Dr Duncan James
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Comprehensive Nature, Exploration and Travel Advice for Central America

On this page: free guides | books | email | consult | coverage

Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and regional context
Birdwatching, hiking, mammal watching, walking, turtle watching, snorkelling, identification and more
Comprehensive logistical help with maps, GPS coordinates, public transport and accommodation

The 11 Free Guides

You can simply download the one-click bundle of all 11 free guides (with a total of 106 pages) or select one or more guides individually.
• First-Time Traveller’s Guide to Central America (11 pages)
• Budget Backpacking: Maximise Your Central America Trip (13 pages)
• A Family Guide to Ecotourism in Central America (8 pages)
• The Stress-Free Guide to Central American Border Crossings (9 pages)
• 10 Traveller’s Tips for Central America (12 pages)
• 20 Spanish Words That Solve Problems Before They Happen in Central America (9 pages)
• Where to See Birds: Comparing Central America’s Top Birdwatching Destinations (10 pages)
• Mammal Watching in Central America (8 pages)
• Hiking in Central America: An Overview (9 pages)
• The Anxious or Nervous Traveller’s Guide to Central America (6 pages)
• Costa Rica Birding: Itinerary Design (11 pages)

The Books

My name is Duncan James. I am a best-selling writer with over a decade of experience writing about, consulting about and guiding people directly in their wildlife-watching, hiking and other adventures in Central America.

I have authored 10 books about Central America. They are available from Payhip (pdf, epub), Amazon (Kindle, paperback), Kobo (not Wild Central America as it is too large), Google and Apple:

The ecotourism books cover activities, destinations, itineraries, logistics and include a 60-page photographic identification guide.
• Ecotourism Mexico: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism Belize: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism Guatemala: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism El Salvador: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism Honduras: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism Nicaragua: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism Costa Rica: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.
• Ecotourism Panama: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.

The pocket field guide is a non-photographic identification guide to the common wildlife of Central America.
• Pocket Field Guide to the Wildlife of Central America: Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Kobo, Google, Apple.

Wild Central America includes all the destination and descriptive content from the ecotourism books, includes all the content of the field guide and adds whole-region reviews of activities, itineraries, wildlife distributions and logistics.
• Wild Central America (a 600-page large-format book that has the content of all the above with lots more regional-level narration, advice and information): Payhip. Amazon US, UK, etc. Google, Apple.

Email or Zoom Call

You can email me at drduncanjames@gmail.com with a question (I’m happy to answer any random travel or nature questions).

You can book a video call on Zoom with me. During our video call you can ask me all the questions you want or we can simply chat about Central America, its wildlife, the opportunities for hiking and much more. Note that I am constantly actively researching Central America, so there will be new things I know that are not included in the books.

The Coverage of this Project

If a destination is on the following coverage list, then I know about it. If I have also written about it in a book, then this is mentioned.

Mexico is included because from some perspectives it functions as a part of Central America (for example, for bird migration). South America is also included, principally because a longer (for example, backpacking) trip to Central America is often combined with it.

The Full List of Destinations

• The United States of America (covered in Wild Central America or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ The various options for crossing the border between Mexico and the USA.

• Central America (covered in Wild Central America or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ Suggested regional itineraries.
◦ Regional reviews of activities: Birdwatching, Seawatching, Mammal Watching, Insect Watching, Plant and Flower Watching, Geology, Snorkelling, Turtle Watching, Whale Watching, Habitat Watching, Migration Watching, Sounds of Nature, Nature Art and Photography, Nighttime, Accessible Wildlife Watching, Walking (routes less than 10km), Hiking (routes more than 10km), Bicycling, Kayaking and Canoeing, Day Trips, Camping, Budget Backpacking, Regular Backpacking, Budget Ecotourism Using Hotels, Independent Ecotourism with a Vehicle, Campervanning and Motorhoming, Organised Group Holidays and Independent Guides, Ecolodges, Conservation Volunteering.
◦ A regional review of the birdlife with an analysis of every species, analyses of distributions, statistical analyses of sightings, etc.
◦ A regional archaeology review covering: “Mayan Culture (Yucatán to El Salvador, 1800BC to 1700)”, “Other Cultures (5000BC to 1500)”, “Honduras Southward (5000BC to 1500)”, “History Pre-5000BC”.

