Bird Watching Tour in Cuba / Private travel

Program:

 

Day 1.                                                                                                                         Arrival/Accommodation:  Havana

 

Arrival to Cuba. Meet & Greet at the airport, meeting with the local English/Spanish speaking tour guide and transfer to the hotel. Check in. Evening at leisure. Meals: Dinner is optional, price excluded.

Hotel Memories Miramar 4* or similar

 

Day 2.                                                                                                                                         Accommodation:  Soroa

Havana – Museum of Natural History - Hemingway

 

After breakfast we start a full day sightseeing tour of Havana. This city captivates everybody, with its unique atmosphere, where a time travel tempt us, where the Colonial era, the mark of the ‘50s US mob’s mark and the retro, socialist present is simultaniuosly existing. We start a panoramic city tour of modern Havana, we cross Havana's famous seaside promenade, the Malecon which is a favorite meeting place for locals, we can admire the mansions of the Paseo, then stop at the Revolution Square where the Jose Marti Memorial is located. We visit the National Natural History Museum, located facing the southern side of Plaza de Armas. It is the most important institution of its kind throughout the country because of its wide range of rich collections. There are rooms for Cuban flora and fauna and other regions of the planet, including valuable archeological, mammal, fossil and mineral samples, and informative materials about the evolution of the Earth. After it we start to explore the old town on foot with its rich cultural and historical attractions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. Visit the Plaza de Armas, the "Arms’ Square", the Governor's palace, while we can hunt local antiques at the authentic antique market, walk through the Plaza San Francisco where we look at the old Stock Exchange Palace and St. Francis of Assis Church and the Cathedral Square. Then we visit La Plaza Vieja, the "Old Square". Our lunch will be served in a typical local restaurant. After lunch we join in Hemingway's footsteps: we visit the famous Hotel Ambos Mundos where the "Whom the Bell Tolls" was born. We visit the hotel room and the thematic exhibition. Then stop at Hemingway's favorite places, La Bodeguita del Medio and La Floridita bars, where the world famous "Mojito" and "Daiquiri" cocktails began their journey of conquest. Then visit the outdoor exhibition of the Revolutionary Museum, where the famous ship Granma is exhibited, we can see where Fidel and the other revolutionaries landed to launch the revolution.

After we finish the tour we return to the bus to travel to Soroa, located west from Havana. Check-in at Soroa’s Hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner at the hotel. Lunch included during the tour.

Hotel Villa Soroa 3* or similar

 

Day 3.                                                                                                                                          Accommodation:  Soroa

Natural Park “La Güira”- Soroa

 

Breakfast at the hotel, early in the morning and taking a box lunch to buses. We should be ready for a full day excursion to enjoy the flora and fauna of this Natural Park, located in the western part of the country, in Pinar del Rio province. Pinar del Rio province is also called the country's "green" part. It is time for a morning walk through several easy to moderate hiking trails. Visiting these we might find our first endemics: Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody and Cuban Pygmy Owl. We should find here the melodious Cuban Solitaire, Yellow-headed and Swainson’s Warbler as well. Also you will have a chance to observe Scaly-naped Pigeon or even Blue-headed Quail-Dove. Picnic Lunch.After lunch we drive back to Soroa for visiting the Botanic Garden. The Orquideario, an orchid garden which has been declared a national monument. It has one of the largest collections of orchids in the world. With more than 25 000 orchid species from different parts of the world, including around 100 Cuban species. The garden also has 6 000 species of other ornamental plants, trees, and flowers that represent the national flora of several countries. Return to the Hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner at the Hotel. Picnic Lunch during program (Box Lunch)

Hotel Villa Soroa 3* or similar

 

Day 4.                                                                                                                                Accommodation: Playa Girón

 Soroa – Las Terrazas - Montemar National Park – Playa Girón

 

Breakfast at the hotel and leaving to Las Terrazas, an eco-resort in Reserva Sierra del Rosario, Cuba’s first biosphere reserve. The trill of Cuban green woodpeckers and the haunting song of the endemic Cuban solitaire accompany you on the trails.  Visit an old coffee plantation “Cafetal Buenavista”. Lunch in a typical restaurant and departure to one of ​​Cuba's most important nature reserves, the world famous Zapata Peninsula, a bird and animal sanctuary which is located in the Montemar National Park. The trip will take several hours driving but we will break up the journey with a number of stops. Our destination is the fabled Zapata Swamp. This area was declared to be a biosphere preserve in 2000 and Ramsar site in 2001. It covers an area of 628,171 hectares and is the largest and best-conserved wetland in Cuba and in the Caribbean insular. In the afternoon birdwatching in Zapata (Bermejas and Soplillar areas), where we can find the Zapata Sparrow, Zapata Wren, Cuban Emerald, Bee Hummingbird, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody and many others. We will explore Ondones, part of the Zapata Peninsula, renowned as the largest marsh in the insular Caribbean. This 91 thousand-acre salt marsh is one of the most important flyways for migratory birds in the northern Caribbean. The mudflats support large numbers of Egrets, Whistling Ducks and shorebirds as well as Cuban Black Hawk, Capper Rail and Osprey. In the afternoon, we will observe forest birds and some interesting shorebirds in the Palpite zone. Blue-headed Quail-Dove, Key West Quail Dove, Cuban Parrot, Great Lizard-Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Bare-legged Owl, Cuban Pygmy-Owl, Cuban Emerald, Bee Hummingbird, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody, Cuban Crow and many others. After dinner we will go for a short walk searching for owls and nightjars. Meals: All Inclusive Hotel. Lunch during program.

