In my opinion, Guatemala has the best birding and most interesting cultures in North America. It's also the scariest place I've ever birded. Tikal is fabulous birding. I had a Tinamou peck my shoelaces there.

The problem is organized attacks on tourists, especially those carrying expensive optics. I was targeted in Antigua when I lagged behind an escorted group, but luckily ran fast enough to escape them. The next day I met a birder who was attacked and lost all his cameras to the same gang in the same spot. The worst problem is carjackings, in the daylight! The locals we visited had an armed guard with them at all times.

So bird with an organized group. I used GBRC http://xelapages.com/gbrc/index.htm We were beta test clients in 2002, so I'm sure they've gotten even better. The place they stay on the coast is primitive, but the birding was excellent.

Antigua is lovely, we talked our Spanish teachers into walking around town instead of sitting at a desk all day. They loved it, as did I.

Just BE CAREFUL.


Richard Carlson
Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
Part-time Economist
Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA
rccarl at pacbell.net
Tucson 520-760-4935
Tahoe 530-581-0624
Kirkland 425-828-3819
Cell 650-280-2965




________________________________
From: Diana Thompson <dianaft21 at yahoo.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 2:57:20 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Birding in Guatemala


Hello Tweeters,

My husband and I are planning to spend 3 or 4 weeks in Antigua, Guatemala in the 1st part of 2009 and would like to do some birding while we are there. We also may visit Copan.

Could anyone recommend a guide in the Antigua/Guatemala City area and/or one at Copan?

Could anyone recommend any particular areas to bird in the Antigua/Guatemala City/Lake Atitlan region? Looking at the internet Los Tarrales and perhaps Monterrico sound attractive to me.

Finally, does anyone have any experience with an organization called Birdpals? According to the interent a bird pal is not a paid guide, but someone "who likes to help out of town vistors" One individual is listed for the Antigua area.

Any other suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Thank you for your assistance.
Diana Thompson