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EL PEDREGAL
Nature Lodge &
Retreat Center
We love El Pedregal, but don't just take our word for it! In our last newsletter, the link below did not end up working. We've fixed it and now you can click through to read our guests' rave reviews of El Pedregal.
If you click through to read the reviews, you will notice a state department travel warning, posted immediately above the El Pedregal information and review section! Obviously we would rather not have this ominous warning posted in red right above our listing! However, If you read the warning, you will notice that Sonora is not even included in it! In an attempt to get it changed, we decided to contact Trip Advisor requesting that they remove the warning for hotels in Sonora. They did respond and are considering removing the notice. Certainly some parts of Mexico are experiencing some very difficult and dangerous times, however we feel that bad press coming out of some areas should not reflect negatively on the entire country, after all this is a huge country. Furthermore, negative press is hurting a number of stable areas in Mexico economicly and the hard working honest Mexicans who live there. Despite what you may read and hear in the news in the USA, most of Mexico continues to be a safe, warm and welcoming country to travel to.
Summer Monsoons!
With the hot summer days, come the magnificent monsoons. Come enjoy the slow rhythm of the summer days in Alamos, wait for and watch the rains in the afternoons and enjoy the balmy nights!
 Air Conditioning
We've had the AC up and running for a couple months now and our summer guests have raved about the coolness in the casitas. The has been one complaint...'with the AC running, I never wake up! It's just too nice!' We take that to be a good problem!
For more information or to make a reservation, go to our El Pedregal website or send us an email.
Coming up in our next newsletter...
*Information on the recently completed Breeding Birds Survey in the backcountry of Alamos.
*News about Hotel Solipaso and Cafe del Sol...under new ownership! More information coming soon. Same good lodging and meals, new owner!
*Itinerary for our first Culture, Crafts and Cuisine trip to Oaxaca in December!
*More detailed information on our new Chiapas trips.
*Update on the status of our new and improved SOLIPASO website!
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Space available on some of our upcoming trips...Join us!
NORTHWEST MEXICO
August 26-September 2, 2010
$1850 per person
5 spaces left!
This trip is designed for the intrepid birder who is looking for a true adventure birding experience. The circular route of the trip, starting and ending in Tucson, will take us through some of the most remote, and scenic mountainous country anywhere in North America! The focus of the trip is on the birds and the spectacular scenery of the northern Sierra Madre mountain range. The lumber town of Madera, Chihuahua is the first area we visit, where we'll see the endangered Thick-billed Parrot and the Eared Quetzal, among many other high elevation birds. From Madera, we head to the natural marvel of Basaseachic Falls, one of the highest single drop waterfalls in the world and also home to such birds as the Pine Flycatcher and possibly Military Macaw. We then leave the falls and head west to Yecora searching for species such as Aztec Thrush, Slate-throated Redstart, Russet  Nightengale Thrush, Rufous-capped Brushfinch and Gray-collared Becard. Our last Full day of birding will offer the chance to see Tropical deciduous bird species such as Black-throated Magpie Jay, Elegant Quail, Yellow Grosbeak, Happy and Sinaloa Wrens! The last night of the trip will be spent in Hermosillo. Leaving early for Tucosn will give us a chance for a few Sonoran Desert species like Gray Vireo, Bendires Thrasher and Rufous-winged Sparrow. The accommodations throughout the tour are modest in nature, but clean and comfortable and close to the best birding. Food is typical northern Mexico rancho...simply delicious. All combined, it's a one-of-a-kind trip into an area that few birders get the opportunity to visit!
YECORA AND ALAMOS
October 18-26, 2010
$2200 per person
4 spaces left!
