Belize 9-Day Birding with Rudy & Chris

Arrivals at Belize City and transfer to the Rio Bravo Conservation Area (RBCA) with birding along the way. The RBCA covers 5% of Belize’s land area and is a privately held wildlife sanctuary and research area. The La Milpa Station, named for the ancient Mayan ruins found on the site, offers great food and excellent accommodations in a very bird-rich forest! The birding is incredible with Crested Eagle being seen here regularly! This area is so wild, it is where Belize chose to release a pair of Harpy Eagles donated from the breeding program in Panama. Night at La Milpa Research Station Lodge.

Birding the property around Rio Bravo is a great experience from dawn to dusk! Collared Forest Falcon, Ocellated Turkey, Northern Potoo, and the endemic Rose-throated Tanager will be searched for in addition to multiple species of honeycreepers and hummingbirds. Both Ornate Hawk Eagle and Black Hawk Eagle are possible too! Night spotlighting may produce sightings of Spectacled Owl, Mottled Owl, Black-and-White Owl and a number of roosting passerines. We have also seen very exciting mamamals here including Jaguar, Margay, Jaguarundi, Kinkajou, and Tapir! Night at La Milpa Research Station Lodge.

Today’s itinerary will take us to the La Milpa ruins where the birding is often interrupted by Black Howler Monkeys and Spider Monkeys climbing through the canopy above! We always hope for an ant swarm through the jungle here which can bring in a number of tanagers, woodcreepers, and other specialties! Four species of trogon are possible in this region too! More spotlighting after dark! Night at La Milpa Research Station Lodge.

After breakfast we will depart for Shipstern, having lunch along the way. Birding stops will keep us busy and we will arrive at our lodging in the late afternoon. Night at Sarteneja Inn & Restaurant.

We will spend a full day enjoying locations around the Shipstern Wildlife Area in search of the Yucatan endemics and other specialties! Night at Sarteneja Inn & Restaurant.

After breakfast we will depart for Crooked Tree, having lunch along the way. Birding stops will keep us busy and we will arrive at Crooked Tree Lodge in the late afternoon.

This famous lodge sits quietly along the edge of a large freshwater, seasonal lagoon. Here we can watch for a multitude of wading birds, shorebirds, raptors, and waterfowl. The surrounding savannah and pine forests offer excellent birding, with many endemics possible like Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Parrot, and Gray-throated Chat! Both Pheasant Cuckoo and Striped Cuckoo may be heard and hopefully seen! Night at Birds Eye View Lodge, Crooked Tree.

We will explore the Crooked Tree Lagoon and Spanish Creek by boat, searching for the many species of birds and other animals which inhabit this beautiful sanctuary. With low canopy logwood, turtlebone, provision tree and mangrove, good views of Yellow-tailed Oriole, Mangrove Vireo, and Rufous-browed Peppershrike are very possible. The shy but striking Agami Heron will be specially searched for, often hiding in dense tangles of branches in narrow side-channels. The endangered Black Howler Monkey and Morelet’s Crocodile are also found here.

After having lunch back at our lodge, we will head out for the afternoon to explore the nearby pine-oak savannah. Yellow-lored (Yucatan) Parrot, Yucatan Woodpecker, and Yucatan Jay can be found in this habitat. Night at Birds Eye View Lodge, Crooked Tree.

Today we will boat up the New River to the Mayan ruins of Lamanai. We will see many bird species along the water’s edge including the intimidating and incredible Jabiru in addition to Northern Jacana, Black-collared Hawk, Sungrebe, and multiple species of kingfishers! The ruins of Lamanai are some of the best examples of the Mayan civilization remaining today. It was the last stronghold of this ancient civilization of which we know relatively little about. Birding near the ruins, we have found both Slaty-tailed and Collared Trogons, Double-toothed Kite, and Brown-hooded Parrot. Night at Birds Eye View Lodge, Crooked Tree.

Departures from Belize City.