Orange-breasted Falcon & Maya Rainforest Birding in Tikal

Arrival Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Hotel Barceló

On arrival at La Aurora International Airport, a transfer brings you to Hotel Barceló in Guatemala City. Most international flights arrive late in the evening, while early arrivals may need to wait until hotel check-in.

Breakfast

Flight Guatemala Ciudad Airport --> Flores International Airport – Mundo Maya

Transfer Flores –> Paso Caballos

Today we leave the paved roads behind and head toward the remote forests of El Tigre National Park and Las Guacamayas Biological Station, one of Guatemala’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. The drive itself is part of the experience, crossing seasonally flooded wetlands, open savannas, cattle ranches, and small rural communities before reaching the river crossing at Paso Caballos, the gateway to the park. These varied landscapes offer excellent opportunities for birding long before we arrive in the forest. Wetlands and open country often hold White-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, Purple Gallinule, Northern Jacana, Limpkin, and Fork-tailed Flycatcher, while Vermilion Flycatchers, kingfishers, herons, and a changing cast of raptors and waterbirds add to the day’s possibilities. As we venture deeper into the Maya Biosphere Reserve, the sense of remoteness steadily grows, setting the stage for the wild forests that await us.

San Pedro River Boat Transfer to Las Guacamayas Biological Station

At the San Pedro River, board a boat for Las Guacamayas Biological Station inside Laguna del Tigre National Park. River-edge subjects include Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Keel-billed Toucan, and Pale-vented Pigeon.

Lunch in a local market

Hummingbird Feeders at Las Guacamayas Biological Station

Spend time at the Las Guacamayas hummingbird feeders, where close views may include Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, White-bellied Emerald, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, and Green-breasted Mango.

Evening Tributary Boat Ride at Las Guacamayas

Take an evening boat ride along small tributaries near Las Guacamayas, looking for Agami Heron and Boat-billed Heron and, possibly, Scarlet Macaw. Around the station at dusk, Black-and-white Owl and Mottled Owl may also appear.

Dinner

Breakfast

Waka Peru Trail Rainforest Morning

From Las Guacamayas, the Waka Peru Trail leads into mature rainforest around an ancient Maya site in Laguna del Tigre. This early morning walk is a chance to look for forest specialists such as Ruddy Woodcreeper, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Tody Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Black-headed Trogon, White-whiskered Puffbird, Red-capped Manakin, Northern Bentbill, Scarlet Macaw, Yucatan Jay, Great Curassow, and Blue Bunting. The pace remains flexible, with time to listen and work the trail rather than rush between sightings; birds and Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey are possible encounters, never guarantees.

Lunch in a local market

Sarluc River Birding Boat Cruise

Spend the afternoon on a boat along the Sarluc River and its adjacent forest, looking for Yucatan Woodpecker and Sungrebe. The nearby Las Guacamayas area also offers a chance for the secretive Ruddy Crake.

Dinner

Breakfast

Las Guacamayas Canopy Platform Morning

Begin early from the Las Guacamayas canopy platform, watching the forest canopy for Golden-olive Woodpecker, Bright-rumped Attila, King Vulture, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, White-necked Puffbird, Scaled Pigeon, Brown Jay, Masked Tityra, Trilling Gnatwren, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Red-lored Amazon, Scarlet Macaw, Squirrel Cuckoo, and the possible Lovely Cotinga.

Lunch in a local market

Birdwatching near the lodge

The forest around Las Guacamayas offers a quieter, flexible birding session after the main excursions. We can work nearby trails and edges at an unhurried pace, listening for movement and watching the riverine forest for birds and wildlife. The source itinerary notes possible Central American Agouti, Morelet’s Crocodile, Common Green Iguana, and Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey; these are possibilities rather than guarantees, and the outing remains responsive to local conditions.

