Eastern Cuba Nature and Culture with Nils

Arrival at Holguín airport around midday (AA 12:30 PM), transfer to Gibara (1 hr). Gibara is a beautiful town frozen in time, surrounded by remarkable wetlands, caves, and coastal landscapes with views over the Atlantic Ocean. Accommodation at Hotel Ordoño or Plaza Colonial (2 nights). Welcome dinner and cultural activity featuring local artistic and environmental projects.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will begin by exploring the beautiful Cueva de Los Panaderos, learning about its history, admiring its striking speleothems, and observing the fauna that inhabits and surrounds the site, with a focus on birds, reptiles, and terrestrial mollusks such as the famous Polymitas (Polymita muscarum), appreciating their remarkable color diversity. Among the emblematic species of Cuba, the Cuban national bird, the Tocororo/Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), and the charismatic Cartacuba/Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor) may be observed, along with endemic reptiles such as the Coronel/Slender Cliff Anole (Anolis lucius) and the Lagartija de Costa/Cuban Coast Anole (Anolis jubar gibarensis), followed by a short trail walk in the area. Visit to a tobacco factory and tasting experience.

Lunch at a local restaurant, rest, and departure to Guardalavaca (approx. 1.2 hr), with stops along the way for birdwatching and scenic viewpoints, including interpretation of the region’s distinctive geography. Accommodation in a B&B, relaxation time and swimming at Guardalavaca beach with its calm turquoise waters and fine white sands, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Cuba. Dinner.

Breakfast and departure to Roca Azul Park for hiking and birdwatching, in search of species such as: Sinsontillo/Cuban Gnatcatcher (Polioptila lembeyei), Tocororo/Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), Juan Chiví/Cuban Vireo (Vireo gundlachii), Pechero/Oriente Warbler (Teretistris fornsi), Cartacuba/Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor), Pitirre Guatíbere/Loggerhead Kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus), Bobito Chico/Cuban Pewee (Contopus caribaeus), Carpintero Verde/Cuban Green Woodpecker (Xiphidiopicus percussus), Arriero/Great Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini). Afterwards, we will visit the Bariay site museum, the first place where Christopher Columbus landed during his voyage of the discovery of America. Lunch at a local restaurant.

During the afternoon, birdwatching at the coastal lagoon of Playa Pesquero to observe waterbirds such as Gallinuela de Manglar/Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans) and other shorebirds and ducks including Pato de Bahama/White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis). Swimming at the beautiful Playa Pesquero and enjoying a stunning sunset.

Early breakfast and departure to the Sierra de Nipe (approx. 2.5 hr), with a brief stop at the Deleite rice fields to attempt observation of wetland birds. Lunch at a scenic restaurant-viewpoint with beautiful panoramic views of Salto del Guayabo, one of the highest waterfalls in Cuba, followed by a trail walk for bird and nature observation. In the surrounding area it is possible to observe: Negrito/Cuban Bullfinch (Melopyrrha nigra), Tocororo/Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), Cao Montero/Cuban Crow (Corvus nasicus), Bijirita del Pinar/Olive-capped Warbler (Setophaga pityophila). Endemic reptiles include the Lagartija de Pañuelo Blanco/Cuban White-fanned Anole (Anolis homolechis), Lagarto Español/Spanish Flag Anole (Anolis allogus), Lagartija de Palito de Ojo Azul/Blue-eyed Twig Anole (Anolis alutaceus), Lagartija de Palito de Ojo Pardo/Brown-eyed Bush Anole (Anolis anfiloquioi), as well as the giant Chipojo Verde de las Montañas/Oriente Giant Anole (Anolis noblei), and the charismatic Bayoyas: Bayoya Común/Cuban Brown Curlytail (Leiocephalus cubensis) and Bayoya de Bosque/Cuban Side-blotched Curlytail (Leiocephalus macropus).

Afternoon hiking and birdwatching in the surroundings of La Mensura National Park, where Ruiseñor/Cuban Solitaire (Myadestes elisabeth), Gavilancito cubano/Cuban Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter fringilloides), and Tomeguín del Pinar/Cuban Grassquit (Phonipara canora) are among the main targets.

