An immersive experience with Simply Cuba is the perfect thing for those who are passionate about creating memories on their travels. Whether it’s a photography adventure, a nature discovery or a taste of all things Cuba, we are here to help!
If you are a true lover of nature and the great outdoors, then Cuba is the perfect destination for you. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, and is also the ornithologically richest. The island has an exciting avifauna, with no fewer than 28 endemics and one near-endemic (about half of which are considered endangered). Through the tour we will also encounter many other species with restricted Caribbean ranges.
A complimentary transfer from the airport to the guesthouse is included with your trip to ease you into the life in Cuba. You can check in at any time, your casa hosts will be waiting for you. If you arrive early, enjoy your free time till your welcome meeting at 6pm. Depending on your arrival into the country and how you feel there are some options for you to discover Havana. May be even get your supply of Wi-fi cards sorted for your stay… Special Information A complimentary arrival transfer is included with your trip. Please ensure you provide your flight details at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organised. Please see ‘Joining instructions’ for more information about exiting the arrivals hall and connecting with your arrival transfer driver who will take you to your guesthouse. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let us know. Read more
Get ready for an early morning as we make our way to the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra del Rosario in Pinar del Rio, the first Biosphere reserve of Cuba, established in 1985. Over 100 bird species find shelter in these forests, supporting plenty of tocororos - Cuba's national bird, nightingales, woodpeckers, cuban tody, ducks, hummingbirds, mockingbirds and the Cuban grassquit, some of which can only be seen in this region. The vast bird population in this area includes 16 out of the 26 endemics of Cuba and 10 globally threatened birds. These threatened species include the Endangered Blue-headed Quail-dove Starnoenas cyanocephala, Giant Kingbird Tyrannus cubensis and Gundlach’s Hawk Accipiter gundlachi, the Vulnerable Fernandina’s Flicker Colaptes fernandinae and the Near Threatened Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus and White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala. On the way we will visit the Community of Las Terrazas, a small village that was built around a creek in this biosphere reserve. This hidden gem integrates tourism into its existing community rather than creating artificial tourist experiences with local farming and energy efficiency as priorities for this sustainable town! You’ll have a chance to take a dip at Soroa waterfall after the birdwatching sessions and before dinner. Read more
The Soroa Region is perfect for nature lovers. There are more than 50 bird species in the tropical forests, so get your binoculars ready as you fuel a passion for the birdlife of Cuba or simply embrace the beauty of the crystal clear river waters. With the sun glistening off of the beautiful flowing waters, you will be amazed to see the rainbow rays shining off of the surface - thus awarding the region with the affectionate nickname ‘The Rainbow of Cuba’. In the morning we will head out for a 3-hour birdwatching session in the mountains of Soroa. This is natural habitat for forest birds, including both migratory and resident birds. We expect to see some of the most charismatic species, among them endemic birds such as the Cuban Tody, Cuban Green Woodpecker, Cuban Blackbird and several neotropical American warblers on migration such as yellow throated Warbler, Northern Parula, common yellow throat, Black and White Warbler among others. We will return to Soroa for lunch before our afternoon visit to the Soroa Orchid Garden. Set among 7 acres of luscious green oasis of flora featuring 250 native Cuban species and amazing birdlife to match. Read more
Today we make our way to the National Biosphere Reserve that houses the Cienaga de Zapata National Park. The park forms a fundamental region of the Biosphere reserve and Ramsar site that share its name. The ecological fragility of the ecosystems has led to an intense effort toward conserving biodiversity and natural resources. The region was established as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2001, and it remains one of the Caribbean’s most untamed, least inhabited regions. We will stay at Playa Larga, a small fishing village on the southern Cuban coast, it's the best base for exploring the Zapata peninsula. Today you can enjoy the afternoon off admiring the birds in the backyard of our local birding guide. Come face to face with the Bee Hummingbird, the world's smallest birds as well as other species like the Cuban Emerald, migratory Warblers, potentially even the endemic Pygmy Owl. Perfect way to recharge for tomorrow! Read more
We will venture to Las Bermejas this morning, 40km from Playa Larga, a forested area with nice trails, yields such highlights as the beautiful Cuban Trogon (Cuba’s national bird), Cuban Crocs, Bare-legged Owl, Cuban Parakeet, Great Lizard Cuckoo, Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Cuban Vireo, and the adorable Cuban Tody, a favorite of everyone. You will also find more Bee Hummingbirds and a variety of migrants warblers – Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler were also seen including Yellow-headed Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler, among others. The endangered Fernandina’s flickers are often seen in the deciduous forests near Bermejas. We will return for lunch before driving to our next destination at Soplillar, for our afternoon session. This area is the largest swamp in the Caribbean and is a perfect place to search for the Zapata wren, the Zapata rail, and other endemic species. Read more
This morning we will make our way to Santo Tomas, a grassy vegetated track between tree-lined canals, where the Zapata Sparrow and the Zapata Wren is hiding. We may even see some doves, like the Gray-fronted Quail-dove, Scaly-naped pigeon, Zenaida Dove, Key West Dove or Blue-head Quail dove in the area. This afternoon we will discover Las Salinas, an area of shallow tidal flats, wetlands, and mangrove-islets, that often showcases hundreds of American Flamingos and a wide variety of herons, egrets, ibis, seabirds and shorebirds, including American White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Neotropic Cormorants, Wood Stork, White Ibis, Black Skimmer, Clapper Rail, Royal Tern, Caspian Tern, Black bellied Plover and Short-billed Dowitcher. Read more
This morning we will take an approximately 2 and a half hours drive back to Havana. Upon settling into our casas we will head out to discover Old Havana, a World Heritage site since 1982. See the glorious grandeur of this dynamic area, one of the Caribbean’s most impressive historical cities. Wonder through the narrow streets and spacious plazas, admiring the Spanish architecture as you discover the birthplace of Havana - Plaza de Armas, and other iconic sites like Plaza San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, and hear about the love story of Havana. After which you can enjoy some free time in Havana. Read more
It’s time to say good bye to this amazing island. We have not planned any activity for you today. Your check-out time is 12pm. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we loved showing it to you! This is where we depart, yet would strongly recommend that you stay a few more days to explore this unique city. If you would like to take this opportunity, please let us know and we can arrange extended accommodation for you for an additional fee. Read more
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An immersive experience with Simply Cuba is the perfect thing for those who are passionate about creating memories on their travels. Whether it’s a photography adventure, a nature discovery or a taste of all things Cuba, we are here to help!
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