FOURTH ANNUAL YUCATAN BIRD FESTIVAL TOH "United for the Birds" DECEMBER 1 - 4, 2005 click here to sign up >>>

En Español

FOURTH YUCATAN BIRD FESTIVAL

DECEMBER 1 - 4, 2005, MÉRIDA and CHICHÉN ITZÁ

“UNITED FOR BIRDS”

PROGRAM

Thursday, December 1

4:00 – 5:00 P.M. Conference in Spanish on the “Use of E-Bird” by Dr. Humberto Berlanga – Teatro Mérida.

5:00 – 6:30 P.M. Conference in Spanish “The impact of the illegal capture and commercialization of birds on their populations” Manuel Grosselet – Teatro Mérida. (to be confirmed).

7:00 – 8:00 P.M. Registration for Festival – lobby of Hotel Casa del Balam, Mérida.

7:30 P.M. Inaugural Cocktail and Presentation “Yucatan Wildlife Viewing Trail”; restricted to registered participants and special guests. Hotel Casa del Balam. Overnight in hotel of choice in Mérida.

Friday, December 2

6:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Field trip with lunch to bird watch at haciendas and/or at local eco-tourism project near Izamal, en route to Chichén Itzá.

3:00 - 4:00 P.M. Late registration for Festival - lobby Hotel Hacienda Chichén.

4:00 – 6:00 P.M. Bird watch in area of Chichén Itzá.

4:30 P.M. Conference in English by Paul Wood on the birds of the region – CULTUR auditorium at main entrance to the archeological zone, Chichén Itzá.

6:30 P.M: Inauguration of the “Merle Greene Gallery” – Hotel Hacienda Chichén.

7:30 P.M. Welcome Dinner – Hotel Hacienda Chichén.

Overnight in hotel of choice Chichén Itzá and Piste.

Saturday, December 3

5:00 A.M. Start of bird marathon - xoc ch'ich' ; breakfast in hotels where lodged.

Three Routes:

1. Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Yaxuná; overnight, dinner and breakfast in hotel at Chichén Itzá or Piste.

2. Xcambo archeological zone – Telchac Puerto on the north coast; overnight, lunch, dinner and breakfast in Hotel Reef, Telchac

3. Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, overnight, dinner and breakfast at Hotel San Felipe.

Sunday, December 4

10:00 A.M. The xoc ch'ich' ends.

11:30 A.M. Hand in bird lists in lobby of Hotel Hacienda Chichén.

12:30 Noon Awards Luncheon at Hotel Hacienda Chichén.

2:00 P.M. Awards Ceremony.

4:00 P.M. Return to Mérida or start post-festival trip.

FOURTH YUCATAN BIRD FESTIVAL

COSTS AND PACKAGES

Note: You are welcome to create your own packages from the costs provided below or we offer you “pre-packed” options to reduce the decision making process! Ecoturismo Yucatán can accommodate your special requests. Just tell them what you want to do and they will construct an itinerary made to fit! All prices are in U.S. dollars.

Separate costs:

· Registration: $5.00

· Welcome Dinner, Hacienda Chichén, Friday, December 2 : $25.00

· Awards Luncheon: $25.00

· Birding tour to Izamal en route to Chichén Itzá with box breakfast, lunch, bird guide and transportation. Minimum 6 persons, December 2: $117.00

· Transportation between Mérida and Chichén Itzá or the reverse non-tour (1½ hrs): $32.00.

· Hotels Mérida, double rooms with taxes and tips:

o Casa del Balam: $121.00 (single or double).

o Hotel Caribe: $68.00; ($61.00 single).

· Hotels in area of Chichén Itzá, double rooms with American or box breakfast, taxes and tips:

o Hacienda Chichén, a 5 minute walk from the archeological zone and Festival Headquarters: $175.00.

o Hotel Chichén, Piste, an 8 minute car ride from Hacienda Chichén: standard - - $70.00.

Package “El Toh” $352.00 per/person, double occupancy; all taxes and tips. Single supplement $131.00.

Includes:

· Registration.

· Inaugural Cocktail and Exhibit.

· Overnight Casa del Balam December 1.

· Bird tour to Izamal haciendas and Chichén Itzá, with box breakfast and lunch.

· Conference on the local birds by Paul Wood.

· Welcome dinner.

· Overnight Hacienda Chichén December 2 with breakfast.

· Awards luncheon.

· Transportation Chichén Itzá to Mérida.

Add to the above the cost of the xoc ch'ich' route selected. (If you choose Route 1, add the cost of another overnight in Hacienda Chichén with breakfast as per prices above.)

Package “El Cutz” $275.50 per/person, double occupancy, all taxes and tips. Single supplement: $65.00.

Includes:

· Registration.

· Inaugural cocktail and exhibit.

· Overnight Hotel Caribe, December 1.

· Bird tour to Izamal haciendas and Chichén Itzá, with box breakfast and lunch.

· Conference on the local birds by Paul Wood.

· Welcome dinner.

· Overnight Hotel Chichén, superior room with breakfast.

· Awards luncheon.

· Transportation Chichén Itzá to Mérida.

Add to the above the cost of the xoc ch'ich' route selected. (If you choose Route 1 add the cost of another night at Hotel Chichén with breakfast as per prices above.)

XOC CH'ICH' ROUTES & COSTS

December 3, 2005

6:00 A.M. Leave Chichén Itzá in air conditioned van with driver and bird guide; minimum 6 participants. All tips and taxes included as well as snacks, lunch and dinner December 3 and American breakfast December 4 (included in cost of hotel room.) Cost of Routes 2 and 3 include overnight in field, December 3.

1. Route 1: Chichén Itzá to area of Izamal and Yaxuná, return to Chichén Itzá: $276.00 plus cost of hotel with breakfast in same hotel as December 3 in Chichén Itzá or Piste.

2. Route 2: Chichén Itzá to Telchac Puerto on north coast via Xcambo archeological zone; overnight Hotel Reef Yucatán on beach. Return to Chichén December 4: $334.00; single supplement $102.00 (all inclusive hotel).

3. Route 3: Chichén Itzá to Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve; overnight San Felipe; return to Chichén Itzá December 4: $297.00; single supplement $29.00.