Accommodation in a villa surrounded by nature, Cuban pine forests (Pinus cubensis), with a distinctive European-style architecture, in a tranquil setting far from cities and towns. Dinner at the villa restaurant.

Optional night excursion around the lodge for observation of amphibians, reptiles, nocturnal birds, and diverse wildlife species.

Early morning birdwatching in the surroundings of the hotel, especially to carefully observe a target species, the Olive-capped Warbler (Setophaga pytiophila). We head east towards Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, one of the best-preserved habitats in Cuba. We will travel along the Atlantic coast with excellent scenery and patches of semi-deciduous and pine forests (approx. 3+ hours) to Bahía del Taco and the park headquarters.

Lunch with traditional family-style dishes close to the shore of El Recreo River, with the possibility to swim in its transparent and pure waters coming from the mountains, and to find lizards and the Monte Iberia Dwarf Frog (Eleutherodactylus iberia) (one of the smallest in the world), birds and much more; the surrounding nature is amazing.

Our first stop is the park visitor center for birdwatching and interaction with park naturalists. The modest visitor center overlooks a peaceful bay that is home to the endangered Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus). The endemic and endangered Polymita picta – the world’s most colorful terrestrial snail – can be easily observed on site. From here we begin our exploration of the Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve. Dinner and accommodation at beachfront bungalows (2 nights) at Villa Maguana, just east of Humboldt National Park.

Breakfast followed by a drive to Yumurí Canyon (approx. 1.5 hr) for an unforgettable boat experience along the river, followed by a hike along the trail through exuberant vegetation and the clear waters of the river, with the possibility to observe many birds, lizards, and other local endemics, especially the Polymitas (Polymita picta), the most colorful land snails in the world, as well as beautiful landscapes.

Lunch at a local paladar located in the beach area, featuring traditional Cuban food. After lunch, return to Baracoa for a city tour of this important location, followed by dinner at Baracoando Paladar, a renowned and sui generis vegetarian restaurant famous for its gourmet dishes.

Late afternoon return to our beachfront bungalows (approx. 25 min).

After breakfast we will head southwest over the “Cuban Alps” toward Guantánamo Bay along the stunningly scenic Via Mulata. This mountain range includes both mesic and arid zone habitats. In essence, this drive takes us from Cuba’s wettest region to its driest region, with a stop at the La Gobernadora viewpoint, from where it is possible to see Guantánamo Bay and part of the US Naval Base in the distance.

Breakfast followed by birding and hiking in the Los Monitongos mountain range, southwest of Guantánamo. Reputed to be the driest place in Cuba, the Los Monitongos escarpment features a landscape of unusual rock formations, as well as unique flora (up to 70% endemic) and a rich fauna.

Lunch followed by departure west along the Caribbean coast near the Baconao Biosphere Reserve (approx. 1.5+ hours). Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Meliá Santiago de Cuba (2 nights).

Drive to Gran Piedra from Santiago de Cuba city (aprox. 45 min) and early birding around the mountain. After breakfast we will hike the summit while birding and herping along the mountain trails, with magnificent views of the coast and surrounding areas. Lunch above sea level at an historic French coffee plantation. The small but attractive botanical gardens here host over 200 varieties of ferns, and more than 350 types of orchids, eucalyptuses, Sierra Maestra’s pines, cypresses and a variety of fruit trees. Along with many species of charismatic forest birds (tody, trogon, various warbler species) our focus will be on the endemic Gavilán Colilargo/Gundlach´s Hawk (Astur gundlachi), share with technics and specialist working in the Hawk Watch Observatory station. After lunch we’ll drop back down to sea level and explore Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca fortress and historic site overlooking Santiago’s rugged, unspoiled coast. Farewell dinner in a local paladar, return to Santiago de Cuba.

Día 10 – Santiago - Miami

Breakfast and departure to the airport (20 minutes) for our return to Miami.