Upon arrival at Philip Goldson International Airport, meet your local guide and drive about two hours to Crystal Paradise Resort in the Maya village of Cristo Rey. Settle in and enjoy your first introduction to Belize's avifauna during a relaxed afternoon bird walk in the lodge's gardens. Likely sightings include Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Lesson's Motmot, Red-legged Honeycreeper, and Black-headed Trogon. Please arrange your flights to land in Belize City before 2 pm in order to arrive at the lodge in time for your program orientation and welcome dinner. Check-in starts at 3 pm. (Elevation: 350ft / Habitat: Suburban edge, tropical moist broadleaf forest)

Spend the day at Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Situated in the Western Maya Mountains, the reserve encompasses nearly 150,000 acres of tropical broadleaf forest. Together with the adjacent Chiquibul National Park and Caracol Archaeological Reserve, it forms part of the larger region known as Chiquibul Forest, the largest tract of protected land in Belize - which in turn is part of the Maya Forest, the largest tropical rainforest network in Central America. Here look for the Mealy Parrot, Gray-headed Kite, Brown-hooded Parrot, Speckled Mourner, Collared Trogon, and many more. Tonight and each subsequent evening, join your guide for a bird checklist review. (Elevation: 2000ft / Habitat: Submontane wet broadleaf forest / Terrain: Some hills and slopes)

This morning visit Black Rock Lodge to explore its diverse trail network and surrounding habitats. The lodge is located in the dense rainforest on the banks of the Macal River and is known for its excellent birding, with more than 300 species recorded here. Begin with an early morning guided walk along the riparian forest looking for raptors. Have lunch at Benny's Kitchen, a family-owned restaurant serving authentic cultural cuisine of the Maya, Mestizo, and Garifuna. This afternoon, embark on an optional canoe or kayak trip along the Macal River, a serene way to encounter species like Green Kingfisher, Montezuma Oropendola, and Boat-billed Heron. (Elevation: 350ft / Habitat: Tropical moist broadleaf forest, farmland and forest edge / Terrain: Some hills and slopes)

Today, travel to Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve for a full day field excursion through Belize's unique pine oak ecosystem. Begin at Rio Frio Cave, and explore the quarter-mile cave system and its natural freshwater pools, waterfalls, and stalactite formations. Continue to Thousand Foot Falls, the highest waterfall in the country, and Slate Creek Lookout, a high point in the reserve with a sweeping vista. Target species include the rare Orange-breasted Falcon, Stygian Owl, Rufous-capped Warbler, Rusty Sparrow, Grace's Warbler, and King Vulture. (Elevation: 1200 - 2100ft / Habitat: Mid-elevation pine savannah, tropical moist broadleaf forest at edges / Terrain: Some hills and slopes)

After breakfast this morning, drive north to the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area. Rio Bravo is the largest private reserve and the second largest terrestrial conservation area in Belize, comprising 4% of the country's total land area. You will be staying at La Milpa Ecolodge and Field Station in the northwestern portion of the reserve, only three miles from La Milpa Archaeological Site, the third largest Maya ruin in Belize. Many tropical species are readily found on the lodge property within the broadleaf, cohune, and bajo forest habitats, including manakins, motmots, parrots, tanagers, toucans, trogons, and woodcreepers. Mammals frequently encountered are Geoffroy's spider monkey and Mexican howler monkey; other seldom-seen species to search for include ocelot, red brocket deer, or even the elusive jaguar. Upon arrival, check in then take a guided hike through the lodge grounds. (Elevation: 430ft / Habitat: Yucatan dry forest, seasonally flooded bajo forest, tropical moist broadleaf forest / Terrain: Mostly flat)

This morning travel through some forest and farmland to Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, with birding along the way. Lamanai, which means "submerged crocodile" in the Yucatec Maya language, was one of the longest-occupied Maya city-states in the world and was once a prominent ceremonial center of the Maya civilization. The surrounding forest and lagoon edge are home to hundreds of species, such as the Collared Aracari, Snail Kite, Mayan Antthrush, and Limpkin. After exploring the site, enjoy lunch and then journey back to La Milpa Lodge. Enjoy time for birding around the lodge before bird checklist review and dinner. This evening, take a night walk to search for nocturnal species. (Elevation: 70ft / Habitat: Lagoon edge with tropical moist broadleaf forest / Terrain: Mostly flat)

Depart for Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Belize's premier birding destinations and a designated Ramsar wetland. Upon arrival at Bird's Eye View Lodge, which is located in the sanctuary, enjoy lunch and settle in before an afternoon walk through the lodge's grounds or lagoon-edge trail system. Species to watch for include Vermilion Flycatcher, Pale-vented Pigeon, and Black-collared Hawk. (Elevation: 50ft / Habitat: Suburban edge, lowland pine savanna, inland lagoon and marsh, Yucatan dry forest / Terrain: Mostly flat)

Begin the day with a sunrise boat tour through Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary's lagoon system. This is one of the best opportunities to see water birds up close, including the iconic Jabiru, Boat-billed Heron and if lucky, even Agami Heron. The rest of the day will be spent either on the trails near the lodge or just outside the village to explore new habitats. Just before sunset, visit the pine savanna and dry forest habitat behind the village. Notable species include Yucatan Jay, Yellow-lored Parrot, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. (Elevation: 50ft / Habitat: Suburban edge, lowland pine savannah, inland lagoon and marsh, Yucatan dry forest / Terrain: Mostly flat)

Optional early morning activity includes a final savanna walk. Later, return to Belize City in time for afternoon international departures. Check-out is at 11 am.