Birdwatching Guatemala Mayan Lowlands Tour

Birding Around Guatemala's Mayan Ruins

A 7-day Birdwatching in Guatemala Mayan Lowlands Tour that is moderately paced and available on request. The trip combines an opportunity to see some of Guatemala's rarest bird life with a chance to explore the most important archaeological sites of the Mayan Biosphere in the Petén region. Some of the historic sites you'll visit include Tikal, Uaxactún, Yaxha and Waka Perú at Laguna del Tigre.

The Mayan city of Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its pyramid temples. It is also home to indigenous species such as the Ocellated Turkey and Orange-breasted Falcon and White Hawk. One of the best vantage points is to climb to the peak of the pyramid – sunrise from the top is an unforgettable experience – but be warned that it's a tough ascent.

This birdwatching Guatemala tour of the Mayan Lowlands also visits Laguna del Tigre, the largest national park in Guatemala and one of the core zones of the Mayan Biosphere. It's the habitat for the rare Scarlet Macaw and Agami Heron as well as numerous raptors, including the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Black-collared Hawks, Swallow-tailed Kites, King Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk and Crane Hawk.

This birding tour also visits Uaxactún, one of the smallest archaeological cities in Guatemala, but with the distinction that the temples have been perfectly positioned to observe the summer and winter solstices on June 20 and December 21/22 , as well as the equinoxes around March 21 and September 23. It's also the ideal place for observing Aracari Toucans, Oropendolas, Yucatan Jays, Mexican Antthrushes, Barred Forest Falcons, Blue-black Grosbeaks and White-collared Manakins.

This birdwatching Guatemala tour also lets you explore the trails at the Yaxha archaeological site, where you may find the Pheasant Cuckoo, Tody Motmots, trogons, toucans and the four species of Tinamou: Great, Little, Slaty-breasted and Thicket. Parrots can be seen flying in flocks, including the Red-lored, White-fronted, White-crowned and Blue-crowned Mealy varieties.

This expedition to the Mayan Lowlands of Guatemala not only gives you the opportunity to observe some of the country's most vibrant and distinctive bird life, but also steep yourself in the fascinating history and culture of the region.

Birdwatching in Guatemala Mayan Lowlands highlights include:

A chance to enjoy both the region's unique birdlife and rich Mayan cultural history
Explore the historic archaeological sites of Tikal, Uaxactún and Yaxha
Visit Laguna del Tigre, the largest national park in Guatemala and one of the core zones of the Mayan Biosphere
Enjoy a wide variety of bird species in many different habitats with the Mayan Lowlands of Petén
The opportunity to see some of Guatemala's rarest breeds of bird, including Ocellated Turkeys, Orange-breasted hawks and Scarlet Macaws

If you'd like to find an alternative tour, please take a look at the Caribbean Coast Guatemala Bird Watching Tour for another special experience on offer.

Alternative tour name: Birdwatching and Mayan Culture in the Guatemala Lowlands

Day 1

Day 1 - Guatemala-Flores-Tikal

Early morning fly to Guatemala City Airport and immediately after arrive take the afternoon flight to Flores.

Take the flight that leaves at 17:15 to FLores. Once at Peten you will be transfer to National Park Tikal for dinner and accommodations at Jungle Lodge or similar. Owling can be done in the near promises of the hotel.

Day 2

Day 2 - Tikal-Uaxactun-Tikal

Early morning start transfer to Uaxactun where you will be able to see different species like Yucatan Jay. Box Lunch at the Archaeological site. Also birds like Mexican (Black-faced) Antthrush, Barred Forest Falcon, Blue-black Grosbeak and White-collared Manakin among other Return for Dinner at the Tikal National Park.

Day 3

Day 3 - Tikal

A Sunrise can be done from a Temple when you climb it at an early morning. Today you will also, walk around the majestic Mayan Temples where there is an amazing diversity of bird including tinamous, motmots, aracaris, jacamars, puffbirds, leaftossers, antthrushes, and the odd Northern Royal Flycatcher. The specialty is the Orange-breasted Falcon, seen from a Temple. Box Breakfast from the Hotel and lunch will be at the hotel. Late afternoon return to the trails for more birds. Dinner and Accommodations at Jungle Lodge or similar.

