Two Week Wildlife & Discovery Tour In Guyana

Arrive Georgetown and check-in at hotel. After a welcome meeting with our tour leader this afternoon we head out on a birding trip to the extensive and beautiful Botanic Garden, where, if we are lucky, we may see the Blood-coloured Woodpecker, an astonishingly colourful Veniliornis found only in the Guianas and even there almost wholly limited to the narrow coastal plain.  The gardens host Snail Kite, Gray Hawk, Pearl Kite, Carib Grackle, Red-bellied Macaw, Red-shouldered Macaw and a host of parrots including the Orange-winged and Yellow-crowned Parrot and the Festive Parrot.  We will walk on trails in the back of the gardens and may see Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Black-crested Antshrike, Short-tailed Swift, Ruddy Ground Dove, Grayish Saltator, Silver-beaked Tanager, Buff-breasted Wren, Piratic and Ashy-headed Greenlet.  You may also see the Golden-spangled Piculet, White-bellied Piculet, Great Horned Owl, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Pinnated Bittern, Wing-barred Seedeater and Brown-throated Parakeet.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Today has been left free to explore more of Georgetown or take an optional trip to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls. The Kaieteur Falls, first seen by a European on April 29, 1870, is situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the Essequibo. The water of Kaieteur, one of the world’s natural wonders, flows over a sandstone conglomerate tableland into a deep gorge - a drop of 822 feet or 5 times the height of Niagara Falls. The Orinduik Falls is where the Ireng River thunders over steps and terraces of solid jasper, a semi precious stone. With a backdrop of the rolling grass covered hills of the Pakaraima Mountains, this is truly one of the most beautiful locations in Guyana’s hinterland. The trip departs from Ogle Airstrip in Georgetown and lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours with two hours spent on the ground at each waterfall.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we travel by private bus through the rainforest into the heart of Guyana to Kurupakari. From here we take a boat to the Iwokrama River Lodge.The Iwokrama Rainforest is a vast wilderness of one million acres. This protected area was established in 1996 as the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development. The Iwokrama Forest is in the heart of one of four last untouched tropical forests of the world - The Guiana Shield of north-eastern South America. Iwokrama was established as a living laboratory for tropical forest management because the unsustainable utilisation of these forests will result in the extinction of half the world's plant and animal species and unknown changes to global climate. This is a protected area with a difference - the full involvement of people. Iwokrama is exceptional among conservation organizations because it joins with local people in every aspect of its work. From research to business, Iwokrama ensures local economic and social benefits from forest use and conservation. The forest is in the homeland of the Makushi people, who have lived here and used the forest for thousands of years. People are a vertical part of the ecosystem. The success of Iwokrama relies on the ownership of local people and the combined skills of specialists and communities. Iwokrama does what so many international conventions have acknowledged as best practice. It has begun conservation locally and integrated conservation into national development. In the afternoon we explore the trails around the river lodge with an Iwokrama Ranger. The trails close to the Iwokrama Field Station may reveal Quill rattling by Spix’s Guan or Crestless Curassow. Species noted are the Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Eastern Slaty-Antshrike, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet and Tiny Tyrant Manakin. In the late afternoon we will take a short boat trip to Michelle’s Island overlooking Kurupakari Falls, where you can enjoy a drink at Michelle’s bar (at own expense). After dark we’ll leave Michelle’s Island and head out on the river with hopes of finding one or another of its four species of caiman and listen for night birds such as the Spectacled Owl, Long tailed Potoo, Zigzag Heron, Blackish Nightjar and other nocturnal wildlife. This trip often reveals snakes in the trees overhanging the river.

Overnight Standard Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a pre-dawn breakfast we set out by boat for half an hour or less to the foot of Turtle Mountain.  Here we explore the trails for a few hours first visiting Turtle Ponds where Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Sunbittern, Sungrebe, Greater Ani, and Green and Rufous Kingfisher hunt. We will continue through the forest, looking for Red Fan Parrot, Red-throated Caracara, Double-toothed Kite, White-plumed and Ferruginous-backed Antbird and Royal Flycatcher along the way.  Climbing to an elevation of 900 feet, we get a view of the forest canopy below and chances of Green Aracari, White Bellbird or a fly-by of one of five types of Eagles.  This trail is also a great location for seeing Black Spider Monkey and Red Howler Monkey and if we are very lucky even a Jaguar.  This pristine forest offers huge buttress trees and the endemic Greenheart, a highly sought after hardwood.  Return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon birding around the trails. Then continue on for a late afternoon (approx 1630hrs) drive to a place known as 27 Mile.  This location offers good views down the road and Jaguar are often sighted in the area.  We will spend and hour or two here. After dark we will spotlight along the road for not only Jaguar but other wildlife and night bird opportunities.  Later we transfer back to the field station for dinner.

