The Best of Texas in Early Spring

Tour Code: USA24

A 14-day birdwatching and butterflying tour to the Gulf Coast, Rio Grande Valley and Hill Country of south Texas.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

A relaxed 14-day birdwatching and butterfly tour showcasing the best of Texas, visiting the iconic reserves of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas Hill Country, and an unforgettable boat cruise to view endangered Whooping Cranes.

Texas is one of the most exciting states in the United States for birdwatching and butterflies. From the Hill Country north of San Antonio to South Padre Island on the coast and the Rio Grande Valley in the south, this region is prized among birders and naturalists as a premier place to see birds and butterflies found nowhere else in the United States. Subtropical habitats along the lower Rio Grande showcase bird and butterfly-life characteristic of north-eastern Mexico. An explosion of butterfly gardens throughout the Valley, including the National Butterfly Centre, has resulted in more species of butterfly being recorded here than in any other region of the United States. Most of the world’s population of Whooping Cranes gather along a small stretch of the Texas coast to the north of the lower Rio Grande Valley. Our visit to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a chance to see and photograph these magnificent birds at close range from a boat, and to enjoy the abundance of birds, butterflies and mammals that use the rich central Texas coastline during the winter months. Our visit to Texas Hill Country, an area that is much drier with vegetation more typical of western deserts such as junipers and cacti, introduces us to a completely different selection of birds and butterflies, including Texas’s only breeding endemic, the gorgeous Golden-cheeked Warbler.

  • An abundance of birds and butterflies, many found nowhere else in the United States
  • Boat trip to view endangered Whooping Cranes
  • Visit some of the best early spring wildlife viewing areas in the United States, including National Butterfly and World Birding Centres with animal, bird and butterfly feeding stations
  • Tour the Texas Hill Country to see its unique bird and butterfly species, and witness the spectacular exodus of 10-million or more Mexican Free-tailed Bats from the Rio Frio bat cave
  • Reserves with photography hides provide fantastic photographic opportunities
  • Visit the Alamo World Heritage Site and the famous San Antonio Riverwalk

Grading

Grade A. Easy day walks only, all at a relaxed pace.

Itinerary
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in comfortable accommodation throughout, including two famous ‘birding inns’: Knolle Farm Ranch and The Alamo Inn. All rooms have en-suite facilities, except for two bedrooms at both The Alamo Inn, which share a bathroom between them. One of these rooms at each inn will be taken by your tour leaders, and the other, depending on the group size, may be allocated to our group. Single occupancy is available at a supplement, though many rooms do have two queen sized beds, making sharing a room a comfortable experience! The inns are well set up for birders and natural history enthusiasts, with easy trails, feeders and sometimes butterfly gardens too.

  • Food:

    We have chosen to include breakfasts only on this tour; lunches and dinners will be payable locally. This means you can order according to your appetite each day, rather than taking on three course set menus with American-sized portions for every meal! We suggest budgeting around $15 per day for lunch and $35 per day for dinner; approximately $50 per person per day in total would be sensible. We will enjoy breakfast at our accommodation each morning, and eat dinner either here or a nearby restaurant in the evening. During the day, we will enjoy a mixture of local restaurants and the occasional picnic.

Reviews
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!