THE YUCATAN BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 7,

Transcription

1 206YC P/PW-GL Rev: 08/05/05-GL/EW THE YUCATAN BIRDS AND NATURAL HISTORY FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 7, More than a thousand years ago, one of the world s greatest civilizations suddenly and dramatically collapsed. The mystery surrounding the rise and fall of the Maya still fires the popular imagination with images of towering cities wrapped in the sensual embrace of lush tropical rainforest, and shamans performing mystical rites amid swirling clouds of copal incense, or tracing the arc of the planets across a diaphanous tropical sky. Many of us at some time have fallen under the spell of such magical images images that speak of a mythical golden age when man lived in harmony with a teeming, bountiful nature. While there may be a few grains of truth in such fanciful representations, they ignore the fact that there are no rainforests in the Yucatan (or throughout most of the Maya area, for that matter!), nor do they tell us much about the daily vicissitudes of ordinary Maya folk. Since the 19 th -century explorers Stevens and Catherwood captivated the West with their Incidents of Travel in the Yucatan and tales of lost cities in the jungle, our ideas about the Maya have undergone several radical transformations. While the reasons leading to the Mayan collapse are still not entirely clear, an even greater mystery to emerge is how they managed to sustain million people, five or six times the number present today, for such a long period of time maybe centuries. More important from the conservation standpoint is how they succeeded in doing so with no known loss in biodiversity! This achievement easily parallels those in architecture, astronomy, mathematics, and writing for which they are better known, but clearly exceeds any of them in terms of its relevance to present day Yucatan and anyone interested in wildlife conservation. Though not all birders are interested in past civilizations or the lifeless ruins they left behind, the natural history of the Yucatan cannot be understood without an appreciation of the profound impact the Maya had on the landscape over thousands of years. Indeed, one Mayan anthropologist goes so far as to describe the Yucatan as an enormous garden gone to seed. While this tour generally shuns the traditional, heavily trodden tourist routes in favor of more tranquil surroundings, the Maya still figure as protagonists in our screenplay, though they will often appear in novel and unexpected roles. Of course, professional naturalists and savvy birders have had the Yucatan on their radars for a long time, and are well aware that its forests bear little resemblance to the true rainforests of the Amazon. Unfortunately, the emphasis on a handful of endemics, and the general impression of the Yucatan as a flat, monotonous, rather arid limestone shelf with no rivers, have tended to divert attention from its true diversity. There is enormous variation in rainfall between western and eastern portions of the Peninsula, leading to a wide variety of forest types and other terrestrial habitats. While there are no rivers, there are many sinkholes (cenotes), lakes, and vast wetlands, mangroves, and marshes, as well as hundreds of miles of shoreline. Over 540 species of birds, more

2 The Yucatán, Page 2 than half the total for all of Mexico, are a reflection of this rich mosaic of landscapes. While this total does indeed include 14 species restricted to the Peninsula, 3 of which occur only on the island of Cozumel, another 46 species are endemic to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Quite a few of these are easier to see here than anywhere else. Taking into consideration several endemic subspecies that are promising candidates for future taxonomic splits, the pool of specialties swells to well over 60. Of course, there is always the possibility of a chance encounter with one of the five species of wild cats (including jaguar and puma), spider monkey, peccary, deer, anteater, tayra, or crocodiles, to mention the megafauna. There are also endemic reptiles and amphibians, an unknown but significant number of butterflies and other arthropods, and a rich flora, also with many endemic forms. These all add depth and interest for those who view birds as members of a larger, richer cast of players on the ecological stage. This tour offers what no other Yucatan birding and natural history tour has so far been able to provide a representative cross-section of the Yucatan s climate, topography and biodiversity, compressed into a manageable period for those with little vacation time, and exclusive settings where tranquility and privacy are guaranteed. This is made possible by including two first class lodges that lie on opposite tips of the Peninsula one inland, one coastal and thus have