Day 1: Arrival in San Juan; transfer to Manati

Following an early afternoon arrival in the Puerto Rican capital, at 13h00 we will gather and drive west towards Manati, perhaps picking up the first of our Puerto Rican endemics in the afternoon, including Puerto Rican Woodpecker. In the evening we will make our first foray into night birding, checking a local forest for the endemic Puerto Rican Screech-Owl.

 

Day 2: Manati to Southwest Puerto Rico

The first option of the morning will depend on local regulations at the time. If possible, we will check a local protected area for Puerto Rican Parrot, the toughest and rarest of the endemics, Critically Endangered with a global population numbering in the low hundreds this is one of Earth’s rarest birds. After that, we will check another local reserve for hummingbirds. Puerto Rican Emerald, Puerto Rican Mango and Green Mango all occur there. After this stop, we will head south to the drier southwest corner of the island, visiting some wonderful wetland areas (Laguna Cartagena) in the afternoon, which could yield West Indian Whistling-Duck, Masked Duck, Least Grebe, and a host of ducks, shorebirds, and other waterbirds. The scrubby edges are also home to Caribbean Elaenia, Puerto Rican Flycatcher, Gray and Loggerhead Kingbirds, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, Black-faced Grassquit, and the lemon-yellow Adelaide’s Warbler. We will check into a delightful coastal resort near the town of Guanica for a three-night stay, checking the mangroves on the edge of town for the endangered Yellow-shouldered Blackbird coming into roost in the afternoon.

 

Day 3: Maricao State Forest and Cabo Rojo

In complete contrast to our afternoon in the coastal lowlands, the afternoon before, we will welcome the shade and elevation of the forest on this morning (around 2600ft/800m), when we visit Maricao State Forest, north of our base. This beautiful area of montane forest hosts some real top-quality specialties, we will seek out Elfin Woods Warbler among the forest vines, and small, active groups of Puerto Rican Tanagers (an endemic family) roaming the mid-story. Other island specialties we will be seeking, include the shimmering Green Mango, striking Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Vireo, the scarce Antillean Euphonia, Puerto Rican Bullfinch, and the tangerine-breasted Puerto Rican Spindalis. Wintering warblers from the boreal north may also be present, like Black-throated Blue and Black-and-white Warblers, and American Redstart. There may be time in the afternoon, to cover some more coastal areas west of La Parguera, for another dose of shorebirds and wetland species. In the evening, we will check a local spot for the local Puerto Rican Nightjar, before returning to our delightful beachside hotel.

 

Day 4: Wildcard day in Southwest Puerto Rico

Today will have some flexibility to it, and it is deliberately left open so we can roam where need to, depending on how we have done with the other endemics of Puerto Rico. We will pick sites, depending on what gaps we are seeking to fill on our list. There are nearby mountain rainforests, like Maricao, coastal scrub sites all around, and humid forests to the south, all within easy reach. Whatever, we decide, we will return to Guanica on the south coast for a final night.

 

Day 5: Guanica to Northeast Puerto Rico

We will swap the dry southwest of the island, for the wetter northeast corner, where we will be seeking two particular hummingbirds; Green-throated Carib and Antillean Crested Hummingbird. These will be searched for at a variety of sites near Fajardo, where we will stay for the final night of the tour.

  

Day 6: Departures from San Juan

After breakfast, we shall pack up and leave for the airport as a group, maybe stopping for any of the hummers, or other targets, if we still need them, completing our circumnavigation of Puerto Rico by getting to the airport in time for departures after midday (12h00).

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Trip Considerations

PACE: Easy. While early starts and long days are required, this is not a physically difficult tour. Sunrise is at around 7am in this season, so breakfasts are likely to be taken at around 6am with a 6:30am departure. Sunset is at around 6pm. There will be several nights of the tour dedicated to finding the two local endemic nightbirds. This will be done before dinner for those who wish to do this; others who do not can take an earlier dinner if required. These are optional though, and can be sat out if desired. The pace is fairly relaxed. 

 

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Easy. The walking on this trip is generally easy, with no steep or difficult hikes. Most of the walks will be on roads, or on short, forest trails. The highest point of the tour will be on day 3 at Maricao, at only 2600ft /800m. Puerto Rico is small, with the longest drive being from southwest to northeast Puerto Rico on day 5, at around 3 hours. Generally speaking the road conditions are good, with most of these being paved, with only short sections of bad paved road, or dirt road.

 

ACCOMMODATION: Good to excellent. All places have en-suite bathrooms, full time electricity, and Internet.

 

CLIMATE: At this time of year, some of the coolest temperatures are recorded, and it is typically the driest time of year. In short, this is the most pleasant time to visit, as it is not so hot, and avoids the rainy season. That said, it is still hot and humid in the lowlands. Average temperatures at this time of year through the region are 72F – 84F (22 – 29C), so it is still very hot in the lowlands of the Caribbean, even in this cool, dry season. In February, there are around 13 days of rainfall.

 

WHEN TO GO: This part of the Caribbean is generally cooler and drier at this time of year, and therefore has been timed for the most pleasant time to bird it (i.e. December to March). This is also the time of year when the Caribbean residents are supplemented by a substantial number of boreal migrants wintering from North America, making this arguably the optimum birding season.

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Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Entry requirements are the same as for the United States. For US citizens, there are no special travel requirements. For all foreign citizens, please check the ever-changing restrictions as a result of COVID-19. Tropical Birding cannot be responsible for changes in entrance policy or restriction levied by the US government. Citizens of Canada may enter the US with a valid passport, and do not need to obtain a visa. For citizens of the 38 countries on the visa waiver list (including the UK, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Japan), you can enter the US with a valid passport and a completed Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which can be applied for online. For all passports, the passport must be valid for at least six months past your intended stay. Citizens of all other countries will need to apply for a US visa. Travel requirements are subject to change; please double check with the nearest embassy or consulate, or ask our office staff if you are unsure. Those who need to apply for an ESTA or Visa should do so long in advance of the tour, as these can take days weeks to be issued.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to all people, EXCEPT porters and Tropical Birding guide; accommodation from night of day 1 through night of day 5; meals from dinner on day 1 through to breakfast on day 6; one group arrival airport pick-up, and one departure airport drop off by the tour leader (specific times of this will be confirmed by the Tropical Birding Tours office); ground transport to all the sites listed on the itinerary in a suitable modern rental vehicle with the tour leader driving; entrance fees to all sites on the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to keep track of your sightings (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).

 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Optional tips to the Tropical Birding tour leader; tips for any luggage porters (if you require their services); any flights; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included (drinking water is the only included drink); alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.