This tour is a mixture of the best birdwatching destinations in Guatemala including the best locations to appreciate endemic bird species.
We will visit Guatemala’s center highlands (Mountain Forest), the pacific coast (Subtropical Humid Forest), the Biological Corridor of Resplendent Quetzal (cloud forest), las Verapaces and Peten (Tropical Rainforest) in the Guatemala’s lowlands.
La Aurora International Airport
Trip may include activities like walks, hikes and boat rides.
Meet and greet at La Aurora International Airport and transfer to the City of Antigua Guatemala, (1 hour).
Lodging in Antigua Guatemala.
Morning bird watching at Finca El Pilar based 10 minutes from Antigua. Coffee, Pinus, and oaks mostly consist of the plant life within this reserve, settle in an altitudinal range between 1,710 to 9,500 ft. Above sea level.
One of the significant points of interest in El Pilar farm is around hummingbird’s feeders where it is possible to find numerous hummingbird’s species that reside the area feeding oneself together addressing a fantastic chance for birdwatchers.
Lunch break in the local restaurant in Antigua Guatemala.
14:00 hrs, you are going to start the exciting cultural excursion of Antigua discovering beautiful churches, ruins, galleries, and museums that joined with aged stoned paths keep the stories and tales of the colonial times that unquestionably please you.
6:00 am. Departure from Antigua Guatemala toward Tecpan area. Breakfast in Tecpan
Bird watching tour In Tecpan Reserve where you will find interesting endemic species of the north Central American highlands like Pink-headed Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, and Rufous-browed Wren.
During migratory (winter) season you will find Townsend’s, Wilson’s, Black-and-White, and Red-faced Warblers together with the resident Slate-throated Redstart, Pink-headed, Crescent-chested, and Olive Warbler, as well as Hutton’s Vireo.
Midday transfer to Todos Santos Cuchumatanes, there will be few birding spots along the way
Morning transfer to Todos Santos National Park in the quest of Goldman’s Warbler, this specie will be our first endemic specie and is located in small area in Huehuetenango and easy to spot in this park
Midday transfer to Quetzaltenango and birdwatching in the afternoon at Los Vados area
Morning birdwatching in the very humid sub-tropical forest at Fuentes Georginas, in addition to be a great birding destination Fuentes Georginas is a hot spring with developed pools. Here we hope to spot Wine-throated and Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Cinnamon-bellied flower piercing, Mexican violetear (Former Green -violetear) and Guatemalan Pigmy Owl
After lunch transfer to Los Tarrales Private Reserve and birdwatching around the lodge in the afternoon
Lunch.
Afternoon birding tour around La Laguneta, this area offers good opportunity to find out species such as White-bellied Chachalaca, Yellow-naped Parrot, and Rufous-breasted Spinetail among others.
Time for coffee and transfer to La Rinconada area where is possible to find species such as Long-tailed Manakin, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Rufous-naped Wren among other. Breakfast at the place (boxed breakfast).
Midday transfer to Lake Atitlan and afternoon birdwatching around the lodge.
Early boat ride toward San Pedro La Laguna where we will climb San Pedro Volcano in the quest of Horned Guan and other interesting species such as Prevost’s Ground-sparrow, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Slender Sheartail, Rufous Sabrewing Violet Sabrewing, Bushy-crested Jay, Olive-sided Towhee, Chesnut-sided Shrike-vireo, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Mountain Trogon, Bar-winged Oriole and Ocellated Quail among others.
Some bird species you can spot here are: Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Azured-rumped Tanager, Slender-sheartail Hummingbird, Bar-winged Oriole, Elegant euphonia, Crested Guan, Emerald toucanet, Chestnut-sided shrike-vireo, white-eared Ground Sparrow, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rusty Sparrow, Black Hawk-Eagle, Pacific Parakeet and eventually Quetzal.
Midday transfer to El Rancho (6 hours approximately)
Afternoon birdwatching in the dry scrub forest
Morning birdwatching at National Park Lo de China (Caparral or Thorn Dry Scrub Biome)
This natural reserve is located in the municipality of El Jícaro in El Progreso and protects a very fragile and threatened biome of the country.
Located in the central valleys of Guatemala, between 700 and 1000 meters above the sea level, with an average of 600 mm of annual rainfall; It is characterized by the abundance of cactus and thorn plants.
Some birds associated with this ecosystem are: Lesser Roadruner, Rosset-crowned Motmot, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Streak-backed Oriole, Lesseer Ground-Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Streak-Backed Oriole, Ash-throated Fly-catcher, Altamira Oriole and Turquoise-browed Motmot,
Midday transfer to El Quetzal Biotope for birdwatching in the afternoon
Morning birdwatching at Ranchitos del Quetzal and try to spot the Quetzal and other interesting species,
After lunch transfer to Guatemala City,
17:15 hrs, flight to Flores,
18:00 hrs, meet & greet in Flores and transfer to Flores Island
Enjoy this fascinating birding tour in the Scarlet macaw´s sanctuary and prepare to discover the natural world of more than 260 species of resident’s birds
With an abundant wildlife such as spider monkeys and howler monkeys (saraguate), occasionally tapirs, crocodiles, and a great variety of birds, among those we can mention the scarlet macaw, toucans, blue herons, parakeets, and many more…
7:00 am. Leave from Flores to Paso Caballos for a trip of approximately 3 hrs. The whole road proposes great birding opportunity where we can watch some birds in open areas, secondary forest and ponds, such as Flycatchers, Hawks, Herons and Kingfishers among other.
Arrival to the community of Paso Caballos, here we will board a boat that will carry us through the San Pedro River towards Las Guacamayas Biological Station (aprox.20 minutes). Birding on route, here we can find out species such as Herons, Kingfishers, Limpkin, Parrots, Grey-necked Wood-rail, Northern Jacana and many more.
At your arrival, you will be received by the EBG staff and they will give an introduction on the activities of the station, solid waste management, research programs, conservation and social projection.
Lunch and at 3:00 pm. birding tour around the base station ending at Las Guacamayas lookout.
5:00 am. Time for a coffee (breakfast on route) We will board our boat for a birding tour through the archaeological site El Peru, where we will visit the most important nesting area of the scarlet macaw (Ara Macaw) in Guatemala and we can find interesting species such as Ocellated Turkey; Bat Falcon; Scarlet Macaw; Black-and-White Owl; Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Lovely Cotinga, Rose-throated Tanager; Green-Backed Sparrow, among others.
Note: You can spot Scarlet Macaws from February to May
Nighttime aquatic excursion: Explores the stream Sacluc, our experienced guide accompanies us for the nighttime aquatic tour. With the support of a flashlight, our guide illuminates the nighttime creatures that live here, including the crocodile petenero (Crocodylus moreletii), bats, birds and more.
Morning birdwatching in San Pedro River.
After breakfast transfer to Tikal National Park, on route you will stop in Flores to have lunch. Quick stop at El Remate to do some birding.
Sunset tour in Tikal National Park
Morning birdwatching in San Pedro River.
After breakfast transfer to Tikal National Park, on route you will stop in Flores to have lunch. Quick stop at El Remate to do some birding.
Sunset tour in Tikal National Park.
Tikal second day Birding and Archaeology tour
Afternoon transfer to the airport,
18:30 hrs, local flight from Flores to Guatemala City
19:30 Hrs, meet & greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel,
1 night of lodging in Guatemala City
