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La Antigua Guatemala:
At an altitude of 1530 meters ASL and surrounded by three volcanoes: Agua (3750 meters ASL), Acatenango (3960 meters ASL) and Fuego (3800 meters ASL), the former capital of Guatemala is a colonial-stylish jewel, declared Mankinds Heritage by UNESCO.

Founded in 1543 by Don Pedro De Alvarado, La Antigua was built and rebuilt several times, due to the earthquakes that occur with certain regularity on the area where the city stands. This rebuilding process has left on the city a varied architectural style, whose chronology stops in 1773, date in which the capital of Guatemala moves to its actual position. We will spend one night on this enchanting scenery.

From the Highland Humid Subtropical Forest we descend to the Pacific Foothills located on the south slope of the Sierra Madre, the Pacific Foothills begin at about 850 meters ASL and ends on the coastal plain, around 200 meters ASL.

This area, which faces the Pacific Ocean, receives

abundant precipitation at the middle and low altitudes and has great quantities of mist at higher elevations. These are fertile areas for coffee and cardamom plantations.
No fewer than 30 species have adapted to this kind of forest. Most are endemic passeriforms of Mesoamerica, with two exceptions - Horned Guan and Rufous Sabrewing. In this humid area, we can find Long-tailed Manakin, Rufous and White Wren, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, White-eared Ground-sparrow and Chestnut Capped Warbler, for example.

Descending from the mountains, the south coast plains are quickly reached. The south coastal beaches, stretching along the Guatemalan Pacific Ocean, consist of black volcanic sand. Covering more than 90 kms inland, the wide, lowland plains are crossed by dozens of rivers and shallow marshes. This farming area is the most fertile land in the country. Everywhere are huge sugar plantations, as well as traditional cattle ranches. This area was, until the beginning of the century, a closed jungle of Tropical Dry Forest. The establishment of the industries mentioned converted this forest in a Tropical Humid Savannah. Some of the most common species that we can find in this place are White-collared Seedeater, Wood Stork, White Bellied Chachalaca, Yellow-naped Parrot, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Roadside Hawk and Harris Hawk.

Heading south from these plains we reach the exotic black sand beaches of the Pacific Ocean with adjacent Mangrove Forests, marshes and swamps. Several aquatic species can be found in this area, including Night Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Olivaceus Cormorant, five species of kingfishers, Northern Jacana, Peregrine Falcon, two species of pelicans, Snail Kites and many more. This part of Guatemala is an exceptionally rich area for Birdwatching and the Monterrico Nature Preserve will be our birding place for two nights!

Martsam Tour & Travel and Rainforest Alliance have established an alliance to work with the operator's suppliers in Best Management Practices in Sustainable Tourism Program since May 2,006.