• México (covered in the books “Mexico Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ Baja California (birdwatching, bird migration, overwintering wildfowl, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, turtle watching, whale watching, seawatching, motorhoming, bicycling, desert, oases, coral reefs, coast, beaches, sand dunes, salt pans, snorkelling, archaeology, petroglyphs, public transport, accommodation) (Ensenada, Cañón de Doña Petra, San Pedro Mártir, San Quintín, El Rosario, Lake Chapala, El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio, Santa Rosalía, Mulegé, Bahía de Concepción, La Paz Water Treatment Works, San José del Cabo, Cabo Pulmo, Laguna San Ignacio)
◦ La Paz to Topolobampo Ferry (birdwatching, dolphin watching, seawatching, open sea, public transport, accommodation)
◦ Pacific Coast (birdwatching, hiking, walking, waders, wetlands, forested slopes, coast, beaches, mangroves, farmland, coffee plantations, bicycling, public transport, accommodation) (Topolobampo, Los Mochis, San Blas, Tepic, Sierra San Juan, Guadalajara, Lake Chapala, Jocotepec Malecón, Ajijic, The Allen Lloyd Trail, El Caracol Trail, Juchitán, Xadani Beach)
◦ Northern Highlands (hiking, walking, birdwatching, overwintering wildfowl, mammal watching, desert, forest, mountains, gorges, high-altitude ecology, geology, public transport, accommodation) (Copper Canyon, El Salto Road, Mexiquillo, Tufted Jay Reserve, Torréon, Saltillo, San Lorenzo Canyon, Monterrey, Chipinque, Santiago)
◦ Southern Highlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, Monarch butterfly, forest, lakes, archaeology, public transport, accommodation) (Mexico City, University Botanical Gardens, Tlalpan Forest, México City Ecological Park, Xochimilco Ecological Park, San Gregorio Lake, Oaxaca, Monte Albán, Sierra Norte de Oaxaca)
◦ Caribbean Coast (bird migration, raptor migration, birdwatching, hiking, walking, insect migration, insect watching, wetlands, forest, coast, beaches, dunes, mangroves, archaeology, public transport, accommodation) (El Tajín, Tecolutla, José Cardel, Chichicaxtle, Quiahuiztlán, La Mancha, Zempoala, Chachalacas Beach, La Antigua, Xalapa, Castillo Lake, Macuiltépetl Ecological Park, El Tejar Nature Reserve, Veracruz, Córdoba, Tuxtla, Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, San Martín, Catemaco)
◦ Yucatán Peninsula (birdwatching, flamingoes, hiking, walking, snorkelling, turtle watching, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, rainforest, dry forest, wetlands, coast, beaches, coral reefs, cenotes, canoeing, kayaking, public transport, accommodation) (Mérida, Celestún, Progreso, Cobá, Uxmal, Tulum, Sian Ka’an, Río Lagartos, Calakmul)
◦ Southern Forest (birdwatching, forest, rainforest, wildlife watching, archaeology, public transport, accommodation) (Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Sumidero Canyon, Palenque, San Cristóbal, Yaxchilán, Bonampak)

• Belize (covered in the books “Belize Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ The North (birdwatching, mammal watching, bicycling, forest, rainforest, farmland, rivers, archaeology, public transport, accommodation) (Orange Walk, Crooked Tree)
◦ Belize City (public transport, accommodation)
◦ The South (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, turtle watching, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, forest, rainforest, wetlands, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation) (Mountain Pine Ridge, Blue Hole, Dangriga, Mayflower Bocawina, Hopkins, Cockscomb Basin, Punta Gorda)
◦ Coastal Waters (snorkelling, wildlife watching, turtle watching, islands, coast, coral reefs, public transport, accommodation) (Ambergris Caye, Caulker Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Blue Hole, Turneffe Atoll, Glovers Reef)

