Experience the incredible diversity of Belize’s birdlife across rainforest, pine ridge, wetlands, and Caribbean Island habitats.Discover iconic destinations including Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Caracol Archaeological Site, and the vast Rio Bravo Conservation Area.Enjoy immersive birding with expert local guides, from early‑morning forest walks to unforgettable night drives in search of owls and nocturnal wildlife.Explore remote reserves and protected areas where specialty species like Ocellated Turkey, Agami Heron, and Yucatan endemics thrive.Witness breathtaking landscapes—from towering waterfalls and Mayan temples to shimmering lagoons and coastal mangroves.Savor comfortable eco‑lodges, warm Belizean hospitality, and seamless travel between regions for a smooth, enriching adventure.Approximately 200+ species are possible, depending on conditions.

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour. Ocellated TurkeyYucatan JayYucatan FlycatcherYucatan WoodpeckerYucatan VireoBlack CatbirdYellow-lored AmazonKing VultureOrange-breasted FalconBlack-and-white Hawk-EagleBlack-throated BobwhiteGreat CurassowCrested GuanCentral American Pygmy-OwlRufous-tailed JacamarTody MotmotBoat-billed HeronJabiruSungrebeViolet SabrewingLong-billed HermitCaribbean ElaeniaYucatan NightjarYucatan PoorwillNorthern PotooKeel-billed ToucanBarred Forest-FalconAgami HeronSlaty-tailed TrogonRusty SparrowStygian OwlMayan Antthrushand many more!

OSCAR CARMONA

Difficulty: Moderate. This itinerary is designed for travelers who are comfortable with full days outdoors and a variety of natural environments. Trails range from easy to moderately uneven, with some walks on forest paths, lodge trails, archaeological sites, and wetland edges. Most birding is slow‑paced and observational, but guests should expect periods of standing, gentle hiking, and walking on natural terrain. Boat rides—both the 1‑hour water taxi to Caye Caulker and the lagoon boat trip in Crooked Tree—are gentle, stable, and accessible for guests comfortable stepping into a boat. Pace: Steady & Immersive. The pace of the tour is full but balanced. Mornings often begin early to take advantage of peak bird activity, and several days include optional pre‑breakfast walks or night drives for nocturnal species. Midday breaks are built in where appropriate, especially in warmer regions. Travel days between lodges include birding stops along the way, creating a rhythm that feels active without being rushed. This itinerary is ideal for birders who enjoy full days in the field, appreciate diverse habitats, and are comfortable with early mornings, variable weather, and spending time on forest trails and open wetlands. Guests should be able to walk at a relaxed but steady pace for extended periods.

The tour price is $5,335 USD per person based on double occupancy. The single supplement is $835 USD and will be applied if you request single accommodations, or if you prefer to share a room but no roommate is available and we are unable to pair you with another participant.To register for this tour, please complete an online reservation form. A non‑refundable deposit of $300 USD per person is required to secure your space. All payments—including deposits and final balances—may be made by credit card, check, or bank/wire transfer.Deposits are due within 14 days of submitting your reservation form. The remaining balance is due as soon as the tour is confirmed or 90 days prior to the tour start date, whichever comes first. We will invoice you accordingly.

The tour package includes:Expert local guide and tour hostMeals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner - starting with dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 11) Ground transportation during the tourEntrance fees to parks/preserves as outlined in the itineraryLodge / accommodations as outlined in the itineraryAirport transfers (Day 1 & Day 11)Boat excursion(s) as stated in the itinerary The tour package does not include travel and pre-tour expenses including but not limited to:Airfare to and from the tour destinationExtended stays (before and/or after the tour)Travel insuranceTips/Gratuity for guides, driver, and lodge staffAlcoholic beveragesItems/expenses of personal nature

International travel includes several important practical considerations that guests should review before registering for this tour. The notes below outline key documentation requirements and general travel expectations to help ensure a smooth, well‑prepared experience. Passport & Visa: A valid passport is required for entry into Belize. Ensure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays under 30 days. No advance visa application is necessary. Belize requires a completed immigration form upon arrival. Customs is generally quick and straightforward. Guests should keep all travel documents easily accessible. Guests are encouraged to confirm current entry requirements with their government's travel portal prior to departure, as policies are subject to change. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all participants and should include, at minimum: trip cancellation and interruption coverage, emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation coverage (particularly important for remote cloud forest locations where ground transport to major hospitals may take several hours). Guests should verify that their policy covers adventure travel activities including hiking and wildlife excursions in remote terrain.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing. The following schedule applies:Cancellations made 120 days or more before the tour start date: Full refund of payments made minus the non-refundable per person deposit and any supplier cancellation penalties. Participants may choose a one-time transfer of payments made beyond the non-refundable per person deposit and any supplier cancellation penalties to another tour within 12 months, subject to availability. Cancellations made 119–91 days before the tour start date: 50% refund of payments made minus the non-refundable per person deposit and any supplier cancellation penalties. Cancellations made 90 days or less before the tour start date: No refund.We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in the event of unexpected circumstances.For full details, please review Terms and Conditions before booking any of our tours or services. Our Terms and Conditions include important information about how we operate our tours, including cancellation policy, travel insurance, health and fitness requirements, and other essential guidelines to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Day 1: Arrival to Belize City International Airport by 2 pm & Transfer to Bocawina Rainforest Resort. Welcome to Belize. Your adventure begins the moment you step out of the airport, where you’ll be greeted by your guides. Birding starts immediately, so keep your binoculars close; even the airport tower can surprise you with species like Bat Falcon perched against the sky. From Belize City, we will travel south through a mosaic of changing habitats, making birding stops along the way. By late afternoon, we arrive at Bocawina Rainforest Resort, tucked into the lush forests of the Stann Creek District. We’ll enjoy relaxed birding around the lodge grounds —perfect for easing into the pace of Belize’s tropical forests. Dinner is served at the lodge, followed by a peaceful night surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. Overnight: Bocawina Rainforest Resort. DAY 2: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (Jaguar Reserve). Our first full morning in Belize begins inside one of the country’s most iconic protected areas: the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, often called the Jaguar Reserve. After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll travel into this vast expanse of tropical forest, a place where dense vegetation, quiet trails, and rich biodiversity create ideal conditions for birding. The morning is dedicated to exploring the sanctuary’s network of trails, listening for movement in the understory and scanning the canopy for flashes of color. This region is home to an impressive list of species, with excellent opportunities to see Crested Guan, Great Curassow, Gray-headed Tanager, White-collared Manakin, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Crowned Woodnymph, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Lesson’s Motmot, Red-capped Manakin, and Dot-winged Antwren. The sanctuary’s quiet atmosphere and protected status make it one of the most rewarding places in Belize to observe wildlife. We then return to Bocawina Lodge to explore the lodge grounds or enjoy additional birding nearby. Dinner is served at the lodge, followed by another peaceful night in the rainforest. Overnight: Bocawina Rainforest