Cuba
Birding Cuba: Explore 4 Cuban Birding Regions
Join us on this 10-day birding exploration of Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean. Our tour offers an immersive experience of Cuba’s most important bird habitats and national parks across this country with a diverse bird list of over 380 species, including 27 endemics! Throughout the trip, we’ll also take time to absorb the vibrant culture of this remarkable country.
Our expert birding team will include a bilingual Cuban guide and local naturalists in four different birding regions. Our carefully crafted itinerary will take us through excellent bird habitat, beautiful national parks, diverse biosphere reserves, and unique natural areas in the Caribbean’s most ecologically diverse island. We will interact with local scientists and naturalists who work in research and conservation. Finally, we will supplement our focus on Cuba’s natural wonders with an exploration of this island nation’s fascinating culture, history, and daily life during our visit.
Highlight and Target Birds
- The world’s smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird
- More iconic birds including the beautiful Cuban Trogon and adorable Cuban Tody
- Both members of Cuba’s endemic bird family: Cuban Warblers (Teretistridae)
- A diverse mix of Neotropical migrants, Caribbean endemics, and hard-to-see species like Antillean Nighthawk, West Indian Whistling-Duck, and Stygian Owl
- Our route maximizes our time to find as many endemic species, endemic subspecies, and Caribbean specialties as possible.
KEY LOCATIONS
Havana, Sierra de la Rosario, Sierra de los Organos, Zapata Peninsula, Cayo Coco
EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the Sierra de la Rosario Biosphere Reserve, Cuba’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and explore the unusually beautiful karst landscapes as we search for endemics such as the Cuban Solitaire .
- Bird along the Zapata Peninsula, a Ramsar-designated site surrounding the Bay of Pigs known for its vast wetlands and bird diversity, including the smallest bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird.
- Explore Cuba’s Atlantic Archipelago, barrier islands now connected by an 18-mile causeway, that is renowned for rare endemics and spectacular coastal birdlife.
- Discover Havana’s rich history, culture, and jazz scene with a guided tour and insights from a distinguished Cuban naturalist.
More Details
Accommodations
Accommodations for this tour are a mix of hotels and B&B-style private homes. Soroa area (2 nights), Playa Larga area (3 nights), Moron area (2 nights), Havana (2 nights)
Weather and climate
December in Cuba offers mild, comfortable conditions ideal for birding. Temperatures range from 60°F to 80°F (16°C to 27°C), with cooler mornings and evenings in higher elevations like Sierra de la Rosario. The wet season has ended, so expect mostly dry, sunny days with occasional showers. The coastal regions, including the Zapata Peninsula, will be warm and humid, but pleasant with lower humidity than in summer months, making this a prime time to explore Cuba’s diverse habitats.
Tour Details
Price: From $5,817 per-person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: $485
Included: In-country accommodations, ground transportation, meals from dinner on first day to breakfast on last day, English speaking guide, entrance fees, U.S. Department of Treasury authorization documents.
Not Included: International and local airfare, visa fees, insurance fees, personal items such as alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, gift shop, laundry, tips, etc. are not included.
From: Havana (HAV)
Minimum Participants: 6
Participant Limit: 12
Activity Level: Medium
Tour Leaders: Wesley Homoya and Cuban guides
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Natural Selections Tours thanks Zeiss Optics in partnering with us to advance birding, ecotourism, and conservation. Zeiss Optics is a world leader in quality optics products and service, and we are proud to work together making our world a better place by seeing beyond, together!