• Guatemala (covered in the books “Guatemala Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ Pacific Lowlands (birdwatching, turtle watching, forest, farmland, wetlands, coast, beaches, mangroves, public transport, accommodation)
◦ Highlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, forest, cloudforest, farmland, wetlands, rivers, mountains, public transport, accommodation) (Las Verapaces, Mocohán, Ranchitos del Quetzal, Biotopo del Quetzal, Ram Tzul, Posada Montaña del Quetzal, Atitlán, Finca El Pilar, Alux Mountain)
◦ Caribbean Lowlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, canoeing, kayaking, forest, rainforest, farmland, wetlands, coast, mangroves, rivers, archaeology, public transport, accommodation) (Tikal, El Remate, Uaxactún, Lake Yaxhá, Sayaxché, El Rosario, El Ceibal)
◦ Guatemala City (public transport, accommodation)

• El Salvador (covered in the books “El Salvador Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ Pacific Coast (birdwatching, turtle watching, snorkelling, canoeing, kayaking, forest, dry forest, farmland, wetlands, coast, beaches, mangroves, public transport, accommodation) (Walter Tilo, Jiquilisco Bay, Jocotal Lake, Puerto Parada)
◦ Volcanoes (hiking, walking, birdwatching, geology, volcanoes, crater lakes, forest, farmland, public transport, accommodation) (Chingo Volcano, El Imposible National Park, Los Volcanes National Park, Cerro Verde, Santa Ana Volcano, Ilamatepec Volcano, Izalco Volcano, San Salvador Volcano, El Boquerón, San Vicente Volcano, Conchagua Volcano)
◦ San Salvador (public transport, accommodation)
◦ Metapán (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, lake, forest, farmland, mountains, canoeing, kayaking, public transport, accommodation) (La Barra, Las Conchas, Montecristo)

• Honduras (covered in the books “Honduras Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ Caribbean Coast (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, snorkelling, turtle watching, forest, farmland, wetlands, coast, beaches, mangroves, islands, public transport, accommodation) (Tela, Jeanette Kawas National Park, Lancetilla, Pico Bonito, El Bejuco, Río Zacate, The Bay Islands, Roatán, Utila, Guanaja)
◦ North Eastern Lowlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, river expedition, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, rainforest, lakes, farmland, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation)
◦ Highlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, cloudforest, farmland, wetlands, canoeing, kayaking, archaeology, public transport, accommodation) (Copán, Lake Yojoa, Santa Bárbara, Los Naranjos, Cerro Azul Méambar, Muralla National Park, La Tigra National Park)
◦ Pacific Wetlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, salt pans, farmland, wetlands, coast, public transport, accommodation) (San Lorenzo, Salinera Santa Alejandra)
◦ Tegucigalpa (public transport, accommodation)

• Nicaragua (covered in the books “Nicaragua Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ Pacific Coast (birdwatching, mammal watching, turtle watching, hiking canoeing, kayaking, forest, dry forest, farmland, wetlands, coast, beaches, mangroves, public transport, accommodation) (Managua, Granada, Rivas, Coastal Wetlands, Salinas Grandes, Las Peñitas, Chinandega, León, Managua Hills, Chocoyero El Brujo Nature Reserve, Tisma Lake, Apoyo Lake, San Juan del Sur, Escameca Grande, La Flor, Popoyo)
◦ Volcanoes (hiking, walking, wildlife watching, forest, farmland, volcanoes, crater lakes, geology, public transport, accommodation) (Cosigüina Volcano, Casita Volcano, Santa Clara Volcano, Telica Mountain, Momotombo Volcano, Hoyo Volcano, Cerro Negro, Apoyeque Volcano, Masaya Volcano, Santiago Volcano, Mombacho Volcano, Concepción Volcano, Maderas Volcano, Ometepe Island)
◦ Highlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, forest, cloudforest, farmland, coffee plantations, geology, public transport, accommodation) (Matagalpa, Cerro Apante, Selva Negra, Peñas Blancas)
◦ Rainforest (birdwatching, hiking, walking, adventurous travel, forest, rainforest, farmland, public transport, accommodation) (Bosawás Nature Reserve, Indio Maíz Biological Reserve)
◦ Pine Forest (birdwatching, forest, pine forest, farmland, public transport, accommodation) (Leimus, Puerto Cabezas)
◦ Caribbean Coast (birdwatching, wetlands, farmland, coast, mangroves, islands, coral reefs, snorkelling, public transport, accommodation) (Reserva Biológica Cayos Miskitos, Puerto Cabezas, Bluefields, Pearl Lagoon, Greytown, Little Corn Island)

