Cuban Wings — 15-Day Private Birding Tour
Explore Cuba’s western birds, Zapata wetlands and northern cays over fifteen private days, adding Viñales, a botanical-garden stop near Trinidad and a full Havana sightseeing day.
About this tour
Cuban Wings allows fifteen days for a private exploration of Cuba’s birding habitats, with a Viñales Valley day, extended coverage of Zapata, a stop near Trinidad and a full Havana sightseeing finale. The route joins western highlands, wetlands and central Cuban reserves before reaching the northern cays, giving the journey both a broad birding circuit and time in the island’s towns.
From Havana, travel to San Diego de los Baños for western specialties, then into Viñales’ limestone-mogote landscape and tobacco-growing countryside. Las Terrazas adds another Sierra del Rosario birding stop before the move to Zapata. The next three field days separate La Turba and Soplillar, La Salina’s waterbird feeding areas, and Bermeja’s palms and scrub. A visit to the Bee Hummingbird’s House offers a focused opportunity for this endemic; other searches include owls, Cuban Nightjar, Cuban Tody and Cuban Trogon.
The journey toward Trinidad includes birding at Cienfuegos Botanical Garden, where Gundlach’s Hawk is a possible sighting. After Trinidad, a morning in the field precedes the transfer to Camagüey. Najasa and Morón connect the route with Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo. Here woodland, lagoons, mangroves and sandy shoreline support a different search list, including Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler and Thick-billed Vireo. Each species remains a target, with results influenced by field conditions.
After returning to Havana with birding stops, spend a complete day exploring the capital. A walking tour and classic-convertible ride combine Old Havana with Centro Habana, Vedado and the Malecón; Callejón de Hamel and Fusterlandia add distinctive art stops. Fourteen nights in casas particulares, English-speaking local guiding, private air-conditioned transport, scheduled entrance fees, daily breakfast and lunch form the main package. Dinners and flights are separate. Private departures start at two guests, with rates determined by party size and shared-room arrangements; hotel upgrades and a single-room option can be quoted.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Cuba.
Birds you can spot
Phoenicopterus ruber
target
Mimus gundlachii
target
Margarobyas lawrencii
target
Mellisuga helenae
target
Rallus crepitans
target
Buteogallus gundlachii
target
Melopyrrha nigra
target
Polioptila lembeyei
target
Phonipara canora
target
Antrostomus cubanensis
target
Psittacara euops
target
Glaucidium siju
target
Myadestes elisabeth
target
Todus multicolor
target
Priotelus temnurus
target
Colaptes fernandinae
target
Astur gundlachi
target
Coccyzus minor
target
Setophaga pityophila
target
Teretistris fornsi
target
Patagioenas inornata
target
Agelaius assimilis
target
Platalea ajaja
target
Asio stygius
target
Vireo crassirostris
target
Dendrocygna arborea
target
Spindalis zena
target
Mycteria americana
target
Torreornis inexpectata
target
Ferminia cerverai
target
Itinerary
Day 1
Havana arrival
Begin the private circuit with a welcome at Havana airport and a transfer to your accommodation. Cuba 360 meets arriving travelers before the journey into western Cuba.
Day 2
Western specialties near San Diego
Travel after breakfast to San Diego de los Baños in Pinar del Río, with opportunities to watch birds during the drive. The local search covers Cuban Solitaire, Olive-capped Warbler, Cuban Grassquit, Fernandina’s Flicker and Giant Kingbird, as well as possible owl and hawk encounters.
Day 3
Viñales Valley
Continue to Viñales, where steep limestone mogotes rise above cultivated countryside. The day combines the valley and tobacco-farm setting with searches for western birds, including Cuban Solitaire, Olive-capped Warbler and Cuban Grassquit.
Day 4
Las Terrazas and the wetland transition
Call at Las Terrazas, the community and reserve in the Sierra del Rosario. Birding here can add Cuban Pygmy Owl, Stygian Owl and Fernandina’s Flicker before the route turns toward Zapata Swamp.
Day 5
La Turba, hummingbirds and Soplillar
Visit the private Bee Hummingbird’s House refuge and explore the marsh habitat of La Turba. Add a Soplillar trail walk for owl, nightjar and flicker opportunities; Zapata Wren, Zapata Sparrow and Red-shouldered Blackbird are also on the day’s target list.
Day 6
La Salina and an afternoon return to the field
Look over La Salina’s feeding areas for wetland birds, from flamingos and shorebirds to Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbill. Lunch is taken at the lodging. Birding resumes after 3:30 pm, providing another opportunity to search for missing endemics and obtain clearer views.
Day 7
Bermeja’s palms and scrub
Bird the open vegetation and palm country of Bermeja, about 12 km north of Playa Girón. Search for Cuban Nightjar, Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Tody, Cuban Trogon and Fernandina’s Flicker, alongside Bee Hummingbird and Cuba’s endemic owls.
Day 8
Botanical garden birding and Trinidad
Travel toward Trinidad with birding along the way. A stop at Cienfuegos Botanical Garden provides an opportunity to search for Gundlach’s Hawk before reaching Trinidad, where cobbled streets and evening music add a cultural dimension to the route.
Day 9
Birding before Camagüey
Watch birds during the morning and continue to Camagüey later in the day. The afternoon transfer carries the circuit from the Trinidad section toward central Cuba’s reserve and cay birding.
Day 10
Najasa to the northern-cay gateway
Search Najasa for Plain Pigeon, Palm Crow and Cuban Parrot, with Gundlach’s Hawk a possible addition. After lunch, move on to Morón for access to the northern keys.
Day 11
Cayo Coco habitat mosaic
Spend the birding day across Cayo Coco’s wooded areas, mangrove margins, coastal scrub and lagoons. Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler and the local Zapata Sparrow form are key interests, while Western Spindalis, Cuban Bullfinch, flamingos and waders broaden the search.
Day 12
Mangroves and shoreline on Cayo Guillermo
Explore Cayo Guillermo for coastal and mangrove birds. The target possibilities include Thick-billed Vireo, Mangrove Cuckoo, West Indian Whistling Duck, Clapper Rail and Cuban Gnatcatcher, with Bahama Mockingbird much less frequently encountered.
Day 13
Road birding back to the capital
Return to Havana by road, taking birding stops during the journey. The route leaves the cays behind before the final city day.
Day 14
Havana on foot and by convertible
Explore Old Havana’s squares, cathedral and historic streets on a walking tour, then ride in a classic convertible through Centro Habana and Vedado. The sightseeing circuit includes Revolution Square, the Colón Cemetery area and the Malecón. Visit the Afro-Cuban murals of Callejón de Hamel and José Fuster’s mosaic project at Fusterlandia in western Havana.
Day 15
Departure from Havana
Complete the fifteen-day circuit with a transfer to Havana International Airport. Your fourteen-night stay finishes after the birding route and Havana sightseeing day.
Locations & map
- Havana - Cuba
- San Diego de los Baños - Cuba
- Viñales - Cuba
- Las Terrazas - Cuba
- Zapata Swamp - Cuba
- Cienfuegos Botanical Garden - Cuba
- Trinidad - Cuba
- Camagüey - Cuba
- Najasa - Cuba
- Morón - Cuba
- Cayo Coco - Cuba
- Cayo Guillermo - Cuba
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request
Transport & stays
- Air-conditioned vehicle Private transport for your party.
Accommodations
- Casas particulares
Policies & FAQ
How is the private-tour price calculated?
Rates are per person and depend on party size, travel dates and accommodation. The single-room supplement is charged once for the whole journey, rather than nightly. The final quote confirms room allocation and inclusions.
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.