5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Birdwatching in San Juan La Laguna is a really cool activity if you want to explore more of nature. We have the equipment that will make you have an amazing experience watching the colorful birds that there are around.
Inclusions
What's included
- Binoculars and Digiscoping
What's not
- Snacks
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 526
- 41
- 31
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 28 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5We Identified 35 Birds!
This is an easy walk up into the cafetales to view birds. Our friendly and knowledgeable guide, Eduardo, had a set of binoculars for my friend and me to share, plus a beautiful telescope that he would set up to view some birds. I have the Merlin app, so he was able to share a list of the 35 birds we identified! If you’re a bird expert or just getting into it like me, you’ll enjoy this easygoing experience. We even ran into some very friendly farmers along the way.
5A must do tour if you are in the area!
Our guides Benjamin and Eduardo were fantastic and were very knowledgeable about the birds and environment in Mirador Rey Tepepul Reserva Natural de Atitlan. We were very fortunate to see the official bird of Guatemala, the Resplendent Quetzal and spend some time watching it fly from tree to tree. We had many sightings of the Northern Emerald Toucan as well. We saw and heard many more birds, but those were the main highlights. It was very cool seeing some birds that are here, as well as at home in Canada depending on the time of year.
4Lots of minutes looking at Quetzal
3.5/5. Here’s some extra info that’s relevant: pickup was around 5:30-6:00AM, binoculars are included but not for each person so you will have to share with one other person. Prior to the tour, we were asked to provide a list of a few birds we wanted to see. The morning of the tour, the guide was in a huge rush to get to the area where quetzals tend to be. We heard calls from toucanettes, parakeets, and motmots which we really wanted a chance to view, but were made to rush past them to arrive at the quetzal. We spend 1/3 of the active bird watching period looking at a quetzal (beautiful, of course) but missed so many great birds along the way and during the quetzal viewing period. Overall, good day because we got to spend time in nature checking out some new birds. However, we felt disappointed by the quetzal-hype that forced us to skip over some really neat birds. Total species observed around 20.
3It could be better
I had mixed feelings about this birding tour. First, I want to say that the guide was absolutely incredible. He was knowledgeable, passionate, and clearly very experienced. Thanks to him, we saw around 30 different bird species, many of which I had never seen before, which was really special. However, the location itself was very disappointing. I had expected a peaceful, forested hike based on the photos and description online, but the reality was quite different. Much of the walk took place through areas that were heavily littered, including what felt like private fields filled with garbage. At times, we were literally walking over trash, which took away from the experience and made it hard to fully enjoy the outing. It’s a shame because the birding itself and the guide were excellent. I would absolutely recommend the guide, but I would strongly suggest choosing a different location if possible.
5Easy hike, knowledgeable...
Easy hike, knowledgeable and friendly guide, saw 31 species, many new to us! It is morning so you will need layers as it's chilly to start and then gets warm. You also get a tour of local farmsteads by default.
5Excellent Birdwatching
Birdwatching with Benjamin was a treat. We saw almost 50 species, including many new lifers for me! Benjamin is an experienced birdwatcher and is highly knowledgeable of local birds. Additionally, his English is excellent. He picked us up directly from our hotel in San Pedro. Binoculars are provided if you did not bring your pair and Benjamin brings a scope for long range viewing as well.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Look for the Catholic Church, it is only 50m from the market building. Your guide will be waiting for you right in front of the church. He will have his guide badge on his chest.
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Guatemala Authentic Nature
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in San Pedro La Laguna
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 42 experiences we list in San Pedro La Laguna.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 6 of 42.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About San Pedro La Laguna
San Pedro La Laguna is a Tz'utujil Maya town on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala's highlands, below the San Pedro volcano, known for Spanish schools and coffee.
San Pedro La Laguna sits on the south-western shore of Lake Atitlán, a deep volcanic lake ringed by steep green hills and three volcanoes. The town is home to the Tz'utujil Maya, and women in woven blouses sell fruit and vegetables at the market. Boats connect it with other lake villages, and the San Pedro volcano rises behind, a hike of several hours to a summit at about 3,000 metres.
Top-ranked sights in San Pedro La Laguna: Volcán San Pedro.
