Honduras & Guatemala Birding Tour

Tour Dates

All Year Round

Departure

San Pedro Sula Airport

Return

Guatemala City Airport

Day 1: Arrival at San Pedro Sula International Airport

Pick-up and ground transfer to Rio Santiago Nature Resort, a unique reserve inhabits some of the Honduras specialties.

Afternoon arrival will afford us time to unpack, refresh and enjoy some light birding of the Lodge grounds before dinner.

Day 2: Hummingbirds of Rio Santiago

Rio Santiago Nature Resort is a 150-acre private reserve.

Its secluded, rainforest location and impressive numbers of hummingbird feeders have earned it the name of the “hummingbird capital of Honduras.”

Santiago’s trails and main garden areas abound with bewildering numbers of some of Honduras’ most well-known hummingbird species throughout most of the year.

Band-tailed Barbtroat , Violet-crowned-Woodnymph , Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Brown Violet-ear, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird , Cinnamon Hummingbird.

Also, Violet Sabrewing, Stripe-throated Hermit, , White-bellied Emerald and Long-billed Hermit, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird.

To mention some of the abundant hummingbird species that frequent Santiago’s feeders.

Also, the spectacular Keel-billed Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, and Sunbittern are frequently seen along with Red-capped Manakin and White-collared Manakin, along with Santiago’s trail system.

Lunch/Dinner at Rio Santiago Nature Resort

Day 3: Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge

Cuero y Salado Sanctuary is named for the Cuero and Salado Rivers which here meet the ocean.

The refuge comprises over 35,000 acres of coastal rivers, lagoons, mangroves, and forests, that are home to diverse wildlife.

Iincluding; West Indian Manatees, American Crocodiles, Spider and White-faced Monkeys, Lesser Anteaters and a variety of birds exceeding 350 species.

We will meet our guide early for breakfast and depart for the refuge by 6:30.

Access to this remote area is via a small motorized train, which takes us along an old track through bird-rich open grassland, marshes, and cultivation areas.

Once at the refuge, we will explore the various aquatic and forest habitats from a small motorboat.

Sungrebe, Russet- naped Wood-Rail, Jabiru Stork, Agami Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Boat-billed Heron, American-Pigmy Kingfisher and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, are but a few potential highlights of a visit to Cuero y Salado.

After our birding tour, we return to the Resort; we will have a late lunch and the afternoon for an additional birding from the lodge’s gardens.

Dinner at Rio Santiago Nature Resort.

After dinner, we will be guided around the lodge’s gardens and plantation areas where Spectacled Owl, Mottled Owl, Black-and-White Owl, Vermiculated Screech-Owl, Northern potoo, and Great Potoo may be found.

Also, the reserve is an exciting location for amphibians and other tropical species.

Day 4: Rio Aguan Valley & The Endemic Honduran Emerald

We will begin this full-day birding expedition in Honduras, visiting the dry forest habitat with an early breakfast at the Resort.

The departure will be by 4:30 AM.

The target bird in this birding tour is the Honduran Emerald hummingbird that survives only in the remaining areas of dry forest located at the south of Pico-Bonito Reserve.

Although endangered, the Honduran Emerald Hummingbird is considered very common within its habitat.

As such, regardless of season, our chances of seeing the Honduran Emerald are excellent.

Our ride into this biome can be equally exciting because of the surprising number of bird species that inhabit the dry forest habitat.

Along the way, we will also visit localized wet areas within this arid region.

These spots can be a paradise for wading birds and other species. Therefore, we’ll go in the quest of species such as:

Double-striped Thick-knee, Lesser Roadrunner, Lesser Ground-cuckoo, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, White-lored Gnatcatcher, White-throated Magpie-jay.

And Banded Wren, White-bellied Wren, and Stripe-headed Sparrow, and Salvin’s Emerald, among others.

We will enjoy lunch in the nearby ranching town of Olanchito and return to the Resort by 4:00 PM.

Dinner at Rio Santiago Nature Resort

Day 5: Depart towards Guatemala border – El Rancho

Breakfast at Rio Santiago Nature Resort, Depart towards Guatemalan Border – El Rancho

Day 6: Dry Scrub Forest – Quetzal Biotope

Morning birdwatching at Heloderma Reserve (Chaparral or Thorn Dry Scrub Biome)

This natural reserve is located within El Jicaro in the province of El Progreso.

