Belize and Guatemala are a paradise of Mayan history and an eclectic mix of people from around the world has embraced this region as their home. Birding in Belize and Guatemala is nothing less than fantastic. Over 600 species of birds call Belize their home all or part of the year. The openness of the country and the excellent site locations of the Mayan ruins are great birding habitat for a wide variety of species. In lagoon areas the water birds are plentiful and viewing from shore or boat is equally good. We have developed this tour to take in as much of the cultural mix as possible through bird watching activities each day.
11 Days & 10 Nights $2,995 (+ 7% tax)
2014: March 11th – 21st See pricing details under the ”Payments” tab
2015: March Dates TBA
You will arrive in the Belize at Phillip Godson Airport where your guides will be waiting for you. After all participants are accounted for we begin our drive to the west side of the country to duPlooy’s Jungle Lodge where we will be staying for the next few nights. Our first taste of tropical birds will start as soon as we leave the airport and leisurely make our way west. Roadside Hawks, Fork-tailed Flycatchers and more will likely be seen from the van. Some of the birds we have seen at duPlooy’s are: Plain Chachalaca, Yellow-green Vireo, Band-backed wren, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-winged Tanager, Blue-crowned Motmot, Collared Aracari, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Masked Tityra, Barn Owl, Mottled Owl and more.
We will start our day on the deck for coffee and bird the canopy following breakfast we will kick off the day with a visit to the nearby Black Rock Lodge, on the Southern end of the Macal River. This will be a delightful trip to the southern side of the Macal River to the neighboring lodge of Kelley and Cameron Boyd for Bird watching and lunch. We will walk the grounds looking for Orange Breasted Falcon, Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Blue Motmot, Tody Motmot, and Blue Dove. We will lunch on their open-air café and take in the beauty of the area. After lunch we will drive back to duPlooy’s and bird the road for a variety of parrots, Blue Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Cuckoos, Raptors, Seed Eaters and more.
This will be the earliest day start for the entire trip; we will depart at 4 a.m. for Caracol Archeological site in the southwestern corner of the country. It may seem daunting but the rewards of Ocellated Turkey, Great Curassow and Crested Guan sightings are worth it. If we are lucky we may have Scarlet Macaw in flight as we arrive at the ruins. Some of the species we will see at Caracol are Tawny-crowned Greenlet, White-breasted Wood-wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-headed Trogon, Emerald Toucanet, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Plumbeous Kite, Bat Falcon, King Vulture, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Montezuma Oropendola, Keeled-bill Toucan, and Keel-billed Motmot and more.
Today we will visit The Blue Hole National Park and St. Herman’s Cave. We will not be caving but we will hike this beautiful jungle area as well as visit the Blue Hole and hike to the St Herman’s Cave entrance. St. Herman’s Cave area is a thick jungle area with a multitude of birds – this is a good area for Manikins, Ridgeway’s Rough-winged Swallow, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antbird, Royal Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, White-collard Manakin, Black-cowled Oriole, and a variety of Trogons. On the trip back we can stop at Guanacaste National Park known for the huge Guanacaste trees that tower more than 100 feet into the air and cater to a number of birds for second good looks at anything we missed this morning.
We will drive to San Jose Succotz and take the short Hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River into Xunantunich (shoo-NAHN-ta-nich) for ‘Stone Lady’.This Mayan site is one of our favorites. It sits atop a natural limestone ridge with an excellent view of the Cayo District and Guatemala countryside. We will enjoy the grounds of this spectacular area while birding for Philadelphia Vireo, Lesser Greenlet, Brown Jay, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Ovenbird, Yucatan Flycatcher, Melodious Blackbird, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, a variety of parrots and trogons as well as Howler monkey’s. We will lunch at a local eatery after allowing time to shop the local merchants and crafts stalls along the Mopan River. After lunch we will drive a short distance to Cahal Pech ruins just over the hill of San Ignacio.
