Monday, January 18, 2010

Up coming Birdwatching tour in Guatemala



Up coming Birdwatching Tour
Sunday 14th of March 2010

Birdwatching Tour in Guatemala visiting:
(6 days & 5 nights )


* Hacienda Rio Escondido
* Las Victorias National Park
* Semuc Champey
* Ram Tzul Natural Reserve
* Reserva Bocas del Polochic
* Extension to Tikal National Park

Includes:

* All ground transportation in A/C, mini van

* 1 night of Accommodation at hotel Casa Duranta in Coban

* 1 night of accommodation at hotel El Retiro in Lanquin

* 1 night at Hotel Ram Tzul, in Purulhá Baja Verapaz

* Entrances fees to the sites you will visit

* Birdwatching specialist tour guide

* Taxes

* Guatemala´s Bird Check list

Does not include:

* Meals not described

* Alcoholic and none alcoholic beverages

* Phone calls

* Gratitudes to drivers and guides

* Not described


Hacienda Rio Escondido:

Located at the beginning of the Cloud Forest Biological Corridor and close to the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, the reserve has an extension of nearly 178 acres, where you will find Pine-Oak Forest bordering Las Flautas and San Isidro rivers.


The reserve promotes forest conservation and has realized bird monitoring; due to this monitories, there is now a high probability that you will see the Golden Cheeked Warbler, especially between the months of November and February.


Species in the area:

Northern Flicker (Guatemalan race)

Bushy-crested Jay

Rufous-collared Robin

Black-capped Swallow

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Goldman's race)

Golden-cheeked Warbler

Grace's Warbler

Chipping Sparrow



Semuc champey

Champey is located 11km to the south of Lanquín, in a valley with steep walls, surrounded by tropical humid forest. There is a 300m long limestone bridge, on top of which there are several natural pools of different sizes, filled with crystalline mountain spring water.


Underneath the bridge is the Cahabón River. At the end of the bridge, the water from the pools falls rejoining the river, forming a 40ft waterfall.


The color of the water changes during the year depending on the season, sun and other natural factors, making for unique picture-taking opportunities. It is a beautiful place, often called idyllic.


Semuc Champey has a diversity of flora and fauna, including 90 species of birds, 34 mammals, 25 reptiles and amphibians; and 10 species of fish. There are more than 120 species of trees and shrubs.


Species in the area:

Great tinamou

Muscovy duck

little blue heron

american bittern

swallow-tailed kite

great black hawk

common black hawk

gray hawk

white hawk

red-tailed hawk

hook-billed kite

collared forest falcon

bat falcon

plain chachalaca

crimson-collared tanager

blue-gray tanager

yellow-winged tanager

red-legged honeycreeper



Ram Tzul Private Nature Reserve

Created in 2001 to preserve the Cloud Forest biome, the water resources of the area, and to promote environmental education through ecotourism activities. Ram Tzul is part of the Cloud Forest Biological Corridor; the reserve also promotes productive activities that are friendly to the environment like organic coffee, bamboo, reforestation and ecological farm.


Species in the area:

Green-throated Mountain-gem

Resplendent Quetzal

Blue-throated Motmot

Black-headed Siskin

Bushy-crested Jay

Rufous-collared Robin

Blue-and-white Mockingbird



Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Refuge

With 51,300 acres, Bocas del Polochic is a very important region of international concern recognized by the Ramsar Convention, where you can observe more than 250 bird species.


There is a biological station in the area under Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza administration, which also has promoted research and conservation of the regional biodiversity.


Bocas del Polochic is where the Polochic River flows into Lake Izabal, and because of its high level of conservation it is an ideal place to observe terrestrial and aquatic birds. If you are lucky enough, you will be able to observe the three Toucan species of Guatemala foraging in one tree!


The Motagua/Polochic System covers an area of more than one million acres (440,000 hectares) and is located in the northeast section of Guatemala.


The topography of the Motagua/Polochic System is defined by the Motagua geological fault to the south, the Polochic fault to the north and the Izabal depression, which have created altitudinal ranges from 0 to 10,000 feet.


