Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Antigua Guatemala
You will meet and greet at the La Aurora International Airport (GUA) and be transported to Antigua Guatemala.
- Meals: none
- Two nights of lodging at El Meson de Maria or similar in Antigua Guatemala
Day 2: Finca El Pilar - Antigua Guatemala
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
At 07:00, you will be transferred to Volcán de Agua slopes in the quest to see ocellated quail, lesser roadrunner, blue-throated motmot, white-eared ground sparrow, and rusty sparrow.
Afterwards, you will be transferred to San Cristóbal El Alto for birding and breakfast at a local restaurant with the breathtaking views to the volcanoes. Then, you will be transferred to Finca El Pilar for birding in the hummingbird feeders and around the farm.
Day 3: Tecpan - Huehuetenango
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
At 06:00, you will depart from Antigua Guatemala toward Tecpán Guatemala area, where you will have breakfast. Then, you will have a birdwatching tour in Tecpán 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, garnet-throated hummingbird, and amethyst-throated hummingbird.
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. Then, you will be transferred to Huehuetenango in the afternoon.
- One night of lodging at Hotel Ruinas Resort
Day 4: Todos Santos Cuchumatán - Quetzaltenango
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
Todos Santos Cuchumatán is a region with a unique landscape in Guatemala, which combines sub-alpine meadows, rocky areas, and slow-growing vegetation due to climatic conditions and altitude (3,850 meters). It is one of the geologically oldest areas and has the highest mountain formations of Central America.
This is one of the areas with the greatest biological diversity and endemism in the country, where a number of endangered species of flora and fauna can be seen like Guatemalan fir (Abies guatemalensis), Hartweg's pine (Pinus hartwegii), Huitum (Juniperus standleyi), Maya mouse (Peromyscus mayensis), and Cuchumatanes salamander (dendrotriton chujorum), among others.
Avian species related to this area are goldman’s warbler, which will be the first endemic species of Guatemala, black-capped siskin, golden-crowned kinglet, broad-tailed hummingbird, common raven, and Savannah sparrow.
You will have a morning transfer to Municipal Todos Santos Cuchumatán Regional Park (for two hours) in the quest of goldman’s warbler. This species will be your first endemic species and is located in a small area in Huehuetenango and easy to spot in this park. An afternoon transfer will take you to Quetzaltenango. After checking in for birding at Fuentes Georginas, you will target fulvous owl and Mexican whip-poor-will.
- Lodging at Las Cumbres or similar in Quetzaltenango
Day 5: Fuentes Georginas - Los Tarrales Natural Reserve
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
You will have a morning birdwatching session 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, you will hope to spot wine-throated and garnet-throated hummingbird, cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer, and ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush. Then, a mid-day transfer will take you to Los Tarrales Natural Reserve, where you will have an afternoon birdwatching around the lodge.
- Two nights of lodging at Los Tarrales Natural Reserve eco-lodge
Day 6: Los Tarrales Natural Reserve
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
It is time for coffee and transfer to La Isla area at Volcán Atitlán, in the quest of azure-rumped tanager, rufous sabrewing, emerald-chinned hummingbird, tody motmot, quails, and doves among other species of the highlands. A boxed breakfast will be served at the place.
Also, you will have an afternoon birding tour around Aldea La Laguneta. This area offers a good opportunity to find out species such as white-bellied chachalaca, yellow-naped parrot, and rufous-breasted spinetail among others.
Day 7: Los Tarrales Natural Reserve to Santiago Atitlán
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
It is time for coffee and transfer to La Rinconada area, where it is possible to find species such as long-tailed manakin, cinnamon hummingbird, and rufous-naped wren among others. Then, a mid-day transfer will take you to Lake Atitlán to Santiago Atitlán. You will have a birdwatching session around the lake in the afternoon.
- Two nights of lodging at Posada de Santiago Atitlán
Day 8: Volcán San Pedro - Santiago Atitlan
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
Today, you will have a boat ride toward San Pedro La Laguna, where you will climb Volcán San Pedro 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. Moreover, your lunch will be served en-route (boxed lunch).
Day 9: Mirador Rey Tepepul to Flores
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
You will have a morning birdwatching session at Mirador Rey Tepepul. This park is located in Santiago Atitlán, in the western slopes of Volcán Atitlán. This reserve has an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level and there is a sub-tropical humid forest. This kind of forest is common at the foot of Guatemala's Pacific Slope, with an average annual rainfall of 1,500 millimeters.
Some bird species you can spot here are blue-crowned chlorophonia, azure-rumped tanager, slender-sheartail hummingbird, bar-winged oriole, elegant euphonia, crested guan, emerald toucanet, chestnut-sided shrike-vireo, white-eared ground sparrow, green-throated mountaingem, rusty sparrow, black hawk-eagle, Pacific parakeet, and eventually quetzal.
At 11:00, you will be transferred to the airport in time to catch your local flight to Flores. At 17:15, you will fly to Flores and meet and greet at the airport, and be transferred to your hotel.
