The San Blas area is one of the top birding destinations in Mexico and attracts serious birders from around the world. The combination of mangroves, estuaries, dry tropical forest, freshwater ponds, and Pacific coast creates an extraordinary diversity of habitats within a small area. Over 500 species have been recorded in the San Blas region, including many tropical species at the northern edge of their range.
The most productive spots are the La Tovara estuary system (waterbirds, herons, kingfishers, rails), the lagoon at Singayta, and the dry forest along the road toward Tepic (endemic and speciality forest species). The International San Blas Bird Observatory, based in town, maintains records and can connect visiting birders with local guides. January brings additional wintering species from the north. Even non-birders typically spot something spectacular — military macaws, boat-billed herons, and dozens of egret species are not easy to miss.