abundaflora.com Orchid Tours to Mexico
YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO MEXICO, YOU
CAN REACH OUT AND TOUCH IT!
COME JOIN US IN AN EXCITING ORCHID ORIENTED TOUR
INTO THE NORTHERN TROPICS OF MEXICO. (SEE
MAPS)
Your golden opportunity to
visit the northernmost native orchid region of Mexico, with the people who know
it!
Dates to be Announced
One of the highlights of this tour is the blooming, in the wild, of Laelia anceps anceps. This region is the northernmost range of epiphytic orchids on the gulf coast of Mexico.
In addition to Laelia anceps anceps you will see plants of the beautiful Encyclia mariae, the popular Cockle Shell Orchid, Encyclia cochleata, and several other Encyclias including candolei in the high lands plus parviflora and livida in the low lands.
In the high mountains you'll observe Epidendrum conopseum mexicanum and Arpophyllum spicatum. In the lowlands surrounding Aquismon you'll also see Vanilla planifolia, Oncydium spacelatum, cebolleta, cosymbephorum and luridum growing in trees less than a block from Willie's house. Within a few miles of Aquismon into the mountains the vegetation goes tropical.
Chysis bractescens, Lycaste consobrina, Brassavola cucullata, Maxillaria tenuifolia, variablis and densa are very common. There are also numerous miniature species such as Nidema boothii, Trichocentrum candidum, Pleurothallis tribuloides and grobyi. Also there are numerous other tropical plants and flowers which you have a good chance of seeing while looking for orchids.
Experience the transition from the subtropical vegetation of south Texas to the northern most tropical vegetation, of Aquismon. Have your picture taken on the Tropic of Cancer.
You will travel up and down incredible mountains you never imagined were so close to the Texas border. You'll be able to swim in beautiful streams and waterfalls.
See natives in their colorful dress, hear their unique language and visit some of the most beautiful caves, rivers and waterfalls in all of Mexico and perhaps, the world.
You will look into a 1300 foot sink hole, Sotano de las Golandrinas, in a mountain, host to the most newly discovered living thing on earth, RODS.
Late October is the prettiest time of the year in tropical Mexico. The rains have just stopped, the temperatures are cool and everything is green.
Day 1: 7 AM, meet at the Whataburger before the bridge in Hidalgo, TX to cross into Reynosa, document and head south. You will require a birth certificate or valid passport and a drivers license (or picture I.D.). We can help you to a hotel of your choice in McAllen if you arrive Sunday night. Leave Reynosa by 9 am, at the latest, headed south to Ciudad Victoria, at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental, where we will stop for lunch. This is about half way to Ciudad Valles. We will arrive at app. 7 PM to Hotel Valles in Cd. Valles, S.L.P. where we will stay for two nights. Eat supper in one of two beautiful dining rooms at Hotel Valles and hit the sack early to be rested for a busy day tomorrow.
Day 2:
The bus will be ready at 8 am (this doesn’t mean we will leave at that hour) to pick us up for the hour ride to the mountain peaks above Tamasopo. There we will see Encyclia mariae, cochleata, candolei plus Bletia puruprea, Catasetum integerrimum, Cyrtopodium paniculatum, Epidendrum propinquum, Epidendrum conopseum mexicanum, Arpophyllum spicatum and many others. After touring the peaks we will visit several beautiful waterfalls in the area, with a picnic at one. We will return to Hotel Valles for another good nights sleep.Day 3
: After breakfast at Hotel Valles we will leave Valles at 7:30 AM for Hotel Coy and Water Park near Aquismon, where we will spend the next 3 nights. After checking in we will leave for Las Pozas where we will visit one of the most unusual monuments in the world, The Englishman's Castle. This area is filled with nature at the foot of the Sierra Madre. Here we will see many native and imported ornamental plant varieties, including orchids. After 4 hours at the Castle we will have late lunch at La Curva (The Curve) a great seafood restaurant situated on a beautiful jungle river. With what little sunlight is left, we will stop along the way back to the hotel and see varying plant habitats found along the valley road.Day 4 :
After breakfast at the hotel we will have a 40 minute ride to the heart of the Huasteca Potosina, Aquismon. From here we have a 1 hour ride down a beautiful valley to the Santa Maria River, stopping off at a private ranch named "Rancho El Sabinal" to explore a virgin forest. Then we will meet the boats that will take us 2 hours upstream to Tamul waterfalls, at 345 feet, the highest in the state of San Luis Potosi ! On the way back, we will stop at Cueva de Agua (Water Cave) a large cave filled with clear spring water, swimming is encouraged, especially if the boats leak. We will have a lunch of local seafood at the guide's house. Leaving soon enough to arrive back at the hotel by dark.Day 5 :
After breakfast at the hotel, we will head out about 8 AM to visit some local orchid habitats. Among them an abandoned orange grove, home to several species in abundance, and then we will travel to Tambaque , a fantastic spring-fed stream protected by luxuriant vegetation hanging overhead where you are encouraged to take swim before being treated to a great down-home barbecue with all the trimmings. Bring your swim suit and towel !Dat 6 :
Market Day in Aquismon ! Spend a leisurely 2-3 hours exploring a typical Indian market in the morning. Taste a large variety of local foods. Inspect the numerous stands filled with fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits, some of which you have probably never seen before. In the afternoon we will go on an hours drive through thick jungle vegetation to see the Sotano de las Golondrinas, the 6th largest free drop pit in the world, with a free fall of 1350 feet. The highlight will be the sunset and return at dusk of thousands of swallows and parrots to their night roosts, a fitting end to a wonderful trip !Day 7 :
This is return to Texas day. The bus will leave at 8 am and travel straight to Reynosa, arriving to McAllen at approximately 6 pm. This will be a different road than the one we traveled down on.The tour package costs $--- per person double occupancy and $--- per person single. Including: tourist card, transportation, entrances to pay sites, meals, and lodging. Reservations are firm if we receive your deposit of $--- per person by to be announced. The remainder may be paid upon arrival. To pay from checking account or by credit card click the PayPal button below.
If you have any questions, suggestions or just to drop us a line, you may email us in Texas to Weyman Bussey goldenbear@rocketmail.com or in Mexico Willie Harris wsharrismex@hotmail.com
If it is urgent, give Weyman a ring to Texas at 281 - 983 - 9400 or leave us a message or email and we will call you back, ASAP.
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