- One night of lodging at Hotel Isla de Flores or similar in Flores
Day 10: Las Guacamayas Biological Station
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
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, Birding Expeditions can mention the scarlet macaw, toucans, blue herons, parakeets, and many more.
After breakfast, you will leave Flores for a trip of approximately three hours. The whole road proposes great birding opportunity where you can watch some birds in open areas, secondary forest and ponds, such as flycatchers, hawks, herons, and kingfishers among others.
Then, you will arrive at the community of Paso Caballos. Here, you will board a boat that will carry you through the San Pedro River towards Las Guacamayas Biological Station (approximately 20 minutes). Birding on route, here you can find out species such as herons, kingfishers, limpkin, parrots, grey-necked wood rail, northern jacana, and many more.
Upon arrival, you will be received by the Las Guacamayas Biological Station's staff and they will give an introduction on the activities of the station, solid waste management, research programs, conservation, and social projection. Afterward, you have lunch and at 15:00, you will have a birding tour around the base station ending at Las Guacamayas lookout.
There is a nighttime aquatic excursion. You can explore the stream Rio Sacluc. Birding Expeditions' experienced guide will accompany you on this tour. With the support of a flashlight, the guide will illuminate the nighttime creatures that live here, including the crocodile petenero (Crocodylus moreletii), bats, birds, and more.
- Two nights of lodging at Las Guacamayas Biological Station
Day 11: El Perú - Las Guacamayas Biological Station
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
At 05:00, you will have time for a coffee (breakfast en-route). Then, you will board the boat for a birding tour through the archaeological site El Perú, where you will visit the most important nesting area of the scarlet macaw (ara macaw) in Guatemala and you can find interesting species such as ocellated turkey, bat falcon, scarlet macaw, black-and-white owl, ornate hawk-eagle, lovely cotinga, rose-throated tanager, and green-backed sparrow among others. Then, you will have afternoon birdwatching around the Las Guacamayas Biological Station.
Day 12: Tikal National Park
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
You will have an early birdwatching session around the river and the lodge. A mid-morning transfer will take you to Tikal National Park with a stop in Flores Island for lunch. There will also be a sunset tour at Tikal National Park.
- Two nights of lodging at Jungle Lodge
Day 13: Full day at Tikal National Park
- Meals: American breakfast, lunch, and dinner (without drinks)
Today, you will start with an 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. It is where you will find interesting species such as ocellated turkey, orange-breasted falcon, Yucatan jay, black batbird, 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 make this destination a fantastic tropical paradise. You will have a mid-day archaeological tour.
Day 14: Tikal National Park - Guatemala City
- Meals: American breakfast and lunch (without drinks)
This morning is your second day to enjoy Tikal National Park. A mid-day transfer will take you to El Remate. This village is located in the shore of the Lake Petén Itzá. You will have lunch and have a birding tour around the lake. Afterward, an afternoon transfer will take you to Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) to take a flight back to Guatemala City. You will then meet and greet in Guatemala City and be transferred to your hotel. Dinner will be on your own.
- One night of lodging at Radisson Hotel And Suites Guatemala City
Day 15: Back home!
After breakfast, you will be transferred to La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in time to catch your international flight back home! This is the end of Birding Expeditions' services.
Notes: The tour to Volcán San Pedro on day eight requires a high effort. You can change this activity for a lake tour by motorboat. Also, to minimize any possible negative event, Birding Expeditions uses mostly natural private reserves, as private properties provide an excellent safety level for the visitor.
Birdwatching
The birds are organisms very sensitive to air temperature. In the lowlands, the bird activity starts earlier because the temperature becomes comfortable for birds at sunrise. In the highlands, the activity of birds starts one or two hours before the dawn, because of the low temperatures. The dawn comes at the same hour in the whole country but the clouds did not allow the heat from the sun to get into the forest at the highlands. In this dynamic, the activity in the lowlands stops earlier because one hour before noon, the heat is very high. In highlands, the activity extends toward noon because the birds take advantage of any possible sun ray.
In Guatemala, the winter solstice is December 21st, (year's longest day) and the sun rises at 05:30 (average). This way, in the migratory season, this should be the standard hour for planning the start of a day in a trip in the neotropical migratory season.
Flock composition
The most exciting behavior in the neotropics during the migratory season is the multispecific flock integration. The warblers coming from the north in the migratory season search for food with many other local species taking advantage of the group as a way to increase the success in the hunting.
In the highlands, a greater pewee or a similar flycatcher moves and announces the presence of a flock. Immediately behind, in the canopy are the wilson, towsends and red-faced warblers. The slate-throated and painted redstarts always flying and displaying around. The worm-eating warbler always in leaves at tips of the branches and the pink-headed warbler in the understory.
In the lowlands, the show is different. The cerulean warbler and other neotropical in the canopy, the towsend and wilson warbler, and many others in the intermediate stratum. The black-and-white warbler always in the trunks and the flycatchers flying in the understory. The ant-tanagers surround the flock and some woodcreeper always come with the flock.
