Veracruz, Mexico: River of Raptors October 7-18, 2025

Tour one of the iconic raptor migrations in the world, with the biologist who discovered the flyway over 40 years ago. Steve Hoffman co-founded the Veracruz River of Raptors Project in 1991.

Cost: $4,600/person.

Single Supplement: $550.

Maximum Group Size: 12

Spaces Currently Available: 7

Tour Difficulty: Easy

Number of Bird Species: 260+

Guides: Kashmir Wolf-Local MX guide; Steve Hoffman-USA Guide.

Tour prices are given “per person, double occupancy” and will include a generous donation to Pronatura Veracruz, a local, highly respected nonprofit bird/habitat conservation organization working throughout the region (their work includes the "River of Raptors" monitoring/education project. Our tour fee includes the following (unless otherwise noted): 

  • All trip materials, including detailed daily itinerary, list of what to bring, recommended field guides and pre-trip reading materials, checklist of likely birds, etc.

  • All services of the leaders and guides.

  • All transportation upon arrival at destination airport (Veracruz City).

  • All accommodations during tour dates.

  • All entrance fees to museums, parks, etc.

  • All meals (excluding alcoholic beverages) are included, from breakfast on the first full day through dinner on the last full day. 

Tour prices DO NOT include round-trip airfare, passport/visa fees, baggage fees, telephone calls, laundry, room service, souvenirs, and tipping of all guides & drivers (optional, but highly recommended!).

Note: Tour costs and itineraries are subject to change. Prices could be affected by changing international currency exchange rates or necessary itinerary adjustments.

Each fall, millions of migrating raptors are counted in central Veracruz, Mexico! As these majestic birds migrate south, they are funneled into a narrow bottleneck between the Sierra Madre Orientale Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico. This raptor flyway, the largest visible raptor migration on Earth, also harbors large concentrations of other avian migrants, including White Pelican, Wood Stork, White-faced Ibis, Anhinga, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and much more. 

​Tour participants will have exciting and memorable opportunities to observe the spectacular raptor and waterbird migrations, as well as visit a variety of habitats (from freshwater wetlands and Gulf shores to pine forests, savannas, and lowland tropical rainforests) to view the exceptional diversity of resident Mexican species and North American wintering birds. (A remarkable variety of colorful butterflies is also spectacular!) Up to 260 bird species are recorded on this 12-day birding extravaganza in central and southern Veracruz! Kashmir ("Kash") Wolf, an excellent bilingual local guide, will accompany us throughout this tour.

​Tour organizer/leader Steve Hoffman co-founded the Veracruz River of Raptors Project in 1991 while employed by HawkWatch International (an organization he founded in 1986). Over the past 30 years, this project has become a world-renowned raptor monitoring, education, and conservation initiative. Pronatura Veracruz, a regional nonprofit nature conservation organization, leads this annual effort. Importantly, this project spawned the development of the first bird observatory in all of Mexico (it was completed and opened to the public in 2006).

Itinerary at a Glance:

Oct 10:   Arrive in Veracruz City.

Oct 11:    Birding at Hotel, transfer to Cardel, hawkwatching, La Antigua boat ride.

Oct 12:    Villa Rica, Quiahuitzlan Ruins, Cempoala Ruins; transfer to Xalapa.

Oct 13:    Macuiltepetl City Park, Museo de Antropologia (Xalapa overnite).

Oct 14:    La Joya, Las Minas, Los Humeros (pine forest & high desert birding).

Oct 15:   Xico, Rio Escondido, Chichicaxtle Hawk Watching.

Oct 16:    El Mirador Coffee Plantation, Chichicaxtle Hawk Watching.

Oct 17:   Alvarado Wetlands Boat Trip, Las Barrancas Grasslands.

Oct 18:   Las Barrancas, Tlacotalpan, (Catemaco overnite).

Oct 19:   Nanciyaga-La Jungla, Los Tuxtlas Biological Station, Montepio. 

Oct 20:  Ruiz Cortinez, Veracruz City sightseeing.

Oct 21:  Return home.

Experience Veracruz with Merlin Birding & Nature Tours

The best naturalist guides

Over 40 years ago, lead guide Steve Hoffman was at the forefront of groundbreaking research proving that Raptors west of the Mississippi migrate, a controversial hypothesis at the time. Your journey also includes Kasmir Wolf, a local guide & an expert in bird identification, with a personality that matches his considerable birding skills.

A Small Group, capped at 12 participants or less

You’re small group greatly increases the chances of seeing skittish birds and other wildlife. Two guides for your group make it possible to hear your guides whisper details about the animals to you. Many others offer trips that have 20 or even 30 participants. Those trips may be cheaper, but many footsteps and voices drown out nature’s more delicate sounds.