Day 4

Day 4 - Tikal-Las Guacamayas

Early morning do the sunrise and during your climb, you may get close views of Yucatan Black Howler Monkeys,

Keel-billed Toucans, Montezuma Oropendolas, Laughing Falcons or maybe a White Hawk soaring overhead. The unique Ocellated Turkey, one of the most fantastically plumaged American birds, is common here. Return for breakfast and continue birding in the morningat Tikal. Before lunch transfer to Las Guacamayas Biological Station, lunch on the Way and birding along the road to get to Paso Caballos. It takes about 3 hours to get to the Estación Biológica Las Guacamayas, using a 4-WD vehicle on dirt road to the village Paso Caballo, and from there a boat on the SAC LUC Rive. Boat to the lodge Las Guacamayas. Dinner and accommodations.

Day 5

Day 5 - Las Guacamayas

Today all day birding at the Laguna del Tigre National Park and Natural Reserve. Raptors Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Black-collared Hawks, Swallow-tailed Kites, King Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk, Crane Hawk. Although this is the habitat for the Scarlet Macaw you can find species like Agami heron and many more.

Day 6

Day 6 - Las Guacamayas - Yaxha- FLores - Guatemala City

Box Breakfast. A very Early morning, before sunrise we would need to leave the Biological Station, box breakfast. There are about 3 hours to get from Biological Station to Yaxha. Arrive there and start birding where you have another chance to see more Archaeological site Yaxha and spectacular views of the Mayan Biosfere.

On the trails, you may find the Pheasant Cuckoo, Tody motmots, trogons, toucans and Blue-Crowned or maybe the four species of tinamou—Great, Little, Slaty-breasted and Thicket—. Parrots can be found flying in flocks like the with flocks Red-lored, White-fronted, White-crowned and the, Mealy parrots.

At a convenient time transfer to the Mundo Maya Airport and take your flight back to Guatemala where you will stay in the city for your flight or go to Antigua if your flight departs late next day.

Day 7

Day 7 - Guatemala City- Home

At a Convenient Time transfer to the Airport by shuttle depending at what time is your flight departure.

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Why book with Anywhere Guatemala Nature?

Anywhere Guatemala Nature Tours as member of Jett Tours Inc. founded in October 1975 and of Anywhere Inc. since 2014, offers a variety of unique tours designed according to your preferences with quality and good service, backed by years of experience.

Is the Birding at Mayan Ruins and Temples?

Tikal, Yaxha and Uaxactun are Archaeological sites where you will be not only birding but you will also be and stroll jungle trails and climb pyramids and temples. You will visit Tikal National Park and Yaxha archaeological site. Yaxhá is the third most famous Maya site in Guatemala, and has only just been extensively investigated; though little has yet been restored. Some of the birds you will see are Keel-billed Toucan, Montezuma Oropendola , Ocellated Turkeys, Black-faced Anti-thrush and Orange-breasted Falcon The largely rainforested region of El Petén is the largest department of Guatemala; it occupies about a third of the country but contains only three percent of its population. This area produces wood, chewing gum, oil, pepper and other agricultural products, but its main income is from visitors coming to see the cradle of the Mayan civilization.

What is Uaxactun?

Uaxactun Archaeological Park is located close to Tikal and surrounded by 47 hectares of dense tropical rainforest. In addition to its unique natural beauty, this city was an important centre for the development of monumental art during the Preclassic Period (2000 BC – 250 AD). The Astronomical Observation Complex found in Uaxactun is still very important for the celebration of Maya ceremonies and rituals. Equinoxes and solstices are celebrated every year during the Uaxactun Festival.

What is las Guacamayas Biological Station?

This is an area included al Laguna del Tigre National Reserve and is the Biosfera Maya. Estación Biológica Las Guacamayas (EBG) is a facility essential for the conservation of the natural resources and cultural heritage of the southeastern of the Laguna Del Tigre National Park, within the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, located in Petén, Guatemala. Our main areas of work are: Conservation, biology research, community development, and environmentally and socially responsible tourism. This approach is based upon the principles of social and environmental responsibility, which is achieved by promoting the protection and conservation of natural and cultural resources in this important rainforest, as well as expanding the economic alternatives of the neighboring communities. The landscape consists of tropical rain forest in which are species like the Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao Cyanoptera), Jaguars (Pantera Onca), Tapirs (Tapirus Bairdii), as well as a great variety of resident and migratory birds, reptiles and amphibians. These are also mixed wetlands in the upper basin of the river San Pedro Martir which play a fundamental role in the regulation the hydro-biological cycle, crucial to maintaining the reserves of the country's largest source of freshwater.