contrasting natural histories and habitats. We include a trip to the justifiably popular Uxmal ruins to give you some experience of the Mayas more monumental achievements, and we also visit the lesser known Sayil in the still heavily forested Puuc Hills. February 26, Day 1: Arrival in Cancun. Participants should plan to arrive in Cancun today, and you should schedule your arrival so that we can depart from the Cancun International Airport (CUN) at 3:00 p.m. for the 1½ hour drive directly to the Santa Maria Lodge. After skirting around the city of Cancun, we head west out of town and then north on a rural road that will take us through some good habitat for birding. A 10 kilometer stretch of unpaved road tunnels through the private forest of the Santa Maria reserve. Birds and animals occasionally seen on this drive include Great Curassow, Ocellated Turkey, jaguar, puma, collared peccary, coatimundi, and agouti; we will at least have our first forest birds before we reach the impressive Santa Maria Lodge. Santa Maria Lodge was conceived as a country retreat, and the lodge sits squarely in the middle of 4,500 acres of privately-owned semi-evergreen forest and seasonally flooded wetlands. The lodge is, in effect, an enormous traditionally thatched pyramid rising to almost 100 feet. A central, inner staircase winds up to a watchtower that gives breathtaking views of the surrounding forest. The interior is spacious and airy with ample dining space, and lounging areas. An interior three-storey colonial style building houses the 5 bedrooms, all of which are airconditioned. Outside is an ample balcony for siesta-time birding, and a semi-olympic size swimming pool with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside is a great place to cool off at midday or enjoy an evening sundowner. Horses are also available for those who enjoy riding and would like to spend to some quiet time exploring away from the group. Santa Maria is situated on the northeast horn of the Yucatan Peninsula, a region known as the Yalahau. The Yalahau forms a humid cape between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and covers well over a million acres of forested habitats and wetlands. Ornithologically, it has been little studied, which is surprising given the fact that at least four bio-geographical areas overlap here. This results in a unique and diverse assemblage of birds. Most significantly, it represents the northernmost outpost of the humid Central American forests that once swept north uninterrupted from the Caribbean slope of Panama. It is therefore the closest place to the United States where one can find such typical Central and South American elements as tinamous, curassows, toucans, trogons, woodcreepers, ovenbirds, antbirds, honeycreepers, and ant-tanagers. Less widespread Mexican and Mesoamerican elements include Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Canivet s Emerald, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Blackfaced (Mexican) Antthrush, Ridgway s Rough-winged Swallow, White-bellied Wren, Gray-throated Chat, Green-backed Sparrow, and Blue Bunting. The localized and rarely seen Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher is also

3 The Yucatán, Page 3 found here. Superimposed on this background is a unique Yucatecan element, a Caribbean element and, in the northern fall and winter, a temperate element in the form of thousands of long-distance migrants. Though many of these migrants might be more correctly thought of as tropical birds returning home for the winter, a considerable number of temperate species are among them. Ten of eleven mainland endemics are found here, including Ocellated Turkey, Yellow-lored (Yucatan) Parrot, Yucatan Poorwill, Yucatan Nightjar, Red-vented (Yucatan) Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Jay, Black Catbird, Rose-throated Tanager, and Orange Oriole. The endemic subspecies of the Carolina Wren (known as White-browed Wren ) is a candidate for future species status, and the Black-throated or Yucatan Bobwhite is also practically confined to the Peninsula. The Caribbean influence is also significant, and the Caribbean Dove is probably more abundant here than anywhere else. Other species, such as White-crowned Pigeon, Yucatan Vireo, and Bananaquit are apparently seasonal in occurrence, while the occasional big storm may bring in strays from Cuba or even farther afield. Eurasian Collared Dove and Tricolored Munia are recent invaders that may have arrived by this route. Lastly, in the fall, the cape represents first landfall for untold numbers of migrants that cross the Gulf of Mexico. These forests are therefore strategically important stopover sites for birds continuing further south. Many vireos, warblers, buntings, and orioles stay on throughout the winter. NIGHT: Santa Maria Lodge, Quintana Roo February 27 March 1, Days 2-4: Santa Maria