Author: Mario Alonso
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2026-03 Mérida, Yucatán: A Trip Worth Planning Twice
Mérida, Yucatán — March 4–16, 2026 Leer en español Sandra and I have been to a lot of places. We travel deliberately, we plan carefully, and we have learned over the years to recognize when a destination has genuinely exceeded what we expected from it. Mérida exceeded everything. This post is an attempt to capture…
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2026-03 Ría Lagartos: Where the Water Feeds Everything
Río Lagartos, Yucatán — March 14, 2026 Leer en español We left Mérida at 5:30 am, Sandra, Paola and I, in the dark. The night before I had bought three lattes and put them in the fridge — Café Habana is open 24 hours but has no parking, and driving three hours before dawn without…
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2026-03 A Hidden Gem Near Mérida: Birding at Parque Sihunchen
Mérida, Yucatán — March 12, 2026 Leer en español After the first birding tour with Luis had exceeded every expectation, I reached out to see if he had availability for another outing. He didn’t, but his brother Ramón — whom I had briefly met during that first tour — did. I told them I was…
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2026-03 Fork-tailed Flycatcher at Parque La Plancha, Merida
Mérida, Yucatán — March 9, 2026 Leer en español We had a tip from Luis, from Yucatan Birding Tours: a Fork-tailed Flycatcher had been seen at Parque La Plancha, a large urban park in the middle of Mérida. That was reason enough to go. What we didn’t expect was the park itself. The Park Parque…
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2026-03 Xcambó, Sisal, and the Flamingos of Ziz-Ha
When the Detour Becomes the Destination Sisal, Yucatán — March 2026 The original plan was simple: drive to Sisal, spend the morning at the beach, and head to the mangrove in the afternoon. But plans in the Yucatán have a way of improving on themselves if you let them. Sandra and I decided last minute…
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2026-03 Birding near Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Never Judge a Birding Spot by Its Cover: A Morning with Luis Trinchan in Mérida Mérida, Yucatán — March 2026 There’s a lesson I keep relearning in the field: the best wildlife encounters rarely come with scenic overlooks or interpretive signage. They come from people who know exactly where to look — and have the…
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2026-01_Maumee Bay State Park & Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
January 3-4, 2026. A New Year’s Eve snowstorm pushed our plans back by three days, which turned out to be the right call. By January 3rd the storm had passed, leaving behind the kind of cold, still conditions that concentrate wildlife and make for interesting photography — if you’re willing to put yourself out there…
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2022-09_Grand Teton & Yellowstone
Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks – September 4-11, 2022 Trip Overview A spectacular journey through two of America’s most iconic national parks – 8 days of jaw-dropping mountain vistas, incredible wildlife encounters (moose, grizzly bears, black bears, bison stampedes, river otters, and so much more), otherworldly geothermal wonders, and memories that will last a…
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2023-09_Isle Royale National Park
Trip Overview This adventure took us to one of America’s most remote national parks – 4 days of true wilderness camping, zero cell service, endless wildlife encounters, and a reminder of what it means to be completely disconnected from the modern world. No camper this time – just backpacks, determination, and Sandra’s first real backpacking…
Looking 4 Nature 