Itinerary

DAY 1: Dinner & Overnight Lamanai South Lodge

 

Meet & Greet Belize International Airport

We'll have a three-hour journey by road and river to Lamanai South Lodge. Our journey will include an hour safari up the New River. As we meander south five species of King Fishers are possible, Black-collared Hawk, Boatbilled and Agami Herons, Tropical & Couch's Kingbird, and Mangrove Swallows are abundant.

The spotlight safari will find us again on the New River but this time at night. This exciting excursion will provide great views of Pygmy Kingfishers, Grey-necked Wood-Rails, Purple Gallinules, and Limpkins. We may also be fortunate to see a Tyra, Mexican Hairy Porcupine, and possibly one of several opossums.

DAY 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Overnight Lamanai South Lodge

Early morning birding exploration will provide views of Ruddy or Tawny-winged Woodcreepers, Eye-ringed Flatbills, Pale-billed Woodpeckers, and hopefully Squirrel Cuckoos.

 

This morning we'll find ourselves at the ancient Maya site of Lamanai. Amongst the remains of this once thriving civilization we'll see Tody Motmots, Blue Buntings, four species of Trogans, Keel-billed Toucans, and many Red-lored and White-fronted Parrots. The tour will include intriguing discussions and presentations about the Maya at Lamanai.

 

Our afternoon will find us exploring two 17th Century Spanish Churches and an 18th Century Sugar Mill. We'll learn the significance of these remains while searching for Collared Aracari, Black-headed Saltator, both anttanagers, and Thrushlike Schiffornis. We also hope to encounter an active troop of Black Howler Monkeys often seen in this area.

 

Our final stop will find us in Indian Church Village where archaeologists and other researchers have been developing a community enhancement project. For those who are interested there will be a pre-arranged project, donation, or other such effort for us to participate in.

DAY 3: Breakfast - Lamanai, Lunch - Cheers, Dinner & Overnight Pook's Hill

Another early morning birding walk will provide us more chances for any last minute species we may have missed.

 

After breakfast we'll depart for Pook's Hill Lodge and en route we'll make a stop at Crooked Tree Sanctuary for a great chance at Jabiru, both whistling ducks, and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.

 

We'll have lunch at Cheer's, a Belizean landmark, which will provide us with a chance to see Yellow-headed Parrots.

 

Upon arrival to Pook's Hill we'll explore the small ancient Maya site of Pook's Hill while searching for Olivethroated Parakeets, White-crowned Parrot, Long-tailed Hermit, and Rufus-tailed Jacamar.

DAY 4: Breakfast, Dinner, & Overnight Pook's Hill Lodge, Pack Lunch Caracol Archaeological Reserve

An early morning bird walk will find us once again exploring the private reserve that surrounds Pook's Hill Lodgein search of Brown-headed and Mealy Parrots, Violet Sabrewings, Green-breasted Mangos, and White-necked and White-whiskered Puffbirds.

Our first day trip from Pook's Hill will be to Belize's largest Classic Period Maya site, Caracol. The primary forest here extends as far as the eye can see in all directions. The journey to this site is a bit treacherous but well worth the trip. In addition to seeing this spectacular site we'll hope to see Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Dusky Antbird, Crane Hawk, Lovely Cotinga, and Crimson-collared Tanager.

As we find our way back to Pook's Hill we'll stop at the fascinating location of Rio Frio Cave a site that during ancient times was utilized for ceremonial purposes by the Maya.

 

DAY 5: Breakfast, Dinner, & Overnight Pook's Hill Lodge, Lunch at Clarissa Falls

We'll spend our morning exploring 1,000 Foot Falls in order to located Golden-hooded and Hepatic Tanagers, King Vulture, and most likely an Orange-breasted Falcon. En route to the falls we'll explore the Mountain Pine Ridge in order to see an Acorn Woodpecker, Rusty Sparrow, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, and Yellow-backed and Yellow-tailed Orioles.

In the afternoon you'll have a choice of tubing or swimming in Roaring Creek, relaxing around the grounds and in your cabana, or birding.

A night spotlight excursion on the grounds sometimes produces unusual critters such as tarantulas, kinkajous, or maybe even a Mottled Owl.

 

DAY 6: Breakfast Pook's Hill Lodge, Lunch Belize City, Dinner & Overnight San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)

En route to Belize City for our flight to Ambergris Caye we'll explore Monkey Bay in search of Rufus-breasted Spinetail, Grayish Saltator, Passerini's Tanager, Variable Seedeater, and a chance for the rare and nomadic Blue Seedeater.

Late in the day we'll visit Caribbean Villas, a small native hammock reserve, where Black Catbirds, Cinnamon Hummingbirds, and Yucatan Vireos are easily found. Cape May and Black-throated Blue Warblers are often among the neotropic migrants wintering here. Scanning rooftops from the tower usually produces several Common Black-Hawks.

On the shore right outside our hotel room there are always Magnificent Frigatebirds circling above, Brown Pelicans diving for fish, and Royal and Sandwich Terns will pass by. While your sipping your Pina Colada pay attention to the rustling above because it is probably one of the resident Hooded Orioles.

 

DAY 7: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Overnight San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)

A visit to Hol Chan Marine Reserve will be our primary activity of the day. We'll have a chance to participate in a two-stop snorkel trip on Belize's only UNESCO World Heritage Site (longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere).

While on the reef we'll see beautiful tropical fish such as several varieties of parrotfish, butterflyfish, blue tangs, and angelfish.

The afternoon will find us searching through a maze of pools on the south end of the island where Reddish Egrets actively chase prey though the shallows as American Crocodiles rest on the shore. In addition to the complete assortment of herons and egrets we're likely to find Wilson's Plover, Osprey, Blue-winged Teal, and "Mangrove" Yellow Warbler. There will also be time to spend by the pool or to walk the beaches.

Our evening dinner will find us together for one last celebration, we'll review the events of the trip as well as work together to compile a Top Ten List.

 

DAY 8: Breakfast San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)

 Overnight at HOME We'll take a morning commuter flight from San Pedro to Belize International Airport over Belize's Barrier Reef.

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