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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Participants should arrange to arrive in San Pedro Sula today. We will meet for dinner at the Holiday Inn during which time we will get to know each other, review the itinerary and answer any questions you may have. Overnight San Pedro Sula.

Day 2 – San Pedro Sula to Copan Ruins
This morning we will make a pre-breakfast birding trip to the Meredon Mountains on the edge of San Pedro Sula. Here we will begin to become familiar with some of the birds of Honduras and have a good chance of seeing Olive-throated Parakeets, Blue-crowned Motmots, Green Jays, several species of over wintering warblers and perhaps a Yellow-billed Cacique. We will then return to the Holiday Inn for breakfast and checkout before beginning our three hour drive to the town of Copan Ruins, near the border with Guatemala, which will be our base for the next few nights.

In the afternoon we will visit the main archeological site of Copan Ruins where we will be exposed to the historic Mayan culture by traveling through several plazas viewing stone sculptures, intricate hieroglyphics and many temples. The birding at the site can be excellent and possibilities include Plain Chachalaca, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, the magnificent White-throated Magpie-Jay, Rufous-capped Warbler and Streak-backed Oriole.

Over the next couple of days we will bird a variety of habitats in the richly diverse Copan area, ranging from mid-elevation broadleaf forest to higher elevation humid pine/oak and mixed broadleaf woodland. Diversity in this area will, therefore, be quite high (nearly 400 species have been recorded in the area) and we have a good chance of seeing many sought after species including Barred Parakeet, Collared Trogon, Bushy-crested Jay, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Slate-throated Redstart, and both Golden-crowned and Rufous-capped Warblers. Access to some of these areas will require the use of 4-wheel drive vehicles. Overnight: Hotel El Jaral, Copan Ruins.

Day 3 – Birding La Laguna/San Francisco route
The La Laguna route passes through farmland, scrub, mixed deciduous woodland and nice highland pine-oak forest which can yield up to 80-90 species in one morning. We will not be visiting this type of habitat anywhere else on this trip. Species we will be looking for along the lower section include Crested Bobwhite, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Salvin´s Emerald, Barred Antshrike and Northern Beardless Tyrannulet. Along the upper stretches we will look for White-eared Hummingbird, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Greater Pewee, Bushy-crested Jay, Brown-backed Solitaire, Painted Redstart, Yellow-backed Oriole and the lovely Elegant Euphonia.

In the afternoon we will have the opportunity to relax so that we are rested up enough to venture out again in the evening in search of some of the nocturnal birds that can be found in the area including Common Paraque, Guatemalan Screech-Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl and Mottled Owl.
Overnight: Hotel El Jaral, Copan Ruins

Day 4 – Malcote Private Nature Reserve, Enchanted Wings Butterfly House
Today we venture into the lower highlands of western Honduras as we visit a private nature reserve situated at an elevation of 4,000 feet. This site is rich in flora and fauna and continues to reveal new species for Copan’s growing list of biota. Along the two mile loop trail we will be immersed in thick broadleaf vegetation full of Heliconia flowers and with a rich understory of palms and ferns. Some of the birds we will look for here include Barred Parakeet, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Black-crested Coquette, Collared Trogon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Royal Flycatcher, Northern Nightingale Wren, Slate-colored Solitaire, Brown-capped Vireo and Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch.
In the afternoon we will visit the Enchanted Wings Butterfly House and Nature Center (one of Robert’s contributions to natural history education in Honduras) where we will have the opportunity to see his butterfly rearing facility and exhibits including an impressive native orchid exhibit. Birding around the grounds is also quite good and we will continue to enjoy what the Copan area has to offer here.
Overnight: Hotel El Jaral, Copan Ruins

Day 5 – Copan Ruins to Lake Yojoa
This morning, before we leave the Copan area we will spend some time birding the Las Sepulturas archeological site adjacent to the main ruins. At this site the Mayan elite lived and many of their dead were buried in the floors of the houses which is where the site’s name was derived from. Since this area is less visited there are many opportunities to see birds up close. Species we may see include Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Rufous-naped Wren, Scrub Euphonia, Green-breasted Mango, Red-throated Ant-Tanager and a host of migratory wood-warblers.

Following breakfast we will begin the drive back towards San Pedro Sula before then heading south to our next destination – Lake Yojoa, a large inland lake nestled among the mountains of central Honduras. Our hotel is situated on the edge of the lake and the large grounds (comprised of beautiful gardens and a shade-grown coffee plantation) combined with the marshes and pools along the lake edge provide excellent birding opportunities. We should arrive with enough time to settle into our rooms before birding the grounds of the hotel before dinner where Turquoise-browed Motmots, Blue-grey Tanagers, Buff-throated Saltators and both Altamira and Spot-breasted Orioles are common. Ruddy Crakes, Northern Jacanas, Purple Gallinules and a variety of herons, egrets, ducks and shorebirds are found in the pools and marshes bordering the lake. Overnight: Hotel Fincas Las Glorias, Lake Yojoa.

