Itinerary

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Day 1 – Arrival in Belize & Transfer to Jaguar Creek Lodge 
Arrive at Belize International Airport (BZE) where you’ll be met by your professional birding guide and transferred to Jaguar Creek Lodge, located in the lush Maya Mountains  of the Cayo District. Along the way to the lodge, we scan the lowland pine savannah for species such as the Yellow-headed Amazon, Vermilion Flycatcher, Black-cowled Oriole, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Northern Jacana, and Laughing Falcon, as well as seasonal visitors like Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and White-tailed Kite soaring above the open savannah. 
 
Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation before settling in for the evening surrounded by the sounds of the tropical forest. Later, join your guide for an optional night hike along the lodge trails, where you may encounter Mottled and Spectacled Owls, Common Pauraques, Northern Potoo, and the occasional Middle American Screech-Owl, along with nocturnal wildlife such as kinkajous, tarantulas, and redeyed tree frogs moving through the forest after dark.  Overnight: Jaguar Creek Lodge (D)
 
Day 2 – Birding in the Maya Mountains & Transfer to Tikal, Guatemala 
Start with early-morning birding along the trails near Jaguar Creek, known for its mix of forest-edge and interior forest species such as the Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Slaty-tailed Trogon, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar. 

 

After breakfast, continue birding along the Blue Hole National Park and the scenic Hummingbird Highway, where lush rainforest and limestone outcrops provide habitat for the Lesson’s Motmot, Black-faced Antthrush, Rufous Mourner, Crimson-collared Tanager, and White-collared Manakin. Keep an eye out for soaring King Vultures and the occasional Orange-breasted Falcon along the ridgelines. 

 

After lunch, depart westward for the Guatemalan border (border crossing fee of US$20 per person, payable directly), then continue to Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its spectacular birdlife and ancient Maya ruins. 
Overnight: Jungle Lodge Tikal (BLD)
 

Day 3 – Full-Day Birding & Archaeology Tour of Tikal 
Explore Tikal National Park with your guide, combining world-class birding with visits to its towering Maya temples rising above the rainforest canopy. The park’s mosaic of broadleaf forest and open clearings offers prime opportunities to encounter species such as the Ocellated Turkey strutting near the plazas, Montezuma Oropendolas nesting in the tall ceiba trees, and flocks of Redlored Amazons and Mealy Amazons flying overhead. Along the shaded temple trails, watch for Slaty-tailed and Violaceous Trogons, the vibrant Tody Motmot, Pale-billed Woodpecker, and forest raptors like the Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Plumbeous Kite perched in the distance. 

 

An Expert guide will lead you through towering temples, grand plazas, and jungleshrouded causeways where you’ll uncover the rich history, cosmology, and daily life of the Maya civilization, learning how this once-great city flourished more than 1,000 years ago. As you walk beneath giant ceiba trees and climb ancient pyramids for panoramic views of the rainforest canopy, your guide will bring Tikal’s legends, architecture, and cultural significance vividly to life. 

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As dusk approaches, you may join your guide for an optional evening birding walk around the lodge grounds in search of nocturnal species such as the Mottled Owl, Spectacled Owl, Common Pauraque, and Northern Potoo, along with the sounds of tree frogs and other night wildlife. 
Overnight: Jungle Lodge Tikal (BLD)

 

Day 4 – Morning Birding & Return to Belize / Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge 
Enjoy sunrise birding in Tikal, taking in the forest awakening to the calls of Howler Monkeys, Keel-billed Toucans, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds darting among flowering trees. After breakfast, cross back into Belize and travel to Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge, a beautiful riverside retreat nestled along the Macal River. 

