Vibrant,
colourful and contagiously-cheerful, it makes sense that Cuba’s sunny skies
teem with exotic birdlife. The island’s diverse habitats – swamps, mountains,
coastline, valleys and more – play host to around 370 species of bird, 22 of
which are endemic to Cuba and many others are Caribbean specialties. The bee
hummingbird, the tiniest bird in the world, Cuban trogan, sporting a plumage
that mirrors the Cuban flag, and the Cuban tody, an impossibly-cute fluorescent
fluffball, can all be spotted on a trip to the island. This 13 days private
tour includes guided trips to some of the country’s top birding spots,
including the Zapata swamp, the largest swampland in the West Indies, Cayo
Coco, an idyllic beach-rimmed islet, and the lush green mountains of Sierra del
Corrillo. You can also spot a number of migratory birds depending on the time
of year of your trip.
Prices starting from £1651 per person
He height of luxury is accompanies my modern amenities and spacious rooms, along with friendly service. You will even be greeted with a signature DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie when you check-in.
Mr Alleen Smith, reviewing Birdwatching Tour
Birdwatching Tour
Dubai Creek, Dubai
from £969 pp
Dubai Creek, Dubai
from £969 pp
Dubai Creek, Dubai
from £969 pp
Dubai Creek, Dubai
from £969 pp
Dubai Creek, Dubai
from £969 pp
Dubai Creek, Dubai
from £969 pp
From £629
Single centre
Varadero
Experience the excitiment of Yas islan
Special offer
£969
from/per person
£800 off
Single centre
Varadero
Costa Rica is a tropcal paradise with misty volcanoes, wild rivers and verdant jungles teeming with wildlife - Is's and...
£969
from/per person
Single centre
Varadero
Costa Rica is a tropcal paradise with misty volcanoes, wild rivers and verdant jungles teeming with wildlife - Is's and...
£969
from/per person
Who better than a past hotel guest to give you some first-hand insight into what you can expect at your chosen accommodation? If you want access to some true insider's knowledge drawn from the experience of the true experts (the holidaymakers), check out the reviews of many of our customers who've been there, done that and judged the quality of the hotels and resorts we at The Holiday Place offer as part of our holiday packages.
All the reviews you will find below are from genuine past guests who have stayed at the hotels and resorts described below. Have a read through them to get a true picture of what awaits you at your chosen destination and learn from the experiences of other travellers just like yourself.
Arrive in Havana Airport
– you will be welcomed to Cuba by your private driver (an expert birding guide
who will remain with you throughout your tour). Stay overnight at Hotel Villa
Soroa. 90 km
A 06:00 am departure
will take you to Las Terrazas in Sierra del Rosario, where you will have a day
of birdwatching, with lunch provided, before continuing to the area of San
Diego, where you will stay for 2 nights. 95
km
Packed with towering
trees, a picturesque 22-metre waterfall, remarkable orchid garden and of
course, multitude of fascinating birds, this tiny settlement seems to overflow
with natural beauty. It owes its name to from Frenchman Jean-Pierre Soroa who
owned a 19th-century coffee plantation here. One of his descendants created the
park as a luxurious personal retreat in the 1920s and it was opened for tourism
post-Revolution.
Set in the mountains
around an hour-away from Havana, this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is home to 117
bird species, 12 of which are endemic to Cuba. The brilliantly-verdant forest
rustles with colourful creatures including the Cuban tody, Cuban grassquit and the
island’s national bird, the Cuban trogon with a plumage that resembles the
country’s flag.
On your second day of your stay in the San Diego region, you will have a day of birdwatching in this stunning area. 60 km
You will travel to
Ciénaga de Zapata National Park on Cuba’s south coast. You will enjoy lunch on
arrival at Fiesta Campesina, local restaurant. 540 km.
An ecological
treasure-trove of mangroves, swamps and marshes, Ciénaga de Zapata National
Park is renowned for its excellent birdwatching. Over 170 species of bird can
be found here, including 18 of Cuba’s 22 endemic species such as the Zapata
sparrow, Zapata wren and Zapata rail. A highlight is the bee hummingbird: the
smallest species of bird in the world. Unsurprisingly, a large number of
aquatic birds live here along with flamingos. As well as birding, Ciénaga de
Zapata is famed for its spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities
and its idyllic beaches. The region encompasses the Bay of Pigs, where the US’
notorious failed military invasion of Cuba took place in the sixties.
Today you will visit a
birdwatching spot across the vast Ciénega de Zapata. You will spend hours
observing the forest birds of Las Bermejas Trail, home to 5 to 7 species of
woodpecker. 90 km
Your birdwatching
adventure continues with visit to the wildlife-rich areas of Las Salinas Trail,
which host to up to 150 bird species (depending on the time of year and
migration patterns). 80 km
Today is a free day – so
you can do more birdwatching or spend the day on the beach if you prefer (your
driver/guide will be around to take you wherever you want to go) 60 km
Depart for Camagüey
where you will spend two nights at the Finca La Belén Flora and Fauna. 460 km
Second day in Camaguey with a day of birdwatching in the Siera del Corrillo area. 120 km
You will travel from
Camaguey to the idyllic islet of Cayo Coco, situated off Cuba’s northern coast.
250 km
Discover and Idyllic Islet: Cayo Coco
Named after the white ibis,
known locally as coconut birds, Cayo Coco is a 142-sq-mi key set off the coast
of Cuba. It forms part of a chain of islands with a near-mythical beauty called
the King’s Gardens (Jardines del Rey) and is linked to the mainland by a 17-mi
causeway. It’s famed for its long white-sand beaches and the stunning coral and
marine life that lie close at hand. Its isolated position makes it a haven for
local wildlife and the islet plays host to many birds, including wild pink flamingos.
Cayo Coco and neighbouring Cayo Guillermo provided settings for Ernest
Hemingway's "Islands in the Stream" and "The Old Man and the
Sea".
Get an early-morning start and set off with a local birdwatching specialist guide to Loma Cunagua. You may also see flamingos building nests. 120 km
Return to Havana, with a stop in the famous city of Santa Clara, and lunch in Los Caneyes. 560 km
In the morning you will
enjoy a tour of Havana’s historic centre, followed by lunch at the La Mina
restaurant. Then return to the hotel in time to check-out before departing for
the airport. 50 km
Discover Cuba's Lively Capital: Havana
