This birding expedition will take you through the center highlands, pacific coast and lowlands of Guatemala; you will be birding inside of diverse type of forest that inhabit regional endemic and interesting birds such as Pink- headed Warbler, Horned Guan, Azure-rumped Tanager, Orange-breasted Falcon, Crested Eagle, Ocellated Turkey and Pale-billed Woodpecker among others.
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.
Lodging in Antigua Guatemala.
Some of the birds that you can spot at this destination are:
Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-Gem, Bushy-crested Jay, Hooded Grosbeak, Elegant Euphonia, Singing Quail, Golden-crowned Warbler, Bar-winged Oriole, among others.
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 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 being a great birding destination Fuentes Georginas is a hot spring with developed pools. Here we hope to spot Horned Guan, 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
2 nights of lodging at Los Tarrales Private Reserve.
Time for Coffee and transfer to Vesubio area in the quest of Azure-rumped tanager, Rufous Sabrewing, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Tody Motmot, Quails and doves among other species of the highlands. Breakfast at the place (boxed breakfast).
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.
Dinner and lodging at Los Tarrales Reserve.
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 Paquisis 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.
Lunch will be served on route (boxed lunch).
After breakfast transfer to the airport,
17:15 hrs, flight to Flores,
18:00 hrs, meet & greet in Flores and transfer to Flores Island
1 night of lodging in Flores
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.
2 nights of lodging at Las Guacamayas Lodge
Some of the birds that you can spot at this destination are:
Agami Heron, Green-backed Sparrow, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Yucatan Woodpecker, Yucatan Jay, Red-capped Manakin, Golden-hooded Tanager, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Scarlet Macaw, Brown-hooded Parrot, White-crowned Parrot, Sungrebe, Ruddy Crake, Northern Potoo, Yucatan Poorwill, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, among others.
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
2 nights of lodging in Tikal National park
Early birdwatching Tour within Tikal National Park, Tikal is part of the nucleus areas of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, with a high level of conservation activities and research.
The monuments, remnants of the ancient Maya culture located in the middle of luscious jungles, are ideal places for birdwatching where we will find interesting species such as Ocellated turkey, orange-breasted falcon, Yucatan Jay, Black Catbird, Rose-throated Tanager, Great Curassow, White-fronted Parrot; Mealy Parrot, Crested Eagle, ,Slaty-tailed Trogon, Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher; White-bellied Wren, Montezuma Oropendola and many hummingbirds among others.
During migratory season flocks of warblers, tanagers and others makes this destination a fantastic tropical paradise.
Midday archaeological 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
