Included meals: B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner
Tuesday (D)
Arrival in Guatemala City. Welcome dinner in Antigua Guatemala. Overnight in a beautiful hotel in Antigua Guatemala.
Wednesday (B)
In the morning birding excursion in pine-oak forest near Antigua. Breakfast in the woods. In the afternoon visiting the colonial town of Antigua Guatemala, which was declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO. We will have time to visit the handicraft markets, art and book stores of Antigua Guatemala, where you will find a great assemblage of souvenirs. Overnight in Antigua Guatemala.
Thursday (B)
Thursday is one of the most important days during the Holy Week in Antigua. People decorate the streets with carpets made of flowers along the way of catholic processions. We will have the whole day to observe this spectacular event. Dinner and overnight in Antigua Guatemala.
Friday (B)
After breakfast in Antigua Guatemala we will proceed (3.5 hours drive) to the dry interior of Guatemala. The Motagua valley is one of the driest areas of Central America and harbors a very special ecosystem: thorn forest. In the afternoon birding excursion in thorn forest. Birds like the Russet-crowned Motmot and the White-lored Gnatcatcher are unique for this area in Guatemala. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Zacapa.
Saturday (B,D)
Early morning birding excursion in thorn forest (breakfast in the woods). After lunch in the hotel in Zacapa we proceed to a third thorn forest site. After a short birding excursion we will proceed to the Biotopo del Quetzal. Dinner and overnight in the hotel ‘Posada del Quetzal’.
Easter Sunday (B,D)
After breakfast in the hotel morning excursion in the cloud forest of the Biotopo del Quetzal. After lunch we will proceed with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, ascending the steep mountain slope to Chelemhá at 2000 m (6560 ft). Afternoon birding in the surroundings of the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge. Dinner and overnight in the Lodge.
Monday (B/L/D)
Full day birding in the cloud forest of Chelemhá. Breakfast in the woods. We will hike uphill to a favorite viewpoint for observing the display flights of the Quetzals. We will continue on a trail inside the forest to a vantage point where we will relax and have lunch. On our way back to the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge we will traverse different formations of cloud forest, including elfin ridge forest, oak ridge forest and aguacatillo-treefern forest. Complete loop about 5 km. In the afternoon relaxing in the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge. Dinner and overnight in the Lodge.
Tuesday (B/L/D)
Short early morning birding excursion in secondary forest in the surroundings of the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge, where Quetzals, Highland Guans and Howler Monkeys have been seen already. After breakfast in the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge, guided tour in the reforestation area, where the NGO UPROBON is building up a forest with native tree species. In the afternoon short excursion to the cloud forest. Dinner and overnight in the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge.
Wednesday (B)
After breakfast in the Maya Cloud Forest Lodge in Chelemhá we will drive to the highland town of Cobán, main city of the department of Alta Verapaz, 3 hours away by car. Lunch in a restaurant on the way. After check-in at the hotel we will visit the Vivero Verapaz, home of one of the most beautiful collections of orchids from the country. Various restaurant choices for dinner considering your preference.
Thursday (B/D)
After a typical breakfast in Cobán, we will proceed to the northernmost department Petén. After a ride of 4 hours and a half we will arrive Flores, an island town in the Lake Petén Itzá. There we will have lunch before proceeding to Yaxhá (1 hour), a national park and archeological site in the south of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Relaxing afternoon in the tranquil environment of El Sombrero Eco-lodge on the shore of Lake Yaxhá. We will have dinner and spend the night at El Sombrero.
Friday (B/D)
We will enjoy sunrise at top of temple 216 in the Yaxhá archeological site. This is a perfect point for birdwatching at canopy level (parrots, toucans) and enjoying the view over lake Yaxhá. After breakfast on top of the pyramid, an archeology guide will lead us through the park and tell us all about its ancient history. We will have lunch back at El Sombrero. Dinner at El Sombrero.
Saturday (B/L/D)
Early morning birding boat excursion to the Yaxhá lagoon. After breakfast in the boat, archeological tour in Topoxté, a small site on an island which was settled until the 16th century. Lunch at El Sombrero. Afternoon is free for relaxing. In the late afternoon, excursion by boat along the shoreline of Lake Yaxhá looking for crocodiles. Dinner at El Sombrero.
Sunday (B/L/D)
Birding morning in the ruins of Yaxhá. We will have lunch back at El Sombrero and then leave for the most famous Mayan temples around, Tikal - the trip will take us about an hour and a half in our microbus. After check-in at our hotel, we will enjoy sunset on top of one of the ancient buildings and then eat dinner back at the hotel.
Monday (B/D)
Full day birding at Tikal. For sunrise we will be on top of the Central Acropolis, watching the birds passing by and enjoying the beautiful early morning light over the arrangement of Great Plaza, Temples I and II and the Northern Acropolis. After breakfast we will proceed to the Lost World complex. All our birding excursions in the Tikal National Park will be combined with archeological information. For lunch we will be back at the hotel. After a little 'siesta' we will visit the archeological museums (ceramics and stelae) at Tikal. Sunset excursion to one of the ancient buildings in the park. Dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday (B/D)
Early morning birdwatching, and crossing our way with mammals in Tikal. Sunrise on top of the pyramid of the Lost World. After breakfast there we will walk to the northernmost part of the center of Tikal. Time for extending our species list until noon. After lunch in the hotel and a little siesta, we will check on water birds at the Tikal ponds. After a sunset excursion dinner in your hotel.
Wednesday (B)
We will have another morning to observe birds and wildlife in Tikal. After lunch our microbus will bring us to the Santa Elena airport, where we will board our flight to Guatemala City. Dinner and overnight in Guatemala City.
Thursday (B)
After breakfast in the hotel we will proceed to Monterrico on the Pacific coast. After 1 hour and a half we will reach the coastal mangrove swamps. After crossing the Chiquimulilla canal by ferry we will reach Monterrico beach. Check-in at the hotel. After lunch, birding excursion in dry forest or free time to relax at the beach. Dinner and overnight in Monterrico.
Friday (B)
Early morning birding boat tour to the reed swamps, wintering and foraging area of thousands of water birds. Breakfast on the boat. In the late morning we will be back at the beach. Enjoy ‘siesta’ during the hottest hours of the day. In the afternoon we will visit the Conservation Center from San Carlos University, where efforts are made towards the conservation of sea turtle and iguana populations in the region. Dinner and overnight in Monterrico.
Saturday (B)
Early morning birding boat tour to the mangrove swamps. The mangrove belt in Monterrico is about 3 km wide. Breakfast in the boat. Lunch back in Monterrico. In the afternoon we will drive back to Guatemala City. Good-by dinner in Guatemala City.
Sunday (B)
Breakfast in the hotel. We will accompany you to the airport.
