Birding in Belize is Great Year-Round as Birds from the north visit Belize during the winter months, while the summer months are good for spotting visitors from South America. Just as its coral reefs harbor tremendous bio diversity, Belize is a mecca for birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

In all of North America, ornithologists have documented just over 800 species of birds; Belize, a country approximately the size of Massachusetts, is home to over 570 of them; of this number, 80 percent are classified as residents.

Northern Jacanas walking on lily pads along the New River in Orange Walk while Coastal birds like the Brown-Footed Booby and the Frigate Bird, are common on the Cayes. The savannahs in the Belize District are home to the Vermilion
and Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers and the nearby Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary caters to flocks of Wood Storks.
In Cayo, sightings of Night Herons and Jacamars and
Blue-Crowned Mot Mots are not uncommon.

Additionally, the types of birds you will see depends upon the type of natural habitat you are in. On your Birding Tour you’ll have the chance to look for different species in the rainforest, in open savannahs, on cayes, and among the country’s many swamps and mangroves. Since some of the best Belize bird watching sites are found close to other great Belize attractions, coupling your birding adventure with other fun pursuits will only add to your Birding experience.

Cayo's varied eco-niches, pine ridges, gallery forests, river systems, savanna, and jungle-covered hillsides provide homes for many of these species -from
Great Kiskadees to the Northern Potoo - making Cayo District a Birder's Paradise.

Canoe trips or leisurely walks along the banks of the Macal or Mopan Rivers are excellent for observing waterfowl such as anhingas, kingfishers, herons and swallows. Some of the best sightings can be had simply by staying at one of the area's many resorts and ranches where the mix of open land, orchard plantings, and jungle edge provide an excellent habitat for Yellow-Tailed Orioles, Blue-Gray Tanagers, and a myriad of other species.

Serious birders will appreciate having the opportunity to add several endangered or rare species to their life lists and will want to bring a Birds of the Cayo District
Check List with them to track their sightings. 

Even those with a more casual interest in birds will be delighted at the colorful avian displays seen during their travels in Belize.

SAMPLE BIRDING PACKAGE

DAY 1 – BELIZE CITY / ORANGE WALK

After clearing immigration and customs at the airport you will be met by your Belizean Birding guide and then will travel along the Northern Highway to Orange Walk Town.

O/N Hotel de la Fuente. (L)/ D

DAY 2 – ORANGE WALK / LAMANAI ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE /
CROOKED TREE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Morning /
Following breakfast, board your boat for the ride to the Mayan ruins of Lamanai. After arriving you will have the chance to explore the ruins and have the opportunity to look for the Red-Lored Parrot, Blue-Crowned Mot-mot, Collared Aracari Toucan, Lineated & Pale-billed Woodpeckers, and Black-Headed & Violaceous Togons. In addition, Yucatan Black Howler Monkeys are usually seen or heard here.

Afternoon /
Following a picnic lunch, return to Orange Walk Town and then make the drive to Crooked Tree Village, located within the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

O/N Bird’s Eye Lodge. B/L/D

DAY 3 – CROOKED TREE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Morning /
Early morning birding by boat on the lagoons at Crooked Tree in search of birds. Water birds will be the main target with special emphasis on finding the Jabiru, Sungrebe and Agami Herons. Late breakfast.

Afternoon /
More local area Birding

O/N Bird’s Eye Lodge. B/L/D

DAY 4 - TRANSFER TO CAYO DISTRICT/ BELIZE ZOO / MACAL RIVER CANOEING

Stop at the Belize Zoo and then for lunch at one of the nearby restaurant establishments; Continue on to Cayo District and you accommodation at either
duPlooy's Jungle Lodge or San Ignacio Resort Hotel.

A half-day canoe trip on the beautiful Macal River, while canoeing chances are you will be able to see Gray-necked Wood rails, kingfishers, Black phoebes, Neotropic Cormorants, Mangrove Swallows, and other wildlife that frequent the riverbanks, such as iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks and trees.