Day 6 – Cerro Azul Meambar National Park and Lake Yojoa
We will depart our hotel early this morning an make the hour long drive to Cerro Azul Meambar National Park perched atop the mountain on the east side of the lake. Here we will bird the mid-elevation rainforest surrounding the Visitor Centre as well as along a well-maintained path leading to a beautiful waterfall. We can expect to see Red-lored Parrot, Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, White-collared Manakin and a variety of trogons, woodcreepers, flycatchers and tanagers. Several species of hummingbirds visit the feeders at the Visitor Center. In the late afternoon we will take a boat trip onto Lake Yojoa which will provide us with the opportunity to see both Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Snail Kite, Limpkin, and a variety of herons including, if we are lucky, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron.
Overnight: Hotel Fincas Las Glorias, Lake Yojoa.

Day 7 – Los Naranjos Archaeological Site and Lake Yojoa
This morning we will make the short drive to the Los Naranjos Archaeological site, situated at the north end of the lake. This site offers excellent birding opportunities as a series of flat, well maintained trails pass through forest and along the edges of the semi-open archaeological site. An extensive boardwalk also leads through forested swamp out into a series of pools and marshes on the edge of the lake. Here we stand a good chance at encountering a variety of waterbirds in the pools and marshes along the boardwalk as well as a good diversity of birds along the trails including Common Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-naped Wren, Greyish Saltator and Red-legged Honeycreeper. This is one of the best places to get the northern most ranging spinetail, the Rufous-breasted. In the afternoon we will return to our hotel where some may choose to bird the grounds, while others may wish to take advantage of a swim in the pool, or an afternoon siesta. Following dinner we will make an outing to search for nocturnal birds. Both Mountain and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls can be found on the hotel grounds as well as Buff-collared and Spot-tailed Nightjars. Overnight: Hotel Fincas Las Glorias, Lake Yojoa

Day 8 – Lake Yojoa to Tela
Following breakfast and a little more birding on the hotel grounds, we will depart the Lake Yojoa area driving northeast to the town of Tela which is situated on the Caribbean coast. We will arrive in time for lunch at a nearby Garifuna Village (the Garifuna are descendents of Africans who have lived in coastal areas in Central America for hundreds of years), where we can enjoy one of the area’s specialties – seafood soup. After lunch we will check-in to our hotel and will spend the latter half of the afternoon birding the coastal area in the vicinity of Tela where we will encounter Neotropic Cormorants, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Royal Terns. Overnight in Tela.

Day 9 – Lancetilla Botanical Gardens then transfer to Olanchito
A visit to the Tela area cannot be made without birding the grounds of the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens. While the botanical gardens themselves are rather poor for birding, the entrance road leading up to the gardens provides for excellent birding and we will have no trouble spending the entire morning here enjoying wonderful views of many species. Little Tinamous can be heard calling while we search for Blue Ground-Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, Bright-rumped Attila, and Passerini’s Tanager. This is also one of the most reliable spots in Honduras to see some difficult-to-find species including Olivaceous Piculet, Great Antshrike and Slaty Spinetail. In the afternoon we will make the long drive from Tela, along the coast past the bustling town of La Ceiba, before then skirting around the Pico Bonito Mountain range into the Aguan Valley, home of the only bird endemic to Honduras, the Honduran Emerald. The lower Aguan Valley is largely agricultural, consisting largely of banana plantations and cattle ranches. The upper Aguan Valley is, however, much drier (as a result of the rainshadow effect created by the Pico Bonito mountains) and the dry, scrub forest, complete with several species of cacti, is unlike any other habitat we will visit on our tour and will provide us with the opportunity to not only see the Honduran Emerald but a number of other species largely restricted to this area of the country. Overnight Olanchito.

Day 10 – Aguan Valley then transfer to Pico Bonito
We will make an early start this morning as the dry, arid Aguan Valley usually becomes very hot by 10:00 AM. Although the Honduran Emerald will be our primary target, we will also make an effort to see other specialties to the area including Double-striped Thick-knee, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Lesser Roadrunner, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, White-bellied Wren and White-lored Gnatcatcher.