Resort. DAY 3: Bocawina Falls, Inland Blue Hole & Transfer to Crystal Paradise Resort. The morning begins with a birding session through the forest canopy at Bocawina, taking advantage of the early hours when the forest is most active. This area is rich with specialty species including White‑winged Becard, Olive-backed Euphonia, Cinnamon Becard, Orange‑billed Sparrow, Olive-throated Parakeet, and Stub‑tailed Spadebill. After breakfast, we take a scenic trail walk to Bocawina Falls, a lush pocket of tropical forest where water, rock, and lush vegetation create a peaceful backdrop for birding. From here, the journey continues north and west toward the Inland Blue Hole National Park, a beautiful, protected area known for its cool forest trails and striking sapphire pool. The Blue Hole region offers a chance to explore new habitats and search for species unique to this part of Belize. Trails here may reveal White Hawk, Crimson-collared Tanager, Montezuma Oropendola, Gray‑chested Dove, Nightingale Wren, Long-billed Gnatwren, Barred Antshrike, Keel‑billed Toucan, Red‑legged Honeycreeper, Slaty‑tailed Trogon, and Rose‑throated Becard. We continue west toward the Cayo District, birding along the route as the landscape shifts from dense tropical forest to rolling foothills. By late afternoon, we arrive at Crystal Paradise Resort, a family‑run lodge surrounded by nature and known for its warm hospitality. Dinner is served at the lodge, followed by a restful evening under the stars. Overnight: Crystal Paradise Resort. Day 4: Caracol Archaeological Reserve & Mountain Pine Ridge. Today’s journey carries us deep into one of Belize’s most spectacular regions, where ancient Mayan history and rugged pine forest meet. We depart Crystal Paradise early, traveling west through the Macal River valley before climbing steadily into the foothills of the Mayan Mountains. The journey itself is birding: forest edges, open ridges, and river crossings each offer their own surprises. As we ascend into the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, the habitat shifts dramatically. Broadleaf forest gives way to open stands of Caribbean Pine, granite outcrops, and sandy soils, a landscape unlike anything else on the tour. This highland habitat supports a distinct suite of species: Rusty Sparrow, Black‑headed Saltator, Golden-hooded Tanager, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Blue-black Grosbeak, Northern Schiffornis, Yellow-backed Oriole, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Orange-breasted Falcon, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Yellow-throated Euphonia, and Stygian Owl are all possible in this location. Continuing deeper into the mountains, the road transitions once again into tall, humid broadleaf forest as you enter the vast Chiquibul Forest Reserve, one of the most intact and biodiverse forest blocks in Central America. Here, nestled within the canopy, lies Caracol Archaeological Reserve, Belize’s largest Mayan site. The approach is unforgettable: towering pyramids rise from the forest, their limestone faces catching the morning light, while parrots, toucans, and oropendolas move overhead in loose, noisy groups. Birding at Caracol is exceptional. The forest surrounding the plazas and temples supports King Vulture, Collared, Gartered Violaceous, Black-headed and Slaty-tailed Trogons, Band-backed Wren, Plain Antvireo, Northern Emerald- Toucanet, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Collared Aracari, Common Squirrel-Cuckoo, Black-faced Grosbeak, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Black Hawk-Eagle, and Tody Motmot. By late afternoon, we descend back toward Cristo Rey Village, arriving at Crystal Paradise in time for dinner. The day’s species list is often one of the longest of the entire tour, reflecting the extraordinary diversity of habitats visited: pine ridge, high‑canopy rainforest, and archaeological clearings. Overnight: Crystal Paradise Resort. Day 5: Macaw Bank, Slate Creek & Green Hills Butterfly Ranch. Today is a rich and varied birding day, beginning in the forests and river valleys of the Cayo District and ending under the night sky in search of some of Belize’s most elusive species. The morning begins at the lodge, where Crystal Paradise’s gardens and feeders come alive at first light. After an early breakfast, we set out toward Macaw Bank Road and Slate Creek, two areas known for their excellent mix of foothill and mid‑elevation species. These quiet forest roads offer wonderful opportunities to observe birds that can be difficult to find elsewhere. As we move through shaded understory and sunlit clearings, we’ll search for Green‑backed Sparrow, Rose‑throated Tanager, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Little Tinamou, Collared Forest-Falcon, White-crowned Parrot, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Masked Tityra, White-necked Puffbird, Gray‑throated Chat, Black‑and‑white Hawk‑Eagle, and other specialties of the region. By late morning, we continue to Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, a peaceful sanctuary where flowering gardens attract an impressive variety of hummingbirds. This stop offers close, relaxed viewing of several hummingbird species including Violet Sabrewing, Green-breasted Mango, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, White-necked