868; 888/293-6443 in U.S. and Canada. www.wingsbirds.com) leads several weeklong tours each year to the mangroves and tropical forest around San Blas.

Dolphin Encounters

Many folks find the idea of captive dolphins disturbing; others cherish the opportunity to interact with these intelligent creatures that communicate through body language as well as an audible code we humans have yet to decipher. Decide whether you support the idea of captive-dolphin encounters, and act accordingly. Listed below are operators with captive dolphin programs as well as one that has an open-ocean encounter. As these gregarious mammals are fond of bow-surfing, most bay-tripping boats will encounter dolphins as they motor along the bay, providing more opportunities to see dolphins as well as leaping manta rays and other sea life.

Logistics

Dolphins are abundant in the bay year-round, though not 24/7. Dolphin encounters limit the number of humans per encounter, and usually allow just two visits a day, so call early in your stay to book.

Outfitters

For both the Dolphin Encounter ($69) and the Dolphin Swim ($99) with Dolphin Discovery (Sea Life Park, Carretera a Tepic, Km 155, Nuevo Vallarta. 322/297-0724) you spend about 30 of the 45-minute experience in the water interacting with dolphins. In the Royal Dolphin Swim ($139), you still get only 30 minutes in the pool, but at a higher ratio of cetaceans to humans, you get more face time. Mexican-owned Wildlife Connection (Calle Francia 140, Col. Versalles, Puerto Vallarta. 322/225-3621. www.wildlifeconnection.com) uses two-motor skiffs equipped with listening equipment to find pods of dolphins in the wild blue sea. You can then jump in the water to swim with these beautiful creatures in their own environment. The most common destination is around the Marietas Islands. The cost is $65 per person for a four-hour tour, including travel time.

Caution

Several organizations, including Greenpeace, the Humane Society (U.S.), and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society have spoken out against captive dolphin encounters, asserting that some water parks get dolphins from restricted areas, and that the confined conditions at some parks put the dolphins' health at risk. Consider putting the $100-plus fee toward a snorkeling, whale-watching, or noncaptive dolphin encounter, where you can see marine life in its natural state.

Hiking

The coastal fringe and the hills behind Vallarta -- with streams and rivers heading down from the mountains -- are beautiful areas for exploring, but few tour operators have hiking and walking trips. If you plan an impromptu exploration, it's best to take along a local familiar with the area.

Logistics

Some of the biking tour operators will lead hiking outings as well, if you ask.

Outfitters

Ecotours (Ignacio L. Vallarta 243, Col. E. Zapata. 322/223-3130 or 322/222-6606. www.ecotoursvallarta.com) leads a very short hike (about one hour total hiking) or a three-hour hike around El Nogalito River with a pit stop at a rocky, waterfall-fed pool for a dip. En route to either you'll see a small number of birds, butterflies, and tropical plants.

Vallarta Adventures (Paseo de las Palmas 39-A, Nuevo Vallarta. 322/297-1212; 888/303-2653 in U.S. and Canada. Edifício Marina Golf, Local 13-C, Calle Mástil, Marina Vallarta. 322/221-0657. www.vallarta-adventures.com) has an outdoor adventure tour combining a speedboat ride and mule trek with rappelling, hiking, and a partial canopy tour. Although hikes are generally led by knowledgeable naturalists, the emphasis is on physical activity rather than flora and fauna sightings. Participants must be 12 or over and 220 pounds or under.

Turtle-Watching & Repatriation

Mexico has seven of the eight sea turtle species in the world. Three of those species live in and around Banderas Bay. The most prevalent is the olive ridley, or golfina. The fastest growing and earliest to mature of the Pacific Coast turtles, they are much more numerous than the Careyes and leatherbacks; the latter are the least frequently sighted. Researchers estimate there are 1 to 10 leatherbacks for every 1,000 olive ridleys in the Puerto Vallarta area. The tour companies listed offer educational programs combined with hands-on activities.