Lodge. We have three full days to enjoy Santa Maria s blissfully tranquil surroundings and to explore the miles of private tracks and trails that wind through the forest and open areas. A typical morning might start at dawn with coffee and snacks in the watchtower, as we watch the sun come up over the forest. Dawn is often announced by the resonant, fluty whistles of Thicket Tinamous, the mournful cooing of Caribbean Doves, or a Collared Forest-Falcon cawing from within the forest; parrots disperse noisily to fruiting trees, and Keel-billed Toucan can occasionally be seen perched on dead snags above the forest. Orioles are some of the most conspicuous birds around the lodge, and an amazing eight species can be found on the property during the winter months. After breakfast, we will wander into the forest and explore the trails for the many forest species that live here. The forest and open areas at Santa Maria were once the site of an extensive Mayan settlement, perhaps dating back to well before the time of Christ. Platforms, small pyramids, and unexcavated mounds are everywhere reminders that this landscape must have been heavily modified some 2,000 years ago. Archaeologists from the University of California have spent five years mapping the site and still regularly turn up new structures. Working in conjunction with Mexican scientists, eye-opening discoveries have been made about ancient forms of agriculture that provide some insight into how the Mayans supported such apparently dense populations. A roughly 160-acre central clearing was, until recently, dedicated to cattle pastures. This area is now in different stages of regeneration, attracting many birds that favor more open country or scrubby habitat. The sharp ecotone provided by secondary growth and the surrounding forest means that a wide variety of open country and forest species can be seen within a small area. A few hours birding in the environs of the lodge are frequently rewarded by 80 or more species. There are several quiet cenotes (sinkholes) within the forest where we might pause for refreshment and spend a while looking for the flashy Turquoise-browed Motmots or observing a colony of Cave Swallows swirling in dizzy circles above the water. After lunch, there will be time to rest and enjoy the lodge facilities, but we will venture out in the afternoon once more to different points around the reserve. A variety of night birds can be found here, including Barn, Black-and-white and Mottled Owls, as well Guatemalan Screech-Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Five species of nightjar have also been recorded, and the endemic Yucatan Nightjar and Poorwill are resident. We will make an effort to locate some of these after dark. It is not uncommon to record 100+ species in a day s birding, and nearly 250 species have been recorded in the first two years of observations at Santa Maria. NIGHTS: Santa Maria Lodge, Quintana Roo

4 The Yucatán, Page 4 March 2, Day 5: Santa Maria to Uxmal, Yucatan: We should have time for some early morning birding before we depart once more for Cancun airport for our flight to Mérida (AeroMexico #7201, departing Cancun at 8:50 a.m.). Our 45-minute flight west brings us to colonial Mérida, capital of the state of Yucatan and the largest city on the Peninsula. We will drive south from here to the famous ruins of Uxmal and plan to have lunch en route at one of the magnificent haciendas so characteristic of the Yucatan. After checking in at our hotel, we will have some time to explore the low, scrubby forest that dominates this area and provides a harsh contrast to the taller forests of the Yalahau. Those who are interested will be able to attend the light and sound show at Uxmal, which provides a startling perspective on this subtly beautiful Mayan site. NIGHT: Hotel Hacienda Uxmal, Uxmal March 3, Day 6: Sayil & Uxmal. Uxmal lies in a region known as the Puuc Hills. These low, rolling hills are nowhere more than a few hundred meters above sea-level, but this is the highest relief you will see anywhere across the Peninsula. Other smaller, but no less beautiful, sites such as Kabah, Labna, and Sayil nestle among the heavily forested hills and are less visited by tourists. We will drive to Sayil for a quiet morning s birding away from busy Uxmal. Along the roads and trails, we will be looking out for another of the region s specialties, the Lesser Roadrunner. Uxmal is, of course, one of the Yucatan s mega sites and there will be ample time after lunch to wander around its architecturally unique palaces and pyramids. NIGHT: Hotel Hacienda Uxmal, Uxmal March 4, Day 7: Uxmal to Celestun. After early morning birding along quiet nearby roads, we will strike north to the seaside fishing port of Celestún, about a two-hour drive from Uxmal. Celestún is perched on the opposite tip of the Peninsula to the Yalahau, in a