Belize & Tikal
Birds, Mayans and Manatees
Monday 18 February - Monday 3 March 2008 (15 days)
Belize is a tiny Central American country containing pristine rainforest, cool pine-clad mountains, freshwater marshes teeming with birds, some of the best coral reefs in the world, and, everywhere, the mysterious spirit of the lost Mayan culture. We combine these riches with a visit to one of the best pre-Columbian historical sites in the Americas, Tikal in Guatemala.
© Andy Bradley/Nature Portfolio
Mayan ruins
Belize, the former British colony of British Honduras combines spectacular natural beauty both inland and on the coral coast, an abundance of wildlife, and a splendid concentration of Mayan ruins, including some impressive pyramids. Not much bigger than Wales, it has the lowest population density in Central America, and a corresponding richness of undisturbed wildlife habitat.
The north is relatively flat country, where swamps, savannahs and lagoons are interspersed with farmland and tracts of rich rainforest. The south is much wilder, with huge unbroken tracts of rainforest. Further west, you pass through open grassland and rolling forest-covered hills, and climb into the Maya Mountains with their cool pine forests. Further west still, you come to Guatemala, and, not far across the border, the astounding ruins of Tikal, one of the world's most amazing historical sites. The Caribbean coast also has a great deal to offer - its Barrier Reef is the longest in the western hemisphere and has a dazzling variety of marine life, including Manatees.
Prices: £ 3,495
Single supps. £ 545 per room
Deposit: £ 400 per person
The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of accommodation as detailed above, all meals in Belize & Miami, return flight London - Belize City*, internal flights, airport taxes, surface transport as described, incidental tips, admissions and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to the local guides, and other personal expenses.
*For an ex-international flight cost (Belize City/Belize City), please deduct £ 595 from the tour cost.
Leaders:
Tim Earl and local guides
Itinerary
Day 1
We catch a midday scheduled flight to Miami, arriving late afternoon.
Overnight Miami
Days 2 - 3
We catch a morning scheduled flight to Belize City, with a chance for some birdwatching in the afternoon.
Next day we travel south of Belize City and take a boat tour amongst the mangroves and small islands, or cayes, and in the Northern Lagoon. We'll also make a special visit to the Manatee breeding grounds near Gales Point. This is also an excellent wetland area.
Two nights Belize City
Days 4 - 6
The following day we head north to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, a fabulous wetland reserve. Originally established by the Belize Audubon Society to protect the breeding grounds of Jabiru, the whole area is teeming with herons, including Boat-billed and Chestnut-bellied Herons, kingfishers, raptors including Snail Kite, and other wetland specialities including Sungrebe.
From here we take a boat trip along the New River to Lamanai. Here we visit some of the most impressive Mayan ruins in Belize, surrounded by bird-rich jungle on the edge of a lagoon - Lamanai means "Submerged Crocodile in Mayan. As well as birds we shall also probably encounter Howler Monkeys.
We stay at the excellent Lamanai Outpost Lodge, in the heart of one of Belize's best birdwatching areas, with a variety of accessible habitats close at hand. Wetlands include some excellent creeks and lagoons for herons, and flooded rice paddies for wildfowl and waders. The lodge itself is excellent and surrounded by primary forest, the home of Ocellated Turkey, Great Curassow and Crested Guan, as well as containing some superb Mayan ruins. Further afield lies a mosaic of cultivations mixed with secondary forest, giving an excellent range of species.
Three nights Lamanai Outpost Lodge
Day 7
After a final look at the birds of Lamanai we head back to Belize City, birdwatching en route.
Overnight Belize City
Day 8
Today we drive towards the Guatemala border, firstly through an area farmed by Amish settlers who still wear traditional costume and use organic farming techniques and little machinery. We call in at the Belize Zoo, with a chance to see some of Belize's more elusive native mammals, but which is a good birdwatching location in its own right.
Overnight San Ignacio
Day 9
After an early morning's birding at our hotel, we travel to the Mayan site of Xunantunich. After lunch we travel west across the border into Guatemala to Flores, and thence to Tikal.
Overnight Tikal
Day 10
Tikal is not only one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites; it is also a truly magical place for birding. The temples soar above the lowland forest, giving panoramic views of the canopy, with soaring raptors above including King Vulture, Crested Eagle, and the stunning White Hawk, and impressive dawn and dusk flights of parrots. Below in the forest Ocellated Turkeys display in the early morning, and preside over an amazing array of forest birds. These can include Little Tinamou, Crested Guan, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Collared Trogon and Thrushlike Manakin, with toucans, woodcreepers, antbirds, hummingbirds and tanagers. Here too Howler and Spider Monkeys patrol the forest.
We'll also have time to see the ruins from a historical perspective. Tikal was a vast religious complex and city, and today remains probably the most magnificent of all Mayan sites. The scale of the place can be overwhelming, and the atmosphere, especially at dawn and dusk, absolutely spellbinding.
