Day 1: Guatemala City to Antigua Guatemala
Arrivals into Guatemala City international airport this morning. From here, we drive west into the Central Highlands to the charming former colonial capital of Antigua Guatemala for the night.
Day 2: Finca El Pilar to Los Tarrales
We will start our day early, exploring the mountain trails through White Pine, oak and cypress at nearby Finca El Pilar. First, we will make our way to the upper reaches of the reserve towards 2,650m (8,700 ft.), looking for our first range-restricted species. Among these will be those limited to Central America, such as White-eared and White-faced Ground-Sparrows, Bushy-crested Jay, Northern Emerald-Toucanet and Fulvous Owl, as well as others with ranges extending south into Guatemala from Mexico, such as Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo. We are also likely to encounter the first of several species whose ranges are even less extensive, occurring only in the northern extremes of Central America and neighbouring Chiapas in Mexico, perhaps Bar-winged Oriole and Black-capped Swallow. Other species here may include Rose-throated Becard, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Bar-winged Oriole, White-naped Brushfinch, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner and White-tipped Dove. Later, we will enjoy time at hummingbird feeders at the trailhead, where we can expect an incredible selection of hummingbirds including Green-throated Mountain-gem, Mexican Violetear, Rivoli’s, White-eared and Azure-crowned Hummingbirds, and spectacular Violet and Rufous Sabrewings. 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 3: Los Tarrales Natural Reserve
We have a full day to explore Los Tarrales, beginning with some high elevation trails where we will look for Black and Ornate Hawk-Eagles, Barred Forest-Falcon, Bat Falcon, Turquoise-browed and Lesson's Motmots, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Manakin and a further selection of 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, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Northern Bentbill, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Oriole, Masked Tityra, Collared Aracari, Gartered Trogon, Sungrebe, and the cryptic Northern Potoo, among others. At night, we will try for Black-and-White and Spectacled Owls.
Day 4: Los Tarrales to Lake Atitlán
We will spend the morning at Los Tarrales, 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 north to San Lucas Tolimán 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, Gray Silky-flycatcher, and the diminutive Slender Sheartail, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hummingbirds in Guatemala.
Day 5: Mirador Rey Tepepul to Huehuetenango
This morning we will set out early to visit some superb forests at Mirador Rey Tepepul, an hour’s drive away. Here we will be looking for Guatemala’s national bird, Resplendent Quetzal, among White-faced Quail-Dove, Collared Trogon, Blue-throated Motmot, Barred Parakeet, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Brown-backed Solitaire, Slate-throated Redstart, and Mountain Elaenia, with a good chance to see the bee-like Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird feeding in the gardens at our lunch stop. This afternoon we will drive north to Huehuetenango for the night, no doubt pausing along the way for any birds of note.
Day 6: Sierra de los Cuchumatanes to Sibinal
An early morning start will take us north into the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, the highest non-volcanic mountain range and most extensive highland region in Central America. Here in Todos Los Santos National Park we will explore elevations up to 3,800m (12,500 ft.) looking for some of the most range restricted species in Guatemala. These may include Goldman’s Warbler, a subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler restricted to this part of Guatemala with an isolated population in neighbouring Chiapas, and a likely future split. We will also look for the elusive Ocellated Quail, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, the delightful Pink-headed Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Yellow-eyed Junco and Black-capped Siskin. 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, Eastern Bluebird, Spotted Towhee, Northern Flicker and Acorn Woodpecker. This afternoon we have another long drive, heading west to Sibinal at the base of Volcán Tacaná at the Mexican border for a two-night stay.
Day 7: 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 Garnet-throated and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Rufous-collared Robin, Slaty Finch, Steller’s Jay, Blue Seedeater, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Wlison’s and Crescent-chested Warblers, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl and Fulvous Owl.
Day 8: Tacaná Volcano 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 and Yellow Grosbeaks, Elegant Euphonia, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Flame-coloured Tanager, Mountain Trogon, 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 the night.
Day 9: San Marcos to Quetzaltenango
Another early start will take us to Refugio del Quetzal where we hope to have more good views of the unmistakeable Resplendent Quetzal, longer tailed here than in Costa Rica. Other targets in this area include Azure-rumped Tanager, restricted to the Pacific-slope foothills of Guatemala and neighbouring Chiapas, Guatemalan Tyrannulet, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Worm-eating and Olive Warblers, Yellow-throated Euphonia and Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush. Later, we will drive southeast to Quetzaltenango for the night.
Day 10: Quetzaltenango and Volcán Chicabal to Guatemala City
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 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. Later, we drive back to Guatemala City for the night.
Day 11: Depart Guatemala City
Departures from Guatemala City international airport today.
Post-tour extension: Tikal National Park and Yucatán Endemics
Main Tour Day 11-13 / Post-tour Extension Day 1-3: Tikal National Park and Cerro Cahuí Protected Biotope
Those joining the tour extension will take an early morning flight from Guatemala City to Flores in northeastern Guatemala on day 1, from where we will drive to Tikal National Park for a three-night stay. Inhabited from the 6th century BC, Tikal was the heart of the Mayan empire and today its temples, pyramids, public squares and dwelling are among the finest archeological examples from the Mayan era. Besides its rich historical attractions, Tikal is surrounded by superb rainforest that 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. Arriving in Tikal this morning, we will spend three days birding among the lowland tropical humid forests. 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. We will also look for the localised Orange-breasted Falcon that nests among the ruins. Other notable species here include Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-whiskered Puffbird, the incredible Hoopoe-like Royal Flycatcher, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Montezuma Oropendola, Red-capped and White-collared Manakins, Green-backed Sparrow, Brown-hooded, White-crowned, Red-lored and Northern Mealy Parrots, Olive-throated Parakeet, Keel-billed Toucan, chicken-like Mayan Antthrush, Great Curassow, Agami and Boat-billed Herons, Barred Forest-Falcon and Plumbeous Kite. We will also visit Cerro Cahuí Protected Biotope, a large tract of forest along the northern edge of Lake Petén Itzá, where we will look for near-endemic Grey-throated Chat and Black-throated (or Yucatan) Bobwhite among Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Long-billed and Stripe-throated Hermits, Northern Bentbill, Scaled Pigeon, Olive Sparrow, Ruddy Crake and Plain Chachalaca.
Day 14 / Post-tour Extension Day 4: Depart Flores
Departures from Flores international airport today.
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