HIGHLIGHTS
More than 30 percent of Belize's land is protected. This small area supports some 543 species of birds. No destination or birding site is too far away and the birding here includes hiking along pristine jungle trails, canoeing quiet lakes and rivers, and climbing ancient Mayan ruins. You will stay at Hidden Valley Inn in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of Central Belize and the Lodge at Big Falls in the southern part of the country near Toledo, two lovely and comfortable lodges, each with a resident birding guide who will show you local birds and get you on the endemics.
2011 Price
Per person in double occupancy:
- through April 05: $2353.00
- April 6 - October 31: $2186.00
Included
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4 nights accommodation with taxes
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All meals, taxes & service charge
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Tour of Caracol, Rio Frio Caves and Rio On Pools
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Two on property guided walks (choice of morning or night walks)
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Overland transfer between Hidden Valley and Lodge at Big Falls
at Lodge at Big Falls -
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3 nights accommodation with taxes
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All meals and taxes
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Bird Hikes
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Guided morning bird walk on the Lodge grounds
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Birding tour to Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary
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Tour of Lubaantun Mayan Ruins, the waterfalls of San Antonio, & Rio Blanco National Park
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Overland transfer to Punta Gorda, flight to Belize Airport
Not Included
Mountains & Mangroves - Birding in Belize
In Mountain Pine Ridge, birders from all over the world come to see Orange Breasted Falcon, King Vulture, Stygian Owl, Laughing Falcon, Grace's Warbler, Lovely Cotinga, Tody Motmot, Yellow Faced Grassquits, the Rufous-Capped Warblers, Acorn Wood Peckers, Yellow Backed Orioles and Golden-Hooded Tanagers. In this area Black Headed Siskins can often be seen flying in flocks. I
The cliffs around the Hidden Valley Inn's property are one of the very few nesting sites for the endangered Orange Breasted Falcon and King Vultures by Thousand Foot Falls. The reserve is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country such as Big Rock Falls, Hidden Valley Falls, and Butterfly Falls.
With Hidden Valley as your home base, you will visit Caracol, 35 miles from the Inn, deep in the Chiquibul Wilderness. Caracol is one of the largest sites of the Ancient Mayan world with over 4000 structures spread over 55 square miles.
Cloaked in a jungle shroud, it is difficult to appreciate the extent of this mighty city. Excavation to date has revealed amongst others the towering temple of Caana (the Sky Palace), Belize's tallest manmade structure. The view from the top over the pristine jungle is breathtaking. Trails have been cut through the surrounding jungle for those interested in observing the wealth of fauna, flora and birdlife that inhabit the area.
The scenic drive to Caracol crosses the Mountain Pine Ridge area, over a series of creeks, through lush tropical forest and pine forest, habitat for a variety of bird species. The highest canopy rainforest is home to several species of cats, as well as rare birds such as the Keel-Billed Motmot, Crested Guan, Great Curassow and the Ocellated Turkey. A variety of orchids, vines and trees are also found in the area.
The Rio On Pools is a popular place for swimming, relaxing, sliding around in the cascades and little falls, or simply admiring the granite rock formations dating back 300 million years. A common visitor to the Rio On Pools is the Hepatic Tanager. 
The Rio Frio Caves, a large cavern with openings on both sides, has a creek flowing and echoing through the cave. The picturesque jungle trails leading to the cave has a trail provide a chance to see birds an Orange-Billed Sparrow, White-Throated Robin, an array of Red-Throated and Red-Crowned Tanagers. top
The Lodge at Big Falls is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande River in Belize's southern Toledo District. The property is located on a meander of the river with almost a mile of river frontage. There are views towards the Maya Mountains to the northwest while the southeastern bank faces the village of Big Falls. However, there are no "big falls" in Big Falls - it is just the name of the village!
The Lodge at Big Falls provides an exciting environment for birders. The property includes orchard, meadow, forest edge, broadleaf and riparian habitats which attract many different species. From black and white owls, sungrebes, herons and kingfishers on the river to oropendolas, woodpeckers and orioles in the orchard. The relative silence of the pre-dawn is broken by the calls of chachalacas, melodious blackbirds, parrots and parakeets among many others.
It is an intimate family run lodge with just six (6) thatched cottage style cabanas, each with a queen size double and either an extra single bed or full size bunks for family accommodation. The Lodge has a full service restaurant and bar.
Birding at Lodge at Big Falls begins with an early morning bird walk along the riverbank and through the orchard and meadows around the Lodge with the resident guide, who will be with you for the duration of your stay at the Lodge. Typically one can observe 40-50 species before breakfast. After breakfast you will spend the day in broadleaf forest habitats and visiting the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary where the lagoons in this shallow drainage basin are home to Woodstork, Jabiru, Limpkin, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, kingfishers and herons.
In the later afternoon you might want to rent a kayak or take a guided river trip and observe the herons and kingfishers and other riparian species along the Rio Grande near the Lodge. As dusk falls and the sun sets over the Maya mountains to the west you can observe flocks of egrets and other waders returning to their night-time roosts or see and hear Yellow-crowned Night Herons calling as they fly out to their feeding grounds. Listen for the Mottled Owl and Black and White Owl which frequent the forest giants on the riverbank in the front of the Lodge and listen for the first calls of the Common Pauraque which are a common sight on dirt roads at night-time.
The next day starts with another early morning, driving 18 miles north to an area of pines, oaks, saw palmetto and savannah grasslands. Your visit may include the sight of flocks of indigo bunting feeding on the grasses with their plumage illuminated by the early morning sun. You can also see and hear Yellow-crowned Parrots, the Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Fork-tailed and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Sedge Wren, Grace’s Warbler, Rusty Sparrow and Hepatic Tanager among other species. After a late breakfast back at the Lodge you will spend the day visiting the Mayan site of Lubaantun and the waterfalls at San Antonio and the Rio Blanco making birding stops along the way. You will spend some time at dusk on the way back to the Lodge at a local wetland swamp where we can observe the Northern Jacana, Ruddy Crake and American Bittern as well as raptors such as the Peregrine Falcon. top
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