Birdwatching in Guatemala

Guatemala is an attractive birding destination with more than 720 bird species, of which 24 are restricted to northern Central America. The highest concentration of range-restricted species is found in the highlands, where 10% (22 species) of all breeding bird species are endemic to the northern Central American highlands. Guatemalan lowlands are less distinct and have many species in common with southern Central America.

However, the Atlantic lowland is Guatemala's region with the highest species richness (more than 500 species), and therefore an interesting birding destination, especially in the scenic settings of ancient Mayan pyramids amidst the rainforest at Tikal. Protected areas cover more than 30% of the country. Birding is an option of sustainable land use which can support the conservation of these areas. Cayaya Birding aims to have an overall positive impact on the areas we visit and supports conservation.
http://www.birdingpal.org/tours/GuatemalaItinerary.htm
Tour I
9-day birding tour in Guatemala including highlands, Pacific slope, and Tikal.
Expect 250+ species during that tour.

Itinerary

Day 1 Guatemala City.
Arrival in Guatemala City. Depending on your flight schedule there might be time for birding in highland mixed forest near Guatemala City. Overnight in a hotel in Guatemala City.
Day 2 Los Tarrales Reserve.
After breakfast we will drive to Los Tarrales, on the southern slope of the Atitlán volcano. Birding in the surroundings of the Los Tarrales Lodge at about 750 m elevation. Common are Cinnamon Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Motmot, Orange-chinned Parakeet. Overnight in Los Tarrales Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 3 Los Tarrales Reserve.
Birding in shade coffee plantation. The low canopy of the shade trees allows good views at canopy birds like tanagers and warblers. Several species restricted to the Pacific slope: White-bellied Chachalaca, Blue-tailed Hummingbird, and Long-tailed Manakin. Overnight in Los Tarrales Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 4 Los Tarrales Reserve – Tecpán – Antigua Guatemala.
Birding in secondary growth and shade coffee plantation. Some of the birds expected are Collared Aracari, Rufous-naped Wren, and White-winged Tanager. At noon we will drive to Cerro Tecpán with high-elevation mixed forest, home to the Pink-headed Warbler, endemic to Guatemala and Chiapas. Late afternoon drive to Antigua Guatemala. Overnight in a hotel in Antigua Guatemala. (B/L)
Day 5 Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala City.
Birdwatching in dry forest and conifer-oak forest. Good chance to see Bar-winged Oriole, Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-gem, Rufous-collared Thrush, and Bushy-crested Jay. Other highland species to be found here are Magnificent Hummingbird, Gray Silky-flycatcher, Black-headed Siskin, and Brown-backed Solitaire. In the afternoon drive to a pine-oak forest near Guatemala City for highland endemic birds: Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, and Steller's Jay. Overnight in a hotel in Guatemala City. (B)
Day 6 Tikal.
Early morning flight to Flores, Petén, and drive to Tikal. Tikal is an ancient Mayan city with tall pyramids amidst the apparently endless rainforest. A network of trails allows spectacular wildlife observations. Overnight in a hotel in Tikal. (B)
Day 7 Tikal.
Forest birding in the archaeological park. Ocellated Turkey, Black Vulture, and Montezuma Oropendula roost around the hotels. The top of the pyramids are excellent lookouts to see canopy birds like Mealy, Red-lored, and White-crowned Parrot, Keel-billed Toucan, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, and a set of Neotropical raptors. The Orange-breasted Falcon nests on the ancient temples and can be seen year round at Tikal. Birds of the under and midstory can be seen along the trails in the forest (including Red-capped Manakin, Red-throated and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, and tropical flycatchers like Eye-ringed Flatbill, Royal, Sepia-capped, Ruddy-tailed, Ochre-bellied, and Yellow-olive Flycatcher). Overnight in a hotel in Tikal. (B)
Day 8 Tikal - Guatemala City.
Birding along a trail in scrub with Mangrove Vireo, Northern Bentbill, and Pheasant Cuckoo, and swampy forest with Gray-throated Chat, Dot-winged Antwren, and mixed flocks with ant-tanagers, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Lesser and Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Ivory-billed, Ruddy and Northern Barred Woodcreeper. In the afternoon transfer to Flores and flight to Guatemala City. Overnight in hotel in Guatemala City. (B)
Day 9 Departure.
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. (B)
Included meals: B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner9 Day tour price is: 2 pax US$2170 per person. 4 pax US$1670 per person.
Single supplement: US$340

With more than 750 species of birds and widely varied habitats in a tight geographic area, Guatemala is an outstanding bird watching destination. See few of the sites where we can bring you. Guatemala is a bird watcher's paradise.

