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Cuba is a paradise for birdwatchers with 21 endemic species and 6 endemic genera. Cubawelcome has been running birdwatching tours and holidays to Cuba for 3 years and has a stand every year at the British Birdwatching fair in Rutland.
15 day escorted Bird watching tour of Cuba designed to see the endemic and near endemic bird species – 28th February, 2010.
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Itinerary |
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Day 1
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La Habana. Hotel Ambos Mundos *** (Breakfast & Dinner), old Havana
Virgin Atlantic flight direct from Gatwick to Havana is recommended. Arrive at Havana Airport. Welcome by bilingual Tour guide. Drive to Hotel and check in. Dinner and free time for night owls to enjoy Havana night life. |
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Day 2
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Vinales National Park. Hotel Rancho San Vicente *** (All Inclusive)
Breakfast. Early departure. During the excursion we will stop a few times to see both waterfowls and forest birds. Hopefully today we will have the chance to see the smallest bird in the world: the endemic miniscule Bee Hummingbird, also the Cuban Parrot, the Cuban Crow and many others. Lunch in Cabo de San Antonio Villa. Afternoon we will drive to Vinales arriving to the hotel. Check in. Dinner and rest. |
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Day 3
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Hotel Rancho San Vicente *** (All Inclusive)
Breakfast. During the next two days, after our early optional bird walk and breakfast at our hotel, we will explore Vinales National Park, La Guira. This park is located in the Sierra de los Organos, a limestone area with Jurassic period geomorphology. The region is dominated by surreal, conical limestone knolls with vertical walls and rounded tops known as 'Mogotes'. Its beautiful valleys make up a fertile plain known for extensive tobacco plantations with typical rural farms and houses. As we wander the rocky trails, we will look for ancient tree ferns, endemic snails, feral pigs and large termite nests. This is also a good area to find the endemic Yellow-headed Warbler. Today we explore the 'Maravillas de Vinales' trail.
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Lunch at Mural de la Prehistoria restaurant where local artists have painted a rock face with prehistoric creatures. In the afternoon we will visit the cigar factory in Pinar del Rio.
At the end of a busy day, the pool at our hotel will be very inviting. Cuban Green Woodpeckers add their voices to the forest calls as they chase each other in the grounds of the hotel and Cuban Pygmy-Owls shatter the stillness of the evening with their shrill piping whistle. Dinner in the hotel. |
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Day 4
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Sierra del Rosario. Hotel La Soroa ** (All Inclusive)
After breakfast, we will set off for the short distance to the 'Reserva Sierra del Rosario', Cuba's first Biosphere Reserve. Introduced forestry practices were so successful here that they became a model for similar forestry schemes in other parts of Cuba and the world. This is a very good area to listen to the haunting song of the Cuban Solitaire, a bird that is endemic to Cuba. After a hike along one of the many trails, we'll have lunch in a typical farming hacienda. In the afternoon, we will visit the village of Las Terrazas, a model commune village. Our day will end with a visit to a restored 18th century coffee plantation, formerly owned by French coffee planters from Haiti, who fled to Cuba after the slave revolts. Check in Hotel La Moka. Dinner included. |
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Day 5
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Cienaga de Zapata. Hotel Playa Giron ** (All Inclusive)
Today we drive to the most famous birding place in Cuba – the wetlands of Zapata. We will start by visiting some of the dry forest tracts. Check into Hotel Playa Larga. Dinner. After dinner, we have an evening birding session.
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Day 6
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Hotel Playa Giron** (All Inclusive)
Early morning start for a full day of Bird watching.
We drive to the tidal flats and mangrove shorelines at La Salina along the south shore of the Zapata Peninsula. The Common (Cuban) Black-hawks is found here as well as the endemic Cuban Martin nesting in dead snags sticking out from the salt flats. La Salina is justly famous for its waders and water fowl, including several Heron and Egret species and numerous shorebirds. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit Los Canales, an area of canals and rice fields that supports a large population of Snail Kites. Also there is a good chance of seeing the endemic Gundlach’s Hawk, a very scarce bird. An hour or two could be spent at the local museum, which commemorates the Bay of Pigs War. Return to the Hotel. Dinner and rest.
