For those birders who've never before ventured south of the US border, or for those who prefer their tropical experiences to be short and super sweet, the small Central American country of Belize offers an ideal birding destination. With a diversity of species that includes many in families associated with the New World tropics, a rich assortment of habitats in which to search for them, plus minimal time spent traveling -- four nights at each lodge -- our revamped Belize tour offers a truly engaging tropical experience.

Black Rock Lodge is located along the banks of the Rio Macal, adjacent to the Don Elijio Panti Nature Reserve/National Park. Nearly 400 bird species have been recorded on the lodge grounds, and the views are magnificent! On one day, we'll venture to the nearby Mountain Pine Ridge, where dry Caribbean Pine forest dominates. The pine forest is home to a group of birds perhaps unexpected in Belize -- Rusty Sparrow, Grace's Warbler, Cabanis's Wren, and Acorn Woodpecker, to name a few. From viewpoints high above the adjacent countryside, we’ll scan cliffs for King Vulture and the rare Orange-breasted Falcon. The humid valley forests host a high diversity of species typically found in the tropical hardwood forests of western Belize and the Petén region of Guatemala -- tinamous, forest-falcons, trogons, White-whiskered Puffbird, many flycatchers, Mayan Antthrush, Dusky Antbird, Gray-collared Becard, and many more.

Lamanai Outpost Lodge has a simple, yet elegant, main building and comfortable thatched cabañas perched on the shores of Crab-catcher Lagoon, part of the largest body of fresh water in Belize. The lodge sits less than a mile from the Mayan ruins of Lamanai, an extensive, largely unexcavated site that sprawls along the western shore of the lagoon; on a couple of days, we'll take a quick boat trip along the lagoon to get to the site. The ruins house a rich assortment of birds -- Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Pale-billed, Chestnut-colored, and Golden-olive woodpeckers, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Slaty-tailed, Black-headed, and Gartered trogons, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, Black-cowled Oriole, Blue Bunting, and the diminutive Tody Motmot are just a few of the many species we'll seek here. The village of Indian Church lies just down the road from the lodge. Here, open milpas (agricultural fields) and second-growth scrub are home to an assortment of birds not found in the forest, including (with some luck) the attractive Black-throated (Yucatan) Bobwhite. Interspersed among these other habitats are tracts of savanna with a different set of interesting birds, including seldom-encountered Yellow-headed Parrots, White-tailed Hawk, Buff-bellied and Azure-crowned hummingbirds, Yucatan Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Jay, Gray-throated Chat, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Botteri's and Grasshopper sparrows, and the impressive Jabiru. And, of course, the lagoon and its tributaries are home to another suite of birds, including Limpkin, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed and Agami herons, Sungrebe, and Black Catbird.

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.

Client comment
"This tour experience was splendid. Belize Short and Sweet -- emphasis on the sweet! I liked the relaxed pace and the easy day-to-day schedule of this tour. Birding around Laminai was an unexpected delight. The lodge is a gem and the grounds are bird-rich and beautiful. Megan Crewe's birding and social skills are second to none. She's personable, knowledgeable, and a peach of a guide. Your office's service was superior." K.R., BELIZE: TROPICAL BIRDING SHORT & SWEET tour participant

"The tour was excellent. Chris Benesh and the two local guides were superb at both locating and identifying the birds, and they were all very dedicated to making sure that everyone among us saw the bird. The variety of terrain and the boat trips were delightful, And the two lodges where we stayed were very different but both excellent." M.C., BELIZE: TROPICAL BIRDING SHORT & SWEET tour participant