Bird Watching

With more than 750 bird species in a relatively small area, Guatemala is a paradise for bird watchers.

Highlands and Cloud Forest

Advanced birders will be looking for regional specialties in Guatemala's highlands, such as the Azure-rumped (Cabanis') Tanager (Tangara cabanisi), Pink-headed Warbler (Ergaticus versicolor) and Horned Guam (Oreophasis derbianus), one of the world's rarest birds.

One place to find Horned Guans relatively easily is near the summit of Tolimán Volcano, especially if birders don't mind a four-hour hike up the volcano's steep slope and camping out for a night as the same on the Atitlan Volcano.

Birders of all levels of expertise will be thrilled by other highlands birds, like Emerald Toucanets (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), Mountain Trogons (Trogon mexicanus) and, of course, Guatemala's national bird, the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus m. mocinno).

Monterrico

Monterrico on Guatemala's Pacific coast is one of the country's most popular bird watching destinations.

Pacific Coast

The most popular birding destination along the Pacific Coast is Monterrico, a natural reserve with habitats that include shore, swamp mangroves, lakes and dry tropical forest. Interesting birds here include Boat-billed Herons (Cochlearius cochlearius) and Lesser Yellow-headed (Savanna) vultures (Cathertes b. burrovianus).

To the west, Abaj Takalik offers great birding among Maya ruins, while the private Manchon Guamuchal reserve features impressive concentrations of herons, ibises and spoonbills.

Mario Dary Reserve

Also called The Quetzal reserve, one of the several places where is locate the National Bird of Guatemala, the resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus m. mocinno). In the misty fog, the Quetzal makes their distinctive two notes call. One trail is 4 kilometers long and the short trail is only a 2 kilometers hike also while walking through the cloud forest, we can expect to see Highland Guans (Black penelopina) (Penelopina nigra), various species of hummingbirds, and jays and other species. Rare birds we will specifically search for: Blue-crowned Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia occipitalis), Spotted Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus dryas).

Rio Dulce

The Rio Dulce area and the department of Izabal are home to more than 350 bird species.

See also:

Caribbean

The tropical rainforest in the department of Izabal offer Guatemala's most productive birding. Two noteworthy destinations are the Cerro San Gil and Bocas del Polo chic wildlife refuges. So far, 356 species have been identified in 7 years at Cerro San Gil.

Peten

The most famous birding site in the Peten is Tikal National Park, where tropical humid forest shelters more than 300 species, including Ocellated Turkeys. The forested, lakeside ruins of Yaxha (where a Jabiru sighting is possible) and the riverside ruins of Ceibal are also popular birding sites. Birders looking for the endangered Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) head to El Peru Lake in the Maya Biosphere.

Guidebooks for Guatemala

The preferred book for field use in Guatemala is A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas by Ernest Preston Edwards. Although the taxonomy is slightly dated and the book has no range maps, it is lightweight and includes color plates of all Guatemalan's birds, including migrants. The heftier Guide of the birds of Mexico and Northern Central America by Steve Howell and Sophie Webb does not have color plates of all birds but does provide range maps and is a handy book to consult at the end of the day.

View our guatemala tours, we also offer custom tours in Guatemala. Experience the adventure in Guatemala with Mayalandia. Eco Tours and Cultural Tours available in Mayalandia Guatemala.

Mayan Ruins of Tikal

The Mayan ruins of Tikal, Monument of the Americas and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, are a must-see for every traveler visiting Guatemala.

See also:

Most of the tour companies that operate in or out Guatemala go to four main destinations - Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango and Tikal - but some as us Adventure in Mayalandia also offer tours off the beaten track, including adventure and natural-history treks. At Mayalandia we offer the widest variety of specialized adventure and ecotourism expeditions for independents travelers: these include tours to remote archaeological sites, the Atlantic zone, plus rivers and sport fishing. Due the variety of request from our special guest, we cannot exhibit a general itinerary, but to give you an example of what can be one hypothetical tour, you will find three examples: "Brief Guatemala", "Basic Guatemala" and "Cultural and Nature in Guatemala".

Hoping these few information will help to go ahead ...