Hotel Playa Girón 3* or similar

 

Day 5.                                                                                                                               Accommodation:  Playa Girón

Hatiguanico River – Guamá

 

Breakfast at the hotel and taking a route up the Hatiguanico River, one of the largest and most important in Cuba, takes you around 9 miles (14 kilometers) into the heart of the peninsula, so you can see several species mangrove—in whose thickets many species of marine fauna take refuge. Along the way, you can also see many kinds of fish, aquatic birds—some of which are locally endemic—reptiles and mammals. Observation of flora and fauna, including species of birds that are endemic to this area. Lunch at typical restaurant “Fiesta Campesina”. 

After lunch we leave to Guama, the main attraction of the National Park. Here's a speedboat tour of the natural lagoon, the Laguna de Tresoro, where the unspoiled nature can be observed, migrating and endemic birds and can be seen. Then visit the Aldea Taína, the reconstructed Taino indian village where we learn about the customs of the indigenous settlers. We arrive back to port by motor boat and visit the country’s largest crocodile breeding farm, where we can observe hundreds of these reptiles in their natural habitat. We visit the crocodile nursery; here the braves may hold the yet harmless infants in their hands.

Return to the Hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: All Inclusive Hotel. Lunch included during day program.

Hotel Playa Girón 3* or similar

 

Day 6.                                                                                                                                     Accommodation: Trinidad

Las Salinas – Trinidad

 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will explore Las Salinas, part of the Zapata Peninsula, renowned as the largest marsh in the insular Caribbean. To get to Las Salinas del Brito Fauna Reserve, on the peninsula, we will travel along a road that makes its way through savannahs, mangrove thickets and sub-tropical forests. This 91 thousand-acre salt marsh is one of the most important flyways for migratory birds in the northern Caribbean. The mudflats support large numbers of great Flamingos, Egrets, Whistling Ducks and shorebirds, the Cuban Black Hawk, the Capper Rail, and the Osprey. In the afternoon, we will observe forest birds and some interesting Shorebirds in the Palpite zone. Picnic Lunch in box lunches. After lunch we are going to travel to Trinidad, a small colonial town founded more than 500 years ago that was once attributed by the abundance of its sugar cane plantations. In our way we stop to visit the famous Sugar Mills Valley, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and where the Manaca Iznaga estate is located. It is possible to climb the seven stories tower that offers a beautiful landscape. Trinidad preserves the uniqueness atmosphere of the colonial era. While walking along the small winding streets we have the feeling as if we would have flown back in time. Sightseeing in the UNESCO World Heritage city; visit the Plaza Mayor, The Tower of Contrabandido, the Cathedral, La Santissima Trinidad Square and the exhibition of the Romantic Museum. The museum is located in the palace of the town's richest family with balustrade yard, marble floors and neoclassical decoration; walking among the frescoes of the city's wealthiest merchant family we can enjoy the assembled exhibition of articles. Later we walk in the old town and stop at the famous Canchanchara bar where you can sample the authentic drink of Trinidad, special cocktail still made from the original recipe of Aguardiente and honey, called Canchanchara. Then we visit the Pottery House, where you can buy souvernirs handcrafted by local artist and watch their creations. Check in at Hotel in Trinidad. Evening at leisure.

Meals: All Inclusive hotel. Lunch during the program.

Hotel Costa Sur 3* or similar

 

Day 7.                                                                                                                                     Accommodation:  Havana

Topes de Collantes – Havana

 

Breakfast at the Hotel. Driving out towards “Sierra del Escambray”. Leaving the bus to get on board former Russian army trucks for Topes de Collantes in the Escambray Mountain Range, Cuba's second highest mountain range- reaching 3,700 feet atop Pico San Juan. The mountains are home to small mountain villages and are a delight for birders and walkers alike. Slopes are swathed in Caribbean pines, ancient tree ferns, bamboo, and eucalyptus. Bird watching session along Cueva de Juana trail, visit to Javira Reserve and El Cubano park. Topes de Collantes National Park in the Escambray mountains in Central Cuba is a perfect place for encountering the Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii), Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus), Cuban Parrot (Amazono leucocephala), Fernandina’s Flicker (Colaptes fernandinae). Lunch at typical restaurant El Cubano.

After lunch returning trip to Havana. Check in at Hotel in Havana. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast at the Hotel. Lunch during program. Dinner is optional, price excluded.

Hotel Memories Miramar 4* or similar

 

Day 8.                                                                                                                                                                 Farewell

Free time in the morning. Check out until noon. You can use the hotel facilities until the transfer. For extra cost, you can buy „Late check out” services on site. In the afternoon transfer to the airport, leaving to home country.

 

The basic program can be extended with extra nights if you want more time to spend relaxing on the beach!
The Havana hotel can be changed by your choice, depending on the capacity with a surcharge!

 

Booking: Minimum 21 days before arrival. Requested data: travelers’ name, passport number, flight details!

Payment: Latest 14 days before arrival. Cancelation: Over 14 days without penalty, with $35 administration cost. 14-8 days: the first two days services (hotel, transfer, program) will be charged. Within 7 days or No Show the entire package will be charged.

Reservations: E-mail: sales @ marysoltravel.com  Web.: www.marysoltravel.com Tel: +53 7 86 44 555/ Cuba

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