Best Cuba bird watching tour

Cuba birdwatching areas:

• Las Terrazas .
• La Güira.
• Las Salinas, Bermejas.
• Topes de Collantes.
• Caguanes National Park in Lagos de Mayajigua.
• Cayo Coco in Camaguey

Destinations you will visit:

Travel Itinerary

DAY 1 HAVANA WELCOME TO CUBA

Welcome to Cuba!.

Arrival at Havana International Airport Jose Marti.

Meet and Greeting at the Airport.

Private Transfer to Hotel.

Information briefing.

Meeting to explain the Bird watching program planned to be implemented for clients , creating the atmosphere for such an incredible adventure starting the following day, also promoting the exchange with your Tour Guide about any aspect of your trip to Cuba.

Accommodation in B&B at Hotel Aston panorama 4* or similar.

Day 2, HAVANA LAS TERRAZAS-SAN DIEGO DE LOS BAÑOS IN PINAR DEL RIO (145km)

Breakfast.

Transfer to San Diego de los Baños, Pinar del Río.

Visit Las Terrazas Community in the way which will be your first stop to see birds in the area.

This ecological tour will take you to the typical rural community and tourist installations of Las Terrazas and to the exuberant flora and fauna of the Sierra del Rosario forest, located in the new Artemisa province.

With some luck you will be able to observe the Tocororo (Cuban Trogon), national bird of showy colors; As well as La Carta Cuba (Cuban Tody), which due to its size is almost imperceptible, this place is also home to five species of woodpeckers; and the mockingbird that will delight you with its beautiful song throughout the tour.

Continues trip to Pinar del Rio.

Check In and dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel El Mirador 2* or Eco Hotel Finca Mil Cumbres.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included)

Day 3, PINAR DEL RIO

Breakfast.

Today you will be bird watching at Paradise of birds also name Mil Cumbres.

This is considered to be the site per excellence for bird watching in Cuba with more than 50 species having been reported, among them the cartacuba, tocororo, zorzal gato, tomeguín de la tierra, tomeguín del pinar, cabrero, chillona, aparecido de San Diego and the nightingale.

This walk allows one to appreciate the great biodiversity of the ecosystems, the beauty of the scenery and the high endemic level of the flora and fauna of the Sierra de los Órganos. It has been classified as an IBA site.

Dinner is included.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel El Mirador 2* or Eco Hotel Finca Mil Cumbres.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included).

Day 4, PINAR DEL RIO – VIÑALES VALLEY- CIENAGA DE ZAPATA (240km)

Breakfast

Visit the beautiful Viñales Valley , probably prettiest Cuban natural area with the special hills name Mogotes.

Continuation trip to the south of the Matanzas province where Peninsula de Zapta is located on the Caribbean Sea. This area is one of Cuba best destination for the bird watching , there is abundance of birds , here you could appreciate up to 212 species of birds, of which 86 are permanent residents in Cuba and 101 migratory birds which temporarily spend time in the area . In this area you could find six of the seven genres Cuban endemics and three local endemics.

Visit the nature interpretation center and the cuban crocodile specie Rhombifer at the Boca de Guama crocodile bred farm.

Peninsula de Zapata has been declare an IBA site.

Dinner at the accommodation´s restaurant.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Playa Larga 3* or Hotel Playa Giron 3* or Private Guest House.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included).

Day 5, CIENAGA DE ZAPATA

Breakfast

Las Salinas route is a harmonious combination of trekking and boating. You set out trekking from Playa Larga along a trail that parallels the western shore of the Bay of Pigs. On the way, you will go through several wooded areas and types of vegetation; pass some large but very shallow lakes, where several species of birds—including Roseate Flamingos (Phoenicopteus ruber) and Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) live. Along this route, you may also see some endemic species, such as Zapata Sparrows (Torreornis inexpectata) and Bee Hummingbirds (Mellisuga helenae). When you get to Las Salinas, you’ll continue your trip in a small boat, going across the lake to Cayo Venado. The trip may include other cays, as well, so you can see different species of iguanas, hutias and crocodiles in their natural habitat.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Playa Larga 3* or Hotel Playa Giron 3* or Private Guest House.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included)

Day 6, CIENAGA DE ZAPATA

Breakfast

Today you will visit Bermejas are when you could see endemic quail-doves and owls; also we will be looking for Neartic migrants, such as Swainson’s Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler. This is the place to look for Fernandina’s Flicker. Cuba’s two endemic owls (Cuban Pygmy-Owl  and Bare-legged Owl), Cuban Nightjar, Bee Hummingbird, Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody, and all four quail-dove species (the two rarest species are frequently encountered) can also be seen here, as well as many Nearctic warblers.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Playa Larga 3* or Hotel Playa Giron 3* or Private Guest House.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included)

Day 7, CIENAGA DE ZAPATA –CIENFUEGOS- TOPES DE COLLANTE (150km)

Breakfast

Transfer to Topes de Collantes, Sancti Spíritus.