Following lunch we will then make the drive back around the Pico Bonito Mountains to the luxury of the Lodge at Pico Bonito, Honduras’s premiere eco-lodge situated at the edge of Pico Bonito National Park. Birding around the lodge buildings themselves is fantastic, not to mention the excellent trail network that slowly winds its way up the mountainside. Birding opportunities are made even better by two canopy towers and a viewing platform along the trails (the first of which is only a short walk from the lodge). There will be plenty to see here as we enjoy the luxury of our cabins, the lodge’s cuisine and the beautiful setting. Overnight: The Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Day 11 – Pico Bonito
Today we will spend the entire day birding the grounds and trails of the lodge. From the first canopy tower, overlooking the scenic Colorado River, we should spot White-crowned Parrots, Montezumas Oropendolas and it is here that we have a very good chance of seeing the spectacular Lovely Cotinga. Although trail that leads up the mountain is quite steep in places, it is very well maintained and we will take as much time as necessary to make the trek. The second tower is named Oropendola tower because it is next to a large tree full of Chestnut-headed Oropendola nests.

Between our time spent on the towers and viewing platform as well as along the trails themselves, we will get a chance to see a wide variety of species. Hummingbirds could include Long-billed Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Violet Sabrewing, Crowned Woodnymph, Purple-crowned Fairy and Violet-headed Hummingbird. Both Black-headed and Violaceous Trogons are reasonably common and if we are lucky we will find the Keel-billed Motmot. If we haven’t already seen White-collared Manakins, we should encounter them here along with the equally stunning Red-capped Manakin. All three species of honeycreepers occur here (Red-legged, Shining and Green) and with luck we will see all of them. Other gems include Northern Royal Flycatcher, Black-crowned Tityra, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, and Long-billed Gnatwren. A variety of woodcreepers, flycatchers, tanagers and orioles will also be found, as will a good diversity of overwintering warblers including both Hooded and Kentucky. Both Ornate and Black Hawk-Eagles are sometimes seen at the lodge and we will certainly be on the lookout for these and other birds of prey.

At least one night while at the lodge we will make a special outing after dinner to look for nocturnal birds. Possibilities here include Great Potoo, Guatemalan Screech-Owl, as well as Black-and-white, Mottled, and Spectacled Owls. Overnight: The Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Day 12 – Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, Pico Bonito
This morning we will have an early breakfast before making the short drive from the lodge to a nearby village where we will board a small diesel-powered, narrow gauge train that will bring us down to a coastal wildlife refuge named Cuero y Salado. During the 20 minute train ride we will travel through agricultural fields, pastures and flooded fields and ditches until we arrive at the wildlife refuge at the end of the line. Cuero y Salado is a coastal wetland largely comprised of brackish lagoons and mangrove forest. From here we will board motorboats for a trip through this wonderful coastal wetland. There are a variety of species that we will hopefully encounter here including Boat-billed Heron, Common Black-Hawk, Gray-headed Kite, Amazon, Green and Pygmy Kingfishers and potentially Sungrebe. Both Mantled Howler Monkeys and White-faced Capuchin Monkeys occur here and with luck we will see one or both species. Crocodiles and caimans will likely be basking underneath the mangroves at the edge of the water and if we are extremely lucky, we may even spot a Manatee.

We will then return to the lodge for lunch. We will have a break after lunch during which people can relax by the pool, enjoy a cold drink on one of the lodges verandas while watching the hummingbird feeders or have a siesta in their comfortable room. Later in the afternoon we will bird the lodge grounds, perhaps returning to the first tower or birding the entrance road (which can be very good). Overnight: The Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Day 13 – Pico Bonito to San Pedro Sula
We will have a final full-morning of birding around the lodge where we will undoubtedly add something new to our lists, as well as providing us with the opportunity to gain better views of species we may have only glimpsed earlier. We will then have lunch, and check out before boarding our van to make the return trip to San Pedro Sula where we will arrive in the late afternoon. We will then enjoy a final dinner together. Overnight San Pedro Sula.

Day 14 – Departures
The tour concludes today allowing people ample time to get to the airport in order to catch their flight home. For those with later flights, we suggest a trip to the nearby Guamilito market. Within walking distance of the hotel, the market offers the most complete selection of Honduran handicrafts in San Pedro Sula including Lenca pottery, woodworking, and a variety of other souvenirs.

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What to Expect

We spend the more pleasant parts of the day, morning and late afternoon, birding and exploring each area we visit. Early afternoons on some days will be for siestas or gentle birding around the lodges. Most meals will be in the lodge restaurants with a few picnic breakfasts and lunches.

Driving will range from short drives to birding sites to fairly long drives as we transfer between sites. The weather should be warm and pleasant, becoming hot in the middle of the day. Some rain is almost certain and a waterproof jacket or umbrella should be carried.

Most trails and paths are easy to moderate and on one day we hike a 2 mile loop. Where a trail is steep, we take time, stopping as often as necessary. Bring mosquito repellent - mosquitoes are not usually a big problem but can be a little frisky after rain. Boat trips will be along the shores of lakes where the water should be calm and protected. Each evening, the list of birds and other wildlife will be reviewed, and plans for the next day will be discussed.