I didn’t go to Zona Arqueológica de Cobá to see pyramids — I went for the wildlife. But even I had to admit the ancient ruins peeking through the jungle were pretty impressive… once I stopped staring at birds long enough to notice them.

Coba was once a major Maya city, and now it’s a mix of towering stone structures, quiet forest paths, and some seriously good bird habitat. The combination of lakes, dense jungle, and relatively low tourist traffic makes it a prime spot for birding — and I took full advantage.

I booked a private tour with Birding by Steven, and honestly, I can’t recommend it enough. Steven knew exactly where to go and what to listen for, and his knowledge of the local birds (and their habits) made the whole day feel like a behind-the-scenes nature special. He seemed to know every local (The people, not the birds) by name and told me brief stories about the area.

Here are some of the highlights:

• A Ferruginous Pygmy Owl glaring at me like I owed it money
• Northern Jacana trotting around on floating vegetation like it’s no big deal
• A ridiculously fancy Ocellated Turkey that looked like it was late for a Mardi Gras parade
• Both Black-headed and Collared Trogons being unusually cooperative
• A Turquoise-browed Motmot with its signature tail and attitude
• Plus a strong supporting cast: Yucatan Jay, Yellow-throated Vireo, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Least Grebe, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Black-and-white Warbler, and Gray-collared Becard

It was an incredible morning. Great birds, great company, and just enough ruins to feel like I did something culturally respectable between owl sightings. Most impressive for me was adding 50 birds to my life-list.