Guatemala
Hotspots

For more information on the resplendant quetzal, go to this link from Costa Rica! It's a QuetzalCam!

Photo copyright Anke Poggel

 
....Natural Guatemala - this site identifies the nature
zones and nature reserves in which birds congregate in Guatemala
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....Birding Sites in Guatemala - courtesy of Cayaya Birding. You can 
click on the map description, slide show, and species list of the best Guatemala  birding sites!
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....Ecotourism: Our Natural Bounty - Occupying the northernmost
position in Central America, Guatemala offers one of the most exciting natural history destinations in the Americas. This site provides brief birding information about the varius eco-destinations in Guatemala.
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....Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve - by Richard Mahler 
Because of its geographic isolation, forbidding terrain, and wide range of elevation (from 15 feet to 10,050 feet above sea level), the Sierra is home to at least 885 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles--fully 70 percent of all the species from these groups that are known to exist in Guatemala and neighboring Belize. 
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....Quetzal Biotope - San Carlos University, in its interest
to preserve the quetzal's natural environment, established the Mario Dary Rivera Nature Reserve (Biotopo del Quetzal), located 160 kilometers from Guatemala City, in the northern highlands. It is easily accessed by paved road. Even though sighting a quetzal is a rare event, the area is a paradise not to be missed.
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....Guatemala's Protected Areas - provides useful information 
about visiting the following areas in Guatemala: 
• Biosphere Reserves (especially Sierra de las Minas)
• National Parks (all are great for birding)
• Protected Biotopes (especially Laguna el Tigre and the Quetzal Biotope)
• Wildlife Refuges (especially the Polochic Delta) 
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....Guatemala - Directory of Wetlands of International Importance - 
includes information on all Guatemala's Ramsar designated sites, including:
• Laguna del Tigre
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....Guatemalan Birding Resource Center - There are few places like
Guatemala that pack such a rich diversity of birding habitats and species into such a small area. The Guatemalan Birding Resource Center was founded precisely to help birdwatchers take full advantage of the opportunities to explore this country’s dizzying variety of          birdlife and many unique species. Everything you wanted to know about birding in Guatemala!
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....How I was robbed in Guatemala and the lessons I learned - By Bob
Hansen. In Antigua, Guatemala, on January 13th ( my second day of a 17 day birding vacation to Guatemala and Belize), I was assaulted and robbed of my binoculars, digital camera, guidebooks, passport and money. Total value lost in about 40 seconds was $2,800. As a result of this event and other events like it that were related to me, I decided to convey my story to others, particularly those birders who are considering a birding trip such as I planned to Guatemala.
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....Trip Report: Yucatan Peninsula (incl. Tikal – Guatemala) - 
by Daniel Kronauer and Frank E. Rheindt. From Dec 14 through 22, 2000, we traveled around on the Yucatan Peninsula on what we term a "combined birding and herping" trip. The reason we opted for Yucatan is its high endemism and easy accessibility from the U.S. One of us (DK) is a passionate herpetologist, while the other (FER) is an avid world birder, but fortunately the areas of interest for both animal groups coincide well, so we could each just concentrate on the respective group upon arrival at the sites. Information is provided on:
• Felipe Carrillo Puerto
• Tikal
• Cobá
• Isla Cozumel
• Rio Lagartos
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....Mexico - Yucatan, Chiapas and Tikal Trip Report - February, 1997
by Mark van Kleunen. In February 1997, we took a three week trip to Southern Mexico including a two day excursion to Tikal, Guatemala. Our daily  activities mainly consisted of birdwatching. We wanted to see as many of the Yucatan and Cozumel endemics as possible, but we also visited the lowland rainforest, highlands and pacific slope of Chiapas.
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....Guatemala Trip Report - August - October, 1997 - by Martin Birch. 
I visited Guatemala to undertake a short period of Spanish language instruction. A large proportion of the time was based in Quetzaltenango, a city in the west of Guatemala with a large indigenous Mayan population. The timing and period of the visit also provided an opportunity to visit many of the recognised birding sights in Guatemala. This report can be found in the trip report section of this website.
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....Trip Report: Central America (A birding travel report on: Mexico,
Guatemala and Belize) - 16 March - 12 April 1991, by Michiel de Boer. This is a report of a birding holiday of four weeks in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. We didn't book anything in advance (except for the flight) didn't rent a car and still visited all the good spots we wanted to visit. It was a great pleasure and a terrific experience, we would recommend to any birdwatcher or nature-lover. The planning of this trip relied on sources like travel-reports. By writing this report I hope I can contribute to the planning of trips of other people.
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....Guatemala Trip Reports - Blake Maybank's great trip report archive
holds a number of  trip reports from birders who have visited Guatemala. 

....Golden-cheeked Warbler Project, Guatemala - Defensores de la 
Naturaleza are working to protect critical wintering habitat for Golden-cheeked Warblers in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. The project will improve habitat management through an agroforestry and reforestation program. The group will also organize training workshops and develop a Geographic Information System to map habitats. Defensores will work to build awareness of conservation in communities surrounding the reserve, and develop alternative agriculture, energy, and forestry options as alternatives to habitat clearance. The project is also supported by The Nature Conservancy and by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation which will provide matching funds for donations. For more information on how to help this project contact: Mike Parr mparr@abcbirds.org
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....Quetzal Conservation Project, Guatemala - A project to protect a 
key area of cloud forest in the central Guatemalan highlands. The work, which is being conducted by Proyecto Ecológico Quetzal (PEQ) will promote sustainable farming to reduce slash and burn and control erosion, while helping to conserve 72 km2 of primary forest. The group also aims to develop ecotourism to benefit indigenous communities, and to set up a new web site to promote the area. There will also be a monitoring program, aerial surveys, and a community outreach project. The region is important for the Resplendent Quetzal, and more than 20 neotropical migrants, including Olive-sided Flycatchers and Wilson's Warblers. PEQ has been successful in raising project funds, but needs $36,000 to maintain their annual core operation (they employ 25 Guatemalan conservation staff). Visitors may stay with an indigenous host family in a local village. The three hour hike to the village is strenuous and for experienced  backpackers only.  Funds raised for this project will be matched by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. For more information on how to help this project contact: Mike Parr mparr@abcbirds.org

 
**..Birdwatching in Guatemala with Cayaya Birding - Guatemala, Central
America, is home to more than 700 bird species. It houses a wide variety of ecosystems: Cloud forests, rainforests, conifer forests, dry shrub, mangroves, Pacific and Caribbean coast. Your guides are active field researchers and conservationists who know all the best spots for birdwatching and taking in the diverse natural beauty of Guatemala. Nature lovers, ornithologists and university students are invited to discover the natural beauty of Guatemala with CAYAYA BIRDING.


**..Aventuras Naturales - Guatemala's Birdwatching & Ecotourism Travel

Specialist. Colonia El Naranjo No. 53, La Antigua, Sacatepéquez. Guatemala. This company has provided a complete Guatemalan Bird Checklist for the use of visitors to this site! For more information call Adolfo Cruz at +(502) 8323328 or +(502) 2081098, or send Adolfo an e-mail. 
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**..Guatemala Birding with Neotropical Journeys - The tours and programs
offered by Neotropical Journeys are designed to visit destinations with rich avifaunas, outstanding wildlife, wilderness and cultural significance at their seasonal best. Neotropical Journeys is actively involved in regional and local conservation projects and organizes tours aimed to raise funds for bird and nature conservation.