Belize is a unique destination for tropical birding. Here, you’ll find more than 580 species of birds in an area the size of Massachusetts. This makes Belize the perfect destination for birding and bird photography. With Yellowbilledtours, we offer small-group birding across a variety of habitats. This five-day itinerary with us can typically yield a list of over 200 tropical bird species.

Belize is an English-speaking country, making travel more manageable for North American travelers who are not fluent in Spanish. Yellowbilled Tours uses local Belizean guides for portions of the field trip, thereby supporting local ecotourism. Additionally, we use locally owned lodges and services operated by Belizeans or Belizean residents. Our numerous trips to Belize have taught us where to find the birds. In fact, Ebird lists Yellowbilled Tours’ owner, Rich Cimino, among the top 100 birders in Belize, with 379 species observed. These trips bring together birding enthusiasts in small groups, where many new friendships are formed.

Jabiru
Keel-billed Toucan
Lesson’s Motmot
Woodcreeper species
Russet-naped Wood-Rail
Yucatan Jay
Bat Falcon
Orange-breasted Falcon (Tikal)
Agami Heron

The 2026 field trips are limited to six participants per trip. A minimum of 3 will be required to proceed with the trip. This field trip offers birders with limited experience in Central American birding a great introduction to tropical birding. Custom and private field trips for couples can also be arranged. The bird species list for the tour and the tour registration form are available upon request at yellowbilledtours@gmail.com.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

You’ll need to arrive at Belize City International Airport on February 9th. I will meet you at 4 PM with our vehicle curbside at the Belize International Airport. We will stay two nights at the Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

Day 1, February 9: We begin birding as we make our way, looking for the Roadside Hawk and Fork-tailed Flycatcher, en route to the Birds Eye View Lodge in the Crooked Tree Preserve. Our lodge is Birds Eye View Lodge (BEVL), where we will stay for 2 days. After dinner, we’ll spend time birding the grounds seeking the Common Parquie, a moth-catching nightjar which can be found along the entrance road to our lodge.

Day 2, February 10: Up early for birding by boat on the Crooked Tree Reservoir to the backwaters of the New River. The boat trip opens up the world of birding in Belize, offering a fabulous birding adventure. We’ll see hundreds of wading birds, Snail Kite, Bat Falcon, Black-collared Hawk, Boat-billed Heron, possible Agami Heron, Parrots, and possibly a Jabiru, the largest bird in the Western Hemisphere. After breakfast, we will bird in critical areas in the immediate BEVL area. Lunch in the lodge. After lunch, we’ll drive to an assortment of birding hot spots—with dinner in Birds Eye View Lodge.

Day 3, February 11: After breakfast, we depart for Hopkins, Belize, situated on the Caribbean Sea coast. Our lodging is in Hopkins’ Comosplitian Guest House. We have lunch in Bopan, the Capital of Belize. We drive a very scenic portion of the Butterfly Highway, with birding opportunities along the way to Hopkins. Before dinner, we will bird the Caribbean coast and a back road which has been a productive area for hummingbirds, vireos, and warblers—dinner in Hopkins near our guest house. Lodging is at the Comosplitan Guest House.

Day 4, February 12: Up early for the drive to Cockscomb National Park, part of the Jaguar Preserve. We will stop for breakfast and birding at an indigenous women’s co-op business. The birds we will be seeking are the lineated Woodpecker, Lesson Moymot, Slaty-tailed, and Black-headed Trogon. The list of observed species is quite long; I will send you a custom-made spiral-bound checklist spreadsheet. We depart Cockscomb N.P. after lunch for the western border of Belize and Guatemala. Our lodging at the Hanna Ranch is a fully operational equestrian and cattle ranch, featuring individual cottages that offer us excellent on-site birding opportunities from the lawn area. The birds on the property are Chachalacas, Keel-billed Toucan, Wrens, Tanagers, and Flycatchers. Dinner will be served in Benny’s Cafe in the small village of San Jose.

Day 5, February 13: We will bird the Mountain Pine Preserve, located at elevations between 1,300 and 2,200 feet. This is primarily stationary birding, allowing the birds to come to us. In the afternoon, we’ll see a mix of species, including possible Belize Pygmy Owl, raptors such as kites and falcons, jays, various finches, and warblers. In the afternoon, we’ll bird at the Green Valley Butterfly Research Center, a 250-acre preserve featuring up to 12 butterfly species. The research center features dozens of hummingbird feeders, a comfortable seating area, and a blind for viewing and photographing the birds. We also have access to the research gardens, which have been productive for flycatchers and finches. Our lodging will be the Hannas – Xunantunich Ranch Resort.

Day 6, February 14: Our last day of the field trip begins early, with us waking up to bird with our local guide. We will bird the Mopann River bottomland habitat in San Inigano. Species seen have been Royal Flycatcher, Lesson’s Motmot, Slaty-tailed Trogon, and Spot-breasted Wren. By mid-morning, we’ll have breakfast, then head to the Belize International Airport to catch our flight home.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to request a registration form and pricing information.