Upon arrival, settle into your cabana and explore the lodge’s lush gardens and trails, where you may encounter Black Headed Trogons, Masked Tityras, Blackcheeked Woodpeckers, and flocks of Plain Chachalacas foraging noisily in the canopy. The nearby riverbanks attract White-necked Jacobins and Black-headed Saltators, providing excellent opportunities for photography before dinner. After dinner, join your guide for an optional night birding around the property for a chance to spot Common Pauraque, Mottled Owl or hear the call of a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. 
Overnight: Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge (BLD)
 

Day 5 – Birding the Macal River, Rainforest Trails & Cultural Experience at Upe Nai 
Start your day with early-morning birding around the Belize Botanic Garden and the Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge property, exploring forest trails, river edges, and gardens alive with bird activity. Here, you may encounter Blue-gray Tanagers, Goldenfronted Woodpeckers, Masked Tityras, Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, and several species of migratory warblers, while listening for the calls of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls and Common Pauraques. 

After breakfast, continue birding along the Chial area and then towards San Antonio 
Village where forest edges, secondary growth, and riparian habitats attract Collared Forest-Falcons, Gray-necked Wood-Rails, Lesson’s Motmots, and occasional mixed flocks with Red-legged Honeycreepers, Red-throated Ant-Tanagers, and White-collared Manakins. 
Around mid-morning, take a break from birding to enjoy a cultural immersion and culinary session at Upe Nai, a locally owned community kitchen that highlights traditional Maya and Mestizo cooking techniques. Join your hosts in preparing a home-style meal using locally sourced ingredients—perhaps grinding corn on a metateor cooking over an open fire—before sitting down together to enjoy a freshly prepared Belizean lunch. 

In the afternoon, you have the option to explore either the Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve for more forest-edge birding or visit the Green Hills Butterfly Farm, where hummingbirds such as the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird and Longbilled Hermit are frequently seen visiting nectar feeders. 
Overnight: Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge (BLD)
 
Day 6 – Northern Belize Birding & Transfer to Bird’s Eye View Lodge 
Depart after breakfast for Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, a world-renowned Ramsar wetland and one of Belize’s premier birding destinations. Along the way, keep watch for Raptors and Swallow-tailed Kites soaring over the open countryside. Arrive at Bird’s Eye View Lodge, perfectly situated along the shores of Crooked Tree Lagoon, and enjoy an afternoon of birding among its floodplains. Spot elegant Jabirus wading alongside Wood Storks, flocks of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and colorful Vermilion Flycatchers perched on fence posts. Scan the lagoon edges for Snail Kites and Limpkins as they hunt for apple snails among the reeds. Before dinner, an optional sunset stroll along the lagoon edge to observe herons and egrets settling into their evening roosts. 
Overnight: Bird’s Eye View Lodge (BLD)
 

Day 7 – Lamanai River & Lagoon Birding 
Embark on an exciting boat journey to Lamanai, combining birding with an exploration of this impressive ancient Maya site. Along the New River, you may spot Sungrebes gliding near the banks, Purple Gallinules walking delicately over lily pads, and Boat-billed Herons tucked into mangrove shadows. Raptors such as the Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle and Bat Falcon are often seen soaring above the canopy. 

At the Lamanai site itself, enjoy a blend of archaeology, culture and birdwatching, with chances to see Toucans, Jacamars, and Trogons among the temple ruins. 
Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for a leisurely sunset birding near the Crooked Tree Lagoon, where Bare-throated Tiger Herons, Great Black Hawks, and hundreds of egrets and herons provide a spectacular finale to your birding adventure. 
Overnight: Bird’s Eye View Lodge (BLD)

 

Day 8 – Morning Lagoon Birding & Departure 
Enjoy a final early-morning birding cruise or walk along the lagoon as the rising sun lights up the wetlands. Watch for Northern Jacanas stepping across lily pads, Least Grebes diving near the reeds, Black-necked Stilts probing in the shallows, and Anhingas drying their wings in the morning light. Mangrove Swallows and beautiful orioles add a final splash of color to your Belize birding experience. After breakfast, transfer to Belize International Airport (BZE) for your departing flight. (B)
 

Price: $3,490 per person

Single Supplement: $890

Important Notes 
•    Border crossing fee: US$20 per person, payable at the Belize–Guatemala border. 
•    All meals included: From Dinner on arrival to Breakfast on departure. 
•    Professional Birding Guide accompanies the group throughout the itinerary. 
•    Pace: Moderate; early morning starts with optional evening walks. 

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