• Costa Rica (covered in the books “Costa Rica Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ North-West Lowlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, turtle watching, bicycling, dry forest, farmland, wetlands, public transport, accommodation) (Liberia, Santa Rosa, Horizontes, Lomas de Barbudal, Palo Verde)
◦ Guanacaste Mountains (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, forest, farmland, mountains, public transport, accommodation) (Guanacaste, Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles, Tenorio, Río Celeste)
◦ Nicoya Peninsula (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, mammal watching, snorkelling, turtle watching, seawatching, bicycling, forest, dry forest, hills, farmland, forest, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation) (Nicoya, Cerro la Cruz, Snorkelling Beaches, Diriá, Camaronal Beach, Paquera Ferry, Cabo Blanco)
◦ Pacific Coast (birdwatching, walking, wildlife watching, mammal watching, turtle watching, whale watching, crocodiles, forest, rainforest, dry forest, wetland, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation) (Gulf of Nicoya East Coast, Punta Morales, Puntarenas, Jacó, Carara National Park, Tárcoles, Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park, Uvita, Piedras Blancas, Neily Farmland)
◦ Osa Peninsula (birdwatching, Scarlet Macaws, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, mammal watching, snorkelling, turtle watching, forest, rainforest, wetland, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation) (Drake Bay, Agujitas Trail, Los Planes Park Entrance, Caño Island, Dos Brazos, Corcovado National Park, San Pedrillo, Los Patos, La Leona, El Tigre, Sirena Station, Puerto Jiménez)
◦ Tilarán Mountains (birdwatching, hiking, walking, forest, farmland, lake, mountains, public transport, accommodation) (Monteverde, Santa Elena Reserve, Cerro Amigos, Bajo del Tigre, Curi-Cancha, Monteverde Reserve, Arenal National Park, Arenal Observatory, Cerro Chato, Místico Hanging Bridges, Route 702, Poco Sol, Finca Stellar, Brenes Access Road, San Rafael, Quesada)
◦ Sarapiquí-Braulio (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, rainforest, farmland, open habitats, river, public transport, accommodation) (La Selva, La Virgen, Pozo Azul Hike, Route 126 Trails, Socorro, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Barva Region, Barva Volcano, Cerro Dantas, Bajo la Hondura, Route 32 Trails, Braulio Carrillo National Park)
◦ North East Wetlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, turtle watching, wetlands, farmland, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, public transport, accommodation) (Caño Negro, Medio Queso, Boca Topada, Cariari, Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Pacuare)
◦ Central Valley (birdwatching, hiking, walking, forest, cloudforest, farmland, coffee plantations, public transport, accommodation) (San José public transport, accommodation, Sabana Park, University, Cerros de Escazú, San Antonio, Juan Castro National Park, Bajos del Toro, Poás National Park, Sendero de Poás Grecia, Grecia Forest Reserve, Monserrat, Irazú, Barbilla National Park, Cartago, Tapantí National Park, Orosí-Pejibaye Hike, Turrialba, Guayabo, CATIE, La Marta, Tuis River, Naranjo)
◦ Talamanca Mountains (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, mammal watching, forest, cloudforest, farmland, mountains, moorland or páramo, public transport, accommodation) (Los Quetzales National Park, San Gerardo, Cerro de la Muerte, Hotel Savegre, La Georgina, Chirripó, Altamira, San Isidro, Neily)
◦ San Vito (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wildlife watching, forest, farmland, wetlands, public transport, accommodation) (Las Cruces, Finca Cántaros, Sabalito)
◦ South East Lowlands (birdwatching, bird migration, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, snorkelling, turtle watching, forest, farmland, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation) (Limón, Hitoy-Cerere, Cahuita, Manzanillo)

