Bird Watching in Guatemala

The word “Guatemala” comes from Nahuatl word meaning “land of many tres” and our country is still worthy of its name.  Some of the largest tracts of undisturbed rainforest in Central America, as well as the largest wetland on the isthmus can be found here.  The First International Bird Watching Encounter was thus staged to promote Guatemala as a bird watching destination.  Because Guatemala is still new among established bird watching countries in Central America.  

Guatemala is a country the size of Ohio State with 700+ species of birds in over 80 families.  The “poster” birds that can turn any human into a birdwatcher are widespread.  Resplendent Quetzal, seven of the eight species of motmots found in Central America, endemic and exotic hummers, flashy manakins, and at least 13 species of parrots, including the Scarlet Macaw, fulfill tropical expectations.   In a class by itself, the Horned Guan is the prime drawing card.  Today, Guatemala´s mystical Mayan heritage remains vibrant and inspirational within the confluence of modern life and the colonial past. 

GNT 01

Half day Cerro Alux

Early morning  birding on the trails of Cerro Alux. You will see endemics species such as: Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Rufous-collared Robin, Rufous-browed Wren, Blue-throated Motmot, Black-capped Swallow and Black-capped Siskin.

GNT 02

Half day Cayalá

Early morning  birding on the trails of Cayalá, a protected area in Guatemala City where you can see 106 bird spcies such as: American Krestel, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Social Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Wren and Tropical Mockinbird.

GNT 03

Half day Filadelfia Farm

Early morning  birding on the trails of Filadelfia Farm on the edge of the city of Antigua.  This coffee plantation produces one of the finest coffees on earth. You may see Black-headed Siskin, Black-capped Swallow, and Bushy-crested Jay among several others.

GNT 04

Birding Tour at Tikal (3 days/ 2 nights)

You will visit the Tikal National Park  and stroll jungle trails and climb pyramids and temples. See tropical birds like Orange-breasted Falcon and Ocellated Turkeys.

GNT 05

Birding at Tikal and Yaxhá (3 days/ 2 nights)

You will visit Tikal National Park and Yaxha archaeoligical site. Yaxhá is the third most famous Maya site in Guatemala, and has only just been extensively investigated; though little has yet been restored.

GNT 06

7 days

Pacific Coast

On this incredible tour you will visit beautiful privates reserves such as Filadelfia, Patrocinio, Tarrales and Los Andes Farms and you will have the opportunity to see bird species from different ecosystems.

GNT 07

10 days

Pacific Coast

On this unique tour you will visit beautiful privates reserves such as Filadelfia, Patrocinio, Tarrales and Los Andes Farms, and enjoy the colorful towns of Panajachel and Santiago Atitlán on the glorious Lake Atitlán.

GNT 08

10 days

Pacific Coast and San Pedro Volcano

You will visit beautiful privates reserves on the Pacific slopes and on the western highlands of Guatemala, but also you are goint to climb the San Pedro Volcano, home of the Horned Guan, one of the endemic species of the region and a very elusive bird.

GNT 09

9 days

Thorn Scrub and Tropical Rain Forest

You will have the opportunity to look for endemic species of the Thorn Scrub like the Russet-crowned Motmot and visit the Tropical Rain Forest on the Atalntic coast of Guatemala. 

GNT 10

12 days

Volcán San Pedro

You will visit beautiful privates reserves on the Pacific slopes and on the western highlands of Guatemala, but also you are goint to climb the San Pedro Volcano, home of the Horned Guan, one of the endemic species of the region and a very elusive bird. And you will enjoy the best bird watch sponts on the beautiful colonial city of Antigua Guatemala.

GNT 11

12 days

Tikal and Pacifc Coast

You will visit the Tikal National Park  and stroll jungle trails and climb pyramids and temples. See tropical birds like Orange-breasted Falcon and Ocellated Turkeys. Also you will know Monterrico, a protected area on the Pacific coast of Guatemala dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles and the native mangrove ecosystem. At the mangroves zone you can observe more than 110 bird species. Finally, you will visit beautiful privates reserves such as Tarrales and Los Andes Farms, and enjoy the colorful towns of Panajachel on the glorious Lake Atitlán.

GNT 12

12 days

Thorn Scrub and Pacific Coast

You will have the opportunity to look for migratory and residents birds of  pine-oak forest, including Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) at Río Escondido Reserve and endemic species like the Russet-crowned Motmot of the Thorn Scrub at Las Flores Reserve. Then you will visit beautiful privates reserves such as Filadelfia, Patrocinio, Tarrales and Los Andes Farms and you will have the opportunity to see bird species from different ecosystems.

GNT 13

12 Days

Natural, Bird watching and Cultural Tour

This tour combines the natural beauty of Alta Verapaz, including Semuc Champey lagoons, Quetzal Biotope and Lanquin Caves and the unique experience of birding in one of the most spectacular privates reserves of Guatemala, Los Tarrales. Then you will visit incredible places such as Chichicastenango, Atitlán Lake and Antigua Guatemala, three of the most emblematic cultural destinies of Guatemala.

On the Pacific Coast.  Where the Second International Bird Watching Encounter  took place on February 2006 you will have the opportunity to visit humid forest as well as cloud forest.  Volcanoes dot the lowland plain that spreads towards the ocean´s blue swells.  The area´s tropical lowland forests hold an abundance of local wildlife such as black-tailed hawks.

To confirm all of this data take a chance to see the Bird Watchers Digest August 2006 edition and you´ll see Bill Thompson´s article about Guatemala.  Beth and Bill Clark have also written about birding in Guatemala on Bird Times and Winging it magazines.