guatemala   birding 

​January 7-18, 2023
Guided by John Cahill, Guatemala's Top Birder
Join us to see the Golden-cheeked Warbler in its winter territory!
  • Pace:  Early mornings, a few long drives, lots of walking 
  • 12 days/11 nights 
  • Scheduled dates:   2023: Jan 7-18
  • Price:   2023: $3950 per person/double room  
  • Singles: $395. Singles are very limited. Rooms are either a smaller room or a double at single rate.
  • Download 2023 itinerary

    Join us for this unique birding tour to beautiful Guatemala. Building on the overwhelming success of our initial 2019 tour, we are again offering this opportunity to bird areas not offered by other bird tour companies, guided by Guatemala’s top birder, John Cahill.
              In addition to fabulous birds -including the near mythical Resplendent Quetzal - your participation in our tour benefits Community Cloudforest Conservation (CCFC), an environmental education program located near Cobán in central Guatemala. Our tour to Guatemala offers you an amazing history of birding and conservation.
          We begin birding at the reserve on Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Also we will look for the stunning Pink-headed Warbler in the forest area where Dr. Alexander Skutch lived for more than two years in the 1930s while studying birds and collecting plants, also looking for a number of range-restricted birds that occur in this area such as Blue-throated Motmot, and Black-capped Siskin.
          Then we work our way to the cloud forest, visiting several private reserves set up specifically for migrating birds. This area also gives Central Texas birders the possibility to see the Golden-cheeked Warbler on its wintering grounds in the very cloud forest where the species was first described by ornithologists in 1860! We will spend three nights and days at CCFC’s amazing environmental center, a totally off-the-grid building and a marvel in engineering.
We end our adventure in Tikal, perhaps the greatest of the Mayan cities. We’ll pick up a local cultural guide who will add to the experience. There are more amazing birds to see here as we walk among pyramids, like Keel-billed Toucan, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Ocellated Turkey, Tody Motmot, several species of parrots, and raptors including the rare Orange-breasted Falcon. We’ll also see some cool mammals like Coatis, Agoutis, and Spider and Black Howler Monkeys.
     Our local guides will be John Cahill, the top birder in Guatemala (see his story on this eBird post) and in his 20s, he is part of the new generation of birders. Comments from prior tours refer to John as “the best bird guide ever”. He is a birding rockstar and seems to know everyone in the country! He will be assisted by his father Rob Cahill. The Cahill Family runs Community Cloud Forest Conservation, which focuses on environmental education for the local Mayan school population, using Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdSleuth program. They also run a leadership training program for girls and young women in sustainable agro-ecology, nutrition, cooking, health and family planning, career and educational options, eco-tourism, and other life-skills, with the goal of helping them stay in school and continue their education. The ultimate goal of agro-ecology is re-forestation of the cloud forest. 
         In addition to supporting CCFC, a half-acre cloud forest restoration will be planted, thus offsetting your in-country carbon footprint while enhancing bird habitat. And JB Journeys will make a donation in your name to your bird club. 
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                                     This is a true example of sustainable tourism.

  • Accommodations:  We have selected a variety of lodging close to birding sites to reduce driving time, but all have private hot water bathrooms. Hotel Atitlan is quite nice with amazing views. Posada del Quetzal is a simple, local ins. The CCFC Center is off-the-grid with composting toilets. Jungle Lodge in Tikal runs on a generator with power only mornings and afternoons. Casa de Don David is a quaint tourist hotel.
  • Included: 11 nights hotel, all meals, ground transportation, taxes, entry fees, flight between Flores and Guatemala City, services of bilingual guides, tips for drivers, hotels, meals, a donation to CCFC, and full carbon-offset for in country travel. 
  • Not Included: international airfare, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, personal expenses, and tips for the guides. NOTE: in 2023, in-country flight included. 
  • Bring:  Binoculars, bug spray, hat, sunscreen, field guide (Peterson Field Guide to birds of Northern Central America, Fagan & Komar, 2016), field clothing, walking stick, rain & warm weather gear. More information upon registration.