Overnight Standard Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we can bird watch along the trails behind the lodge to look for Swallowwinged Puffbird, Black-spotted Barbet, Golden-collared, Yellow-throated, Crimsoncrested and Red-necked Woodpeckers, Guianan Toucanet, Black-headed, Whitebrowed, Ferruginous-backed, Warbling, Scalebacked, White-plumed, and Rufous-throated Antbirds, Ringed Antpipit, Black-tailed Tityra and Thrush-like Schiffornis. After lunch we depart by Bedford truck for birding along the road through the heart of the Iwokrama Forest, where we may also see the elusive Jaguar. The Iwokrama forest is rapidly gaining an international reputation for its healthy jaguar populations that seem not to be troubled by the appearance of curious humans. No promises, but many have been lucky! The road also offers excellent birding, including a locality known as Mori Scrub, characterized by an unusual low, sandy forest. This supports an interesting assemblage of bird species, among them Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Black Manakin and Red-shouldered Tanager. The journey continues onto the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Here we can bird watch from the vantage of 35 Metres up in the canopy. Caica Parrots, Painted Parakeets, Guianan Toucanet, Pompadour Cotinga, Plumbeous Pigeon, Red-and-green Macaw, Screaming Piha and a host of crown specialists come within our view. During our two night stay, another of our major targets will be the poorly known White-winged Potoo which, after dark, can be found both around the lodge and at the walkway. Locating this bird will be one of our major priorities on optional walks in the evenings from the lodge, however, we will need a bright moon-lit night to stand a reasonable chance of seeing it.

Overnight Simple Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Although the forest around Atta Lodge is excellent for birds, the major attraction here is a 154 metre long canopy walkway which is only 750m from the lodge.  The walkway has four platforms, the highest of which is over 30 metres above the ground, and these will allow us to get a good look at a range of canopy species, many of which we would struggle to see well from the forest floor.  Amongst the likely highlights are Painted, Brown-throated and Golden-winged Parakeets, Caica Parrot, Guianan Puffbird, Waved and Golden-collared Woodpeckers and Spot-tailed, Todd’s and Ash-winged Antwrens.  The walkway is also an excellent place to look for various species of cotinga including the poorly known and range-restricted Dusky Purpletuft and if there are any suitable fruiting trees nearby, we stand a good chance of seeing this bird, as well as the more widespread Purple-breasted Cotinga.  Another area where we will want to spend some time is the clearing around the lodge, as this is one of the best places to see another of Guyana’s “must see” birds, the Crimson Fruitcrow.  This species is seen here on a reasonably regular basis, as it often comes to feed in some of the nearby trees.  The clearing is also a reliable site for Black Curassow as there is a family party which has become habituated to people and regularly passes through the clearing.  With reasonable luck, we should be able to add this bird to the impressive list of species we hope to see around the lodge and walkway.  Other species we hope to encounter during our stay include Spix’s and Marail Guans, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Red-fan Parrot, Eastern Long-tailed Hermit, Crimson Topaz, Great and Paradise Jacamars, Guianan and Pied Puffbirds, Guianan Toucanet, Red-billed Woodcreeper, Black-throated Antshrike, Guianan Streaked Antwren, Guianan Warbling Antbird, Pompadour Cotinga, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Tiny Tyrant-Manakin, Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Golden-sided Euphonia and both Red-and-Black and Yellow-green Grosbeaks.

