Birdwatching Northern Belize

this is a fully customizable seven days birding tour focused on the northern areas that inhabit a significant amount of bird species and wildlife.

You will visit La Milpa Forest Station, Lamanai Archaeological Site, and Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, three effortless destinations inside areas that protect natural and cultural treasures, also; you will have a great photography opportunity in this birding adventure in Belize

Resume of the program

Day 1: Arrival – La Milpa Forst Station
Day 2: La Milpa Forest Station
Day 3: La Milpa Forest Station
Day 4: Lamanai Archaeological Site – Crooked Tree
Day 5: Crooked Tree Sanctuary
Day 6: Crooked Tree Sanctuary
Day 7: Back Home

La Milpa Forest Station:

La Milpa Forest Station is a rustic lodge nestled within a 260,000-acre research area known as Rio Bravo Conservation Area. It is home to approximately 390 Species of birds, 75 percent, which is endemic to Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula. This dense broadleaf forest located in North Western Belize is one of the prime birding hotspots in Belize for species such as the Grey-throated Chat and Rose-throated Tanager. Exploring the many trails at La Milpa can reward you with birds such as Ocellated Turkey, Yucatan Poorwill, Lovely Cotinga, Crested Guan, Great Curassow, and Barred Forest falcon, to name a few.

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.

Itinerary

Birdwatching Northern Belize

Dia 1: Arrival – Transfer to La Milpa Forest Station

You will be met by our friendly representative at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport and transferred by ground to La Milpa Forest Station.

Upon your arrival at La Milpa, check-in, then you will have time to observe birds around the lodge.

Dinner and lodging at La Milpa Forest Station (D)

Dia 2 – La Milpa

Today you will start with an early morning birdwatching hike through La Milpa trails in search of local specialties such as Gray-throated Chat, Tody Motmot, Ornate hawk-eagle, King Vulture, and Crested Eagle, among others.

The feeders of the lodge are a special attraction where dozens of birds can be observed, among them Red-legged Honeycreepers, Green Honeycreepers, Olive-backed Euphonias, and Tanagers; it is also effortless to find Ocellated Turkey and Great Curassow.

Time for lunch, a short rest, and the walk continue to observe birds and other species that inhabit the reserve.

At night, there will be a walk in search of owls and other nocturnal creatures around the lodge; on this walk, there is the possibility, and with great luck to observe a jaguar and other cats, there are several reports of travelers who have had an encounter with this fantastic mammal

Dinner and Lodging at La Milpa Ecolodge

Dia 3 – La Milpa

We will continue birding around the lodge and different trails in the quest of more species that inhabit this tropical paradise.

Also, you will have excellent photography opportunities at the feeders with dozen of colorful birds, including hummingbirds such as White-necked Jacobin, rufous tailed hummingbird, Violet Sabrewing, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, and White-bellied Emeralds, among others.

Lodging at La Milpa

Dia 4: Transfer to Crooked Tree with Birding at Lamanai Archaeological Site

After breakfast, transfer to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary with a birding stop on Lamanai Archaeological site on the route.

Lamanai is among Belize’s major Mayan ceremonial centers situated on the banks of the New River Lagoon; this archaeological site its surrounded by a tropical forest that inhabits an essential selection of bird species, Spider Monkeys, Yucatan Black Howler Monkeys, and more.

Besides, the cultural treasure Lamanai is a well-known bird watching paradise 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.

After a birding adventure at the Lamanai Archaeological site, continues towards Crooked Tree Sanctuary

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 5: Birding at Crooked Tree Sanctuary

The Crooked Tree Sanctuary provides inland waterways, swamps, and lagoons; the reserve also has a series of trails that allow exploration on foot. Today you are going to explore the trails on foot and by car in the quest of birdlife, including some specialties from the Yucatan peninsula such as Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Woodpeckers, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Vermillion Flycatchers, Fork-tailed Flycatchers, Parrots, and Raptors.

Lunch and time for a short rest, then you will continue with birding inside the reserve.

Night walk for owling with good opportunities to spot Northern Pottoos and Yucatan poorwill

Dinner and lodging at Bird’s Eye View Lodge

Day 6 – Crooked Tree

The Birding Boat Tour is one of the most exciting activities in the sanctuary. A fascinating journey through the different waterways of the reserve that provides the opportunity to observe birds such as the beautiful Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, Yucatan Jays, Snail Kites, and the Jabiru Stork, among others

Dia 7: Out

Transfer to the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport to take your flight back home.