relatively arid area that receives only a quarter to a half the rainfall of northern Quintana Roo. We plan to arrive at our hotel in time for lunch, and to spend the afternoon birding the dunes, scrub, and shoreline in the immediate vicinity. Celestún gives its name to a long, sheltered, mangrove-fringed estuary that is renowned as the winter home of thousands of Caribbean Flamingos, the pinkest of all races of the Greater Flamingo. But the estuary, beaches, mangroves, and marshes of this 146,000-acre reserve are also home to many other aquatic species, including frigatebirds, pelicans, cormorants, herons, ibises, spoonbills, hawks, gulls, terns, shorebirds, rails, and kingfishers. The dunes are home to the endemic Yucatan Wren, a type of Cactus Wren, as well as the Mexican Sheartail, a hummingbird that only occurs along the northern coast of Yucatan and in one small area of the coast of Veracruz. White-lored Gnatcatcher is another specialty occurring in the arid thorn scrub and dry forests. The Hotel Eco Paraíso Xixim provides a wonderfully secluded setting for our last three nights. This first class lodge has been landscaped to respect the natural dune vegetation, and Yucatan Bobwhites, Yucatan Wrens, and Mexican Sheartails are frequently seen within its grounds. The beautifully designed beach cabañas look out over the placid Gulf of Mexico, and sundown from your private balcony often provides a spectacular end to a full day s birding. NIGHT: Eco Paraíso Xixim March 5-6, Days 8-9: Celestun. We will have two full days to explore the varied habitats in the Celestún area and to enjoy the cabañas and fine dining at the Eco Paraiso Xixim. A highlight will be a boat trip on the estuary to view the flocks of flamingos, and quiet channels through the mangroves should produce Bare-throated Tiger- Heron and American Pygmy-Kingfisher. We will also be on the lookout for the Rufous-necked Wood-Rail another specialty of the brackish mangroves in this area. Early morning concentrations of water birds can be spectacular as they engage in breakfast feeding frenzies, while dusk sees large flights of pelicans, herons, wood storks, and ibises heading to their roosts among the mangroves. We will also check the shoreline, tidal marshes, and hidden bays for shorebirds. Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures are often seen quartering over these habitats, and we may discover a Zone-tailed Hawk disguising itself among these and the commoner Turkey Vultures. A

5 The Yucatán, Page 5 little further inland, the seasonally flooded deciduous forests and thorn scrub can provide some very productive birding, while wooded, freshwater pools may harbor Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Ruddy Crake, and the diminutive Common Tody-Flycatcher. Well over 300 species of birds have been recorded in the Celestún area, and, while the emphasis will be on water birds and localized endemics, we should also add a number of terrestrial species to our count. NIGHTS: Eco Paraíso Xixim March 7, Day 10: Departure. Participants will depart for home today with transportaron to the Merida International Airport (MID) for return flights to the United States. Flights should not be scheduled prior to 8:00 a.m. EXTRA ARRANGEMENTS: Should you wish to make arrangements to arrive early or extend your stay, please contact the VENT office at least two months prior to your departure date. We can very easily make hotel arrangements and often at our group rate, if we receive your request with enough advance time. TOUR SIZE: This tour will be limited to 8 participants. TOUR LEADER: Paul Wood Paul Wood, from England, began birding at age seven and guiding as a teenager. He has lived in Mexico for more than 20 years, specializing in bird research and conservation in the Mayan region. He holds a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Southampton in England and a MSc in environmental science and forest biology from the State University of New York at Syracuse. He has designed and led tours throughout Mexico, as well as to Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, England, the U.S., and Spain. He is currently director of T isil Nature Reserve in the Yalahau wilderness region of northern Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The fee for the tour is $3770 per person in double occupancy from Cancún. This includes all meals from dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 10, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, ground transportation during the tour, gratuities, and guide services provided by the tour leaders. It does not include airfare from your home to Cancun and return from Merida, flight from Cancún to Merida on day 5, airport departure taxes, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature. The single supplement for this tour is $395. You will be charged a single supplement if