Overnight Tikal
Days 11 - 13
We'll spend a final morning at Tikal before travelling back to Flores. From Flores we take two short flights to Belize City, and then on to Ambergris Caye, with breathtaking aerial views of the reef as we land. We stay on the outskirts of San Pedro, in a hotel set amongst lush tropical gardens, which could host North American migrants and other caye specialities.
The cayes here are part of the spectacular Barrier Reef, the longest in the western hemisphere. We'll spend one day travelling around the reef by boat, with a chance to see manatees, seabirds, and with an option to go snorkelling amongst coral reefs that many experienced divers reckon are amongst the world's best. Well spend the last day either relaxing on the caye, or with another chance to go snorkelling.
Three nights Ambergris Caye
Day 14
We fly back to Belize City international airport, for our flight back to London, via Miami, arriving on Day 15.
Accommodation
We stay in quality hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients
Day 1
We catch a midday scheduled flight to Miami, arriving late afternoon.
Overnight Miami
Days 2 - 3
We catch a morning scheduled flight to Belize City, with a chance for some birdwatching in the afternoon.
Next day we travel south of Belize City and take a boat tour amongst the mangroves and small islands, or cayes, and in the Northern Lagoon. We'll also make a special visit to the Manatee breeding grounds near Gales Point. This is also an excellent wetland area.
Two nights Belize City
Days 4 - 6
The following day we head north to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, a fabulous wetland reserve. Originally established by the Belize Audubon Society to protect the breeding grounds of Jabiru, the whole area is teeming with herons, including Boat-billed and Chestnut-bellied Herons, kingfishers, raptors including Snail Kite, and other wetland specialities including Sungrebe.
From here we take a boat trip along the New River to Lamanai. Here we visit some of the most impressive Mayan ruins in Belize, surrounded by bird-rich jungle on the edge of a lagoon - Lamanai means "Submerged Crocodile in Mayan. As well as birds we shall also probably encounter Howler Monkeys.
We stay at the excellent Lamanai Outpost Lodge, in the heart of one of Belize's best birdwatching areas, with a variety of accessible habitats close at hand. Wetlands include some excellent creeks and lagoons for herons, and flooded rice paddies for wildfowl and waders. The lodge itself is excellent and surrounded by primary forest, the home of Ocellated Turkey, Great Curassow and Crested Guan, as well as containing some superb Mayan ruins. Further afield lies a mosaic of cultivations mixed with secondary forest, giving an excellent range of species.
Three nights Lamanai Outpost Lodge
Day 7
After a final look at the birds of Lamanai we head back to Belize City, birdwatching en route.
Overnight Belize City
Day 8
Today we drive towards the Guatemala border, firstly through an area farmed by Amish settlers who still wear traditional costume and use organic farming techniques and little machinery. We call in at the Belize Zoo, with a chance to see some of Belize's more elusive native mammals, but which is a good birdwatching location in its own right.
Overnight San Ignacio
Day 9
After an early morning's birding at our hotel, we travel to the Mayan site of Xunantunich. After lunch we travel west across the border into Guatemala to Flores, and thence to Tikal.
Overnight Tikal
Day 10
Tikal is not only one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites; it is also a truly magical place for birding. The temples soar above the lowland forest, giving panoramic views of the canopy, with soaring raptors above including King Vulture, Crested Eagle, and the stunning White Hawk, and impressive dawn and dusk flights of parrots. Below in the forest Ocellated Turkeys display in the early morning, and preside over an amazing array of forest birds. These can include Little Tinamou, Crested Guan, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Collared Trogon and Thrushlike Manakin, with toucans, woodcreepers, antbirds, hummingbirds and tanagers. Here too Howler and Spider Monkeys patrol the forest.
We'll also have time to see the ruins from a historical perspective. Tikal was a vast religious complex and city, and today remains probably the most magnificent of all Mayan sites. The scale of the place can be overwhelming, and the atmosphere, especially at dawn and dusk, absolutely spellbinding.
Overnight Tikal
Days 11 - 13
We'll spend a final morning at Tikal before travelling back to Flores. From Flores we take two short flights to Belize City, and then on to Ambergris Caye, with breathtaking aerial views of the reef as we land. We stay on the outskirts of San Pedro, in a hotel set amongst lush tropical gardens, which could host North American migrants and other caye specialities.
The cayes here are part of the spectacular Barrier Reef, the longest in the western hemisphere. We'll spend one day travelling around the reef by boat, with a chance to see manatees, seabirds, and with an option to go snorkelling amongst coral reefs that many experienced divers reckon are amongst the world's best. Well spend the last day either relaxing on the caye, or with another chance to go snorkelling.
Three nights Ambergris Caye
Day 14
We fly back to Belize City international airport, for our flight back to London, via Miami, arriving on Day 15.
Accommodation
We stay in quality hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients