Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On the Pacific Coast, the best places for birding are the vast
Manchón
Guamuchal
wetlands and the canals and mangrove swamps bordering
Monter-
rico.
Species found in both parks include great egrets, roseate spoonbill, blue
heron, and belted kingfisher.
On the moist Caribbean coast, the
Cerro San Gil Reserve
harbors more than
350 species of birds, including the black and white hawk eagle and keel-billed
motmot.Morethan90neotropicalmigrants,includingthewoodthrushandblue-
winged warbler, winter in the area. Also with more than 300 bird species is the
remote peninsula of
Punta de Manabique,
a transit and wintering area for 25
Nearcticshorebirds.Notablebirdspeciesincludetheyellow-headedparrot,great
curassow, and several species of herons.
Birding is excellent in the
Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve,
particu-
larlyifyouwanttoseeGuatemala'snationalsymbol,theelusivequetzal.Tobird-
watch in the cloud forest while keeping a comfortable base to come back to after
a long day, visit
Chelemhá Cloud Forest Preserve,
with its wonderful Maya
Cloud Forest Lodge. The preserve lies at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 2,500
meters(6,500-8,200feet).Foundwithinitsforestsareatleast14birdspeciesen-
demictoCentralAmerica'sNorthernHighlands.Atotalof145birdspecieshave
been recorded here to date.
