At the town, roads meander off to the right and left, both offering interesting habitats and birds. Both also deteriorate quickly so keep your birding fairly close to town. One interesting side road goes through mature oak forest to Los Troncones, an almost surreal camping and picnic area set among the stumps and regrowth of a once magnificent cedar forest- watch for the sign. Going straight along the cobblestone road will take you past the Restaurante Campestre on your left, open Friday through Sunday. The food, cooked over a woodburning stove, is simple and well prepared. Continuing uphill will take you higher into the mountains, but be careful not to get lost among the forks of the rutted, similar-appearing roads. It might be a while before anyone else comes along. I have not hired a guide at El Terrero but understand they are available for about 150 pesos for half a day.  You can arrange for a guide at the restaurant. Keep in mind they will probably not speak English and are not birders, but could show you some of the more interesting spots and aspects of the area, and get you back safely.

Winter birding at El Terrero often illustrates a phenomenon common throughout the tropics; few birds for long periods, then large, mixed species flocks moving past. Birds you may encounter include Hook-billed Kite and other raptors, a variety of hummingbird species, Rose-throated Becard, Brown-backed Solitaire, Crescent-chested Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Red-crowned Ant-tanager, Yellow-eyed Junco, Black-headed and Blue Grosbeak, and Black-headed Siskin just to name a few.

Perched at over 7,000 feet in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains is the rustic mountain town of El Terrero. It is in the heart of the Manantlan Biosphere Reserve, designated as a special conservation area due to the biodiversity of both its plant and animal communities. It was here that the original genotype of modern corn was rediscovered; in addition, six cat species occur here including Jaguar and Mountain Lion as well as some 330 species of birds.

The best way to get there is to take the road towards Minatitlan and go to kilometer marker 39, or about 18 miles from the Rio Armeria bridge. Turn at the tiny abandoned police office on the right and follow the rock road past the turnoff to El Sauz, although a recent one-quarter-mile detour down that road produced both Scrub and Elegant Euphonia. Along countless switchbacks and through several habitat zones, the El Terrero drive offers breathtaking views of the surrounding forested mountains as the 10-mile road takes you to the rustic mountain town.. The road has been recently improved and now is a smooth, all-season drive. Surprisingly, there are lots of places wide enough to pull over and look around.

El Terrero is also an overnight option. Rustic cabins such as those at the restaurant are set in the second-growth woodland and are available at a reasonable price   If the restaurant is not open just ask around. There is no "high season" in El Terrero so you shouldn't have a problem.