It protects a very fragile and threatened biome in Guatemala.

The Heloderma Nature Reserve is located in the central valley 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 thorny plants.

Some birds associated with this ecosystem are Lesser Roadrunner , Russet-crowned Motmot, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Streak-backed Oriole, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Altamira Oriole, and Turquoise-browed Motmot.

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

1 night of lodging at Posada Montaña del Quetzal.

Day 7: Quetzal Biotope – Antigua Guatemala

Morning bird watching at Ranchitos del Quetzal and trying to spot the Quetzal and other exciting species.
After lunch, transfer to Antigua, Guatemala.

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 8: Finca El Pilar – Antigua Guatemala

Morning transfer to Finca El Pilar on an excellent birdwatching

Lunch in a local restaurant in Antigua

14:00 hrs., We will begin our walking cultural tour of Antigua, an enjoyable trip through outstanding churches and Cathedrals, ruins, and museums that combined with the old stoned streets, keep the tales and legends of those colonial days.

A fantastic journey through the past and present of Antigua Guatemala, that undoubtedly you will enjoy and which will make your morning unforgettable.

We will be visiting the most important areas of Antigua like Central Park, La Merced, Santa Catalina Arch, 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 9: Tecpan – Todos Santos Cuchumatanes

6:00 am. Departure from Antigua Guatemala toward Tecpan area

Breakfast in Tecpan

Bird watching tour In a Private Reserve located in Tecpan, Guatemala, here you will find remarkable and unique endemic species of the Central Highlands of Guatemala (2,286 meters above sea level) like:

Blue-throated Motmot, Pink-headed Warbler , and Rufous-browed Wren.

During the migratory (wintertime) season, you will find resident bird species together with the flocks of migratory.

Midday transfer to Todos Santos Cuchumatanes, there will be a few birding spots along the way.

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 10: Todos Santos Cuchumatanes – Quetzaltenango

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

Midday transfer to Quetzaltenango and birdwatching in the afternoon at 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 11: Fuentes Georginas – Los Tarrales Private Reserve

Morning birdwatching in the very humid sub-tropical forest at Fuentes Georginas, additionally of being a great birdwatching hot spot, Fuentes Georginas is a hot spring with several pools, lodging, and restaurant area.

Here we hope to spot Wine-throated Hummingbird, and Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Cinnamon-bellied Flower piercer, Mexican violetear, Guatemalan Pygmy-Owl, and occasionally the elusive Horned Guan.

After lunch, transfer to Los Tarrales Private Reserve and birdwatching around the lodge in the afternoon

Day 12: Los Tarrales Reserve

Time for coffee and transfer to Vesuvio area in the quest of Cabanis’s tanager, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Rufous Sabrewing.

Quails and doves, among other bird species of Guatemala’s 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 Yellow-naped Parrot, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, and White-bellied Chachalaca.
Dinner and lodging at Los Tarrales Reserve

Day 13: Los Tarrales Reserve – Lake Atitlan

Time for coffee and transfer to La Rinconada area where it is possible to find species such as Tody Motmot, White-eared Ground-Sparrow , Long-tailed Manakin.

Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow, among others. Breakfast at the place (boxed breakfast).

Midday transfer to Lake Atitlan and afternoon birdwatching around the lodge

Day 14: San Pedro Volcano – Lake Atitlan

Early boat ride toward San Pedro La Laguna where we will climb San Pedro Volcano in the quest of Horned Guan, and other exciting species such as Belted Flycatcher, Mountain Trogon, Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo, Slender Sheartail,  and, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird.

Black-throated Jay, Bushy-crested Jay, Rufous Sabrewing, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Bar-winged Oriole, and Ocellated Quail, among others.

Lunch will be served on the route (boxed lunch).

Day 15: Lake Atitlan – Guatemala City

Morning birdwatching around Rey Tepepul Park and afternoon transfer to Guatemala City.

Some of the birds that you can spot at this destination are:
Resplendent Quetzal, Azure-rumped Tanager, Black Thrush, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Elegant Euphonia, Mountain Elaenia, Rusty Sparrow, White-faced Ground-Sparrow, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, among others.

Day 16: Back Home

End of your birding expedition in the country of eternal spring