Guatemala Bird Photography Tour: Horned Guan, Pink Headed Warbler, Quetzal and Highland Endemics

An 11-day birding expedition through Guatemala's highlands targeting the region's most sought-after endemics: Horned Guan, Pink-headed Warbler, Goldman's Warbler, and Resplendent Quetzal. From Antigua through Los Tarrales to the Cuchumatanes.

Guatemala Country
11 days / 10 nights Duration
Easy Walking grade
8 travelers Maximum group
Relax Schedule

Suitability & conditions

A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.

From
1.995 EUR
(181 EUR / day)
* Price per person based on 4 travelers.
  • Duration 11 days / 10 nights
  • Available as Private tour

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Journey at a Glance

Follow the route and discover the defining experiences of the expedition.

Full Journey

Complete route

See the full expedition route before focusing on each chapter.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival in Antigua

  • Traslado Aeropuerto Guatemala – Antigua

  • Welcome Dinner in Antigua

    Distinct first-night group dinner in Antigua with tour briefing context. A carefully chosen restaurant selected for quality, atmosphere, and proximity to the hotel. Coordinate dietary requirements in advance.

  • Hotel Boutique Los Pasos

  • Breakfast

DAY 2

Finca El Pilar & Transfer to Los Tarrales

Overnight Altitude: 756m (2,480 ft)
  • Breakfast

  • Finca El Pilar Early Highland Birding

    Warm-up birding block near Antigua, exploring pine-oak forest edges, feeders, and forest tracks. Expect motmots, sabrewings, ground-sparrows, and mixed flocks in this arrival-area introduction to Guatemala's highland birds. GTM-ACT-001.

  • Lunch

  • Traslado Antigua – Los Tarrales

  • Los Tarrales Lodge Grounds and Coffee Forest Birding

    Anchor birding day at Los Tarrales exploring lodge gardens, shade coffee, and humid broadleaf forest. White-bellied Chachalaca, manakins, tanagers, motmots, trogons, woodcreepers, hummingbirds. Morning and afternoon sessions. GTM-ACT-007.

  • Dinner

  • Tarrales Natural Reserve

    Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 756m (2,480 ft)

    A verdant paradise in Patulul, this reserve offers exceptional birdwatching and immersive coffee tours. Nature enthusiasts can explore diverse ecosystems on the volcanic slopes, encountering rare wildlife amidst stunning, protected tropical landscapes.

DAY 3

Los Tarrales Lodge Grounds Birding

Overnight Altitude: 756m (2,480 ft)
  • Breakfast

  • Los Tarrales Lodge Grounds and Coffee Forest Birding

    Anchor birding day at Los Tarrales exploring lodge gardens, shade coffee, and humid broadleaf forest. White-bellied Chachalaca, manakins, tanagers, motmots, trogons, woodcreepers, hummingbirds. Morning and afternoon sessions. GTM-ACT-007.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Tarrales Natural Reserve

    Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 756m (2,480 ft)

    A verdant paradise in Patulul, this reserve offers exceptional birdwatching and immersive coffee tours. Nature enthusiasts can explore diverse ecosystems on the volcanic slopes, encountering rare wildlife amidst stunning, protected tropical landscapes.

DAY 4

Horned Guan Search

Overnight Altitude: 756m (2,480 ft)
  • Breakfast

  • Los Tarrales Upper Forest Horned Guan Search

    Signature Horned Guan search in the upper cloud forest of Los Tarrales. A strenuous full-day block targeting Horned Guan, with Azure-rumped Tanager, Fulvous Owl, and Highland Guan also possible. GTM-ACT-008.

  • Lunch

  • Rest and Afternoon Birding – Los Tarrales Lodge Grounds

    Gentle recovery block after the Horned Guan morning. Afternoon birding at lodge feeders, entrance road, and coffee-forest edge. Relaxed pace with no fixed targets. Optional for guests who prefer to rest. GTM-ACT-007 area.

