who, ., The Jabur largest Western Hemisphere bird has been seen on all of our field trips.
Want to see what our clients think about this trip? Check out our most recent tropical birding trip client testimonials.
Check out the Belize and Guatemala 2023 bird species field trip lists. Clicking these links should download Word documents to your computer. If they don’t automatically download, just right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) and select an option to download.
http://2022ebird_bz_life_list,pdf
March 4th, 2024 Belize Tropical Birding extension.
Belize is an amazing tropical birding trip destination. Here, you’ll find more than 580 species of birds in an area the size of Massachusetts. This makes Belize the perfect birding and bird photographing destination. With Yellowbilled Tours, we offer a small group venue with many varied habitats for birding. A week-long itinerary with us commonly produces a trip list of over 300 tropical bird species. English is the main language of Belize.
2023 Field trip was successful. Here are a few brief testimonials;
I am still catching up on all the photos I’ve take, It was a good trip, an interesting mix of individuals, I had a great time. I saw and checked off many life birds. Best, David Sexton, Novato, Ca., 2023
There is nothing like seeing a rare falcon perched on a thousand-year-old pyramid for a memorable birding experience. This is my second birding tour with Yelowbilled Tours into Belize and Guatemala. My first tropics field trip with YBT was in 2018, Ilike the small group venue. John York, Lincoln, Ca. March 2023
Belize 2023 Year List – eBird Open the link to for review of the species seen on 2023 field trip.
I certainly learn a lot during this field trip, not only the birds, but the people of Belize, with so many habitats. Guatemala, The Tikal National Park was incredible the Myan Temples, their culture along with the birds we saw made this a remarkable field trip. I plan to return with YBT in 2024. Lowell Sykes, California, 2023
My trip was a wonderful experience. The group was great and I made new friends. I added 53 new species to my life list. Although there were expected situations. they were quickly resolved. I would recommend Yellowbilled Tours to my birding friends wanting to bird this area. Thanks. Andy Garcia, San Antonio, TX., 2022
Wow, really terrific trip…”120” lifers! You and Janet really did a wonderful job. Jim Ross-Oakdale, California
The field trip was more than we expected. We had great accommodations throughout the field trip. Jim and Patty Crumpler, California
GREAT NEWS!!!! THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE and Guatemala have opened for Birders. VISITORS ARE FREE TO GO TO ANY TOURIST DESTINATION OR STAY AT ANY RESORT/ACCOMMODATION WITH NO RESTRICTIONS.
Here’s a partial list of the wonderful bird species you can photograph and add to your life list:
- Jabiru
- Keel-billed Toucan
- Lesson’s Motmot
- Woodcreeper species
- Russet-naped Wood-Rail
- Yucatan Jay
- Bat Falcon
- Orange-breasted Falcon (Tikal)
- Agami Heron
Belize is an English-speaking country making travel much easier for North American travelers who are not bilingual. Yellowbilled Tours uses local Belize guides on portions of the field trip, supporting local eco-tourism. In addition, we also use locally-owned lodges and services operated by Belizeans or expats who are Belizean residents. Our many trips to Belize mean we know where to find the birds. In fact, Ebird shows Yellowbilled Tours’ owner, Rich Cimino, in the top 100 of Belize birding with 379 species observed. These trips bring together birding enthusiasts in a small group where many new friendships are formed.
The 2024 field trips are limited to 6 participants on each trip. A minimum of 4 will be required to proceed with the trip. This field trip offers birders with limited Central American birding experience a great introduction into birding the tropics. Custom and Private field trips for couples can be arranged also.
Tropical Birding Trip Registration
For Yellowbilled Tours Belize 2024 field trip registration details, call or email Rich Cimino.
Cell: 925-353-0266 – email: rscimino@gmail.com
Tropical Birding Trip Itinerary
Plan to arrive at the Phillip Gordon Intl. Airport by 3 PM to begin Birding Belize on Wednesday March 4, 2024. We will meet you outside the Belize International Airport and begin our drive to Crooked Tree Preserve.
DAY 1 Bird in Belize District
Day 1: We are scheduled for an exciting boat trip on the Crooked Tree Lagoon and up Spanish Creek seeking the Snail Kite, Great Black Hawk, Belted, Pygmy and Green Kingfishers, Wood Stork, Jabiru, Roseate Spoonbill and other wading bird species. In addition, we’ll look for the Wood Rail and the Ruddy Crake as well as sandpipers staging for their migration north. White-rump Sandpiper is possible as is Semipalmated Sandpiper. On our return we will walk local trails. Here we may see four species of Orioles —Hooded, Baltimore, Orchard and Black-cowled Oriole plus Great Kiskadee, and Boat-billed Flycatcher. Late morning we’ll bird Woodcreeper Woods in search of Ruddy and Tawny-winged woodcreepers. After lunch we stay locally in search of warblers along the Limpkin Boardwalk. On the Savannah Pine habitat trail, we’ll be looking for Bat Falcon plus Yellow-headed and Yellow-lored Parrots, Olive-throated Parakeets and Yucatan Jays.
