We invite you to join Wild Latitudes on our inaugural tour of one of the best birding regions in the United States: the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas!

You can't get much further south and still be in the US. The latitude and ecosystems of South Texas are subtropical. Exotic birds and other wildlife more typical of Mexico reach their northern range limits here. This means you can see wonderful species that you'll find nowhere else in the US.

Bird specialties of the Lower Rio Grande Valley include the beautiful Green Jay (shown on the cover), the Great Kiskadee, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Inca Dove, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira Oriole.

The region has a variety of excellent wildlife refuges and parks nestled among suburban and agricultural areas. As we look for birds in these natural areas, we'll keep our eyes open for other exciting animals, such as American Alligator, Collared Peccary, Spiny Softshell Turtle, and Armadillo.

As with all Wild Latitudes tours, we will take a light-hearted approach to our birding and nature exploration. We want everyone to have lots of fun, to learn new things, and to see wonderful animals, plants, and landscapes. We’ll keep a moderate pace while also maximizing our time in Texas.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1

The tour begins with our arrival at Corpus Christi International Airport. We’ll drive a short distance north to our lodging in Rockport, on the shore of Aransas Bay.

Day 2

Today we get an early start and head north to explore Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We’ll walk some short trails and drive the 9-mile auto tour loop in a leisurely fashion, stopping to identify birds and wildlife.

Day 3

This morning we’ll enjoy an intimate 3-hour cruise north to explore the wild margins of Aransas Wildlife Refuge. We’ll have great opportunities to see dozens of bird species: shorebirds, waders, and raptors. We should get close-up looks at the Endangered Whooping Crane. After our cruise, and then drive south towards Brownsville. Time allowing, we may stop to do some birding at Port Aransas Nature Preserve. We’ll also check the bird feeders at the King Ranch Visitor Center.

Day 4

This morning we head out early to visit Padre Island. At 113 miles from north to south, this is the world’s longest barrier island. We’ll visit the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Up-close encounters with numerous bird species along the path make this a great place to stroll for a couple hours. After lunch we’ll take time to enjoy a stroll on the beach, look for some shorebirds, and dip our toes in the Gulf of Mexico.

Day 5

We head off this morning to visit Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. This large refuge contains a unique mix of habitats, such as coastal prairie, thorn forest, and tidal flats. These habitats and the geography of the region make Laguna Atascosa a major migratory stopover for countless birds. There are plenty of resident and wintering birds here as well.

Day 6

We’ll spend most of today exploring the habitats of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. This is the headquarters of the World Birding Center. We’ll be on the lookout for more of the subtropical speciality birds of the Rio Grande Valley. Just around the corner is the National Butterfly Center. We’ll stop here in the afternoon to admire the free-flying butterflies among the flowers along the trails.

Day 7

This morning, we make a journey 1.5 hours to the west, into the thornscrub ecosystem. This region is far less urbanized and is mostly a patchwork of large cattle ranches. We’ll visit the tiny Salineño Nature Preserve, close to the banks of the Rio Grande. A little further west is Falcon State Park. The habitat here is arid, almost desert-like.

Day 8

Today we say our goodbyes—adios amigos!—and part company.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $900

START DATE: Feb 22, 2026

DURATION: 8 days

GROUP SIZE: Up to 12

TRIP FOCUS: Birding

ACTIVITY LEVEL: Easy

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Double-occupancy lodging
• Ground transportation
• Breakfasts and lunches
• Excursions and park fees
• Guiding services

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YOUR GUIDES

David Jaffe has been guiding and teaching since 1991. His childhood interest in nature eventually led him to Evergreen State College, WA where he earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Geology. Later, he earned a M.S. in Applied Ecology from the University of Vermont.

David has led backcountry trips in Denali National Park, learned from students in Kentucky, and gained great insights while hitchhiking home from work in Yosemite National Park. He has experience as a naturalist in many of the lower 48 states and Baja California. David worked as a divemaster in Australia, Costa Rica, and India. He assisted with the establishment of a marine protected area off the coast of Madagascar and researched birds in Canada and South America. His understanding, love and enthusiasm about the natural world continues to grow.

Steve Backus is an avid birder and naturalist with a background in the maritime industry hailing from North Carolina. An infinitely curious person by nature, he is drawn to explore the life around him and the environments they occupy. As a mariner, waterbirds are of particular interest to Steve and his time as a ship’s naturalist, a captain of wildlife cruises, a point counter at migration hot-spots, and many other employments and community science efforts has deepened his appreciation of birds.

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