Biotopo Cerro Cahuí

🇬🇹 Guatemala

🦎 Brown Basilisks Skitter Across the Lakeshore
🌍 #289 Global · 2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #48 in Central America #121 in Tropical Forest
Petén, Guatemala 749 spp. recorded

Biotopo Cerro Cahuí is a protected tropical rainforest in Petén, Guatemala. The park sits on limestone hills covered in dense evergreen canopy, with winding streams that cut through palm‑fringed valleys. Its limestone outcrops and flooded lowlands give a mosaic of forest types that differ from nearby rainforests of the region.

17.003° N   89.719° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

30–40% · Possible
Belize Crocodile ★
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

Insufficient data
Brown Basilisk ★
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

40–50% · Likely
Yucatán Squirrel ★
LC

Yucatán Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus yucatanensis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

50–60% · Likely
Brown Jay

Brown Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psilorhinus morio

40–50% · Likely
Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

40–50% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

40–50% · Likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

40–50% · Likely
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

30–40% · Possible
Hooded Warbler
LC

Hooded Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga citrina

30–40% · Possible
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

30–40% · Possible
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper
LC

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster

30–40% · Possible
Spot-breasted Wren
LC

Spot-breasted Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheugopedius maculipectus

30–40% · Possible
Great Crested Flycatcher
LC

Great Crested Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiarchus crinitus

30–40% · Possible
Summer Tanager
LC

Summer Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga rubra

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Yucatán Squirrel ★
LC

Yucatán Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus yucatanensis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data
Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat
LC

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Artibeus jamaicensis

Insufficient data
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Derby's Woolly Opossum
LC

Derby's Woolly Opossum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Caluromys derbianus

Insufficient data
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

Insufficient data
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

Insufficient data
Proboscis Bat
LC

Proboscis Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhynchonycteris naso

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

50–60% · Likely
Brown Jay

Brown Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psilorhinus morio

40–50% · Likely
Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

40–50% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

40–50% · Likely
Melodious Blackbird
LC

Melodious Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dives dives

40–50% · Likely
Hooded Warbler
LC

Hooded Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga citrina

30–40% · Possible
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

30–40% · Possible
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper
LC

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster

30–40% · Possible
Spot-breasted Wren
LC

Spot-breasted Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheugopedius maculipectus

30–40% · Possible
Great Crested Flycatcher
LC

Great Crested Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiarchus crinitus

30–40% · Possible
Summer Tanager
LC

Summer Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga rubra

30–40% · Possible
White-eyed Vireo
LC

White-eyed Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo griseus

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Belize Crocodile ★
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

Insufficient data
Brown Basilisk ★
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

30–40% · Possible
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

20–30% · Possible
Greater Scaly Anole
LC

Greater Scaly Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis tropidonotus

Insufficient data
Mexican Parrot Snake
LC

Mexican Parrot Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Leptophis mexicanus

Insufficient data
Speckled Racer
LC

Speckled Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Drymobius margaritiferus

Insufficient data
Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

Insufficient data
White-lipped Mud Turtle

White-lipped Mud Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Kinosternon leucostomum

Insufficient data
Ghost Anole
LC

Ghost Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis lemurinus

Insufficient data
Turniptail Gecko
LC

Turniptail Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Thecadactylus rapicauda

Insufficient data
Yucatán Banded Gecko
LC

Yucatán Banded Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Coleonyx elegans

Insufficient data
Rainbow Ameiva
LC Endemic

Rainbow Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus undulatus

Insufficient data
Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

30–40% · Possible
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

20–30% · Possible
Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

20–30% · Possible
Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog
LC Endemic

Yucatán Casque-headed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Triprion petasatus

Insufficient data
Stauffer's Tree Frog
LC

Stauffer's Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax staufferi

Insufficient data
Mexican Burrowing Toad
LC

Mexican Burrowing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinophrynus dorsalis

Insufficient data
Sheep Frog
LC

Sheep Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Hypopachus variolosus

Insufficient data
Browns' Frog
LC Endemic

Browns' Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates brownorum

Insufficient data
Painted Tree Frog
LC

Painted Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Tlalocohyla picta

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐊

Morelet's Crocodile Season

AprMayJun

The park's namesake crocodile basks along the Lake Petén Itzá shore in the late dry season and starts nesting with the first rains — sightings peak in .

