Imagine a place where tropical jungle meets high desert, where Douglas firs grow in the mountains, and where bobcats and American black bears share habitat with jaguars and Military Macaws. This is the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, the most ecologically diverse protected area in Mexico.

The Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve was born in 1987, when Martha Isabel “Pati” Ruiz Corzo, a violinist and music teacher from the city of Querétero, and her husband, Roberto Pedraza Muñoz, a native of the Sierra Gorda, founded the Grupo Ecologia Sierra Gorda. Through this nonprofit—with Pati leading community sing-alongs on her accordion—they promoted land preservation, reforestation, environmental education and sustainable economic activities among the 100,000 people living in small communities throughout the reserve. (The reserve is more comparable to New York State’s Adirondack Park, a mix of private and public lands, than to a US national park.)

In 1997, all this hard work—and lobbying—paid off when the president of Mexico officially decreed the establishment of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve and appointed Pati Ruiz to manage it. It is now part of of UNESCO´s International Network of Biosphere Reserves, Roberto Padraza Ruiz the oldest son of the reserve's founder, has been a key part of its work from the beginning.

Involving local people in conserving and restoring the environment has been central to the reserve’s success. Its Earth Center has provided training for hundreds of families who today earn an income from carpentry, bee-keeping, ceramics, food dehydration, eco-tourism and other small businesses that use the forest without destroying it. In a Lands for Conservation program, Roberto both buys land to be conserved and pays landowners who protect critical watersheds by keeping cattle out and not cutting down trees. He is also involved in linking international investors to local forest owners whose trees soak up and store carbon dioxide, making them valuable resources in offsetting the industrial production of greenhouse gases.

Sociedad Audubon de Mexico A.C. invites you to form part of this story of conservation and to enjoy this natural wonder.

This trip will prove to offer amazing bird-watching, spectacular scenery with amazing flora and fauna, and beautiful 18th century Franciscan missions, all with our private expert guide.

This incredible opportunity to see the expansive natural beauty of the Sierra Gorda and Xilitla includes hotel costs, food, guides, transportation in comfortable air- conditioned vans for the entire trip, all tips and a contribuition to Sierra Gorda's conservation efforts.

DEPARTURE Timing is Critical, Our departure each morning is as early as possible in order to be on site when bird activity is best. All wildlife activity diminishes as the midday heat intensifies.

BIRD CHECKLIST View, or print-out, a copy of the "Checklist of the Birds"