Species in the area:

Sunbittern

Black and white Owl

Emerald Toucanet

Keel-billed Toucan

Olivaceus Piculet

Royal Flycatcher

White-collared Manakin

Crimson-collared Tanager



Tikal National Park

This is the best place for birding in Guatemala,More than 400 species of birds have been recorded within Tikal National Park, including 30 birds of prey and 60 migratory species.


The exhuberant forest and the impressive temples present magic and mysticism.


Due to the rarity and number of species of fauna, Tikal is considered an important area in Guatemala. Rare species found nesting in Tikal include the orange-breasted falcon (Falco deiroleucus) and the Guiana crested eagle (Morphus guianensis), which makes Tikal one of the few nesting areas in Central America for this species.


One can easily spot species such as the ocellated turkey.


Martsam Tour & Travel, providing a lifetime birding tours!

Birdwatching Guatemala by Martsam Tour & Travel

For more information please feel free to contact us to:

info@martsam.com
www.martsam.com
Guatemala: (502) 7832-2742
USA:(305) 395-3935
Call Toll Free:1-866-832-2776

www.birdwatchingguatemala.com is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel Copyright® 2,008
www.birdwatchingguatemala.com
www.martsam.com

Monday, January 19, 2009

Martsam Travel

Alternative Tourism & Adventure



Bird watching Guatemala


The project Bird Watching Guatemala is an encounter with the wonderful world of birds of Guatemala, involving rural communities, national parks, private reserves and Martsam Tour and Travel as the operator in the circuits and destinations that are blended to take you to the fascinating world of Birds of Guatemala.


Taking into consideration the privileged natural and cultural environment that Guatemala has like 19 ecosystems, 300 microclimates, more than 37 volcanoes, rivers, lakes and beaches that are united in our ethnic diversity forming a destination of mystical magic and adventure.


Biological diversity has enabled Guatemala to stand among the 25 countries with the most variety of natural resources in the world. Millions of species living in its varied ecosystems, more than 700 species of birds, mammals like the jaguar, tapir and a variety of reptiles and insects.

Our programs are developed for sustainable tourism on the basis of our economic policies, social and environmental support to the communities within the reserves and eco-tourism projects becoming an alternative which contributes to slow down the deterioration of our natural and cultural resources.


Our destinations for bird watching are manifested as a journey through different ecosystems and multicolored communities, developed to ensure your complete satisfaction.


The project was born with the merge of two leading companies in Guatemala, Martsam Tour & Travel a well recognized Guatemalan Tour Operator founded in 1994 whose social economic and environmental policies have earned the privilege of being certified with the Green Deal Seal, and sign the agreements of best practices and sustainability with Rain forest Alliance.


By its own means, Otus a company dedicated to biological research of the natural resources of Guatemala for the process of the design of protected areas.


It has also conducted expeditions for The Nature Conservancy, research for the National Council of Protected Areas and defenders of nature among others it has developed projects to train communitarian guides in bird watching and environmental interpretation, localization and monitoring of endemic species threatened or symbolic.


Taking into consideration our unified experience and our proved experience our tours have a high scientific content, and our guides are biologists or naturalists immersed in the field of research and conservation by ensuring the quality of our services and creating unique experiences.




www.birdwatchingguatemala.com is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel Copyright® 2,008
www.birdwatchingguatemala.com
www.martsam.com

Friday, January 2, 2009

Bird Watching Guatemala
The rain forest:
The tropical rain forests areas are the richest in botanic species in the world. Yaxha is a representative area of this type of forest do to its abundance of water sources that favors a great diversity of fauna. Recent studies have reported 40 mammal species, 14 amphibious, 45 reptiles, 22 fish and 150 types of birds.

With the correct integration and conservation of the natural and cultural patrimony it can be accomplished that foreign and national tourists can identify themselves with this great nature


Yaxha:

Yaxha is located in the Riviera of the lake with the same name and extends over a cliff that is connected to the beach by a trail for about 3 km. Yaxha has around 500 structures aconditionated by nivelations and terraces in descendent order from East to West. Even though Yaxha is the third largest Mayan city in Guatemala after Tikal And El Mirador.
For more information about your vacations in Guatemala please feel free to contact us,
Calle 30 de junio
Ciudad FloresPeten, Guatemala
San pedro El Alto 3001
PH: (502) 5705 6904
FAX: (502) 7882 4427
2222 Benz View
Kingwood TX 77339
PH: (305) 395 3935

Call Toll Free
1-866-832-2776
Birdwatching Guatemala is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Birdwatching Guatemala by Martsam Travel

Bird Watching Guatemala

by Martsam Tour & Travel




"V International Bird Watching Encounter"


The first half of our International bird watching encounter will take place mainly in Antigua Guatemala with daily mini-tours which are half-day birding tours to different locations. Besides these tours, there will be lectures and educational activities for the general public.

