The Full Birding Experience

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On this trip we cover most of the habitats in Guatemala. A truly complete birding experience.

Day 1 – ARRIVAL
	Arrival to Guatemala and welcome at La Aurora International Airport. Transfer to La Antigua. Accommodation and brief presentation of the country by our Staff.
Day 2 – EL PILAR FARM AND LA ANTIGUA
	Morning dedicated to the hummingbirds and other birds of El Pilar Farm, near La Antigua. At around 10 am, we’ll go back to La Antigua for a short sightsee of the former capital of Central America during the Colonial times. In the afternoon we head back to El Pilar Farm for more birdwatching. Accommodation in La Antigua.
Day 3 - TECP�N MOUNTAIN RIDGE AND LAKE ATITL�N
	Today we head towards Lake Atitlán, with a stop at the Tecpán Mountain Ridge, in search for the Pin/headed Warbler, among other birds. Breakfast at a local restaurant next to our birding scenario. Arrival to Lake Atitlán for accommodation at the Atitlán Hotel, with beautiful gardens, excellent to spot hummingbirds. In the afternoon we’ll take a hike to the San Buenaventura de Atitlán private reserve.
Day 4 – SAN PEDRO VOLCANO
	Very early in the morning we take our boat to cross the lake in order to climb the San Pedro Volcano, in search of the Horned Guan, allegedly the sixth rarest bird in the World. Breakfast and lunch will come along with us. In the afternoon we head back to the Atitlán Hotel, where a much deserved massage awaits.
Day 5 – LOS ANDES FARM
	We leave the lake and drive all along its northeast shore, with some of the most impressive views en route. Our destination today will be the Los Andes private farm, bordering the Atitlán Volcano on one of its limits. The Hazard family will welcome us as well as touring us around the farm, which grown some of the finest coffee in Guatemala. Accommodation at the Hazard’s family house.
Day 6 – LOS ANDES FARM: THE QUEST FOR THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL AND THE CABANI’S TANAGER
	A hike to the Atitlán Volcano will bring us into one of the most fascinating environments the Guatemalan Western Highlands have to offer. In the afternoon the gardens of the Hazard’s family house will be our birding scenery.
Day 7 – PACAYA VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
	After breakfast we leave the Highlands and head towards Guatemala City, with a stop to climb the active Pacaya volcano, one of the ten most active volcanoes in the World. The climb is rather easy and we will get as close to the magma as a human being can. Pic-nic style lunch at the summit of the volcano. Accommodation in Guatemala City.
Day 8 - THORN SCRUB & QUIRIGUA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
	We depart from Guatemala City towards the east of the country. We’ll break the driving and birdwatch for a few hours at the Motagua Valley, and its Thorn Scrub, where 93 resident species call this arid place home. After breakfast we head to the Río Dulce National Park, with a short stop at Quiriguá archaeological site. Once at our hotel in Río Dulce, we’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to enjoy many aquatic species from our hotel’s decks.
Day 9 - R�O DULCE RIVER & LIVINGSTON GARIFUNA VILLAGE
	After breakfast we’ll take a boat to cross the entire Río Dulce River until we head the Garifuna town of Livingston. We’ll take lunch here before we continue with our boat ride to one of the ultimate frontiers of nature in Guatemala, the Sarstún Wildlife Refuge. Accommodation at the Lagunita Creek Lodge, operated and maintained by Fundaeco.
Day 10 - SARSTÚN WILDLIFE REFUGEE
	A full-day dedicated to the exploration of this magical place, bordering with Belize. We’ll spend most of the day canoeing in search of our favourite species.
Day 11 – PUERTO BARRIOS & EL REMATE
	After breakfast we take our boat and head towards to Puerto Barrios Port and city, and from there our vehicle drives us back to the northern department of Petén, specifically to the eastern shore of the Petén Itzá Lake, the second largest lake in the country, our home for the night. Birdwatching possibilities from our hotel. The area where we are spending the night is called El Remate.
Day 12 - YAXH� ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND LAGOON
	A full-day trip to Yaxhá archaeological site will bring us in close contact with one of the greatest Maya sites. Besides the archaeological wonders of the site, we will explore the surrounding jungle, taking a boat to the other side of the lagoon that baths this enchanting place. In the late afternoon we head back to El Remate.
Days 13 TO 15 – TIKAL NATIONAL PARK
	The next days will be spent inside the Tikal National park, where all its archaeological and natural glory will be explored. Many regional endemic species are to be found here, such as Ocellated Turkey (a close relative of the Wild Turkey), Yucatan Bobwhite, Yucatan Poorwill, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Jay, Northern Cardinal and White-bellied Wren; as well as Parrots, Toucans, Trogons, Antbirds, Tinamous, Raptors and more, joined by Howler and Spider monkeys, Coatimundis and many other great creatures.
Day 16 – GUATEMALA CITY
	In the afternoon, we drive back to the Mundo Maya Airport and from there by plane to Guatemala City, where our staff says goodbye. Accommodation in Guatemala City.
Day 17 – BACK HOME
	After transferring you to the La Aurora International Airport, board your plane and head back home.