you desire single accommodations, or if you prefer to share but have no roommate and we cannot provide one for you. Please be advised single accommodations are not available at Santa Maria Lodge due to the limited number of rooms at the lodge. TOUR REGISTRATION: To register for this tour, complete the VENT registration form and return it with a deposit of $300 per person (check or money order in U.S. dollars.) If registering by phone, the deposit must be received within 10 days or the space will be released. Full payment of the tour fee is due 80 days prior to the tour departure date. CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made 80 days or more before departure date, the deposit less $75 per person is refundable. If cancellation is made between 80 and 60 days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post-trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself. If you cancel: Your refund will be:

6 The Yucatán, Page 6 80 days or more before departure date Your deposit minus $75. Between 80 and 60 days before departure No refund of the deposit, but any payments on the balance will be refunded. Fewer than 60 days before departure date No refund available. TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE: Application forms for optional coverage for baggage, illness, and trip cancellation can be obtained through the VENT office. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself against losses due to accidents or illness. Check with your insurance agent regarding coverage you may presently have via other insurance policies that may cover illness during your trip. Waiver for pre-existing conditions is available, as are other coverages such as terrorism protection; however, stipulations apply, usually requiring the purchase of the insurance soon after registering. Contact the VENT office prior to registration for details. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours is not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a bond issued by Travelers in the amount of $50,000. CST # AIR INFORMATION: Victor Emanuel Travel is a full-service travel agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT). Victor Emanuel Travel will be happy to make any domestic or international air travel arrangements from your home and return. Please feel free to call the VENT office to confirm your air arrangements. The flight from Cancun to Merida on Day 5 is AeroMexico #7201, departing Cancun at 8:50 a.m., arriving Merida 45 minutes later. We will be happy to book this flight for you, or you can include this flight with your international reservations, usually at a lower fare. BAGGAGE: Please limit your luggage to one suitcase or duffel and one carry-on bag. As a precaution, we suggest you pack a change of clothes, your binoculars, medication, toiletries, walking shoes, and documents in the carry-on bag. CLIMATE: The Yucatan enjoys a mild climate from November to March with average daytime highs from the upper 70s to lower 80s. However, an occasional cold front ( Nortes ) may penetrate the region during this period, bringing lower temperatures (50s or 60s), sometimes accompanied by showers. Rains diminish from February through March, the start of the dry season. CLOTHING: Light field clothing will be appropriate. This should include two pairs of pants, shorts, and a swimming suit. One or two long-sleeved shirts and a hat are recommended for protection against the sun and insects, and long pants (not shorts) should be worn on walks through the forest. Long socks are useful so that pants can be tucked into them on forest walks. Be sure to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes or hiking boots and a second pair of lightweight shoes. Rainwear (poncho; a pocket umbrella can also be useful) and a sweater or light jacket are also essential. Dress will be casual throughout, but you may wish to bring a dress or jacket for evening meals (optional). CURRENCY: The peso is the basic unit of currency. Though subject to fluctuations, the peso has been relatively stable at pesos to $1 USD for several years. Most major credit cards are accepted throughout Mexico, but you will need cash to pay for extra drinks at some restaurants and at Santa Maria. Most establishments will accept dollars, though often at a slightly lower rate than banks or exchange houses. Those arriving into Cancun may change dollars at the airport if they wish. DEPARTURE TAX: The departure tax is now included in the cost of your ticket ($23 USD as of 07/20/04). Be aware, though, that on occasion, people do have to pay the departure tax before being issued a boarding pass. You should probably keep $23 handy in the event your ticket did not include the departure tax. DIFFICULTY: Since the Yucatan is mainly flat, walking will be easy on this tour. Maximum distance will be 2-3 kms (1½ - 2 miles) in any one session.