The second half of the event is exclusively for traveling birders who want to visit other birding sites in Guatemala. Each visitor has to choose one of 4 options.



Option 1: The Western Highlands:

Visited sites include:

Private Nature Reserve los Tarrales, Nature reserve Los Andes, Municipal Park San Pedro Volcano


Ecosystems: cloud forest and pine-oak forest


Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Mountain Trogon Collared Trogon, Resplendent Quetzal, Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-crowned Motmot, Emerald Toucanet, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and White-fronted Parrot, Crested Caracara, Laughing Falcon, Highland Guan, Horned Guan.


Requirements: good physical condition, as this tour includes climbing San Pedro Volcano.




Option 2: The Verapaces region (or Central Highlands):


Visited sites include:

Archaeological site Guaytan, Private nature reserve Rio Escondido, Nature reserve Los Ranchitos, Nature Reserve Chajbaoc, Archaeological park Hun Nal Ye.


Ecosystems: thorn scrub, Pine-oak forest, Cloud Forest, tropical rain forest.


Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Russet-crowned Motmot, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Altamira Oriole, Bushy-crested Jay, Rufous-collared Robin, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Swallow, Resplendent Quetzal, Highland Guan, Violet Sabrewing, Black-throated Jay, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Plain Chachalaca, Little Hermit, Collared Trogon, Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Crimson-collared Tanager, White-breasted Hawk.


Requirements: walking.




Option 3: Izabal (the Atlantic low-lands):


Visited sites include:

Río Dulce National Park, Caribbean sea, Sarstún Wildlife Refuge, Quiriguá archaeological site.


Ecosystems: tropical rain forest, mangrove forest


Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Turquoise-browed Motmot, Orange-breasted Falcon, Anhinga, Black-crowned Night Heron, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Brown-hooded Parrot, Violet Sabrewing, Emerald Toucanet, Red-lored Parrot, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Red-capped Manakin, White-collared Manakin, Golden-hooded, Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, Montezuma Oropendola.


Requirements: walking



Option 4 Tikal and the Scarlet Macaw Sanctuary:

(Las Guacamayas Biological Station)


Visited sites include:

Laguna del Tigre National Park, Tikal National Park.


Ecosystems: tropical humid forest.


Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Red macaws, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan bob White, Yucatan Jay, Lovely Cotinga, Ocellated turkey, Orange breasted falcon, Grey throated chat, Black catbird, keel-billed toucans.


Requirements: walking


Please note that all prices are per person, and include:


• Land Transportation (in the case of the Peten trip, it includes air fare)
• Hotel accommodation in double occupancy
• Bird watching guide
• Some include all meals, and others include most meals.


If you are interested in any of these tours and would like to see the full detailed information (day by day itinerary, meals and other services included, etc.), please write use for more information

Martsam Tour & Travel

Calle 30 de junio

Ciudad Flores

Peten, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala

San pedro El Alto 3001

PH: (502) 5705 6904

FAX: (502) 7882 4427

USA

2222 Benz View

Kingwood TX 77339

PH: (305) 395 3935

Call Toll Free

1-866-832-2776

www.martsam.com

info@martsam.com

reservations@martsam.com



www.birdwatchingguatemala.com is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel
Copyright® 2,009
www.birdwatchingguatemala.com
www.martsam.com

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Monday, November 3, 2008

Bird portraits


Black-throated Green-warbler

Bird pictures have always different rewarding moments, but the opportunity to show a portrait is simply indescribable. These two pictures are a sample of migrant bird images I’ve taken during my birding trips in Guatemalan highlands in the last three years.
Blue-headed Vireo
Photo by Maynor Ovando

Posted by Maynor Ovando

http://www.birdwatchingguatemala.com/ is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel Copyright® 2,008
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