Tampa Audubon Society Belize & Guatemala Birding and Mayan Ruins 2027 Proposed Itinerary

Wednesday, 03/10/2027 Arrival, Belize City     

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to Black Orchid Resort. After an orientation and presentation on birding and conservation enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Thursday, 03/11/2027, the Jungle Lodge in Tikal             

Start the day by birding around the hotel grounds to look for Ringed and Green Kingfishers. After breakfast, you travel to Tikal, Guatemala. In Guatemala, you go birding at Yaxhá National Park, an important archaeological site that is gaining prominence as researchers delve deeper into its history. Here, large flocks of several parrot species move through the area, including Red-lored, White-fronted, White-crowned, and (less often) Mealy Parrots. Considered the third largest ancient Maya city in the region, Yaxhá comprised more than 500 structures, including nine temple pyramids. There are fewer crowds here than at Tikal, making it advantageous for birding.

Friday, 03/12/2027, the Jungle Lodge in Tikal

Enjoy a full day of birding in Tikal National Park, with lunch at a local restaurant in the park. The 54,610 acres of rainforest in and around Tikal protect a wide range of insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and plant life. Some iconic wildlife found within the park includes spider monkeys, margays, ocelots, jaguarundis, tapirs, howler monkeys, Ocellated Turkeys, coatis, and giant anteaters.

Saturday, 03/13/2027, Jaguar Creek, Belmopan            

Wake up early for birding in Tikal National Park. After breakfast, check out and travel to Jaguar Creek. Jaguar Creek sits on 700 acres and owns another 1,200 in a conservation trust situated across the street of protected rainforest.

Sunday, 03/14/2027, Bocawina Resort, Mayflower National Park           

This morning, have breakfast before traveling to Chiquibul National Park - Belize's most extensive national park, which spans 414 square miles. Then continue to Bocawina Rainforest Resort, situated off-the-grid in Mayflower Bocawina National Park.  

Monday, 03/15/2027, Bocawina Resort, Mayflower National Park

Monday includes a day of birding at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve, a tropical moist forest sheltering an abundance of biodiversity that includes more than 300 bird species. The sanctuary is also recognized as the world's first designated jaguar reserve. Birds here include hummingbirds, woodcreepers, flycatchers, and tanagers, plus Pheasant Cuckoo, Green Honeycreeper, Rufoustailed Jacamar, Nightingale Wren, Green Shrike-Vireo, and White-winged Becard, among others.

Tuesday, 03/16/2027, Bird's Eye View Lodge, Crooked Tree       

Start the morning early with some birding around Bocawina Rainforest Resort and after breakfast depart for The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. Here, you have the opportunity to see the critically endangered Yellow-headed Parrot, Aplomado Falcon, White-tailed Hawk, and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and settle in. This evening, search for potoos, owls, and nighthawks during an evening birding exploration around the lodge.

Wednesday, 03/17/2027, Bird's Eye View Lodge, Crooked Tree

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Go birding along the lagoon and its tributaries in search of Wood Stork, Jabiru, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Blackcollared Hawk, Snail Kite, Neotropic Cormorant, Anhinga, Limpkin, and American Pygmy Kingfisher. After lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon birding in the sanctuary. The pine savannas provide an opportunity to see the near-endemic Yucatan Jay, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Yellow-headed and Yellow-lored Parrots, Aplomado Falcon, Canivet's Emerald, and Yucatan Woodpecker

Thursday, 03/18/2027, Farewell! Travel to the airport for your flight(s) back to the U.S.

PRICE PER PERSON

8 - 9 $4,245

10 $3,875

Single supplement $725