Dinner

Breakfast

Boat transfer: Guacamayas Biological Station –> Paso Caballos

From Paso Caballos, we continue with a 25-minute boat ride along the San Pedro River to Las Guacamayas Biological Station, our home for the next few days. Upon arrival, we’ll be welcomed by the station’s staff and introduced to their conservation work, environmental education initiatives, and collaboration with local communities within the Maya Biosphere Reserve.

4×4 Transfer from San Pedro River to Flores

Leave the San Pedro River and retrace the rough approach toward Flores by 4×4, following the reverse of the arrival route through the Petén lowlands after the Las Guacamayas stay.

Lunch in a local market

Transfer Flores –> Yaxha

Afternoon Birding at Yaxha National Park

Spend the afternoon birding among Yaxhá’s Maya ruins and surrounding forest, looking for species including Slaty-tailed Trogon, Yucatan Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Red-throated Ant Tanager, Pheasant Cuckoo, Collared Aracari, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Northern Schiffornis, Mayan Antthrush, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, White-breasted Wood Wren, Dot-winged Antwren, and the elegant Swallow-tailed Kite. These are focused possibilities for the afternoon, not guaranteed sightings.

Dinner

Breakfast

Grey-throated Chat Morning at Yaxhá National Park

Use a quiet morning in Yaxhá National Park to search for the localized Grey-throated Chat among the forest and ruins. The species is a focused possibility rather than a guaranteed sighting.

Transfer from Yaxhá to Tikal National Park and Jungle Lodge

Travel from Yaxhá National Park to Tikal and continue to Jungle Lodge, moving from the quieter Maya ruins beside Yaxhá Lake into the rainforest and archaeological landscape of Tikal.

Lunch in a local market

Afternoon Birding at Tikal National Park

Birding around the lodge grounds, just outside the archaeological site, exploring the rich forests of Tikal National Park. Target species include Yucatan and Ochre-bellied Flycatchers, Montezuma Oropendola, Sulphur-rumped Myiobius, Short-billed Pigeon, Plain Antvireo, Plain Xenops, Stripe-throated Hermit, Black-headed Saltator, and Yellow-winged Tanager. The Petén region is also well known for its impressive diversity of North American migratory birds. Throughout the tour, we may encounter species such as Hooded, Tennessee, Magnolia, Black-and-white, Kentucky, Wilson’s, Chestnut-sided, and Worm-eating Warblers, along with Northern Waterthrush and Ovenbird. Other possible migrants include Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Wood Thrush, and Philadelphia Vireo.

Dinner

Breakfast

Tikal National Park Temples and Rainforest

Explore Tikal’s temples, pyramids, and surrounding rainforest while watching for Ocellated Turkey, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Dusky Antbird, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous Piha, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Northern Royal Flycatcher, Barred Forest Falcon, Brown-hooded Parrot, Red-lored Amazon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Pheasant Cuckoo, Mayan Antthrush, Rufous Mourner, White-bellied Wren, Ruddy Woodcreeper, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Rose-throated Becard, Plumbeous Kite, and Pale-billed Woodpecker.

Lunch in a local market

Tikal Temple IV Orange-breasted Falcon Watch

Afternoon vigil from Temple IV, the highest structure at Tikal. The exposed summit is a classic stakeout for Orange-breasted Falcon, with soaring raptors, swifts, and panoramic forest views.

Dinner

Pre-dawn Yucatan Poorwill Search

Begin before dawn around Tikal National Park in search of the localized Yucatan Poorwill, then follow the changing light into the final morning’s forest birding.

Tikal Old Airstrip and Scrub Specialties

Search secondary forest and scrub near Tikal's old airstrip for regional specialties such as Gray-throated Chat, Yucatán Flycatcher and Rose-throated Tanager. The focused block is useful for a final morning or flexible species follow-up.

Breakfast

Transfer from Tikal to Flores Airport

After the final morning around Tikal, travel from the park and Jungle Lodge to Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores for the afternoon flight to Guatemala City.

Flight Flores International Airport – Mundo Maya --> Guatemala Ciudad Airport