Guatemala Mountains & Rainforest

Overnight Antigua Guatemala

Day 2: El Pilar Reserve – Antigua Guatemala

Early birding and breakfast at San Cristobal El Alto; then, you will visit Finca El Pilar, located 10 minutes away from Antigua’s central plaza.

The vegetation of this reserve is mainly constituted of coffee, pine, and oaks settled at an altitudinal range from 1,710 to 9,500 feet above sea level.

One of the main attractions in El Pilar farm is the zone of hummingbird feeders

Here it is possible to spot a wide variety of hummingbird species that inhabit the area feeding oneself at the same time, which represents an excellent opportunity for birdwatchers.

Lunch in a local restaurant in Antigua

14:00 hrs, you will start the thrilling cultural tour of Antigua, visiting the magnificent churches, ruins, and museums that, combined with the old cobbled streets, keep the stories and legends of those colonial times that you will undoubtedly enjoy, which will make your morning unforgettable.

We will be visiting the most important areas of Antigua like La Merced Church, Central Park, the Santa Catalina Martir famous Arch of the 5th Avenue, and much more.

Some of the birds that you can spot at this destination are:

Rufous Sabrewing, Green-throated Mountain-Gem, Bushy-crested Jay, Hooded Grosbeak, Elegant Euphonia, Singing Quail, Golden-crowned Warbler, Bar-winged Oriole, among others.

Day 3: Antigua Guatemala  – Tecpan – Todos Santos Cuchumatanes

6:00 am. Transfer from Antigua Guatemala towards the Tecpan region.

Morning meal in Tecpan.

Birding tour in Tecpan Reserve looking for endemic species of the Northern Central American highlands like Pink-headed Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, and Rufous-browed Wren.

Throughout the migratory (winter season) period, you can find Townsend’s, Wilson’s, Black-and-White, and Red-faced Warblers along with the resident Slate-throated Redstart, Pink-headed, Crescent-chested, and Olive Warblers, and also Hutton’s Vireo.

After the tour departure toward Todos Santos Cuchumatan, there will be few birding spots along the way.

Dinner & Lodging at Todos Santos area.

Day 4: Todos Santos – Quetzaltenango

Morning transfer to Todos Santos National Park in the quest of Goldman’s Warbler; this species will be our first endemic species and is located in a small area in Huehuetenango and is easy to spot in this park.

Midday transfer to Quetzaltenango and birdwatching in the afternoon in Los Vados area

Some of the birds that you can spot at this destination are:

Goldman’s Warbler, Yellow-eyed Junco, Ocellated Quail, Guatemalan Pygmy-Owl, Spotted Towhee, Black-capped Siskin, Ocellated Quail, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pink-headed Warbler, Olive Warbler, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, among others.

Day 5: Fuentes Georginas

Morning birdwatching in the very humid sub-tropical forest at Fuentes Georginas and being a great birding destination Fuentes Georginas is a hot spring with developed pools.

Here we hope to spot Horned Guan, Wine-throated and Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Cinnamon-bellied flower piercing, Mexican violetear (Former Green violetear), and Guatemalan Pygmy-Owl.

Birdwatching around the lodge in the afternoon.

Lodging & Dinner at Fuentes Georginas area.

Day 6: Fuentes Georginas – Volcan Pecul

On the second day, explore Fuentes Georginas and Pecul volcano, searching for species we could have missed the day before. Breakfast at the place (boxed breakfast).

Before lunch, you will head towards Los Tarrales Reserve.

Lunch on route.

Arrive at Los Tarrales for check inn; then the first birding walk around the lodge in the quest for species of the pacific slope.

Dinner at the lodge.

Day 7: Los Tarrales Private Reserve

Time for coffee and transfer to Vesubio area in the quest of Azure-rumped tanager, Rufous Sabrewing, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Tody Motmot, Quails, and doves, among other species of the highlands. Breakfast at the place (boxed breakfast).

Lunch

Afternoon birding tour around La Laguneta, this area offers an excellent opportunity to find species such as White-bellied Chachalaca, Yellow-naped Parrot, and Rufous-breasted Spinetail, among others.

Day 8: Los Tarrales – Lake Atitlan

Time for coffee and transfer to La Rinconada area where it is possible to find species such as Long-tailed Manakin, Cinnamon Hummingbird, and Rufous-naped Wren.

Breakfast at the place (boxed breakfast).

Midday transfer to Lake Atitlan and afternoon birdwatching around the lodge.

Day 9: Paquisis Volcano – Lake Atitlan

An early boat ride and land transfer toward Paquisis Pedro Volcano in the quest of Horned Guan and other exciting species such as Prevost’s Ground-sparrow, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Slender Sheartail, Rufous Sabrewing Violet Sabrewing, Bushy-crested Jay, Olive-sided Towhee, Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Mountain Trogon, Bar-winged Oriole and Ocellated Quail among others.

Day 10: Lake Atitlan – El Rancho

Morning birdwatching around the Lake and El Rey Tepepul Park.

Midday transfer to El Rancho.

Afternoon birdwatching in the dry scrub forest

Day 11: Dry Scrub Forest – El Quetzal Biotope

Birdwatching at Heloderma Reserve (Chaparral or Thorn Dry Scrub Biome).

This natural reserve is located in the municipality of El Jícaro in El Progreso and protects a very fragile and threatened biome of the country.

Located in the central valleys of Guatemala, between 700 and 1000 meters above sea level, with an average of 600 mm of annual rainfall, It is characterized by the abundance of cactus and thorn plants.

Some birds associated with this ecosystem are Lesser Roadrunner, Rosset-crowned Motmot, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Streak-backed Oriole, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Streak-Backed Oriole, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Altamira Oriole, and Turquoise-browed Motmot.

Midday transfer to El Quetzal Biotope for birdwatching in the afternoon.

Day 12: El Quetzal Biotope – Guatemala City

Morning birdwatching at Ranchitos del Quetzal and try to spot the Quetzal and other interesting species.

After lunch, transfer to Guatemala City.

Some of the birds that you can spot at this destination are Resplendent Quetzal, Highland Guan, Unicolored Jay, White-faced Quail-Dove, Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, among others.

Day 13: Back Home

Breakfast and transfer to La Aurora International Airport in time to catch your international flight back home.

End of our services!!!