Guatemala: Tikal Extension

This optional extension to Highland Specialties of Guatemala shifts the journey from the cool, pine-clad mountains of the central highlands to the warm tropical forests of northern Guatemala. Here, the pyramids and palaces of Tikal rise above the rainforest canopy, creating one of the most unforgettable settings in the birding world.

Tikal National Park encompasses more than 200 square miles of forest and archaeological treasures, including thousands of mapped structures from one of the most important cities of the ancient Maya world. The birdlife is equally impressive. Around the ruins and forest trails, we will search for Orange-breasted Falcon, Ocellated Turkey, Gray-throated Chat, Yucatan Flycatcher, Rose-throated Tanager, White-bellied Wren, Blue Bunting, and a colorful variety of trogons, parrots, toucans, woodcreepers, manakins, puffbirds, and tanagers.

The extension offers a distinctly tropical complement to the highland main tour. Red-lored Amazons and Keel-billed Toucans bring flashes of color and sound to the canopy, while Slaty-tailed, Black-headed, and Gartered Trogons add elegance to the forest understory. If we are fortunate, we may encounter an army ant swarm attended by Tawny-winged and Ruddy woodcreepers, Gray-headed Tanagers, and overwintering warblers.

Tikal is also rich in mammals and atmosphere. Mexican Black Howler Monkeys and Central American Spider Monkeys move through the trees, White-nosed Coatis roam the forest floor, and the knowledge that jaguars inhabit these forests adds a powerful sense of wildness. For many travelers, the combination of ancient stone temples, tropical birds, and dawn over the rainforest makes Tikal one of the most memorable places in Central America.

Extension Highlights

• Explore Tikal, one of the greatest ancient Maya cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Bird tropical lowland rainforest habitats very different from those on the main highland tour.

• Search for Orange-breasted Falcon around the ruins complex.

• Seek Yucatán regional specialties including Gray-throated Chat, Yucatan Flycatcher, Rose-throated Tanager, and White-bellied Wren.

• Watch for Ocellated Turkey, Keel-billed Toucan, Red-lored Amazon, trogons, parrots, manakins, puffbirds, woodcreepers, and aracaris.

• Enjoy the possibility of mammals such as Mexican Black Howler Monkey, Central American Spider Monkey, and White-nosed Coati.

• Experience a sunrise over the temples of Tikal, one of the most atmospheric moments of the journey.

The Tikal Extension explores the tropical lowland forests and seasonally dry forest patches of northern Guatemala. These habitats are more closely aligned with the Yucatán region than the highland areas of the main tour, creating opportunities for an entirely different suite of birds.

Tikal’s forested trails, open ruins complex, old airstrip, scrubby areas, and nearby wetlands create a varied birding environment. The rainforest canopy supports parrots, toucans, aracaris, and raptors, while the forest understory may hold trogons, antbirds, woodcreepers, and manakins. Patches of drier habitat provide chances for regional specialties such as Yucatan Flycatcher, Gray-throated Chat, and Rose-throated Tanager.