• Panamá (covered in the books “Panama Ecotourism” and “Wild Central America” or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ North West Lowlands (birdwatching, bird migration, hiking, walking, snorkelling, wetlands, forest, coast, mangroves, islands, public transport, accommodation) (Changuinola, Parque Finca 63, Bonyic, Bastimentos Island)
◦ Santiago (public transport, accommodation)
◦ Western Highlands (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, cloudforest, farmland, public transport, accommodation) (Volcán, Cerro Punta, Las Nubes, Los Quetzales, Barú Volcano, Volcán Lakes, Boquete, The Quetzal Trail, The Pipeline Trail, Finca Lérida, Alto Jamarillo, The Three Waterfalls Walk, Lino Rock Trail, The Pianist Trail, Route 10, Pipeline Access Road, Hornito Trails, Santa Fé, La Yeguada, El Copé, El Valle de Antón, Altos de Campana)
◦ Southern Coast (birdwatching, hiking, walking, wetland, farmland, forest, snorkelling, turtle watching, coast, beaches, public transport, accommodation) (El Chorogo, David, Botanical Gardens, La Barqueta Beach, Pedregal, Gulf of Chiriquí, Las Lajas, Coiba Island, Cerro Hoya, El Montuoso, Cañas Island, Chitré, Sarigua, El Rincón, Aguadulce, Coclé, Azuero Peninsula)
◦ San Lorenzo (birdwatching, forest, rainforest, public transport, accommodation)
◦ Portobelo and Chagres (birdwatching, hiking, walking, snorkelling, forest, farmland, wetland, public transport, accommodation) (Portobelo, Salamanca, Chilibre, Cerro Jefe)
◦ Panamá City (birdwatching, raptor migration, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, rainforest, public transport, accommodation) (Metropolitan Park, Ancón Hill, Panamá Viejo, Tocumen Marsh, Summit Municipal Park, Canopy Tower, Soberanía National Park, Gamboa, Barro Colorado, Panamá Canal)
◦ Gulf of Panamá (birdwatching, seawatching, whale watching, islands, public transport, accommodation)
◦ San Blas Islands (snorkelling, islands, coral reefs, beaches, public transport, accommodation)
◦ The Darién (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mammal watching, wildlife watching, forest, rainforest, farmland, public transport, accommodation) (Nusagandi, Burbayar Lodge, Bayano Lake, Tortí, Río Tortí, Cerro Chucantí, San Francisco Reserve, Nuevo Vigía, El Salto, Canopy Camp, Yaviza, Sambú district, Cémaco district, El Real, Rancho Frío or Pirre Station ANAM, Rancho Plástico, Cerro Pirre or Pirre Mountain, Cana or ANCON Cana Field Station)

• South America (email me or book a video call with me)
◦ There are various tactics for designing a more extensive trip over some or all of South America. My personal focus is on using the Andes as a structure around which to design a trip.

• Bolivia (covered in the book “Ecotourism in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina”, see below, or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ The south west and central parts of Bolivia (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mountains, salt flats, high-altitude lakes, forest, farmland, wetlands, public transport, accommodation) (Cochabamba, Villa Tunari, Amboro National Park, Santa Cruz)

• Chile (covered in the book “Ecotourism in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina”, see below, or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ The whole length of Chile (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mountains, salt flats, high-altitude lakes, forest, farmland, wetlands, coast, beaches, desert, public transport, accommodation) (Atacama Desert, Arica, Putre, Parinacota, Cerro Provincia, Valparaiso, Campana, Peninsula de Hualpen, Southern Andes, Puerto Montt, Chiloe, Tierra del Fuego, Punta Arenas, Porvenir)

• Argentina (covered in the book “Ecotourism in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina”, see below, or email me or book a video call with me)
◦ The whole length of Argentina (birdwatching, hiking, walking, mountains, salt flats, high-altitude lakes, forest, farmland, wetlands, coast, beaches, desert, public transport, accommodation) (North West Argentina, Yavi, Pozuelo Lake, Abra Pampa, Humahuaca, Tilcara, Yala, Calilegua , Dique Campo Alegre, San Lorenzo, Victor Gonzalez, Iguazu, Buenos Aires, Southern Andes, El Calafate, Bariloche, Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia)

South America

And here are the details of the South America book :
• Ecotourism in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina: Payhip (pdf, epub, mobi). Amazon US, UK, etc (Kindle, paperback). Nook, Kobo, Google, Apple.

Any More Questions?

And we have reached the end of this webpage. As mentioned above, you are welcome to email me at drduncanjames@gmail.com (you can include random travel or nature questions) or book a video call with me to ask questions in person or simply talk Central America, wildlife watching and exploration.