Guatemala Birding Loop: endemic birds with CAYAYA BIRDING
This birding tour provides a good overview of the birds of Guatemala by visiting the three major biogeographic regions: the highlands and the lowlands of the Pacific slope and the Atlantic slope. More than 300 bird species can be expected during this tour, including many endemics of the north Central American highlands and species which are rare throughout the Neotropics, such as Orange-breasted Falcon.
Coffee tour (about 2 hours): learn about the processing of coffee from the plantation to your cup.
Visit a handicrafts market at Lake Atitlán.
Extension to Monterrico on the Pacific coast: Three additional days provide great opportunities to see and photograph a variety of waterbirds.
Some of the birds seen during the CAYAYAY BIRDING Guatemala Birding Loop
Blue-throated Motmot Aspatha gularis, endemic to the highlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Pink-headed Warbler Cardellina versicolor, endemic to the highlands of Guatemala and southern Chiapas, Mexico.Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus, endemic to the highlands of Guatemala and southern Chiapas, Mexico.Mexican Whip-poor-will Antrostomus arizonae in the highlands of Guatemala.Volcanic landscape in the highlands of Guatemala with Lake Atitlán and volcanoes Atitlán and Tolimán.Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus, a widespread but rare Neotropical falcon.Unicolored Jay Aphelocoma unicolor, restricted to the highlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Rufous Sabrewing Pampa rufa, endemic to the highlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno, endemic to the highlands of southern Mexico and Central America.Pacific Parakeet Psittacara strenuus, endemic to northern Central America and southern Mexico.Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber, endemic to the lowlands of southern Mexico and northern Central America.White Hawk Pseudastur albicollis, a specialist of Neotropical lowland and foothill rainforests.Blue-and-white Mockingbird Melanotis hypoleucus, endemic to the highlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Belted Flycatcher Xenotriccus callizonus, endemic to the highlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus, one of the most exotic looking birds of Guatemala.Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula, endemic to the highlands of Mexico and northern Central America.Rose-throated Tanager (Piranga roseogularis), endemic to the Yucatán peninsula.Fulvous Owl Strix fulvescens, endemic to the highlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Black-throated Shrike-Tanager Lanio aurantius, endemic to the lowlands of northern Central America and southern Mexico.White-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis leucogastra), endemic Pacific slope lowlands and foothills of northern Central America and southern Mexico.Mayan Antthrush Formicarius moniliger, endemic to northern Central America and southern Mexico.Sunset at the Great Plaza of the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, with Temple I towering over the rainforest canopy.Ocellated Turkey Melagris ocellata, endemic to the Yucatán peninsula.White-collared Manakin Manacus candei in a Guatemalan rainforest.Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus in a Guatemalan rainforest.
What birders say about CAYAYA BIRDING's Guatemala Birding Loop
April-May 2018, 18-days target trip throughout Guatemala
"We had an extremely good trip. Everything was organized with an incredible attention to detail; we saw a huge amount without feeling rushed; and the food and accommodation were far better than we had expected. Knut Eisermann is an excellent guide with an incredible knowledge of the birds, wildlife and culture of his adopted home. He is also very pleasant company in the field. Very highly recommended." Graham Tebb, Vienna, Austria.
"Birding tour guided by Knut Eisermann. Nearly 400 species (376 species seen) thanks to Knut's excellent knowledge of birdsounds and locations.
Great accomodations, too. Excellent food. Lovely people. I enjoyed all places we visited, with Tikal being the most impressive. 3 weeks seemed a good length for our trip, but I could have stayed longer!" Gerlinde Taurer, Vienna, Austria.
November 2017, modified Guatemala Birding Loop
"We spent two weeks in Guatemala to see the specialty birds of the region. It was the right decision to ask CAYAYA BIRDING to organize our tour. Knut Eisermann was a perfect guide knowing all the birds, the secret places and the culture of the people. He involves local guides which helps finding the birds and supporting the communities. We did see all the special birds of the region we were hoping for plus several real rarities like Unspotted Saw-whet Owl. Being impressed by the incredible landscape, the friendliness of the people, the Mayan historical sites and the many birds, we will come back to Guatemala and we will definitely contact CAYAYA BIRDING again to organize our next trip." (Trip list) Jochen Baurmeister Frauke Jordt, Pennsylvania, USA, and Frankfurt, Germany.
April-May 2016, CAYAYA BIRDING customized 2-weeks birding tour through Guatemala for 6 birders
"In May 2016 five friends and I were guided by CAYAYA BIRDING in western Guatemala and Tikal NP. This was my second birdwatching tour with Knut Eisermann and Claudia Avendaño (principals of CAYAYA BIRDING) and both trips were truly excellent. Knut and Claudia work together as a smooth team to ensure that everyone's needs are met -- every day of the tour.
An unexpected highlight of the recent trip was spotting a Baird's Tapir in Tikal -- a thrill for everyone!" Mike Mulligan, Canada.
"I cannot believe the patience you two had for us all!! The different personalities, and abilities in a group can only present some amazing challenges for you...but you both handled them well! This was the most organized group birding trip I have been on! Thank you so much for such a wonderful time visiting and sharing in the life and birds of Guatemala!" Diane Kook, USA.
April-May 2008, 4th Big Birding Tour of the Saxon Ornithologists' Association (Trip report)
"A birding tour how it should be!" Hartmut Meyer, Hohenstein-Ernstthal.
"This tour was very well organized with an excellent selection of hotels, restaurants, and of course the different bird habitats. It was impressive, how safely our target species were found." Dr. Klaus Fabian, Dresden.
February 2005, Guatemala Birding Loop
"We were 6 senior Danes, however still quite venturous and with great love for nature, some of us especially keen on birds. We found CAYAYA BIRDING on the internet which we never regretted. We got the most excellent service with regard to planning a trip quite according to our wishes and with their professional advice. More than 300 birds were seen during the 17 days we spent in Guatemala. Knut Eisermann has a talent for spotting, hearing, and recognizing everything. And for our guidance he was carrying these very heavy field guides all the time, so that he could at once show us in the books the birds in question and point out their characteristics. We learnt a lot, and we loved all the sites on the trip. As an extra service, Claudia Avendaño joined us during the trip to Monterrico, because of the small boats where we had to split up in two groups. They wanted us to have a guide on each boat - isn’t that service ! And it was nice for us to get this opportunity to meet Claudia, who had done so much work for us in planning our trip, not only in Guatemala, but also in El Salvador, where we were going afterwards. The tour with Knut and Claudia was quite exceptional, not only because of their professional competence and their ability to take care of our well-being, but also because of their great sense of humour which meant that we enjoyed their company so much." See trip report by Kirsten Geertz-Hansen Kirsten Geertz-Hansen, Farum, Denmark.