Day 2 The morning of March 5, we will drive southwest along the Hummingbird highway stopping at a wetland hotspot. We will be lodging in Hopkins for two days (March 2 & 3) on Caribbean Sea. Hopkins is a laid-back beach village with great wetlands and forest birding nearby. The entrance to Hopkins Village, there is huge Wetlands to the west. We stop to bird this wetland and other hotspots. Also, we will bird the Caribbean Sea, with sightings of gulls, terns, and shorebirds. The village has wonderful restaurants walking distance from our lodging.
Day 3: We will be birding locations in the Maya Mountains such as Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary which is a humid tropical forest. We can expect to see several species like Puffbird, Toucans, Toucanet, Hummingbirds, Manakins, Tyrant Flycatchers, Vaux’s Swifts, Euphonias, Saltators, Pigeons, Doves, Golden-hooded Tanager, Wood Warblers, and Orioles. The Scarlet Macaw is a key focus species for us.
Day 4: After breakfast, we depart to the western part of Belize, just miles from the Guatemala border. Our destination is Back Rock Lodge driving the Hummingbird Highway. There will be several key birding locations in the Maya Mountains along this roadway including The Butterfly Research Center with its wonderful arrangement of Hummingbird feeders. We will visit this center. Mountain Pine Preserve is close by, we’ll save this birding location for the next day.. Other habitats we’ll bird are grasslands, wetlands, and jungle forest. We will seek the species mentioned above plus Brown Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Meadow Lark, Hepatic Tanager, Bananaquit and Parrot species.
DAY 5: Birding Pine Mountain Preserve Belize: In the morning we will bird the lowlands of Mountain Pine Forest Preserve. The birding is very good here for raptors with a mixture of grasslands, forest, and riparian habitats. Key species we may find here are Hawks, Kites, Euphonias, Tityras, Band-backed Wren, Thick-billed Seed Finch, Variable Seedeater, Grassland Yellow Finch and Giant Cowbird, Laughing Falcon and Bat Falcon and possible Plumbeous Kite. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Preserve is known for raptors. The next morning, we leave for Guatemala.
DAYS 6 and 7: As an extension YBT will arrange a tour of Birding Guatemala: 2024 You will accompany you the tour group back to the Belize City airport and fly to Flores Guatemala. where you will be greeted by your guide who will take you to Tikal National Park. Here you’ll be transferred to a van which will take you to The Tikal Inn, in Tikal National Park. While arrive by noon, enjoy a lunch or begin birding immediate. Your guide will remain with you including lodging for the two days.
You will fly back to Belize City, tour includes all meals, lodging, field guide and airport pick-up and transfers. Does not include acholic beverages and meals order out the prearranges menu. Since flights are international you will need to make and pay for your flights as an individually. I will be available to assist you.
Birding Guatemala Tikal Maya Ruins. This is an early morning drive to the Guatemala National Park Tikal ruins. This bird-rich habitat is a must for all birders. We have recorded 295 species in Tikal, including Orange-breasted Falcon (2), Kentucky Warbler (6), Wood Thrush (15), Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, and many Ocellated Turkeys. This is a day and a half of birding in Tikal with a certified Guatemalan guide. We will be staying in the Tikal National Park Tikal Inn with meals included.
Day 8: After breakfast we’ll bird the ‘Airport Road” near the Tikal Inn. After hotel check out, you’ll be transferred to the Guatemala – Belize border for your flight back to the Belize City Airport. Your field trip ends once in Belize City airport. If you plan to visit the Belizean Caye’s or have a next day flight, I can recommend the Best Western Biltmore Hotel in Belize City for your lodging. Best Western Hotel has a shuttle service for pick-up in the airport for shuttle to the hotel.
Tropical Birding Trip Prices
The cost of the Belize field trip including Tikal Guatemala is $ 3890.00. We need a minimum of 4 participants for the trip to go. The fee includes lodging, meals, transportation, fuel, Guatemala border fees, Park entrance fees and field guides. Not covered are airfares, alcoholic beverages, and food or meals not provided by the lodges. Gratuities are optional. A $2000.00 deposit is required upon registration. The balance of $1890.00 is due on January 3, 2024. For smaller groups a surcharge for a small group of 3 participants of $700.00 per attendee, 2 participants per attendee is $900.00. If you must cancel with in 90 days of the field trip a administrative fee of $400.00 will be applied. After the balance is paid, there can be no refund unless a replacement can be found.
Please contact Rich with questions and support in airline reservations.
Check out our latest client testimonials for this tropical birding trip.