O/N duPlooy's Jungle Lodge in a Bungalow or
O/N San Ignacio Resort Hotel in a Regal Room.

B/L/D

DAY 5 - MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE

After an early breakfast, depart for the Mountain Pine Ridge, a 300 square mile reserve for scenery, waterfalls & birding. Stops will be made along the way as birding opportunities presents themselves and at specific known birding sites such as 1,000 ft falls.

Here we have the opportunity to see Yellow-faced Grassquits, Rufous-capped Warblers, Acorn Woodpeckers, Yellow-backed Orioles and Golden-hooded Tanagers. There is a strong possibility of seeing the Orange-breasted falcon and king vultures by 1,000 ft falls (Hidden valley Falls). These falcons live on the outcropping. Black-headed Siskins can often be seen flying in flocks.

O/N duPlooy's Jungle Lodge in a Bungalow or
O/N San Ignacio Resort Hotel in a Regal Room.

B/L/D

DAY 6 - EL PILAR

Half-day tour to El Pilar Archeological site. The site is excellent for birding, hiking, and provides an insight to Belize's sub-tropical forests. We will make stops along the way to view such birds as Collared Manakins, Honeycreepers and an array of flycatchers etc.

While staying at duPlooy's Jungle Lodge you can venture on your own and enjoy Birding at the Belize Botanic Gardens, which is adjacent to the Lodge. They keep their own
Bird List.

While staying at San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Cahal Pech Archeological site is only a few minutes walking distance away. Some of the birds to see include Red-legged Honeycreepers, Tanagers, Tityras, Parrots and Parakeets. Enjoy San Ignacio Town.

O/N duPlooy's Jungle Lodge in a Bungalow or
O/N San Ignacio Resort Hotel in a Regal Room.

B/L/D

DAY 7 – TIKAL

No Birding Package is complete without a tour of Tikal, the only place in the world which has been declared by UNESCO as both a Natural & World Cultural Heritage site.

O/N duPlooy's Jungle Lodge in a Bungalow or
O/N San Ignacio Resort Hotel in a Regal Room.

B/L/D

DAY 8 - OPTIONS

Option # 1 - Breakfast - Return to Belize International Airport Belize International Airport for your return flight home or onward destination.

Option # 2 - Breakfast - Transfer overland to Placencia with a stop at the Inland
Blue Hole National Park for a few hours of Birding. The Blue Hole has a number of trails to hike within the park. Some of the more unusual birds known to this area includes the White Hawk, Spotted-Wood Quail, Crested Guans, Lovely Cotinga, Keel-Billed Toucans, Red-Legged Honey Creepers, and Slaty-tailed Trogons.

Arrive Placencia - Explore the beach, lagoon and village of Placencia.

O/N Green Parrot Beach Houses B/L/D.

DAYS 9 & 10 -

One, two or three nights in Placencia. Snorkeling trip to Laughing Bird Caye; Tours to Monkey River & Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve "Jaguar Reserve" are just some of the activities that can be arranged, at additional cost.

DAY 11 – PLACENCIA / BELIZE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Morning transfer to Placencia airstrip for flight back to Belize International Airport for your return flight home or onward destination.

TOTAL Costs per person (DBL)

OPTION #1 / duPLooy's Jungle Lodge / 8 Days & 7 Nights - US $1,845
OPTION #1 / San Ignacio Resort Hotel / 8 Days & 7 Nights - US $1,600

Price includes: All Private Transportation & Tours; Accommodations and meals as indicated and
ALL applicable taxes. Not included: Belize-Guatemala departure tax.

OPTION #2 / duPLooy's Jungle Lodge & Placencia / 11 Days & 10 Nights - US $2,500
OPTION #2 / San Ignacio Resort Hotel & Placencia / 11 Days & 10 Nights- US $2,225

Price includes same for OPTION #1 - Plus 3 nights at Green Parrot Beach House and transportation from Cayo District to Placencia and airfare from Placencia to Belize International Airport. No meals or tours are included for your stay in Placencia.