 The other name for this trip is Sierra to Sea...we start in Tucson and drive into Mexico through the beautiful Rio Sonora river valley then make our way to Yecora, Sonora, a small lumber town nestled in a valley at 6000 feet in the Sierra Madre. Up in the pine-oak forest, we'll see such birds as the Lesser Roadrunner, Black-headed Siskin, Rusty Sparrow, Gray -crowned Woodpecker, Spotted Wren, Rufous-capped Brush-finch, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Gray-collared Becard. After plenty of time to pick up all the high elevation species, we head to our home town of Alamos, Sonora for several nights. While enjoying your stay at El Pedregal, we'll bird the Alamos area for such birds as Black-throated Magpie Jay, Russet-crowned Motmot, Blue Mockingbird, Squirrel Cuckoo, Elegant Quail, Rufous-bellied Chachalaca and Mexican Parrotlet. Many of these species are found right at El Pedregal. We'll also tour you around the historic town center and give you a chance to soak up the flavor of life in a small Mexican town. To end the trip, we head from the sierra to the sea, to bird along the coast and then spend the night at the beach in San Carlos, before returning to Tucson. Great pace and great birds!
$3200 per person
Our trip to the Yucatan makes the most of all that this dynamic peninsula offers. Our itinerary allows us to do some great birding over a big part of the peninsula. We start in Cancun, then head down to Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where we bird at the edge of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. From there we go through the heart of the Zona Maya, stopping in the colonial city of Valladolid and spending the night in the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. From there we treat ourselves to a night at the beautiful Hacienda Chichen (with an optional visit to the famous Chichen Itza ruins) and then onto the Puuc Hills and a visit to the ruins of Uxmal, our personal favorite! Then, on our way out the the west coast, we stop at a restored hacienda museum before birding in the Celestun Biosphere Reserve. Our last night is in the lively city of Merida. There are so many good birds possible....Yucatan Parrot, Yucatan Bobwhite, Mexican Sheartail, Yucatan Wren, Canivet's Emerald, Grey-throated Chat, White-bellied Wren, Orange Oriole, Turquoise-browed Motmot and many, many more! Aside from birding, we take time to visit some of the impressive Mayan ruins, visit and explore some of the more interesting towns we go through, where modern day life melds with the intact indigenous Mayan culture, which is alive and well in the Yucatan. Lodging on this trip is varied, from basic to luxurious and the food is excellent throughout!
A few more trips to choose from...
Northeast Mexico: Sept. 18-25, 2010
Veracruz: Sept. 29-Oct. 8, 2010
Yucatan Endemics: Oct. 9-15, 2010
San Blas: Nov. 8-15, 2010
Durango Highway: Nov. 15-18, 2010
Alamos Thanksgiving; Nov. 23-29, 2010
Durango Highway + San Blas: Feb. 4-13, 2011
Oaxaca: Feb. 19-Mar. 2, 2011
Chiapas Pacific and Central: March 4-10, 20111
Chiapas Palenque, Uscamacinta, Lagos Montebello:
March 10-20, 2011
Alamos: March 27-Apr. 1, 2011
Oaxaca and Veracruz: Apr. 10-21, 2011
Yecora and Alamos: Apr. 31-May 8, 2011
For more information go to:
or email us:
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GRADUACION EN ALAMOS!
 And on a personal note...This June, our youngest daughter, Elly (left) graduated from high school! The class of 2010 was made up of 149 students. Elly is the second foreigner to graduate from high school in Alamos (Salina was the first)! The ceremony was held on a hot, June night and was a long and momentous occasion! The party was held a few days later, on an even hotter night...but fun was had by all. There were over 1000 people in attendance, lots of dancing and general merriment. Everyone was dressed up and many of the girls dresses could have had a place on the red carpet...instead, there we were, in the dirt in a little Mexican town! Elly is off to work for a year in Califorinia and start her continuing studies next fall. And, we are now joining the ranks of empty nesters! Exciting times for all of us!  |
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Here's to hoping your summer is a good one, full of fun adventures. We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you here in Alamos or on one of our trips this coming season.
Sincerely,
David and Jennifer MacKay
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