Overnight Simple Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will welcome the dawn chorus from the tree-tops on the canopy walkway.  Short-tailed Nighthawks settle in for the day, Swifts take to the sky, White throated and Channel-billed Toucans yodel, and Barred Forest Falcons call. After breakfast we will travel by Bedford Truck along the road, and we will watch for the myriad of bird species that frequent the forest edge, including Crimson and Purple-necked Fruit-crow, Crimson Topaz, Green Oropendula, Spotted and Guianan Puffbird, Scarlet and Red-and-Green Macaw, Blue-cheeked and Orange-winged Parrot and Gray-winged Trumpeter. We will stop at the Cock-of-the-rock Trail, an easy 20 minute walk, to hopefully have our first view of the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock.  We will then visit a nearby Harpy Eagle nest (if the nest is active).  The nest itself is located in a huge emergent tree only a couple of miles from the village and if we are extremely fortunate, we may see one of the adult birds bringing a sloth or monkey to the nest to feed their chick.  The trek into the nest site is about an hour each way on a reasonable trail.  We will then continue on to the Amerindian community at Surama.  The village of Surama is situated in a small savannah, deep in the rainforest and surrounded by forest clad hills.  It was here that Charles Waterton passed through in 1812 in search of the secrets of the useful Wourali poison known as Curare.  Waterton was so stunned by this spot that he wrote in his memoirs “The finest park that England boasts falls short of this delightful scene”. There is great birding leading to the village and the surrounding savannah and you may see White Throated Toucans, Pearl Kites, and White-tailed and Savannah Hawks, and Great Potoo.  On arrival in Surama receive a welcome from a village counsellor and settle into your accommodation.  This afternoon escorted tour of the village, visiting the local school, medical centre and church along with some of the village houses.  Tonight enjoy an educational walk to observe wildlife and experience the mystique of the forest after dark.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We rise before dawn for a walk across the savannah and then the exhilarating climb up Surama Mountain in the cool morning air.  This is the best time to observe bird life along the trail.  Breakfast will be served at a lookout point which affords incredible views across the village and savannah to the Pakaraima Mountains.  After walking back to the village, many might opt to rest and relax around the cabins.  This afternoon a local guide will escort you for a short walk on trails to observe the forest and bird life and talk about medicinal plants.  Whilst Neomorphus ground-cuckoos are undoubtedly amongst the toughest family of birds to locate anywhere in the Neotropics, Surama offers one of the best-known chances for seeing Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo and to maximise the odds of us finding one, we will use expert local guides to assist us.  We will, however, still count ourselves as extremely fortunate if we succeed in getting good looks at this extremely elusive species.  We also plan to do some night birding and will hope to locate the recently split Northern Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, as well as Tropical Screech-Owl, Lesser Nighthawk, White-tailed Nightjar and both Great and Common Potoos.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we take a three mile walk across the savannah and through the rainforest to the Burro Burro River to Carahaa Landing. Taking dugout canoes to the river, paddling on the river, fishing and looking for wildlife.  Although the Harpy Eagle and Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo may be the star attractions at Surama, there are plenty of other species to look for and we hope to encounter Red-legged Tinamou, Painted Parakeet, Dusky Parrot, Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, Pale-throated Barbthroat, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Great and Paradise Jacamars, Guianan Puffbird, Black-spotted Barbet, Golden-spangled Piculet, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper, Northern Slaty-Antshrike, Rufous-bellied, Spot-tailed and Todd’s Antwrens, Dusky, White-browed, White-bellied, Ferruginous-backed, Rufous-throated and Guianan Warbling Antbirds, Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Lemon-chested and Ashy-headed Greenlets and Finsch’s Euphonia. Try your luck at catching the famous Haimara fish that is common to the Burro Burro waters. Tonight you will also try your hand at smoking, boiling or barbequing your catch.

Overnight Simple Hammock Camp Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

At dawn our guides will paddle us on the Burro Burro River for opportunities to observe Giant River Otters, Tapir, Tira, Spider Monkeys and many more species.  We then return to the village before departing Surama by Bedford Truck for Rock View Lodge at Annai. Rock View Lodge is located where the savannah meets the forest-covered foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains.  With its tropical gardens and flowering trees, the lodge resembles an oasis in the savannah, and attracts many species of birds, particularly nectar feeders and frugivores.  Nearby patches of light forest are home to certain ant birds and flycatchers, and of course the grasslands support an avifauna of their own.  In the grasslands and nearby forested hills, we look for Double-striped Thick-knee, Green-tailed Jacamar, Spotted Puffbird, White-bellied Antbird, Finsch’s Euphonia, Fork-tailed Flycatchers, Savannah and Black Collared Hawks.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will devote the morning hours to a location known as Moura Bridge for the opportunity to view the Amethyst Woodstar, White-chinned Sapphire, Long-billed Starthroat and several Hermits as they patrol around the grounds. Nearby forest patches are home to Amazonian Scrub Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike and a variety of antbirds. In the afternoon, we set out on the road to Camundi Bach, for Cinereous Mourner, Reddish Hermit, Rufous-bellied Antwren and Yellow-billed Jacamar, Fork-tailed Flycatchers, Savannah and Black Collared Hawks as they patrol the grassland.  At dusk as nightjars and nighthawks tumble over the grasslands we will look for the Nacunda Nighthawk and White-tailed Nightjar.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning you can bird around the resort or in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains on the Panorama Trail for Cinereous Mourner, Reddish Hermit, Rufous-bellied Antwren and Yellow-billed Jacamar. This afternoon we take a flight back to Georgetown.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Your tour ends in Georgetown this morning after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast