Belize is a unique destination for tropical birding trips. Here, you’ll find more than 580 species of birds in an area the size of Massachusetts. Belize is an ideal location for birding and a top destination for bird photography. 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 primary language of Belize. 2026 will be Yellowbilledtours’ fifteenth Birding Tour into Belize.

Belize is an English-speaking country, which makes travel much more manageable for North American travelers who are not fluent in Spanish. Yellowbilled Tours utilizes local Belize guides for portions of the field trip, thereby supporting local eco-tourism. Additionally, we use locally owned lodges and services operated by Belizeans or expatriates who are 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 a small-group setting, where you’ll have time to exchange birding knowledge and form new friendships.

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 2 will be required to proceed with the trip. This field trip offers birders with limited Central American birding experience a great introduction to birding the tropics. YBT offers Custom and Private field trips for couples.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

You’ll need to arrive at Belize City International Airport on Sunday, January 18. I will meet you at 4 PM with our vehicle curbside at the Belize International Airport. On Sunday, January 18, we begin birding as we make our way to our lodge, the Birds Eye View Lodge, in the Crooked Tree Preserve. We will stay two nights at the Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

January 19: Monday birding by boat on the Crooked Tree reservoir and the New River, plus birding critical areas in the afternoon. Our lodging is Birds Eye View Lodge.

On Tuesday, January 20, after breakfast, we depart for Hopkins, Belize, located on the Caribbean Sea coast. We have lunch in Bopan, the Capital of Belize. There are birding opportunities along the route to Hopkins. Our lodging is in Hopkins.

On Wednesday, January 21, we will bird Cockscomb National Park, part of the Jaguar Preserve. Birding the preserve is a full-day event that includes lunch on-site. Our lodging and dinner are in Hopkins.

On Thursday, January 22, we depart Hopkins after breakfast en route to the western border of Belize. There, we bird in the Guanacaste National Park and have lunch in Bopan, the capital of Belize. On Thursday afternoon, January 22, we will bird at the Green Valley Butterfly Research Center during the afternoon heat. This preserve has superb birding, typically offering flycatcher species and 20+ Hummingbird feeders. Later in the evening, after dinner, we can bird the bottomlands of the Mopann River. Using the same hotel in San Ignacio.

On Friday, January 23, We are up early to drive to the Mountain Pine Preserve. We want to arrive at dawn to maximize the cool morning awakening of species activity. Seventeen species of Raptors, Flycatchers, Warblers, and Finches reside in this habitat. The habitat is a combination of mixed forest and savanna grassland. In the afternoon, we begin our travel to Guatemala. Stopping to bird along the way. Our lodging will be in Lake Peten, Guatemala. This lodge offers birders specializing in Tanagers and Orioles.

On Saturday, January 24, Our destination is Tikal National Park, Guatemala, where we will visit the Inca ruins and add 120 species to your trip list. We will visit several habitats; this is an all-day event. Our lodging will be in Takil National Park. We will be gathered in the early morning to witness the dawn chorus on the lodge grounds. After breakfast and more birding in the park, we’ll begin the drive to Belize City. Along the way to Belize City, we’ll make birding stops, including the private shrimp farms for shorebirds and the Belize City harbor and shoreline parkway for Gulls, Terns, and shorebirds. Your overnight stay will be at the Belize City Best Western Hotel, which is in your trip fee. The tour ends Saturday night with arrival at the Best Western Hotel.

On Sunday morning, January 25, please schedule your return flight arrangements for the afternoon. The hotel has a fee-based shuttle to the airport.

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