Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest island, lies just 120km (75 miles) south of Florida, yet offers an impressive 28 endemic birds, numerous Caribbean specialities and a rich assemblage of overwintering North American warblers and waders. Using the services of local bird specialists at each site, our comprehensive tour often gets all 26 possible endemics (excluding Cuban Kite and Zapata Rail). From the world’s smallest bird (Bee Hummingbird) to such sought-after specialities as Giant Kingbird, Cuban Tody, Oriente and Yellow-headed Warblers (Endemic Family), Zapata Wren and no less than four species of stunning quail-doves, Cuba is an absolute pleasure to bird!

The Dominican Republic makes up roughly two thirds of the Island of Hispaniola, and is host to all but 1 of the island’s endemics species. Our 9-day birding tour provides an excellent opportunity to encounter nearly all of the island’s 32 endemic bird species, plus other Greater Antillean specialities. We thoroughly explore the island’s variety of habitats, from the evergreen and pine forests of the Sierra de Bahoruco to the dry forests of the coast. We expect to find a multitude of scarce quail-doves, one of the world’s rarest raptors (Ridgway’s Hawk) and no less than 5 of the Caribbean’s endemic Families, including the monotypic Palmchat, Chat-Tanagers, Hispaniolan Tanagers, Spindalises and two species of Tody.

Jamaica is perhaps most famous for its outstanding coffee and Reggae music, but offers 28 endemics, most of which are comfortably easy to find. Our compact 6-day tour stays at a single lodge which allows us to thoroughly explore the island’s key habitats, from the evergreen forests of the Blue Mountains to the ultramarine waters of the northern coast. Just a few of the highlight species include Jamaican Owl, Jamaican Mango, Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Tody, Crested Quail-Dove and the ‘Doctor Birds’ (Red-billed and Black-billed Streamertails).

Leaving Guatemala behind, we move into Honduras, one of Central America’s best-kept birding and wildlife secrets. A biodiversity hotspot, it supports more than 700 bird species and various habitats including over 30 separate cloud forests. Our tour draws to a close at one of the most spectacular eco-lodges on the planet: Pico Bonito Lodge! The bird list will be as impressive as the grounds and cuisine, including such gems as Keel-billed and Tody Motmot, Keel-billed Toucan, Lovely Cotinga, Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker, Red-capped Manakin, White Hawk, King Vulture, Black-and-white Owl, and too many other fantastic species to list here! We shall also visit the Honduran Emerald Reserve in the Aguan Valley for one of the only true endemics to the region, the glittering little hummer after which the reserve is named.

The awesome birdlife throughout the tour is further augmented by the ease of travel, luxury lodges, super-friendly people, fascinating history and fine cuisine, making this a thoroughly enjoyable birding adventure for both hardcore and casual birders alike!

With over 850 bird species to be found within the borders of this small nation, it’s no wonder why Costa Rica finds itself at the top of many global birders bucket list destinations. While perhaps lacking the sheer number of endemics when compared to the likes of Peru, Costa Rica makes up for it in style! With the outrageously plumed likes of Scarlet Macaws, Resplendent Quetzals, wildly colourful Tanagers, Motmots, Jays and Toucans.

Added to the excellent variety of bird species to be found here, Costa Rica offers exceptional scenery and very good photographic opportunities offered throughout. The backbone of the country is formed by a scenic mountain range, and here the cloud forests are home to exotic species including Snowy Cotinga, Red-capped and White-crowned Manakins, Fiery-throated and Talamanca Hummingbirds, Slaty-tailed and Black-throated Trogons, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Black-and-yellow Phainoptila, Wrenthrush and Golden-browed Chlorophonia.