  • Dinner

  • Tarrales Natural Reserve

    Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 756m (2,480 ft)

    A verdant paradise in Patulul, this reserve offers exceptional birdwatching and immersive coffee tours. Nature enthusiasts can explore diverse ecosystems on the volcanic slopes, encountering rare wildlife amidst stunning, protected tropical landscapes.

DAY 5

Lake Atitlan Belted Flycatcher

  • Breakfast

  • Traslado Antigua – Los Tarrales

  • Lake Atitlan Belted Flycatcher Slopes Birding

    Specialty targets on the dry slopes of Lake Atitlán: Belted Flycatcher and Blue-and-white Mockingbird are the key species. Morning to early afternoon session with lake and volcano backdrop. Includes ferry crossing. GTM-ACT-009.

  • Lunch

  • Cruce en Bote o Ferry – Lago de Atitlán

  • Dinner

  • Hotel en San Marcos La Laguna

DAY 6

San Marcos Quetzal Forest

  • Breakfast

  • San Marcos Quetzal Forest Morning

    Spend the morning in cloud forest around San Marcos and San Rafael, where a careful early session may produce Resplendent Quetzal alongside tanagers, warblers and toucanets. The activity is grounded in fruiting conditions rather than a guaranteed sighting.

    Moderate
  • Lunch

  • Traslado San Marcos – Sibinal

  • Dinner

  • Hospedaje en Sibinal

DAY 7

Union Reforma Montane Forest

  • Breakfast

  • Union Reforma Montane Forest Birding

    Explore humid montane forest near Union Reforma for Highland Guan, Mountain Trogon, hummingbirds and highland songbirds. This is a useful, self-contained forest block before the Tacaná target morning.

    Moderate
  • Lunch

  • Rest and Roadside Birding near Sibinal

    Light afternoon recovery block near Sibinal. Roadsides, open fields, pine edges. Optional for guests who prefer to rest at the lodge. Siskins, highland hummingbirds, occasional raptors. Supporting recovery block.

  • Dinner

  • Hospedaje en Sibinal

DAY 8

Tacana Horned Guan Search

  • Breakfast

  • Tacana Horned Guan Search

    Second Horned Guan search, this time on Volcán Tacaná. Pre-dawn ascent into montane forest with Pink-headed Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, and highland hummingbirds also possible. Strenuous signature block. GTM-ACT-004.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Hospedaje en Sibinal

DAY 9

Transfer to Cuchumatanes

  • Breakfast

  • Traslado Sibinal – Cuchumatanes / Chancol

  • Lunch

  • Afternoon Highland Birding near Chancol

    Cuchumatanes orientation birding block after arrival. Gentle afternoon pace for altitude adjustment at 3,000m+. Highland hummingbirds, siskins, and first Goldman's Warblers around Unicornio Azul lodge gardens.

  • Dinner

  • Unicornio Azul

DAY 10

Goldman's Warbler Plateau

  • Breakfast

  • Todos Santos Goldman’s Warbler Plateau Birding

    Signature Goldman's Warbler block on the high Cuchumatanes plateau near Todos Santos. Full day in pine-juniper country above 3,000m. Goldman's Warbler is the central target, with juncos, siskins, kinglets, and highland sparrows. GTM-ACT-003.

  • Lunch

  • Dinner

  • Unicornio Azul

DAY 11

Return to Guatemala City

Overnight Altitude: 1,490m (4,888 ft)
  • Breakfast

  • Traslado Todos Santos – Ciudad de Guatemala

  • Lunch

  • Wyndham Garden Guatemala City

    Budget Hotel | $$$ | Altitude: 1,490m (4,888 ft)

    A modern and affordable choice for travelers seeking convenience and efficiency.

  • Traslado Hotel Ciudad de Guatemala – Aeropuerto

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Logistics & Homework

Detailed Trip Notes, including practical tips, cultural insights, and a complete packing list will be sent to you 60 days before departure.

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