Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: (Nov 18)- Airport/Crystal Paradise. You will be met at the airport by your bird guide and transferred to your jungle lodge accommodations. There will be opportunities for birding along the way as we drive through a number of habitats such as mangrove swamps, pine savannas and later jungle. We check into our accommodations at Crystal Paradise after a short orientation. Night at Crystal Paradise Resort. L/D
Day 2: (Nov 19)- Macal River Canoeing. Morning: Pre-breakfast bird-walk on the grounds at Crystal Paradise. Some of the birds we hope to see include Red-legged Honeycreeper, Blue-gray and Crimson-collared Tanagers, Masked Tityra, Red-lored Parrots, Squirrel Cuckoo and Keel-billed Toucan. Blue-crowned Motmots and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are also a common sight. Easy morning to explore on your own after a late breakfast. Afternoon: Canoeing on the Macal River. While canoeing we have the chance to see Neotropic Cormorants, Mangrove Swallows, Amazon Kingfishers, Gray-necked Wood-rails and other wildlife that frequent the riverbanks including iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks and trees. Night Crystal Paradise Resort. B/L/D
Day 3: (Nov 20)-Mountain Pine Ridge. After an early breakfast we depart for the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. Here we have the opportunity to see Yellow-faced Grassquit, Rufous-capped Warbler, Acorn Woodpecker, Yellow-backed Oriole and Golden-hooded Tanager. Black-headed Siskins can often be seen flying in flocks. Other birds, which we may see, include Orange-billed Sparrow, White-throated Robin, Red-throated and Red-Crowned Tanagers. There is also a strong possibility of seeing Orange-breasted Falcons and King Vultures by the 1,000 Ft. Falls (Hidden Valley). Night Crystal Paradise Resort. B/L/D
Day 4: (Nov 21)- Laguna Aguacae. After an early breakfast we drive to the Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout. Aguacate Lagoon Reserve is located about 20 minutes beyond the community and provides a birdwatcher's paradise. In the forest around the lake common sighting include Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Violaceous Trogon, White-whiskered Puff-bird, Crested Guan, Great Curassow and a variety of hawks and falcons. The lake itself attracts water birds such as the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Boat-billed Heron, Anhingas and Neotropical Cormorants. We encounter many different habitats on this trip, such as savanna, open farmland and subtropical forest around the lake. In the open land and pastures it is easy to find Vermilion Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, White-tailed Kite, and Laughing Falcon. Night Crystal Paradise Resort. B/L/D
Day 5: (Nov 22)-El Pilar. We will make an afternoon visit to El Pilar, a Maya site and flora/fauna reserve. This area is excellent for birding and provides an insight to Belize's sub-tropical forests. We will make stops along the way to view such birds as White-collared Manakin, Green Honeycreepers and an array of flycatchers including Boat-billed, Social and Brown-crested. We will then return to our Crystal Paradise after witnessing a spectacular Belizean sunset. Night Crystal Paradise Resort. B/L/D
Day 6: (Nov 23)- Guanacaste Park. Guanacaste Park is a fifty-acre parcel of tropical forest is located in the Cayo District, at the junction of the Western Highway and Hummingbird Highway, about 2 miles north of Belmopan. It derives its name from the giant Guanacaste (tubroos) tree, one of the largest trees found in Central America. These trees can reach a height of over 130 feet, with a diameter in excess of six feet. Birds we should encounter here include Blue-crowned Motmot, Black-faced Ant-thrush, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Black-headed Trogon, Squirrel Cuckoo, Bright-rumped Attila and more. Some of the wildlife can be seen in the park includes Jaguarundi, Kinkajou, Paca, Armadillo, Agouti, White-tailed Deer, iguana, and several species of bats and opossum. Night Crystal Paradise Resort. B/L/D
Day 7: (Nov 24)-Departure. Return transfer to Belize City International Airport. Optional stop at the Belize Zoo depending on departure time.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes
- All tours (as listed)
- All fees
- Guides
- Ground transportation
- Accommodations
- All meals as stated.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Belize
Nature & Wildlife
Birdwatching
Rainforest
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