In the way Panoramic tour of Cienfuegos City.

Tour of Cienfuegos City, founded by French settlers who came from Louisiana, USA in 1819. This history gives it an air and architectural style that is distinctive from that of the rest of the island. This city appeal lies partly in the European flavor of its colonial heritage, with a wide Parisian-style boulevard and elegant colonnades, and there is an ambience to inspire Cuba’s most celebrated Son singer Benny Moré to write the words “Cienfuegos is the city I like best”. Visit the Martí Park, the Alameda (Central Park), the Seaboard (one of the prettiest Bay in Cuba).

You will arrive to Topes de Collantes one of the important place in the Sierra del Escambray central hill´s range, second highest in Cuba.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Los Helechos 3*, dinner at the Hotel´s restaurant .

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included).

Day 8, TOPES DE COLLANTE

Breakfast

Today you will visit Los Helechos trail, abundant in tocororo (Priotelus temnurus), cartacuba (Todus multicolor), zorzal (Turdus plumbeus).

In its mountains there is a wide birdlife, including the Swift of the Collar and the Long-tailed Hawk, endemic to Cuba. It is also an IBA site.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Los Helechos 3*.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included).

Day 9, TOPES DE COLLANTE –TRINIDAD- LAGOS DE MAYAJIGUA

After breakfast, you will depart to Trinidad where you will have an oriented guide tour of the City of Trinidad , one of best preserved colonial City in the western hemisphere , you will visit main squares and must-see sites in Trinidad.

You will have an optional luncheon to continue travelling 185 kms to reach Lagos de Mayajigua in Sacti Spiritus province.

You will also know Sancti Spiritu, one of the 7 villas founded by the Spaniards in the XVI century.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Lagos de Mayajigua 2**.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included).

Day 10, LAGOS DE MAYAJIGUA

Breakfast.

You will see today the : Caguanes National Park birdwatching area.

The ecosystem is made up of more than 200 species, 24 of them endemic. 112 species of birds nest in the swamp and the coastal zone. A large population of Butterfly Bats is present in the Tres Dolinas cave. A decrease in migratory waterbirds (spoonbills, flamingos, and nesting pelicans) in the swamps here was recorded.

Accommodation in H&B at Hotel Lagos de Mayajigua 2**.

B,D (Breakfast and dinner included).

Day 11, LAGOS DE MAYAJIGUA – CAYO COCO 125km

Breakfast.

Departing to Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila.

On the way panoramic tour of Moron town , continuation through the road on the Sea to Cayo Coco-Cayo Guillermo keys.

Free time to enjoy a magnificent white sand blue turquoise waters in the “Archipelago of the King” ( Archipiélago del Rey).

Accommodation in All inclusive Plan at Hotel Sol Cayo Coco 4* or similar.

B,L,D (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 12, CAYO COCO

Breakfast.

Cayo Coco is the second-largest key in Cuba (recently connected to the mainland by a rock-fill road). Located 42 miles (70 km) northwest of Morón, it is mostly covered by semideciduous forests; there are also mangroves, coastal shrub, patches of grass, and lagoons. A total of over 200 species has been reported, including many Cuban rarities with several new birds to add to our list: Cuban Gnatcatcher, a race of Zapata Sparrow, and Oriente Warbler. Also, other birds will be sought, including Western Spindalis and Cuban Bullfinch. There are many waders and one of the largest populations of American Flamingo in the Caribbean. In fall Merlin and Peregrine Falcon are also notice in the area. Piping Plover is a winter resident on these keys.

B,L,D (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 13, CAYO COCO

After breakfast, continuation of the bird watching tour in the keys of Cayo Coco, after which you will be exploring other keys like Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Pedregal.

Accommodation in All inclusive Plan at Hotel Sol Cayo Coco 4* or similar.

B,L,D (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).

Day 14, CAYO COCO – HAVANA (246km)

In the morning transfer to Cayo Coco Airport to take flight to Havana International airport.

Day at leisure your last day in Cuba.

Accommodation in B&B at Hotel Aston panorama 4* or similar.

B (Breakfast included).

Day 15 DEPARTURE

After breakfast free time.

12:00 Check Out

On time transfer to Havana International Airport to take flight out of the country.

B (breakfast included)

END OF SERVICES

Includes:

Accommodation as described.

Meet and Greeting at the Airport.

Private Transfer In/Out

Specialist Tour Guide in full command of English or any other language his salary, accommodation and meals.

All the tours as indicated with the Entrances pointed out in the Program.

Private transportation, with professional driver.

Luncheons and Dinners as indicated.

24 hours phone emergency number

Staff assistance during the whole staying for the implementation of the Program.

Local Taxes

No Includes

Airfare

Tourist Visa

Medical Insurance.

Tips

Services not mentioned in the Program