Belize Crocodile
LC

Belize Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus moreletii

Insufficient data
🐦

Migratory Warbler Wintering

FebMarAprOctDec

Neotropical migrant songbirds winter in and pass through the lakeside forest — the reason the biotope is documented as a birdwatching destination; warblers dominate the sighting data in migration and winter months.

Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

40–50% · Likely
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

50–60% · Likely
American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

30–40% · Possible
🐸

Rainy-Season Frog Chorus

MayJunAugSep

The first rains trigger explosive breeding choruses of toads and treefrogs in the biotope's lowland forest and lake margin — amphibian sightings in the data.

Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

20–30% · Possible
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

30–40% · Possible
Mexican Burrowing Toad
LC

Mexican Burrowing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinophrynus dorsalis

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
Keel-billed Toucan
20–30
30–40
30–40
20–30
50–60
20–30
40–50
50–60
20–30
20–30
40–50
30–40
Belize Crocodile
<5
<5
<5
20–30
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
Brown Basilisk
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
30–40
50–60
10–20
10–20
Yucatán Squirrel
10–20
40–50
10–20
30–40
30–40
10–20
30–40
30–40
10–20
60–70
30–40
10–20
Magnolia Warbler
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
40–50
30–40
40–50
70–80
40–50
70–80
Brown Jay
60–70
60–70
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
30–40
30–40
50–60
60–70
Black-and-white Warbler
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
30–40
20–30
30–40
30–40
40–50
60–70
20–30
60–70
Social Flycatcher
40–50
60–70
30–40
30–40
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
60–70
30–40
Melodious Blackbird
70–80
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
20–30
30–40
30–40
60–70
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
10–20
10–20
30–40
10–20
40–50
60–70
10–20
30–40
50–60
30–40
30–40
50–60
Hooded Warbler
30–40
10–20
40–50
40–50
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
40–50
60–70
30–40
30–40
American Redstart
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
50–60
20–30
30–40
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper
40–50
40–50
10–20
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
Spot-breasted Wren
30–40
40–50
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
50–60
50–60
30–40
20–30
30–40
50–60
Great Crested Flycatcher
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
50–60
30–40
20–30
Summer Tanager
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
20–30
20–30
20–30
10–20
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
Animal Events
🐦 Migratory Warbler Wintering
🐸 Rainy-Season Frog Chorus
🐊 Morelet's Crocodile Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Moderate
🦎 Brown Basilisks Skitter Across the Lakeshore

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
467
🐒 Mammals
141
🦎 Reptiles
115
🐸 Amphibians
26
749 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
16 Threatened 56 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
42%
📊
Coverage (178 species at ≥5% of 749 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian)
46% Global avg
39%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
128
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
6
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
6

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí?

The most likely sightings are Magnolia Warbler (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Brown Jay (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers), Black-and-white Warbler (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers), Brown Basilisk (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers), Social Flycatcher (seen by 40–50% of wildlife watchers) — among 749 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Biotopo Cerro Cahuí for wildlife?

December has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Keel-billed Toucan in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí?

Yes — about 33% of wildlife watchers report a Keel-billed Toucan sighting in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí, based on 49 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Belize Crocodile in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 7% of wildlife watchers report a Belize Crocodile sighting in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí, based on 1 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Brown Basilisk in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí?

Yes — about 45% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Basilisk sighting in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Yucatán Squirrel in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí?

Yes — about 32% of wildlife watchers report a Yucatán Squirrel sighting in Biotopo Cerro Cahuí, based on 11 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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