Cuba is a fantastic birding destination as well as being a fascinating island to visit. There is a long list of both resident and migrant birds to be found in a variety of habitats including approximately 25 endemic species, about half of which are endangered. This suggested itinerary will provide an opportunity to see all of these as well as many other Caribbean and North American species. You will travel through a great variety of landscapes and habitats, from lush forests to craggy hills, vast wetlands and coral beaches. This is a private tour, with your own driver and guide and also includes a final day to experience the delights of Havana. All our holidays are tailor-made and this itinerary can be adapted to suit individual requirements.

Day 1 Morning flight from London on Virgin Atlantic. On arrival at Havana International Airport, you will be met and assisted by our local representatives and then transferred to Soroa in the Sierra del Rosario, a short drive to the West of the city.
Accommodation at Villa Soroa
Tour Guide/ driver service
D
Day 2 Birding in the vicinity of your hotel and an opportunity to visit the renowned Orchid Gardens before travelling on to La Guira National Park where you will bird with an ornithologist guide. This is an area of steep limestone hills and crags, covered in a lush mixture of semi deciduous and pine forest and provides an excellent introduction to Cuban birds. Cuban Solitaire, Olive-capped Warbler, Cuban Tody and Cave Swallows can all be found in this area, as well as Cuban Trogon, the national bird.
Accommodation at El Mirador, San Diego de los Banos
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 3 Birding at La Guira with ornithologist guide.
Accommodation at El Mirador, San Diego de los Banos
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 4 This morning you will make the journey of approximately 4 hours southeast to Playa Larga, near to the Bay of Pigs on the Caribbean coast. This is the richest area for birds in Cuba and the wide range of habitats, mostly within the confines of the Cienaga de Zapata National Park, are all within easy reach. Mangrove swamp, thick scrubland, salt pans and coasts will be explored over the next four days to look for many of the 200 plus species recorded in this area, including the endemic Zapata Rail, Zapata Wren, Zapata Sparrow and this is the best place to spot the Bee Hummingbird. Numerous other interesting birds include Gundlach's Hawk, Fernandina's Woodpecker, Cuban Green Woodpecker, Cuban Blackbird, Greater Antillean Oriole, Cuban Emerald and all four of Cuba's species of Quail Dove.
Accommodation at Playa Larga Hotel
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 5 Birding at Zapata with ornithologist guide.
Accommodation at Playa Larga Hotel
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 6 Birding at Zapata with ornithologist guide.
Accommodation at Playa Larga Hotel
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 7 Birding at Zapata with ornithologist guide.
Accommodation at Playa Larga Hotel
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 8 An early start for the long transfer to the historic city of Camaguey in south-central Cuba. There are many interesting sights and birds to be spotted along the way.
Accommodation at Gran Hotel
TourGuide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 9 A full days birding with ornithologist guide at Sierra Najasa, an area of open forests, rocky outcrops and palm groves south of Camaguey. Here you will look for two of the rarer endemics, Giant Kingbird and Cuban Palm Crow, the globally endangered Plain Pigeon, as well as Cuban parrot, Rose-throated Parrot and Cuban Parakeet. In this area there is also a large lake where it is possible to see West Indian Whistling Duck and Masked Duck.
Accommodation at Gran Hotel
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 10 Transfer to Cayo Coco, a small coral island situated off the north coast of Cuba, but linked by a long causeway to the mainland. Relatively recently this area was a wilderness, but now the island is slowly becoming developed for tourism with a choice of upmarket all-inclusive resort hotels. It is the variety of habitats that makes Cayo Coco, the causeway and nearby islands so special, for not only will you find long sandy beaches but also jungle, large mudflats and mangrove-fringed ponds. Many migratory birds are attracted to this area and the specialities that are only found here include Mangrove Cuckoo, Thick-billed Vireo and Bahama Mockingbird. There is also Oriente Warbler, Cuban Gnatcatcher and many water birds, such as Red-breasted Merganser, Roseate Spoonbill and large flocks of Greater Flamingos.
Accommodation at Tryp Cayo Coco Hotel on All –Inclusive basis
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 11 Today you will go out with an ornithologist guide to look for the many species to be found on the island.
Accommodation at Tryp Cayo Coco Hotel on All –Inclusive basis
Tour Guide/ driver service
B/L/D
Day 12 After breakfast, an early transfer back to Havana will allow you time for a short guided tour of this exciting city before your transfer to the airport for the evening Virgin Atlantic flight back to the UK.
Tour Guide/ driver service
Day 13 Arrive in UK

Included in price of package:
International return flights on Virgin Atlantic
Accommodation and all meals as described (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
All Airport Transfers and Ground Transportation
All tours as described
Services of Tour Guides as described
Services of Local Representatives
All Entrance Fees & Passes
All Service Charges and Government Taxes
Cuba Visas

Cost per person sharing a double room from: £2175.00