Birds of the Mayan World 2 / Route of the cenotes

We had a delightful day with Jose Gill! He is very knowledgeable and kind. Our highlight of the day was the ferriginous pigmy owl, which we told him was a bird we would love to see.

Jose was so knowledgeable, not only about birds and plants, but also history. His love of the jungle, his curiosity and his sense of wonder—infectious!

Escaped the crowded Cancún hotel zone and traded pool chairs for binoculars 🔭✨ Huge shout-out to José Gil Paz Gutiérrez for going above and beyond! I couldn’t make the early-morning tour (sleep > sunrise 😆), so José took us on an evening private tour just for me and my guy instead 🙌 I knew there would be less bird activity in the evening, but what we saw was stunning (no pics because both hands were on my binos and my jaw was on the floor 😆). I could not take my eyes off of the toucan who 100% knew he was the main character 🎭 - that beak was a showstopper!🌟… and even got treated to a rainbow on the way back 🌈✨ Thank you Jose for making my inner bird nerd so happy! 😄🦜Work-life balance = binoculars 🔭, nature 🌿, zero emails 📵… 10/10 would ditch the resort again 😆

My bird tour experience was great! I was picked up from my hotel and had a great time looking for birds. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Thanks for the great tour!

Jose was very knowledgeable about birds , wildlife , the jungle. It was a Great trip , we saw 68 birds that included many lifers . The food we had for breakfast/lunch was amazing, the best local food we had on our whole trip . We will contact Jose next time we are in Cancun !

As a solo female looking to book a birding tour, I was a little worried about my options. However upon meeting José, I was immediately put at ease by his kind, thoughtful, and gentle demeanor. José is hands down the guy you want. While he may not have as many reviews as the bigger guys, he has the best background and tools for an amazing time. His endemic botany background makes him an expert birder, as he knows the in’s and out’s of bird habitats. He even taught me all about Mayan plants and their historical significance in rituals, medicine, and cooking. Thanks to his awesome ears + eyes, I was able to see 43 species despite some pretty rainy weather. What I appreciated about our tour: - José takes care of the eBird checklist in real time and emails it to you at the end. The other tour guide I saw says he remembers them and writes them down later - José used a laser pointer to help see the birds in the thick brush, but does so in a way that doesn’t disturb the birds (points at the lower connecting branch) - José is a local and taught me so much about the city, its history, and even recommended some awesome Mexican bands to check out - He offers round trip transportation and covered a light breakfast and some tacos for lunch Will absolutely book another tour with him when I come back. Thanks, José!

José is a truly excellent bird guide. We are “baby birders” and he was so patient with us - helping us to see and log 30 different species! He also offered historical and botanical information as we walked. Totally exceeded our expectations.

I chose a half day tour and would definitely come back for another one. We spent the morning looking for jungle birds of the Yucatan and Jose didn’t disappoint. He has a great ear for bird calls and made it easy to find over 50 species, 36 of the lifers for me. Money well spent!

I couldn't be happier with the experience. Gil was incredibly friendly, knowledgable, and informative about not just birds but also the plants of the region, making the tour both enjoyable and educational. Gil was able to spot a variety of birds and was able to identify them by their calls and features. He also shared interesting facts about the birds and their behavior, which made the tour even more engaging. Furthermore, the guide pointed out and explained different plants, their properties and their importance in the ecosystem. Overall, the tour was a great way to explore the local wildlife and I highly recommend it. Gil's friendliness, knowledge, and in-depth information about both birds and plants made it a truly memorable experience.

We started out walking some roads that cut through the jungle and saw a fair amount of birds that were new to me, then finished the afternoon with a light lunch and a walk through a well maintained jungle trail with some good and unexpected birds. My guide Sr. Paz took things at a relaxed pace which suited me fine, but might be a bit relaxed for a hard-core lister. I was very happy with the tour and felt I got a good introduction to the birds of the area.