Jacobin, Long-billed Hermit, White-bellied Emerald, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. After lunch, we travel to the Spanish Lookout community. Here, open agricultural landscapes and quiet backroads set the stage for a night drive. This region is known for Plain‑breasted Ground‑Dove, Tricolored Munia, Great Black Hawk, Black-collared Hawk, and White‑throated Flycatcher. As dusk settles, we’ll begin scanning fence lines, fields, and roadside perches for nocturnal and crepuscular species such as Yucatan Nightjar, Yucatan Poorwill, Northern Potoo, and Striped Owl—species that are rarely seen during daylight hours and make this evening outing especially memorable. Dinner at the lodge offers an evening of warm hospitality and excellent food, with time to review the day’s sightings and prepare for tomorrow’s departure. Overnight: Crystal Paradise Resort. DAY 6: Rio Maya Birding & Transfer to La Milpa Eco‑Lodge. This morning begins with breakfast at Crystal Paradise Resort before we set out toward the Rio Maya region, a beautiful stretch of forest and farmland known for its diversity of mid‑elevation species. The drive itself is scenic, passing through quiet rural communities and pockets of dense vegetation where bird activity is often high. Our first stop is Rio Maya, where we’ll explore forest edges, thickets, and open patches in search of several specialty species. This area is excellent for Variable Seedeater, White-fronted Amazon, Gray Hawk, Blue Seedeater, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow‑billed Cacique, Red-lored Amazon, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, Streak‑headed Woodcreeper, White-winged Becard, Cabanis’s Wren, and Rufous‑breasted Spinetail. After a productive morning of birding, we stop for lunch in a Mennonite community—an opportunity to enjoy a simple, hearty meal and glimpse a unique cultural facet of Belize. From there, the journey continues north into one of the country’s largest protected areas: Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, home to La Milpa Eco‑Lodge. This vast reserve protects more than 260,000 acres of tropical forest, and the drive into the property is often filled with wildlife sightings. Ocellated Turkeys frequently appear along the roadside, their iridescent plumage catching the light as they move through the forest margins. After dinner, we’ll have the option to join a night walk or night drive, exploring the reserve after dark when nocturnal species become active. These outings offer chances to encounter owls, nightjars, and other wildlife that rarely appear during daylight hours. We end the day immersed in one of Belize’s most remote and wildlife‑rich landscapes, ready for another full day of exploration tomorrow. Overnight: La Milpa Eco-Lodge. Day 7: La Milpa Full Forest Immersion. The morning begins early, stepping onto the trails as the forest transitions from darkness to filtered light. Mixed flocks often form at this hour, moving through the mid‑story in loose waves. Woodcreepers spiral up trunks, antwrens flick through vine tangles, and understory flycatchers call from shaded perches. As we move deeper into the trail system, the habitat shifts subtly: patches of heliconia, dense vine tangles, open understory, and towering ceiba trees each hold their own cast of species. Notable species we may encounter include Great Curassow, Barred Forest-Falcon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Brown-hooded Parrot, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Mayan Antthrush, Gartered Violaceous Trogon, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Great Tinamou, Golden-olive Woodpecker, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Olivaceous and Ruddy Woodcreepers, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, and White‑whiskered Puffbird. The afternoon offers a chance to explore additional trails or revisit productive areas from the morning. The day winds down with a relaxed dinner at the lodge and an optional night session for those eager to search for owls, nightjars, and nocturnal wildlife. Overnight: La Milpa Eco-Lodge. Day 8: La Milpa & Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Our final morning at La Milpa begins with one more early forest session, a chance to revisit productive trails, listen for trogons calling from the mid‑story, or pick up any species that remained elusive over the past two days.  After breakfast, we depart La Milpa and begin the scenic drive south toward Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, watching the landscape gradually open from dense rainforest to savanna, wetlands, and agricultural fields. This transition reveals a new suite of birds along the roadside: raptors perched on fence posts, flycatchers working open edges, and herons in roadside wetlands. It’s a gentle shift from forest birding to the wide, luminous horizons of Belize’s northern lagoon country. Arriving at Bird’s Eye View Lodge around midday, we settle in and enjoy lunch overlooking the water. The lodge sits directly on the edge of Crooked Tree Lagoon, one of Belize’s most celebrated birding sites, and the change in habitat is immediate and dramatic. Where La Milpa offered towering canopy and deep forest, Crooked Tree opens into expansive water, sky, and low vegetation; a completely different landscape and birding experience. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the lagoon surroundings and village edges. This area is excellent for Yucatan endemics including Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Woodpecker, Black Catbird, and Yellow-lored Amazon. The mix of savanna, orchards, and lagoon edge creates a mosaic of habitats that support an impressive diversity of species in a compact area. As the sun sets, the lagoon becomes a stage of evening movement; herons returning to roost, jacanas skittering across floating vegetation, and raptors settling into their night perches. Dinner at the lodge offers a relaxed end to the day, with the sounds of the lagoon carrying softly across the water. Overnight: Bird’s Eye View Lodge. DAY 9: Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary & Caye Caulker. The morning begins early with breakfast before setting out toward the coast. Today blends two very different worlds of Belizean birding: the inland wetlands of Crooked Tree and the breezy, salt‑washed shores of Caye Caulker. We drive to the water taxi terminal and board a one‑hour boat ride across turquoise Caribbean waters. The crossing itself is beautiful, offering views of mangroves, open sea, and the first hints of island life. Here we explore the island’s quiet paths and coastal edges, searching for species that thrive in this unique mix of beach scrub, mangrove, and village habitat. The island is home to several regional specialties, including Black Catbird, Yucatan Vireo, White‑crowned Pigeon, Bananaquit, Caribbean Elaenia, Rufous‑necked Wood‑Rail, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Mangrove Yellow Warbler, and a variety of shore and waterbirds along the shoreline. We enjoy lunch on the island before returning to the mainland in the afternoon. On the drive back to Crooked Tree, we’ll stop at a shrimp farm, a surprisingly productive spot for waterbirds. Depending on conditions, this area may reveal herons, egrets, shorebirds, and other wetland species taking advantage of the open ponds. We return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful night overlooking the lagoon. This day offers a beautiful contrast—wetlands at sunrise, Caribbean waters by midday, and quiet savannas by sunset—showcasing the incredible diversity of Belize’s birdlife. Overnight: Bird’s Eye View Lodge. Day 10: Crooked Tree Lagoon Boat Tour & Grassland Specialties. The boat ride is one of the signature experiences of this tour. The calm water and low angle of morning light make it ideal for close, unobstructed views of Jabiru, Limpkin, Northern Jacana, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Wood Stork, Russet-naped Wood Rail, Boat‑billed Heron, Mangrove Swallow, Black-collared Hawk, Snail Kite, Great Black Hawk, and Agami Heron. The lagoon’s quiet channels are also excellent for crakes and sungrebes, whose presence depends heavily on water levels. We may encounter Yellow‑breasted Crake and Ruddy Crake moving through dense shoreline vegetation. Crooked Tree is also one of the few places in Belize where five kingfisher species are possible in a single morning: American Pygmy, Green, Amazon, Belted, and Ringed Kingfishers. Late morning shifts to village birding, a completely different habitat from the lagoon. The cashew orchards, open roads, and scattered trees around Crooked Tree Village support several species including Olive-throated Parakeet, Black-throated Bobwhite Brown Jay, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Morelet’s Seedeater, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Black-cowled Oriole, Melodious Blackbird, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Bat Falcon to name a few. The afternoon takes us into the open pine savanna on the sanctuary’s margins. This habitat is strikingly different from both rainforest and lagoon, with scattered pines, low scrub, and wide horizons. Here we may encounter White-fronted Amazon, Blue-gray Tanager, Fork‑tailed Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Mockingbird, and Laughing Falcon. Dinner at the lodge offers a relaxed end to the day followed by a peaceful evening overlooking the lagoon. This final night in Crooked Tree offers a chance to reflect on the incredible diversity we’ve encountered—from deep forest to pine ridge, wetlands to Caribbean coast. Overnight: Bird’s Eye View Lodge. Day 11: Tour Conclusion & Departures.  The final morning in Belize begins in the peaceful wetlands of Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. We may enjoy optional birding before breakfast, one last chance to savor the quiet lagoon, listen for familiar calls, and add any final species to our list before the journey home. Your guide ensures a smooth arrival at Belize International Airport, assisting with timing and logistics as needed. As you say goodbye, you carry with you the full arc of Belize’s birdlife: rainforest giants, lagoon specialties, Yucatán endemics, high‑forest treasures, and the warm hospitality of the people who steward these landscapes. It’s a journey that blends wildlife, culture, and conservation — and one that leaves many guests already thinking about their next visit. Guests may arrange flights departing Belize City after 2 pm.

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