After breakfast, take a short drive to the Guatemala border where you will meet our Guatemalan Driver to bird your way to Tikal. Our guide from duPlooy’s will have the driver stop along the way to bird special spots before we enter Tikal.We will check into the Tikal Jungle Lodge (Posada de la Selva) and take a brief tour of the site. The lodge is located in the heart of Tikal just a few kilometers from the central plaza of Tikal and surrounded by the luscious humid tropical forest of Peten. The Lodge is known for its beautiful gardens as well as the multitude of animals that can be seen such as: coati, wildcat, parrots, macaws, spider monkey, howler monkey, Crest Guan, Golden Oriole and Ocellated Turkey. Our evening will be spent inside Tikal where we can prowl the premises on our own. Night in Tikal
We will spend the next day at the site with a local bird guide beginning with the sunrise tour to the top of the ruins. From the top of the High Temple we will await the sun and the birds. As the sun rises the endless forest below is illuminated and the rising sound of birds fills the air. We’ll likely see a resident Orange-breasted Falcon from the temple along with a number of other birds! After descending the temple we will bird the many walking paths of Tikal looking for species like Tody & Keel-billed Motmot, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager and Ridgeway’s Rough-Winged Swallow. In addition to the great birds, Tikal is well known for its mammals as well. Spider Monkey, Howler Monkey Jaguar and more are all possible! The evening will be spent birding, relaxing, and enjoying the quiet and peaceful site, listening to the animals and the night. Night in Tikal
Today we will bird the grounds of Tikal in the morning before returning to Belize and duPlooy’s Lodge for lunch. After lunch we will load the van and head east to Crooked Tree Lagoon and Bird’s-Eye-View Lodge.
As we drive the causeway into Crooked Tree we will be met with a multitude of water birds including Northern Jacana, Osprey, Snail Kites, Wood Storks, and Limpkin.Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and Birds Eye View Lodge are situated on the Northern Lagoon inlet of Black Creek and home to the Jabaru and many species of birds including Yucatan Jay, Southern Lapwing, Tropical Kingbird, Purple Martins, Groove and Smooth-billed Ani, Bare-necked Tiger Heron, Sungrebe, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Sora, Killdeer, Red-billed Pigeon, Vermillion Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, a variety of Oriole, Olive-throated Parakeet, Vermiculated Screech Owl, Mottled Owl, Common Paraque and more. Bird’s Eye View Lodge is within feet of the Northern Lagoon which covers about 3,000 acres of protected wildlife habitat within the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the perfect place to spend our final few days in Belize!
Today we will spend the morning at the site best known for the Jabiru Stork. If we are lucky we will see young Jabiru still in the nest but very close to fledging. The Jabiru stork is Crooked Tree’s most famous resident. Belize has the largest nesting population of these great birds in all of Central America. Jabiru storks arrive in November to nest in the lowland pine savannas. This is also our target area for a number of orioles and tanagers. We will look for Scott’s, Audubon’s, Yellow-tailed, Yellow-backed, Hooded, Altamira, Bullock’s, Orchard and Orange-crowned Orioles in this area as well as a number of tanagers, warblers and vireos.
We will awaken to the soft waters of the Northern Lagoon and early morning calls of any number of water birds as well as martins, swallows and warblers. After breakfast in the dining room we will immediately board our boat for the lagoon trip to see Anhinga, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Snail Kite, Boat-billed Heron, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Agami Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Tricolored Heron, Wood Stork, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Northern Jacana, Great Egret, Wood Stork, all five species of Kingfisher (Belted, Amazon, Pygmy, Ringed and Green), iguanas, crocodiles, coatis, turtles and the ‘Jesus Christ’ Lizard. After the boat trip and a well earned lunch and rest we will venture into the Village for Yucatan Jay, Rufous-browed Peppershrike and more.
This morning we will enjoy a relaxing breakfast on the lagoon and prepare for your trip home. Mid-morning we will load the van and head to the airport for departure.
Click link to see a full report!
March 2013 - Belize: Intro to Tropical Birding Trip Report - Lee Hopwood, BRANT Guide and Owner
Coming Soon…
As a general rule for international travel, your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. US, Canadian, and British citizens only need a passport to enter Belize. Citizens of other countries may need to acquire a visa. Be sure to contact the Belize Embassy if you have any questions: Embassy of Belize, 2535 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, tel: (202) 332 9636, fax: (202) 332 6888 (also deals with inquiries from Canada).
Sometimes there is an approximately $35 exit tax when departing Belize, sometimes not, welcome tot he tropics. When this fee is required it must be paid in cash before you are allowed to leave the country. Brant does not cover this fee so make sure you have the money at the end of the trip! Some airlines will include this fee when you book your flight however not all airlines do this so make sure to check with you airline after you book your flight. This is one of those little peculiar things about Belize.
For this tour there are no special rules for entering and exiting Guatemala. We have arranged everything in advanced including a local guide so all you will nee is your passport.
Belize is a stable and safe place to visit and has been for some time. As with any country, the large cities (in this case Belize City) can be dangerous but we not be spending any time there on this tour. The national language spoken in Belize is English although Spanish is also widely spoken. For more information visit the U.S. Department of State’s Belize relations page here.
Some regions of Guatemala can be dangerous and difficult to travel however the Tikal region is a very popular tourism destination where roads and grounds are guarded and VERY safe. The primary language in Guatemala is Spanish. For more information visit the U.S. Department of State’s Belize relations page here.
There are no required inoculations when visiting Belize or Guatemala. However, it is a good idea to make sure your tetanus vaccinations are up to date. According to the CDC there is some risk of malaria in rural Belize as well as typhoid and hepatitis A. Vaccinations are available for both typhoid and hepatitis A and there is malaria prophylaxis drug (chloroquine (Aralen) is recommended for this region) available for malaria prevention. You should consult your doctor to decide whether or not these medications are appropriate for you. Special medications (your prescriptions) may not be available during the tour so it is important that you bring enough to cover your needs for the entire trip plus additional time in case of emergency or unexpected travel delays. You can review the CDC latest advisories for Belzie here. And for Guatemala here.
Biting insects can be prevalent at certain birding sites however they typically do not cause a problem during. The leaders will advise you whenever it is necessary to apply insect repellent.
To avoid intestinal issues, we recommend that you only drink bottled water while ont his tour. BAll our lodges use only bottled water and have water available to fill your personal water bottle at all times. There will be bottled water available throughout the trip. Other bottled drinks are also fine to drink. Please bring your own water bottle to use throughout the trip.
During the dry season rain is occasional and usually short lived. We may encounter a storm or two so it is important to bring a light rain jacket or umbrella but we do not expect rain to be a major problem. The climate in Belize is quite tropical and pleasant with highs usually in the mid 80′s and lows in the high 60′s. Long sleeved shirts are recommended because of the exposure to the sun, but short tees are fine if you choose. It is relatively humid at all times – the thing makes this tolerable is that you are bird watching, so who cares.
Dress is casual throughout. Being in a tropical environment, it is a good idea to bring lots of light weight non-cotton clothing. Once cotton is wet, it will may dry! While shorts and t-shirts will be okay for lodges and leisurely hikes, it is always a good idea to bring lightweight pants and long-sleeve shirts to help prevent bug bites and protect from the sun. A sturdy, sun protective hat is also important in the harsh tropical sun. Be sure to bring a light weight rain jacket in case of rain and/or a chilly evening, and of course sturdy boots for hiking.
Maximum group size is 12 participants. We typically have 2 to 3 guides for this tour.
As with any birding tour, we will have many early mornings and full days. Most of our birding will be on short, fairly easy hikes. Hikes through the jungle often feature lots of tree roots, slippery rocks and occasional mud so it is important to have proper footwear. Some of our birding will be at native ruin sites where you will have the option to explore the ruins. Climbing these ruins will likely be the most strenuous part of the trip but it is completely optional.
Most of our meals will be taken at the lodges with the exception of a few lunches during longer travel days. The lodges provide excellent, local meals with fresh, local produce and vegetarian options available. Travel lunches will be either a pack lunch from the lodge or will be taken a local, well reputed restaurants.
Transportation van throughout the trip. It is important that all participants be able to sit in any seat in the tour vehicle.
Accommodations are at locally run eco-lodges throughout trip. All of our lodges cater specifically to birders and are well known for their pleasant and helpful staff, excellent food, and best of all the great birds and bird feeders right on site! Our first lodge, Birds Eye View, artfully landscaped, yet rugged jungle environment, with many amenities while still. Single occupancy is limited and likely available for only the first 3 nights of the trip. Please contact us for more information if you desire single occupancy.
The tour price includes all travel from the point of departure (Phillip S.W. Gordon International Airport, Belize) all lodging while on the trip, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials, and all services of the tour leaders. Tips for included meals, porters, drivers, and other service providers are also included.
Lodging is booked on double occupancy, most lodging in the U.S. can allow us to arranged for single rooms at an additional charge; lodging outside of the U.S. is usually in small locally-owned lodges and will almost always be double occupancy. If you are traveling single we will match you to appropriate roommates and can discuss any changes once the group has established. Double occupancy means that you are sharing your room with another individual, single occupancy means that you are paying for the room for just yourself, and you do not want a roommate.
Items that are not included in the tour price are as follows: passports, visas, airfare , departure taxes, immunizations, baggage charges, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, room service, snacks, emergency evacuation fees and medical fees, and other personal purchases you desire to make in the course of the trip.
Your fees include travel arrangements for the trip at/from point of departure. For example if your trip begins in Albuquerque, NM, you will need to make arrangements to get to Albuquerque, NM. From that point we will pick you up and provide all other transport. If you are traveling internationally we will provide you with suggested airline and travel times for you to book your flight. We will provide specific information about arrival and departure times in the trip packet sent to you after registration. If you would like assistance with your travel plans please feel free to contact us and we will help you out.
Tips for local guides on international trips are highly encouraged. Local guides are incredibly valuable and knowledgeable and often underpaid. It’s important to show our support and appreciation for these individuals.
Tips for BRANT guides are not required, however if you wish to pay a gratuity to your guide please do at any time (during or after the tour). Rest assured that any tips we received are distributed fairly to your guides.
In general there is only one absolute restriction to a nature tour, you absolutely cannot collect any plants, artifacts or animals during the tour.
Otherwise, there are no restrictions. We only ask that you let us know about any potential limitations or safety concerns that may hamper your ability to participate in any aspect of the desired tour. For example, walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, diet limitations, applicable phobias, etc. should be noted on the registration form. Our tours are typically not physically demanding however the level of physical difficulty for each tour is available under the “Pace of Tour” section of each tour. If there is any question about your ability to participate on a tour we would be more than glad to provide more information that you and/or your doctor may need to help make that decision. All hikes, on all tours, will be round trip, that is returning to the vehicle start point unless otherwise noted, allowing any participant to ‘sit one out’ if they feel inclined to do so. In addition to any walking, participants should be mindful that they will be required to be able to sit in any seat on our tour vehicles.
Tour confirmation occurs at the time of invoicing or 3 months prior to the tour departure date. This tour is confirmed to run for 2014!
In the event a tour is cancelled by BRANT (due to civil unrest, natural disaster, low participation, etc.) we will offer you an alternate tour option (same time/similar birding targets) or refund the full amount of your tour deposit and price.
Projecting the cost of a tour package months in advance is not an exact science. If unexpected increases do occur it may be necessary to charge participants up to 10% increases of the tour price. If greater than 10% increases are necessary, participants may withdrawal from the tour without penalty.
We hope that you will be able to join us on this tour, however, if circumstances cause you to cancel your trip we understand. If cancellations are made 3 months before the start of your tour, your deposit, less the non-refundable amount, will be refunded to you. If cancellations are made after 3 months before the departure date, your deposit is not refundable. If cancellation is made 45 days or less before the departure date all deposits and payments are non-refundable.
BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of a deposit to an upcoming tour date as long as the transfer takes place prior to invoicing. Please contact us to discuss this option.
Please fill in all required fields. Remember that you must pay your deposit in addition to submitting this form before your spot on the tour is secured.If you have any questions or problems please contact us at anytime.
If you would prefer to fax or mail your registration form you can click here to print a hard copy. Our fax number and mailing address can be found here.
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The price of this tour may vary by the selected tour date. Pricing is as follows:
$2,995 (+ 7% tax)
Single Occupancy Supplement – Please contact us at for information on single occupancy rates and availability
Deposit Due at Registration – $750
Price TBA
Payments can be made either online via PayPal or by check. Payments by check carry a significant discount, if you wish to pay by check please contact us for details.
To pay online select a payment option below and departure date
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After you successfully register for a trip we will send you an information packet that will include:
Although your guides will be able to identify all of the wildlife for the area you are visiting, it is always a good idea for you to study up on the expected wildlife for your trip. If you want more information about any aspect of your trip prior to departure please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions and/or recommend any reference guides
BRANT has selected known areas in the US and internationally, we cannot, however, guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For the most part ecotourism is done in remote, outback, and jungle like areas. The terrain is often rugged and local services and government assistance is not available in an emergency. In many out of the US areas there may not be phone or internet services for a day or two at a time during the trip. (However, in most established lodges internet service is readily available.) Therefore, we require that you accept your personal responsibility and agree to release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by completing the Assumption of Risk and Liability Agreement provided in your tour registration packet. This agreement must filled out and returned to us prior to the departure date of your tour. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BRANT TOUR!
You can return the liability waiver to us via post or fax at anytime prior to your trip.
Liability Waiver (click to download PDF)
Health precautions for trips in the US are minimal to none. If you have a health condition that requires medication please have the prescription filled for more than the numbers of days your trip encompasses, carry it in the original bottle, clearly labeled with instructions. If you have a health condition that you feel may affect your participation on the trip please discuss this with us so we can advise you and/or provide you with information to discuss with your physician.
Trips outside of the US may require immunizations. You can check with your physician and/or your local Travel Clinic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) will also have complete information concerning health precautions and immunizations that are necessary for traveling outside of the US. They may be contacted by phone, 877-FYI-TRIP, or web site: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. If you have any additional questions about immunizations please feel free to contact us.
Please check with your insurance agent for coverage you may already have and any limitations on national and/or international travel. Travel insurance may be purchased from several reliable companies; Travel Insured International (travelinsured.com) and Travelex (travelexinsurance.com) are two to consider. Travel insurance is purely voluntary and not required to participate on BRANT tours.
Comming soon…
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