Enjoy the magic of Belize through the lens of a camera on this IndiGo Birding photography trip! Bird photography takes patience, knowledge, skill, and equipment and requires a different type of tour format than our typical birding and culture trips. This 8-day, 7-night package incorporates day tours in search of spectacular tropical birds and moves at a relaxed pace that is ideal for photographers. In addition, our Belizean guides are excellent photographers themselves, which means that they know what it takes to get the perfect shot and can give tips and pointers as we go. Don't miss out on this amazing travel opportunity! 

One of the beautiful aspects of this trip is the level of accommodations we use, particularly when it comes to each place's setting. We will spend the first three nights at Black Rock Lodge, an eco-lodge along the Macal River near the Guatemalan border. Then we will stop for a night at Bird's Eye View Lodge in the village of Crooked Tree, located right on the edge of a wildlife sanctuary. We will then visit the spectacular Lamanai Outpost Lodge for three nights, where photographer extraordinaire Eduardo Ruano will lead us. At each place we will eat well, see beautiful birds, and relax in beautiful surroundings where bird photography opportunities are right outside your door!  

TOUR PAYMENTS: All payments, including initial deposit, can be made through WeTravel. We do accept credit cards for an additional 2.9% fee, but you may also pay by bank transfer or check. Full payment is due by January 15, 2027.

CANCELLATIONS: IF WE CANCEL a tour due to low attendance, severe weather, or other unforeseen event, participants may either move their payments to another trip of their choice or receive a full refund.

IF YOU CANCEL your place on a tour we intend to operate more than 90 days from departure, a full refund will be available. If cancelling within 90 days of departure, no refund will be given UNLESS we are able to fill your spot(s) with another participant. In that situation, $250 will still be withheld for administrative purposes, but the rest of your payments will be refunded. We highly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation (including medical emergency) insurance to cover your investment in case of injury or illness to you or a family member prior to or during a trip.

Our meeting spot is in the connections lobby of the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Ladyville, Belize, preferably before 2:00 p.m. A driver from Black Rock Lodge will meet us there and provide our transportation west across Belize to the lodge, located in the jungle along the banks of the Macal River. A tropical paradise full of birds awaits!

Today is a day of bird photography as we enjoy the grounds of Black Rock Lodge. Birding guide Isaias Morataya (check out his photos) will offer several walks for us throughout the day on this remote property. We should be able to find Red-legged Honeycreepers (pictured here), toucans, manakins, and other tropical birds. Nestled in a river valley between spectacular cliffs, Black Rock offers a variety of habitats and good raptor viewing, even from the dining area. Enjoy a freshwater pool, hike the trails, or get a massage during your free time. The best of Belize! 

We will leave early in the morning for a trip to the unique habitat of Mountain Pine Ridge. A favorite location for many birders, Mountain Pine Ridge offers a suite of species not common elsewhere: Rusty Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Siskin, and King Vulture (pictured here), to name a few. It also offers some of the best scenery and views in Belize. Enjoyed a picnic lunch in a gorgeous location, then travel back to Black Rock for a little photography on your own before dinner.

Today is a travel day. After one more tasty breakfast at Black Rock Lodge, we pack up and head back east. The plan is to take a detour to visit Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, which also offers some of the best hummingbird feeders for photography in the country. While 15 species of hummingbirds have been spotted here, expectations should be set at the eight species that normally visit the feeders. Favorites include the Violet Sabrewing, the Long-billed Hermit, and the White-necked Jacobin (pictured here). We will also stop at Upe Nai for a traditional Mayan lunch before driving to Bird's Eye View Lodge in the Creole village of Crooked Tree. Jeremiah will lead a photography walk near the lodge before dinner and also check for Common Pauraques after dark.

One of the highlights of any birding trip to Belize is the morning boat tour of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. This inland lagoon offers habitat to an amazing array of wetland birds and raptors, like the Black-collared Hawk and Snail Kite. This three-hour trip gives us up-close views of charismatic species like the Northern Jacana, Bare-throated Tiger-heron, and maybe a Sungrebe. While there's never a guarantee, we will try to find the Jabiru (pictured here - the largest stork in the western hemisphere) and the beautiful Agami Heron. After brunch, we will pack up for a move to Lamanai Outpost Lodge. The travel is part of the adventure, as we take a boat 25 miles up river to get to the lodge that is located next to its namesake, the Lamanai Mayan Archaeological Site.

Lamanai Outpost Lodge is located within a short walk or boat ride of the Lamanai Archaeological Site, one of the most spectacular of the Mayan sites in Belize. We'll spend the morning touring the site with Eduardo Ruano, one of the top photographers in Belize! (Check out his photos here.) We will search for Howler Monkeys (pictured here) and birds likes toucans, motmots, and woodcreepers. The afternoon will include a nature walk at the edge of the village, where the open views and good light make for nice photography conditions. After dinner we will do a Spotlight Safari by boat in the lagoon. A day you'll never forget! 

Among our outings today is a pre-breakfast hike in the savanna. The savanna is located across the lagoon from Lamanai and provides habitat for the endangered Yellow-headed Amazon (pictured here). Other unique targets include the Botteri's Sparrow, the Black Catbird, and the Yucatan Woodpecker. The rest of the day will be spent taking advantage of local bird photography opportunities at and near the lodge. If you want to take a canoe ride or a nap in a hammock, those are options, too! As we finish the trip, we may be approaching 200 species, many of which will now be in your photography collection.

Time to pack for home! After another amazing Belizean breakfast, we will load up the boat for the first leg of the journey to the airport. Schedule your flight home for early to mid-afternoon. On your way home, you'll likely be thinking... "how soon can I come back?!?"