After the female turtle creates a nest in the sand, the eggs incubate for approximately 60 days. The babies must bust out of eggs and earth on their own, and with luck they will head for the ocean under cover of night. Birds, crabs, and other wild animals are relentless predators. For every 1,000 baby turtles born, only one survives to adulthood. Fortunately the average nest holds several hundred eggs. For every 1,000 baby turtles born, only one survives to adulthood.

Logistics

Tours run from summer through late fall. Wear shoes or sandals that are comfortable for walking in the sand, bring a sweatshirt or light jacket, and plan to stay out late in the evening for most turtle repatriation programs, as that is when predators are less active. Most tours cost $46-$50 per person and last three to four hours.

Outfitters

Learn about and interact with nature through Ecotours (Ignacio L. Vallarta 243, Col. E. Zapata. 322/223-3130 or 322/222-6606. www.ecotoursvallarta.com), which offers three-hour turtle tours. Depending on the time of year, you may walk the beach searching for females depositing their eggs in the sand and help remove these eggs for safekeeping. Whether or not you find egg-laying females, there are always little turtles for releasing to the wild at the end of the evening. Tours are Monday through Saturday. Trained biologists from Wildlife Connection (Calle Francia 140, Col. Versalles, Puerto Vallarta. 322/225-3621. www.wildlifeconnection.com) lead turtle repatriation programs. During the four-hour tours you'll drive ATVs to the beach to find and collect recently deposited eggs, if possible, and then blast over to Boca de Tomates Beach to liberate tiny turtles under the relative protection of darkness.

Whale-Watching

Most of the boats on the bay, whether fishing boats or tour boats, also run whale-watching tours (December-mid-March). Some boats are equipped with hydrophones for listening to the whales' songs and carry trained marine biologists; others use the usual crew and simply look for signs of cetaceans. The species you're most likely to see are humpback and killer whales (a gray whale occasionally), false killer whales, and bottlenose, spinner, and pantropic spotted dolphins (yup, dolphins are whales, too!).

Logistics

Whale-watching is only available December through mid-March. Prime breeding grounds are around the Marietas Islands. The larger boats leave from Marina Vallarta, but fishermen in villages like Corral del Risco, Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlán, and even Yelapa and Las Animas can be hired for less formal, more intimate trips to look for whales. The larger boats are more likely to have radio equipment useful for communicating with others about the location of whale pods. Some outfitters offer a discount if you sign up online.

Outfitters

Ecotours (Ignacio L. Vallarta 243, Col. E. Zapata. 322/223-3130 or 322/222-6606. www.ecotoursvallarta.com) operates excursions aboard boats with hydrophones. After a brief lecture about cetacean ecosystems, board a boat at Punta de Mita for a three-hour tour. Tours are daily in season (mid-December-mid-March) and cost $74. Sociedad Cooperativa de Servicios Turísticos (Av. El Anclote 1, Manz. 17, Nuevo Corral del Risco. 329/291-6298. www.prodigyweb.net.mx/cooperativapuntamita) has whale-watching around the Marietas Islands ($115 for one to eight people). You search until whales are spotted, and then have a half-hour of viewing time before returning to dry land.

Vallarta Adventures (Paseo de las Palmas 39-A, Nuevo Vallarta. 322/297-1212; 888/303-2653 in U.S. and Canada. Edifício Marina Golf, Local 13-C, Calle Mástil, Marina Vallarta. 322/221-0657. www.vallarta-adventures.com) has professional guides who assist you in spotting dolphins and whales as you snorkel, dive, or kayak around the Marietas Islands. Sailing trips for seeking cetaceans are also available ($68-$85). Professional biologists at Wildlife Connection (Calle Francia 140, Col. Versalles, Puerto Vallarta. 322/225-3621. www.wildlifeconnection.com) are dedicated to educating the public about area wildlife; the outfit gives tours in season ($74).