In this sample itinerary, we hope to show you all 27 bird species that are endemic to Jamaica. This is more than on any other Caribbean island or most other oceanic islands around the world and it is very easy to spot them all in a week. This is a birding holiday but is run at a relaxed Jamaican pace, staying in excellent, environmentally responsible hotels. If you would like to extend your holiday at any of the featured hotels or at an alternative location on the island, we would be happy to arrange this for you.
Day 1
Arrive in Kingston and transfer to The Visitor's Lodge at the University at Mona, your hotel for the night.
Day 2
This morning you are accompanied by a local guide for birding at Hope Botanical Gardens and Zoo, the largest botanical gardens in the West Indies. Here you will see many Yellow-billed Parrot and Black-billed Parrot, along with Jamaican Parakeet, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler, while Green Heron, Little Blue Heron and Common Moorhen frequent the pond. After lunch, there will be an opportunity to see something of Kingston before travelling to Lime Tree Farm in the heart of the coffee growing region of the Blue Mountains, where you will spend two nights. The first birds to be found here are Prairie Warblers and Northern Mockingbirds and then possibly White-chinned Thrush. There will be Black-faced and Yellow-faced Grassquits in abundance, whilst Red-tailed Hawk wheel overhead. Orangequits pose in the trees by the dining room.
Day 3
Head into the mountains for a guided tour of Cinchona Botanical Gardens and birding in the Abbey Green area, where the rest of the day will be spent in the mountains looking for a number of endemics. In the gardens themselves there are many Red-billed Streamertails and Vervain Hummingbirds and during the day you might spot Arrow-headed Warbler, Jamaican Euphonia, Jamaican Spindalis and the superb but elusive Crested Quail-dove. You will see White-chinned and White-eyed Thrushes, Jamaican Oriole, Jamaican Vireo and Greater Antillean Bullfinch.
Day 4
An early morning start with picnic breakfast for birding at Hardwar Gap, a pass through the Blue Mountains. At 5,000 feet above sea level, this is an area of larger trees and higher rainfall. In the lush forest, listen to the beautiful dawn chorus, especially the flute-like call of the often elusive Rufous-throated Solitaire. This is the scenic realm of the endangered Jamaican Blackbird, which feeds on the bromeliads. There will be birding stops enroute where you might see Rufous-tailed and Sad Flycatchers, Blue Mountain Vireo and possibly the Jamaican Becard. Osprey soar overhead, while Loggerhead Kingbird, American Redstart, Jamaican Tody, Jamaican Woodpecker and Arrow-headed Warbler can all be seen, as well as perhaps a stunning Yellow-shouldered Grassquit and a Greater Antillean Elaenia. After a walk down to some waterfalls, you will be met by your transportation to take you on to your next stop at Greencastle Estate. On arrival, you might still have time for a guided tour of the estate and after a delicious dinner, set off to hunt for Jamaican Owl and Northern Potoo.
Day 5
Walk down the trails from the house as dawn breaks and look for Ruddy Quail Dove, White-crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo, Sad and Stolid Flycatchers and Greater Antillean Bullfinches as well as perhaps both Caribbean and Zenaida Dove calling from shaded branches next to the trail. After breakfast, you could walk down to the seashore and find Chestnut-bellied Cuckoos on the way. There are two ponds behind the shore with numerous Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe present, while a flock of Cave Swallows swirl around. There is a further large pond on the estate, which holds numerous Moorhens, Brown Pelican, Belted Kingfisher, Least Grebes and a family of Pied-billed Grebes. Back at the house Jamaican Mangos and Red-billed Streamertails flit around the flowering plants. Walk the trails of the estate for the rest of the day hardly seeing another person or relax by the pool. In the afternoon, travel east along the coast to Mocking Bird Hill, where you will stay for three nights.
Day 6
Another early start with a packed breakfast for birding along the Ecclesdown Road. Here you will spot Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo, Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Ring-tailed Pigeon, Black-billed Streamertail and even Crested Quail-Dove, whilst Jamaican Crows make their absurd gurgling sounds all around. Afterwards have a leisurely visit to scenic Reach Falls, where Louisiana Waterthrushes winter and then drive back on the coast road past beautiful white-sand beaches empty other than for a few Royal Terns or Magnificent Frigatebirds patrolling them. Back at your hotel in the afternoon, your guide will lead you around the lushly vegetated grounds where as many as 40 species can be found.
Day 7
Enjoy a change of pace today as you take off for a scenic rafting adventure on the Rio Grande. Lazily floating down the river you get close to Tricoloured and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, both Green and Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Belted Kingfishers and Greater Yellowlegs all at close range and possibly even a rare Caribbean Coot. After disembarking and an authentic Jamaican lunch at a small restaurant run by a local fisherman, you can spend the afternoon on nearby Frenchman's Cove, which must be Jamaica's prettiest white sand beach, or relaxing in the hotel's grounds.
Day 8
Spend the last morning on the Mockingbird terrace watching hummingbirds or perhaps looking for any species that you might have missed before you are driven back via a scenic route to Kingston airport.
Price Guide - From £1575
The price is per person sharing a double room and includes:
Return flights from the UK
All accommodation as described
All meals (except for dinner in Kingston)
All transfers & ground transportation
Local representatives
All taxes and entrance fees
A full itinerary of tours as described, led by experienced and expert guides
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