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Days 7 & 8
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Hotel Playa Giron ** (All Inclusive)
Early start on the first of these days. Search for the endemic Zapata Rail and the Zapata Wren. Visit the deciduous forests at La Ceiba, near the village of Bermejas, in search of woodland species. Mixed warbler flocks should be present, and we have a chance of seeing a dozen or more North American neotropical migrants, including Worm-eating Warbler. The endemic Yellow-headed Warbler is quite common in these woodlands, as is the Great Lizard-cuckoo. These woodlands also support the endangered Fernandina’s Flicker, a truly exquisite bird that is becoming increasingly more difficult to locate, along with the incredibly beautiful Blue-headed Quail-dove. In the afternoon, we visit the El Cenote, so named because of the deep sinkhole in the limestone that connects to the sea. Lunch in a local restaurant A refreshing swim in the clear water, among the colorful marine fish, is an option. Further evening bird session. On the last evening in Zapata we will have a fabulous lobster dinner (other dishes will be available).
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Day 9
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Camaguey, Najasa, Hotel Finca Belen *** (Breakfast & Dinner)
Departure to the third oldest city in Cuba, Camaguey. Some birding en route. Check into Hotel Gran with dinner.
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Day 10 |
Najasa. Hotel Playa Coco **** (All Inclusive)
Early start to visit the ‘Sierra de Najasa’ and the protected reserve of La Belen where one finds an area of unspoilt lowland with a great diversity of plant life. The two main species to be found here are the Cuban Palm Crow and the endangered Giant Kingbird which is now endemic to Cuba. Other species to be seen in this area include Cuban Parakeet, Fernandina's Flicker, Cuban and Yellow-faced Grassquits, Gundlach's Hawk and wintering North American warblers as well as the West Indian Whistling-duck. Lunch at Finca Belen, well-known for its good Creole cooking. In the afternoon we drive to over a fantastic causeway separating the island from the land, reminiscent of Key West. On the journey, we will be able to spot large numbers of waders, snail kites and gulls and terns. Check into the hotel resort by the beach and relax the rest of the day.
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meals and drinks are included at the hotel along with non-motorized
water sports and entertainment.
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Day 11 |
Hotel Playa Coco **** (All Inclusive)
Breakfast. Today we look for new species including the Cuban Sparrow, Oriente Warbler, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Thick-billed Vireo, Bahama Mockingbird, and Piping Plover on the beach. Greater Flamingo, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Heron, and the Cuban subspecies of the Common Blackhawk (another possible split and likely to be known as the Cuban Crab Hawk). Return to the Hotel. Dinner and free time at leisure.
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Day 12 |
Hotel Playa Coco **** (All Inclusive)
Opportunity today to relax on the beach, or enjoy the activities provided by the hotel. Or more bird watching.
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Day 13 |
Havana. Hotel Ambos Mundos *** (Breakfast & Dinner)
Depart for Havana. Check into the hotel and relax until evening when we visit the ‘El Morro Cabañas Park’ to witness the authentic cannon shooting ceremony at the fort. Farewell dinner at La Divina Pastora restaurant overlooking Havana bay with Cuban Music group.
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Day 14 |
Havana. Hotel Ambos Mundos *** (Bed & Breakfast)
Today we have a fascinating guided tour of Havana to see all the important sights. Opportunity also to buy gifts and souvenirs
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Day 15 |
Departure to the airport for your flight home.
End of services
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Cubawelcome Tour Operator also has an office in Havana and we are registered with the Cuban Tourist board in the UK and with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce in Havana. Our ATOL license number is 6547.
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PRICES (in GBP Sterling)
Ground Price per person not including flight
| ROOM |
DOUBLE |
SINGLE |
| PRICE: |
£1,435 |
£1,555 |
Price per person including flight from
| ROOM |
DOUBLE |
SINGLE |
| PRICE: |
£1,965 |
£2,095 |
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The price includes:
• Flight with Virgin Atlantic economy (where it is included) depart Gatwick direct to Havana including taxes (taxes may vary).
•Air conditioned bus for all transport and all visits described in the program.
•Welcome, farewell and handling care for the whole itinerary by a bilingual tour guide specialist.
• An Ornithological specialist guide(s) from the Cuban Natural Science museum
• The bird watching tour described at the program including entrance charges to National Parks
• Accommodation described in the program and all meals
• City tour of Havana
• Evening tour to Havana fort with dinner included
• Cuban Visa / tourist card
Transfers to and from airport. Transport in Cuba in air-conditioned bus. 1 night in Havana hotel. 2 nights in hotel with swimming pool in Vinales. 4 nights in Playa Larga hotel with swimming pool. Entry to all the national parks. Guide for the tour.
All
hotels have private bathrooms, satelliteT.V. and air-conditioning.
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The price does not include:
• Travel insurance (this is essential)
• Airport taxes out of Cuba (approx £15)
• Tips
• Beverages
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CONTACT DETAILS
Tel: 020 7731 6871
Email: mike@cubawelcome.com
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