Spectacular volcanoes and fabulous highland lakes form a brilliant backdrop to our Guatemala – Central American Highlights tour. Best known for its shade coffee production, tourism coupled with a strong environmental bond has become more evident in recent times - an understanding that has resulted in much of the highland forests being well protected. The birding is superb, whether its cloud forests or coffee fincas - we will search for some stunning species such as the gorgeous Pink-headed Warbler, Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Rufous-collared Thrush, Slender Sheartail, Bushy-crested Jay, Black-capped Swallow, Belted Flycatcher, Prevost’s & White-eared Ground Sparrows, Wine-throated Hummingbird, Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge, Green-throated Mountaingem, and Cabanis’s (Azure-rumped) Tanager. This tour showcases the highlights of Guatemalan birding, along with comfortable lodgings, delicious fare and fabulous scenery throughout.
Pink-headed Warbler; Azure-rumped Tanager; Horned Guan (optional); Emerald-chinned Hummingbird; White-faced Quail-Dove; Resplendent Quetzal; Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo; Bushy-crested & Steller’s Jays; Spotted Nightingale-Thrush; Blue-and-White Mockingbird; Grey Silky-flycatcher; Rusty Sparrow; Belted Flycatcher; Slender Sheartail; Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer; Guatemalan Tyrannulet; Ocellated Quail (rare); Painted Redstart; Hermit, Red-faced & Olive Warblers; Wine-throated, Azure-crowned; White-eared, Berylline, Rufous-tailed, Blue-tailed & Rivoli's Hummingbirds; Rufous & Violet Sabrewings, Green-throated Mountaingem; Green Violetear; Amethyst-throated Mountaingem; Black-capped Swallow; Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo; Acorn, Velasquez's, Golden-olive & Hairy Woodpeckers; Northern Flicker (unique Guatemalan sub-species); Tody, Blue-throated, Blue-diademed & Turquoise-browed Motmots; White-throated Magpie-Jay; Long-tailed Manakin; Prevost’s Ground & White-eared Ground Sparrows; Paltry Tyrannulet; Gartered Trogon; Blue-throated Sapphires; White-bellied Chachalaca; Orange-fronted, Orange-chinned & Pacific Parakeets; Rufous-collared Thrush.
Central American Agouti; White-nosed Coati; Variegated Squirrel; Grey Fox; White-tailed Deer.
rainforest, cloudforest, dry forest, mixed temperate forest, coffee fincas, lakes, shoreline, temperate pine savanna
mostly tropical conditions; warm and humid, can get cool to cold in the highlands
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
fairly relaxed pace with some long walks
comfortable to basic lodges & hotels
moderate
great people, varied Mayan cultures, excellent arts & crafts, fantastic scenery
very good
"Lev and our local guide did a great job with the tour. They were professional while keeping the experience fun and entertaining. They worked very well together, and with the other local guides, and the quality of their guiding was top notch. They worked hard to give everyone on the tour a great experience, and they pulled out a number of tough species with their patience and diligence that gave the group some truly lasting memories. Our driver was excellent, safely working our rather large bus through the city mazes and narrow country roads with skilful expertise. And the accommodations were overall very nice, even with the occasional hot water issue. I was glad that I did bring layers, though, since we spent more time at greater altitude than I had imagined, and it was quite cool at times. I definitely enjoyed the tour, and look forward to more Rockjumper trips."
All around great fun trip, with logistics and plans for upcoming activities presented clearly and in time for proper preparation. Clayton was very prepared and we enjoyed traveling with him very much.
Very nice tour. We had a good group, and the local guides were excellent. Food, venues, and the birds were all top notch, and we were quite surprised how well-developed the infrastructure is in Guatemala. The birds were great, of course. We were asked what our target bird for the tour was, and I answered the Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge, knowing that it is an extremely difficult bird to find (i.e., I was being a wise guy). What was one of the first birds we saw?: the wood-partridge. A fantastic display, with the birds in the open and within 10 meters of us.
Adam Walleyn was an excellent tour leader; he knew a lot about the birds, handled the group very well and has a wealth of experience in leading tours and in other aspects of ecological/environmental study & travel. We appreciated the fact that Adam did not carry a camera and therefore was able to devote his time/energy to finding the birds and getting people on to them.
Dušan is an exceptional guide in all respects. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, is courteous and diplomatic with the clients, and excellent with the local people. I could not ask for anything more. Thank you very much for providing this tour. For me, it was a success in every way. I will definitely recommend Rockjumper to anyone interested in birding in the future. You guys do a great job.
10 Oct 2023 - 17 Oct 2023 (8 days)
USD2,995 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Alexander Alvarado
Tour price (Per person): USD2,995 * GBP2,445 * EUR2,816 * AUD4,648
Single Supplement: USD190 * GBP155 * EUR179 * AUD295
Can be linked with: Guatemala - Tikal & Las Guacamayas 2023
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