Description

9 days – 8 nights

Availability: All Year Round

Destinations: Belize & Guatemala

Belize Birding Expedition

Here we show you a 100% customizable 9-day trip idea.

Our Belize birding tour will take you through fantastic tropical destinations in Belize, such as Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Lamanai Reserve, Hidden Valley & Mountain, Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Caracol Archaeological Reserve, and Tikal National Park in Guatemala.

Besides the neotropical bird species, you will discover local cuisine, culture, and Maya history. You will visit unique archaeological sites declared as World Heritage Destinations by UNESCO.

Resume of the program

Day 1: Arrival – Crooked Tree
Day 2: Lamanai Outpost Lodge
Day 3: Lamanai Outpost Lodge
Day 4: Hidden Valley Inn
Day 5: Hidden Valley Inn
Day 6: Hidden Valley Inn
Day 7: Tikal National Park
Day 8: Tikal National Park
Day 9: Back home

We will visit

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary:

This area has international importance for migratory birds as they flock to the lagoons during the wet-season, and food is difficult to find in other areas. It is also essential for non-migratory birds, and a variety of species can be seen here. In 1998, this area was listed as Belize’s first Ramsar site.

This location offers excellent birdwatching opportunities both on land and on the water, in its tributaries. Seek out the Bare-throated Tiger, Sungrebe, Jabiru, Wood-storks, Black-collared Hawk, and the American Pygmy Kingfisher. In the pine and hardwood forest habitats, seek out the endangered Yellow-headed Parrot among other migratory and resident breeds.

Lamanai Reserve

This remote location on the New River lagoon boasts almost 400 species of birds documented within a 3-mile radius. The area is Belize’s premier birding location. Habitats range from vast wetlands and broadleaf forests to pine savannah, and all are easily accessible.

A Spotlight Safari provides a fantastic opportunity to see roosting waders, nocturnal, some of the more elusive diurnal species up close and personal. Regular sightings include the Yucatan Nightjar, Northern Potoo, Common Pauraque and Nighthawk, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Sungrebe, and Agami Heron.

Some species that inhabit this reserve are:

Black-Collared Hawk, Northern Jacana, Mangrove Swallow, Olive-Throated Parakeet, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Red Lored Parrot, Blue-crowned Mot-mot, Collared Aracari Toucan, Lineated and Pale-Billed Woodpeckers, and Black-Headed and Violaceous Trogons.

Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Woodpecker, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Azure-crowned hummingbird, Yellow-headed Parrot, White-tailed Hawk, Gray-throated Chat, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Botteri’s Sparrow, and Jabiru.

Hidden Valley & Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve:

This reserve is a beautiful location to view some unique species of birds. It’s the best place in the country to view the Orange-breasted Falcon. Other common birds to the reserve are the Red Crossbill, the Pine Siskin, the Eastern Bluebird, the Rufous-capped Warbler, Grace’s Warbler, the Stygian Owl, the Hepatic Tanager, and the Yellow-backed Oriole. A great place to see a wide variety of species.

Some of the species that inhabit this reserve are:

Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Orange-breasted Falcon, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, White-fronted Parrot, Crimson-collared Tanager, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, King Vulture, White-collared Manakin, White-whiskered Puffbird, Bright-rumped Attila, Piratic Flycatcher, Yellow-green Vireo, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Blue-black Grosbeak, Plain Chachalaca, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Green-backed Sparrow, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Pale-billed, Lineated Woodpecker, Squirrel Cuckoo, Tody Motmot, Black-headed trogon, Slaty-tailed trogon, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Gray-throated Chat among other.

Caracol Archaeological Reserve:

This reserve is home to a vulnerable species of bird called the Keel-billed Motmot and is one of the last places in the world to see it in the wild. These birds nest in this area. Also, this location offers sightings of Toucans, Trogons, Ocellated Turkeys, Crested Guans, and Great Curassows. Its location near Belize’s most extensive Mayan ruins makes it a popular destination.

Chaa Creek Nature Reserve:

Located in San Ignacio District, Chaa Creek Nature reserve is one of the best birding destinations in western Belize. The reserve report 308 species of resident and migratory birds within its 365 acres.

Some of the species that inhabit the reserve are:

Keel-billed Toucan, Blue-crowned Mot-Mot, Violaceous Trogan, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Collared Forest Falcon Collared Aracari, Violaceous Trogon, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Blue-gray Tanager, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Red-lored Parrot, Masked Tityra, Squirrel Cuckoo, Emerald Toucanet, and Great Curassow. The Collared Forest-Falcon, Swallow-tailed Kite, Roadside Hawk, and the Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle, among others.

Tikal National Park

This archaeological site is one of the best places for birding in Guatemala; More than 400 bird species have been recorded within Tikal National Park, including 60 migratory species and 30 birds of prey.

The exuberant forest and the impressive temples present magic and mysticism. Due to the rarity and number of wildlife species, Tikal is considered an important area in Guatemala.

Rare species found nesting in Tikal include the orange-breasted falcon (Falco deiroleucus) and the Guiana crested eagle (Morphus guianensis), which makes Tikal one of the few nesting areas in Central America for this species.

Some Species that inhabit Tikal National Park are:

Great Curassow, Ocellated Turkey, White-fronted Parrot, Mealy Parrot, Crested Eagle, Orange-breasted Falcon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, White-bellied Wren, Montezuma Oropendola among others.

With almost 400 species documented within a 3-mile radius.

Itinerary

Day by day itineraryDay 1: Arrival

You will be met at the Philip Goldson International Airport by our friendly representative and transferred by ground to Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

Arrival and check-in at Bird’s Eye View Lodge, birdwatching afternoon near the lodge.

Dinner and lodging at t Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

Day 2: Crooked Tree / Lamanai

Wake up to an early start as you prepare for a sunrise lagoon boat tour at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, a world-class birding destination.

The Birding Boat Trip is probably the most interesting activities within the refuge. A remarkable journey through different waterways of the reserve which offers the opportunity discover birds including the stunning Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, Yucatan Jays, Snail Kites, and the Jabiru Stork, among others

Late breakfast.

Midday transfer to Lamanai Outpost Lodge for lodging

Afternoon Birding around the lodge

Dinner and lodging at Lamanai Outpost Lodge

Day 3: Lamanai

Following breakfast time, you are going to take a look at the mystical jungle-shrouded temples of this once powerful 3000-year-old civilization, the Lamanai Ruins. Watch an array of birds while you walk in the Mayan City.

Lamanai is among Belize’s main Mayan ceremonial centers found on the banks of the New River Lagoon; this archaeological site its flanked by an exotic forest that inhabits a significant number of bird species, Spider Monkeys, Yucatan Black Howler Monkeys, and more.

In addition to the cultural value, Lamanai is well-known birding heaven with plenty of bird species, such as Black-faced Ant-thrush, Gray-collared becards, Royal and Sepia-caped Flycatchers, Black-throated Shrikes, Northern Bentbills, White-breasted, and Spot-breasted Wood Wrens, Plain Xenops, Stub-tailed Spadebills, White-crowned Parrots, Keel-billed Toucan and Collared Aracaris among others.

Lunch and afternoon birding tour at Lamanai trails

Dinner and lodging at Lamanai Outpost Lodge

Night excursion

Day 4: Hidden Valley

Early birding tour at Lamanai Outpost Lodge

Breakfast and transfer to Hidden Valley; on the route, we will visit Green Hills Butterfly Ranch & Botanical Collection.

During our stop in Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, the hummingbirds will take center stage. The bird feeders located near the caterpillar building attract many hummingbirds; a minimum of 15 species of hummingbirds have been documented, of which 11 can be observed at the feeders, and it is common to find six species in one stop at Green Hills Ranch.

Some of the hummingbirds that we can spot at the reserve are the White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Long-billed Hermit, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Violet Sabrewing, and White-bellied Emerald.

This fantastic destination also offers a magnificent photo opportunity.

Check-in and afternoon birding walk around the lodge

Dinner and lodging at Hidden Valley Inn

Day 5: Hidden Valley

Early coffee while enjoying the birds at the bird feeder, Green Jay, Brown Jay, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Plain Chachalaca, Gray-headed Pigeon, and Clay-colored Thrush, among others.

After breakfast, you will head toward the Mountains of Western Belize, searching for Raptors like the Orange Breasted Falcon, Stygian Owl, Solitary Eagle, and King Vultures, among others.

Lunch and afternoon birding tour trough the different trails that the lodge offers, birding at the pine forest and scrub areas that inhabit species such as Black-headed Saltator, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, and Rufous-capped Warbler.

Exploring the woodland, we can spot neotropical species, such as Slaty-tailed Trogon, Collared Trogon, Black-headed Trogon, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Pale-vented Pigeon, Scaled Pigeon, to mention some.

Dinner at Hidden Valley Inn. Then we will have time for a night adventure in the quest of Stygian Owls and other nocturnal creatures.

Lodging at Hidden Valley Inn

Day 6: Caracol Archaeological Site

Today you will wake up early as we head into the Chiquibul Forest Reserve searching for species such as the keel-billed Motmot, Black-faced Antthrush, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Pale-billed Woodpecker, and Lineated Woodpecker. At the same time, we explore the Ancient Mayan City of Caracol.

The bird watching throughout the trip is excellent; some of the species that we could observe on the way include raptors, toucans, once we get closer towards the lower forests.

Dinner and lodging at Hidden Valley Inn

Day 7: Tikal National Park

Early breakfast at the lodge, then you will be transferred to Tikal National Park. This route offers excellent opportunities for bird watching; we will have the possibility of stopping to see birds in the savannas, ponds, and broadleaf forests along the road.

We also will stop at “El Remate,” a place connected to lake Pete Itza, another excellent birding area where it is possible to spot some Kingfishers, Snail Kites, and herons, to mention some bird species.

Check-in at the lodge and time for lunch

Sunset Birding tour at Tikal National Park.

We will start exploring the different trails inside the park, looking for neotropical bird species such as Orange-breasted Falcon, Ocellated Turkey, Rose-throated Tanager, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Ruddy Crake, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Montezuma Oropendola, Blue Bunting, Black-cowled Oriole, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, among others.

Dinner and lodging Tikal

Day 8: Tikal National Park

Early birding Trip inside Tikal National Park, Tikal belongs to the nucleus areas of the Mayan Biosphere, with a high level of preservation actions and research.

The ancient monuments situated in the center of luscious jungles are perfect locations for birding in which we are going to discover exciting species including the Ocellated turkey, orange-breasted falcon, Yucatan Jay, Black Catbird, Rose-throated Tanager, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Great Curassow, White-fronted Parrot; Mealy Parrot, Crested Eagle, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Keel-billed Toucan, Montezuma Oropendola Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher; White-bellied Wren, and many hummingbirds among others.

During the migratory season, flocks of warblers, tanagers, and others make this destination a unique tropical paradise.

We will return for lunch then during the afternoon; we will continue visiting different areas of the park, searching for more tropical species

Dinner and lodging at Tikal Park.

Day 9: Back Home!!!

Early Transfer to Mundo Maya International Airport to take a short flight to Belize International Airport

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