About Cloud Forest Birding Tours
Cloud Forest Birding tours are led by nature lover, bird enthusiast, and Natural Sciences student Ben Simmons.
Ben has lived across Latin America for 15 years and, since 2020, has been leading bird tours to find rare and exquisite species like the Resplendent Quetzal in the mountains of Costa Rica and the Pink-headed Warbler in the cloud forests of Chiapas.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Ben leads tours using his strong knowledge of local culture and ability to liaise with local people to ensure a safe, comfortable, and thrilling experience in Chiapas, Mexico.
Where are the tours?
Together we'll explore the beautiful nature reserves of San Cristobal de las Casas and the rest of Chiapas, Mexico, in both group and personalized birdwatching tours.
Within San Cristobal we visit incredible nature reserves including the Montetik, the Ecological Reserve of Huitepec, and the viewpoints around the city at El Cerrito de San Cristobal, and Montaña de Don Lauro.
On our trips across Chiapas state, we bird at the Montebello Lakes, the archaeological ruins at Tenam Puente in Comitan, the Lacandon Jungle, and much more.
Our work in the community
Cloud Forest Birding is committed to working alongside local communities to raise awareness about the importance of preserving native habitats and protecting the bird species that depend on them.
Schools
Through environmental education and outreach—in collaboration with SabesAves.com—we regularly partner with local schools to introduce children to the world of birdwatching. By teaching binocular use and providing guided bird walks in their local area, we help young people connect with the forest around them and understand the value of conservation, both for their communities and for the environment as a whole.
Reserves
We support local capacity-building efforts. In December 2024, we participated in a three-day bird monitoring and English-language workshop for park rangers at Palenque National Park. Participants learned how to use citizen science tools like eBird and Merlin for monitoring bird populations and engaging tourists in conservation. The English-training emphasized vocabulary related to birds and wildlife, and basic tourism interaction.
Customer Reviews
Discover what our customers say about their birdwatching experiences.
Ben was an excellent guide! He was punctual and had super insightful comments not only about the birds but also about the flora and other fauna in the area. He even brought warm coffee to share. This was my first bird-watching expedition, and now I’m hooked! Highly recommended.
Francheska
Washington, United States
Great trip out with Ben, he took us to some local birding sites where we saw quite a few new birds including two Pink-headed warblers, various Jays [...] and hummingbirds. Lovely trip!
Manda S.
London, United Kingdom