Birding in Eastern Cuba
Day 1 – Arrival Day – Santiago de Cuba
However you join us in this vibrant Colonial city, our friendly staff will meet you and take you to your homestay.
Orientation – in 10 mins we orientate you to the city – and with our NEVER GET LOST MAP you are ready to explore this dynamic, musical city, enjoy a people watching retreat for a coffee or mojito, find the music centre of the city, or just enjoy family time in the central square.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 2 – Fern and Orchid Garden
Visit to an internationally acclaimed fern and orchid garden with the most complete collection of tropical ferns in the Americas. The collection numbers some 3000 ferns and over 300 exotic and indigenous orchids. This is the life work of the owner. Lunch in the garden The garden is full of birds all day. It is a sheer delight and a great antidote to travel. Afternoon cliff walk, or swim, or beach walk, or just sit and enjoy!
Day 3 – Birds, Butterflies and Bats
Early morning start to see and hear the owls coming home. As the dawn washes over the heavily forested slopes of the mountain side you greet it on the top of the mountain, the best time to see both endemic and visiting birds is during the very early morning feeding. Butterflies are late risers so you have time to explore their habitat along with that of the amazingly colourful forest birds. You end the day near the coast, where thousands of bats make their perfectly timed exodus from their coastal cave to the mountain side for fruit, nectar and pollen, watched hungrily by kestrals and other predators. Breakfast to go, snack, and lunch at the beach. Afternoon cliff walk, or swim, or beach walk, or just sit and enjoy!
Day 4 – Wetland Birding
This fresh water lake and its tidal channels are a haven for endemic and visiting water birds. A morning along the channels and cannel will net avid birders lots of species for their checklist. For those who just enjoy a wonderful journey there are fresh water dolphins, rare crocodiles, and neon-brilliant crabs. Early morning birding through the coast. Late morning visit to an internationally known cactus garden – flowers all the year and the only fresh water for kilometres. This is a known haunt of bee hummingbirds, especially when the mountains are cold! Late afternoon birding along the coastal strip completes the day. Lunch in an Artisan Village.
Day 5 – Santiago to Baracoa
This is a spectacular drive with lots of stops along the way for water birds – and just to enjoy the splendid vistas.
An early departure from Santiago takes you through the surrounding mountains, into the small villages and farms of IIFrente. Golden mists drift above the plume waving sugar cane, and royal palms sail on a sea of clouds. A magical moment of every fresh day. The road winds along the coast, passing through Cuba’s desert, and through the small towns surrounded by farms benefiting from the new water sources and irrigation. Enjoy the waking life of the small villages – the huge boar being taken for a walk, the electrician up a pole in his bright jacket and protective umbrella, school kids – clean and neat in their uniforms to start the day.
We make a stop at a newly developing protection area for migrating birds – part of a 4 country effort to encourage local protection of birds both endemic and migratory, with the additional benefits of natural pest control.
The town of Baracoa was isolated from the rest of Cuba, except by sea and a mountainous mule trail, until the engineering feat of the Farola highway; winding its way over precipitous slopes and vertiginous cliffs – the images of mountain upon mountain, and verdant valleys are a photographer’s delight.
The highest point of the Farola crosses from the watershed of the Caribbean to the watershed of the Atlantic.
We recommend private transportation for this drive. Lunch on arrival in Baracoa.
Day 6 – Birding on the slopes of El Yunque
This massive mesa, first recorded by Columbus, and still not totally explored, dominates the views of the town. Its almost vertical sides are clothed in tall trees, and dense tropical growth. Crystal clear waters tumble in waterfalls and rivers rush down to the sea. This tour takes you around the lower slopes of El Yunque and into a nearby eco-reserve. Lunch is a barbeque on the banks of the river (bring your swimsuit), followed by afternoon birding near a black coral beach
This tour does not include climbing El Yunque. If you wish to do so, please let us know in advance and we will arrange for local guides.
Dinner in your homestay
Optional – A little aboriginal history Dinner on a Farm
Day 7 – Birding Humbolt Park
Created as a World Heritage park, this was the last known home of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The park has many different eco-zones; scrub land, forested head waters, and dense mangrove coastal fringes, making it the perfect environment for birders and naturalists. Ornithologist led walks in various different zones and a boat ride in the mangroves make for a full experience. This tour starts very early. Breakfast en route, snack, and Lunch during the day.
Optional Late Afternoon guided town walk.
Dinner in your homestay.
Day 8 – Departure for Santiago
For individuals and small groups we recommend returning by bus. The bus will give you different views and perspectives.
Options to extend your experience
Eco-Tour Baracoa – River Toa
The river Toa has the largest volume of water of all the rivers of Cuba. Rising in the Crystals, it makes its way to the coast just outside Baracoa. Naturalist led tour of this unique environment, with possible overnight stay. Breakfast en route, snack and lunch during the day. Overnight includes traditional dinner.
Farm Visit Guantanamo
High in the mountains to the north of Guantanamo – visit a family farm. Overnight in a traditional farm house first built at the turn of the 20th century. Walk into the high altitude arabica cafetals, learn to milk a cow, toast coffee, feed the hens and look for eggs. This experience is a joy for all ages. Stay includes meals. Transport to Santiago.
North Shore Road to Holguin
A spectacular ride along the northern coast line. Visit to orchid and high altitude gardens in the Crystal mountains (where they receive about 400 inches of rain a year). Enjoy the beach at Guadalavaca or continue on to Santiago.
The tour price includes:
- Pick up and drop for arrival and departure in Santiago (we are happy to arrange other transfers and pickups – Please note that Holguin is in Eastern Cuba and has both charter and scheduled flights from Canada and elsewhere)
- 7 nights accommodation – double occupancy – in homestay accommodations in Santiago and Baracoa
- Meals in homestays – breakfasts and dinners – except for early start days when a breakfast and snack are supplied. All days
- Lunches are included with all full tour days, and for the travelling days.
- Tours are all led by one of Cuba’s outstanding ornithologists. He has worked in the area for 30 years and is sought out by academics and international birders, and for environmental impact studies.
- Bilingual tour co-ordinator
- We provide checklists and the loan of a birding book on Cuba. We do not provide binoculars, cameras, or other technical equipment. Please note that chargers are not available in most of Cuba – make sure that you have your charger with you. Memory cards may be available – but the supply is not guaranteed. Laptops may be brought into Cuba with periphery equipment.