LA MILPA SIDE-TRIP
Optional Trip to Northwestern Belize
Rio Bravo
Conservation and Management Area
Northern Hardwood Forest
Belize has six distinct ecological regions, two of which are included in this side
trip: Coastal Savannas and Northern Hardwood Forest. This will be our only opportunity to
bird the Northern Hardwood Forest. In 2003, we explored the Blue Creek Village area and
continued to the Rio Bravo Conservation Area, finding 188 species, including more than a
dozen we did not see anywhere else during our caravan trip. What we found was truly
exciting and wetted our appetite for an opportunity to spend more time birding this area.
So, for the 2003 trip we are again including a 3-day / 2-night side trip to this part of
western Belize, just east of the Guatemala border.
A few of the highlights of last
year's visit were: Great Tinamou, King Vulture
,
Ornate and Black Hawk-Eagles, Crested Guan, Ruddy Quail-Dove and Purple-crowned Fairy.
This year we will have access to the trails leading through 260,000 acres managed by
Programme for Belize and we will have a local guide to provide us with the best
opportunity to find the area's specialties. This area boasts 392 species of birds, 200
species of trees, 70 species of mammals and 12 endangered animal species. The La Milpa
Archaeological Site includes a royal Maya tomb that in 1996 was discovered to hold a male
skeleton adorned with a jeweled necklace.
From the RV campsite in Corozal, we will start our trip early in the morning, using our
cars and trucks, leaving our RV's behind. We'll leave early enough in the morning to hear
owls and nightjars at August Pine Ridge. A significant portion of the trip will be on
gravel roads, easily managed, but at a slower pace, both for the birding opportunities in
route as well as the road condition. Parrots feeding in the sorghum fields and kites and
falcons are often seen along this road. If the wetlands are still flooded we may see
Jabiru. We will arrive at Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area in early afternoon,
spend two nights at La Milpa and return to Corozal the following day.
Accommodations
We will be staying at the La Milpa Field Station,
an attractive collection of cabanas, dormitory, dining room, conference/training room,
library, gift shop and leisure areas nestled in a grassy open spot in the midst of the
dense forest. These are the same facilities used by Massachusetts Audubon, New Jersey
Audubon and the American Birding Association in the past.
Package Features
- 2 nights accommodation at the La Milpa Field Station.
- Breakfast snack and midday lunch in route.
- 5-6 meals (depending on when we arrive), prepared and served at La Milpa.
- 4 guided tours through Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area.
Package Pricing
Price depends on your choice of room. Both choices include the complete package as
described above.
- Cabana: US$xxx per person (Double occupancy required. Third occupant or a
second couple permitted).
- Dormitory room: US$xxx per person (Expect shared occupancy, number of
occupants depending upon size of group).
This web site is designed by Bert Frenz. For comments, E-mail to bert@bafrenz.com.
Copyright © 2003-04 Bert Frenz. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 05, 2007.