Day 1: Arrive Guatemala City
Arrivals into Guatemala City international airport today. Night in Guatemala City.
Day 2: Guatemala City to Huehuetenango
We will spend some time this morning enjoying watching feeders in Guatemala City, where we can expect an incredible selection of hummingbirds including Violet and Rufous Sabrewings, Azure-crowned, White-eared, and Rivoli’s, Hummingbirds, and Green-throated Mountain-gem. We will also no doubt encounter several more widespread Central American species as we explore the city’s green spaces, such as Rose-throated Becard, Grey Silky-flycatcher, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Black-vented Oriole, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Clay-coloured Thrush, Melodious Blackbird, White-tipped Dove, and our first restricted range specialities, perhaps including Guatemalan Flicker. This afternoon, we will take an internal flight to Huehuetenango in the foothills of the remote highlands of western Guatemala’s Sierra de los Cuchumatanes for the night.
Day 3: Sierra de Los Cuchumatanes
An early morning start will take us north into the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Central America’s most extensive highland region and its highest non-volcanic mountain range, with peaks exceeding 3,800m (12,500 ft.). In Todos Los Santos National Park we will explore elevations up to around 3,500m (11,810 ft.) with breathtaking views that stretch for miles. Here, we will be looking for our first regional specialities in pine-oak and juniper forests and páramo grasslands, including some of the most range restricted species in Guatemala. Among these is Goldman’s Warbler, a subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler restricted to this part of Guatemala, with an isolated population in neighbouring Chiapas in Mexico, and a likely future split. We will also look out for the wetmorei subspecies of Savannah Sparrow, which is only found in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and until recently presumed to be extinct. We’ll also hope to encounter a selection of species limited to northern parts of Central America and neighbouring Chiapas, such as Black-capped Siskin, Rufous-collared Robin, Bushy-crested Jay and the elusive Ocellated Quail, as well as others with ranges extending south into Guatemala from Mexico, such as Yellow-eyed Junco. We will also look for one of Guatemala’s most highly-prized birds, the unmistakable Pink-headed Warbler, as well as Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, stunning Red-faced Warbler, Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, Mexican Violetear, the distinctively billed Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, and White-naped Brushfinch. In this northern part of Guatemala, the birdlife we encounter will have a North American flavour, and we can expect a large selection of more widespread species too, such as Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Acorn and Hairy Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebird, Spotted Towhee and Violet-green Swallow. This region is also the only part of Central America where Scott’s Oriole is found. We will spend the entire day here, returning to Huehuetenango for the night.
Day 4: Huehuetenango to Sibinal
Today we have a long drive, heading west to Sibinal at the base of Volcán Tacaná at the Mexican border for a two-night stay. This afternoon, we will have time for some birding in the Sibinal area. This will be our first chance for the sought after Horned Guan, among various other species of interest including Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Rufous-browed Wren, Yellow-backed Oriole, Hutton’s Vireo, Crescent-chested Warbler, Mexican Violetear, Mountain Trogon, Chestnut-collared and White-throated Swifts, and Singing Quail.
Day 5: Sibinal, Volcán Tacaná and Horned Guan
Today will need a pre-dawn start to drive up into the cloud forest that cloaks the Tacaná volcano in search of the rare and localised near-endemic Horned Guan. This is our prime target for today, and finding this elusive bird here allows us to avoid the tough uphill treks needed at other known sites. Depending on our success with the guan, we may also visit several other sites in the area, and no matter how our day pans out we will no doubt encounter a good selection of other birds, perhaps Wine-throated, Garnet-throated and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Rufous-collared Robin, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Slaty Finch, Steller’s Jay, Blue Seedeater, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Wlison’s Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, Black-throated Jay, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl and Whiskered Screech-Owl.
Day 6: Sibinal and Volcán Tacaná to San Marcos
We will spend one more morning around Sibinal and the Tacaná volcano. We will be looking for any species we may so far have missed, perhaps including the striking Golden-browed Warbler, Hooded Grosbeak, Elegant Euphonia, Flame-coloured Tanager, Tufted Flycatcher, and more difficult species such as the skulking Blue-and-White Mockingbird and the scarce and secretive Maroon-chested Ground Dove. This afternoon, we will drive south to San Marcos in the Pacific-slope foothills for a two-night stay.
Day 7: San Marcos and Refugio del Quetzal
Another early start will take us to Refugio del Quetzal for the day, where we will be looking for Guatemala’s national bird, the unmistakeable Resplendent Quetzal, longer tailed here than in Costa Rica. The easily accessible humid broadleaved forests here are home to several restricted range species of northern Central America and the southern Sierra Madre. Among our other targets in this area are Azure-rumped Tanager, restricted to the Pacific-slope foothills of Guatemala and neighbouring Chiapas, plus Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Guatemalan Tyrannulet, and several hummingbirds including Green-throated Mountain-gem, the beelike Black-crested Coquette, and both Emerald-chinned and Sparkling-tailed Hummingbirds. Other typical highland birds we hope to encounter here include the canopy-dwelling monotypic Olive Warbler, Ruddy and Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaners, Yellowish Flycatcher, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper and Northern Emerald Toucanet. We will also be on the lookout for skulkers such as Rufous-browed Wren, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren and Worm-eating Warbler.
Day 8: San Marcos to San Martín and Volcán Chicabal
We will spend a final morning at Refugio del Quetzal or other sites in the San Marcos area before driving southeast to San Martin for the night. This evening, we will spend some time owling, looking for Great Horned Owl, Fulvous Owl, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl and Whiskered Screech-Owl, and perhaps Mexican Whip-poor-will.
Day 9: Volcán Chicabal to Tarrales Natural Reserve
Another early morning start will take us to the Chicabal volcano. Depending on our earlier success in Sibinal, we may hike through the rainforest to an area where Horned Guan is found, higher up the volcano. We will also have another chance to see the delightful Pink-headed Warbler, and a selection of birds such as Wine-throated Hummingbird, the elusive Black-throated Jay, Yellow Grosbeak, Slate-throated Redstart, Townsend’s Warbler and many more. This afternoon we travel west to Los Tarrales, a private nature reserve among extensive shade-grown coffee plantations on the southeastern slope of the Atitlán volcano, for a two-night stay. We will arrive in time to sample our first home grown coffee, before exploring the extensive sub-tropical forests surrounding our lodge looking for White-bellied Chachalaca, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Orange-fronted and Orange-chinned Parakeets, Yellow-naped Parrot, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Rufous-naped Wren, King Vulture, and Mottled Owl at roost.
Day 10: Los Tarrales Natural Reserve
We have a full day to explore Los Tarrales Natural Reserve, beginning with some high elevation trails where we will look for Black and Ornate Hawk-Eagles, Barred Forest-Falcon, Bat Falcon, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Manakin and a further selection of spectacular hummingbirds such as Green-breasted Mango, White-bellied Emerald, Berylline and Blue-tailed Hummingbirds and Blue-throated Goldentail. This afternoon, we will explore a range of altitudinal zones and their habitats for Highland Guan, Blue-gray and Yellow-winged Tanagers, Black-headed Saltator, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-and-white Wren, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Northern Bentbill, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Oriole, Masked Tityra, Turquoise-browed and Lesson's Motmots, Collared Aracari, Gartered Trogon, and the cryptic Northern Potoo, among others. At night, we will try for Black-and-White Owl.
Day 11: Los Tarrales to Lake Atitlán
We will spend the morning at Los Tarrales, perhaps exploring the La Rinconada trail where we hope to encounter Crested Guan, Long-billed Gnatwren, White-winged Tanager, Long-billed Starthroat, Green Shrike-Vireo, the elusive Tody Motmot and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, among others. This afternoon we drive northwest to Santiago Atitlán for the night. We will arrive in time to explore patches of forest surrounding this small town on the southern shore of Lake Atitlán, looking for Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Band-backed Wren, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Blue-throated Motmot, Rusty Sparrow, White-faced Ground-Sparrow, and the diminutive Slender Sheartail, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hummingbirds in Guatemala. We may also choose to undertake a more strenuous one-mile hike in search of the highly range-restricted Belted Flycatcher.
Day 12: Mirador Rey Tepepul to Guatemala City
This morning we will set out early to visit some superb cloud forests at Mirador Rey Tepepul Natural Reserve, half an hour’s drive away. Here, against a panoramic backdrop of the lake and the Atitlán Volcano, we will look again for Resplendent Quetzal among White-faced Quail-Dove, Collared Trogon, Blue-throated Motmot, Barred Parakeet, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Brown-backed Solitaire, Slate-throated Redstart, White-eared Ground-Sparrow and Mountain Elaenia, with a good chance to see Long-billed Starthroat and both Violet and Rufous Sabrewings feeding in the gardens at our lunch stop. This afternoon we drive east, heading back to Guatemala City for the night.
Day 13: Depart Guatemala City
Departures from Guatemala City international airport today, or continue with optional Tikal extension.
Post-tour extension: Tikal and Yucatán Endemics
Main Tour Day 13 / Post-tour Extension Day 1: Guatemala City to Flores and Tikal National Park
Those joining the tour extension will take an early flight this morning from Guatemala City to Flores, the colourful capital of northeastern Guatemala’s Petén department. Once here, we will drive to Tikal National Park for a two-night stay. Inhabited from the 6th century BC, Tikal was once the heart of the Mayan empire. Today, its temples, pyramids, public squares and dwellings are among the finest remaining archaeological examples from the intriguing Mayan era. Besides its rich historical attractions, Tikal is surrounded by superb rainforest, and following our arrival later this morning we will begin our exploration of the lowland tropical humid forests of the area. This region hosts a broad diversity of birds including several Yucatán endemics, localized specialities, and other species not found in the highlands and Pacific-slope foothills of western Guatemala, and there will be plenty of new birds to see here. Among our key targets at Tikal will be the spectacular Ocellated Turkey, Yucatan Flycatcher, Rose-throated Tanager, Yellow-lored Parrot, Yucatan Woodpecker, Yucatan Jay, Black Catbird, Yucatan Nightjar, and Yucatan Poorwill, all restricted range species endemic to the Yucatan peninsula of southern Mexico and neighbouring parts of Guatemala and Belize.
Day 14 / Post-tour Extension Day 2: Tikal National Park
We will spend the day within Tikal National Park today, and birding here among the fascinating Mayan ruins will be a truly unique experience. Other notable species we will be looking out for here include Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-whiskered Puffbird, the incredible Hoopoe-crested Tropical Royal Flycatcher, Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Rufous Mourner, Rufous Piha, the lilac-washed Yellow-winged Tanager, Northern Plain-Xenops, Stub-tailed Spadebill, chunky and unmistakable Red-capped and White-collared Manakins, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Northern Barred and Ruddy Woodcreepers, Pale-billed Woodpecker, a selection of parrots including Brown-hooded, White-crowned, and Northern Mealy Parrots, Red-lored Amazon and Olive-throated Parakeet, Pheasant Cuckoo, Montezuma Oropendola, Keel-billed Toucan, the chicken-like Mayan Antthrush, Great Curassow, Agami and Boat-billed Herons, Barred Forest-Falcon and Plumbeous Kite. We will also look for the localised Orange-breasted Falcon nesting among the ruins.
Day 15 / Post-tour Extension Day 3: Tikal National Park and Lake Petén Itzá
After spending a final morning at Tikal, we will make our way towards Lake Petén Itzá. This afternoon, we will explore tracts of forest along southern shore of the lake, including the extensive nature trails through the private nature reserve surrounding our lodge, on the shores of the Petenchel and Monifata lagoons. Here, we can expect to encounter a wonderful selection of Central American and Neotropical species, such as Plain Chachalaca, Black-headed Trogon, Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker, Wedge-billed and Olivaceous Woodcreepers, Bright-rumped Attila, Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, spectacular Long-billed and inconspicuous Stripe-throated Hermits, Rufous-tailed, Scaly-breasted and Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Purple-crowned Fairy, Blue-black Grosbeak, Red-billed and Scaled Pigeons, Brown Jay, Green-backed and Olive Sparrows, Ruddy Crake, the secretive Thicket Tinamou, Laughing Falcon and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, as well as additional specialities of the Yucatán peninsula including Grey-throated Chat and Black-throated Bobwhite. We can also expect a variety of more widespread American migrants wintering here in Petén, perhaps including Philadelphia Vireo, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, and a host of colourful North American wood-warblers including Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, Golden-winged, Yellow, Hooded, Kentucky, Tennessee, Magnolia and Wilson’s Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, and American Redstart.
Day 16 / Post-tour Extension Day 4: Flores to Guatemala City
We will spend the morning enjoying some final birding in the productive forests around the shores of Lake Petén Itzá before returning to Flores. From Flores we will take a short flight back to Guatemala City for the night.
Day 17/ Post-tour Extension Day 5: Depart Guatemala City
Departures from Guatemala City international airport today.