7 The Yucatán, Page 7 DOCUMENTS: Travel into Mexico for citizens of the United States requires proof of citizenship, which may be a valid U.S. passport (preferable) or a birth certificate with a raised seal (either the original or a copy). Additionally, a tourist card, which may be filled out aboard your flight to Mexico, is required. Both the proof of citizenship and the tourist card must be carried with you while in Mexico. EQUIPMENT: You will want to have sunglasses and sunscreen first and foremost. You should pack a pair of binoculars that are in good repair, along with a belt pack or day pack (for carrying books, sunscreen, extra film, etc.). Other important travel items include a flashlight, travel alarm clock, water bottle. Insect repellent is also recommended. A camera is highly recommended, as there is much to see. As a precaution, it is a good idea to pack your binoculars, a change of clothing, toiletry items, medications, and travel documents in your airline carry-on bag. Your leader will have a spotting scope, but if you have one and wish to bring it, please feel free to do so. HEALTH: When traveling, becoming seriously ill is never expected nor anticipated, but is always a possibility, especially when in a foreign country. It is always recommended that tour participants keep up with standard vaccinations. In addition, vaccinations against Hepatitis types A and B should be considered. Hepatitis A is a disease of contaminated food and water. Precaution against the disease comes in the form of a two-shot sequence. Hepatitis B is a disease transmitted through unsanitary needles and contaminated blood. Precaution against the disease comes in the form of a three-shot sequence. NOTE: Hepatitis vaccinations are standard travel precautions. Please contact your physician for more information. You may also contact the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (CDC) which operates a 24-hour automated travelers health hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP. You may also visit their website at Standard travel items include such stand-bys as aspirin/advil/tylenol as well as Pepto Bismol and Imodium. Sunscreen is a necessity on this tour! Your leaders will always let you know when it is or is not appropriate to drink the local water. In places where it is not appropriate, bottle or purified water will be provided. MISC: Electricity 110 volts; US two pin (flat) plugs are usual Language Spanish is the official language Time Central time zone SUGGESTED READING: Our website at offers an online store that carries a wide variety of items for birding and nature lovers including over 6,000 books. A portion of the sales from our store benefits the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You might also want to visit such other online stores as and for those out-of-print and hard-to-find titles, or which specializes in ornithology books. Birds & Natural History: Beletsky, Les, David Beadle, David Dennis, John Myers, and Colin Newman. Tropical Mexico: The Ecotravellers Wildlife Guide. Academic Press, Campbell, Jonathan A. Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatan, and Belize (Animal Natural History Series, 4). University of Oklahoma Press, Edwards, Ernest P. A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas: Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador. 3rd Edition. University of Texas Press, Howell, Steve N.G. A Bird Finding Guide to Mexico. Cornell University Press, Howell, Steve N.G., & Sophie Webb. A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Kaufman, Kenn. Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Kricher, John. A Neotropical Companion, 2 nd Edition. Princeton University Press, Lee, Julian C. A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Maya World: The Lowlands of Mexico, Northern Guatemala, and Belize. Cornell University Press, 2000.

8 The Yucatán, Page 8 National Geographic Society. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th Edition. National Geographic, Reid, Fiona A. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, Schlesinger, Victoria. Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya: A Guide. University of Texas Press, Sibley, David A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, The Yucatan and the Maya: Calleman, Carl J. and Jose Arguelles. The Mayan Calendar and the Transformation of Consciousness. Bear and Co, Coe, Michael D. The Maya, 6 th Edition. Thames & Hudson, Coe, Michael D. Breaking the Maya Code. Thames & Hudson, Freidel, David, Justin Kerr, and MacDuff Everton. Maya Cosmos. Perennial, Freidel, David and Linda Schele. A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. Perennial, Gomez-Pompa, Arturo, Michael F. Allen, Scott L. Fedick, and Juan J. Osornio-Jimenez. The Lowland Maya Area: Three Millennia at the Human-Wildland Interface. Food Products Pr., Landa, Diego de. Yucatan Before and After the Conquest. Dover Publications, Stephens, John L. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, Vol. 1 (Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas & Yucatan). Dover Publications, Stephens, John L., Karl Ackerman, & Frederick Catherwood. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. New Edition. Smithsonian Books, Slater, Candace. In search of the Rainforest (New Ecologies for the 21st Century). Duke University Press, Recordings: The following will be useful in learning the vocalizations of the region s birds. Delaney, Dale. Bird Songs of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Moore, John V. A Bird Walk at Chan Chich.1994 (ABA Sales). TIPPING: Tipping (restaurants, porters, drivers, local guides) is included on VENT tours. However, if you feel one or both of your VENT leaders or any local guides have given you exceptional service, it is entirely appropriate to tip. We emphasize that such tips are not expected and are entirely optional. RESPONSIBILITY: Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc. (VENT) and/or its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. VENT and its agents can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved to substitute leaders on any tour. Where this is necessary, notification will be given to tour members. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The prices of the tours are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect July 27, 2005 subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour. Baggage is at owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by said airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. The services of any I.A.T.A.N. carrier may be used for these tours, and transportation within the United States may be provided by any member carrier of the Airline Reporting Corporation.