"Hiking and Bird Watching"

"Hiking and Bird Watching"

Enjoy watching Cuba's most important endemic and migratory birds in Ciénaga de Zapata National Park. Among the main species are the flamingo, the spoonbill, the ivy and the heron. You can also observe forest birds during the tour such as the zunzún, zunzuncito, Gallinuela de Santo Tomás and Ferminia. Undoubtedly, we have designed this proposal thinking about the bird lovers and about every visitor who wants to be in direct contact with nature in one of the most beautiful places of the Cuban geography.

We will leave early in the morning from the Hotel Playa Larga or another place or village to be defined, to reach the places where the trails start we will do so by the means of transport available to the TTOO or customers. Due to the characteristics of the product, once in the area of birdwatching the clients will be organized in two groups of 10 people each which will always be accompanied by a specialized guide. The duration of the tours is 3-5 hours, and the clients will always return to the initial starting point, or to the places where the lunches and dinners are planned.

Area values

The forest heritage of the Ciénaga de Zapata is constituted by: natural forests (233 265.3 ha), young plantations (928.2 ha) and established plantations (4 170.8 ha). According to The Field Museum 2005 it is estimated that there are around 1000 species of native plants grouped in 110 families, with 130 Cuban endemics standing out, of which 6 are local and 14 are rare or endangered species.

The fauna is represented by 15 species of mammals, 258 of birds, 43 of reptiles, 4 of fish and 16 of amphibians, as well as a great variety of insects and other invertebrates. Among the animal species, 5 are local endemics and 16 are in danger of extinction. This region is also one of the most important refuges for 65 species of migratory birds.

Details of the Excursion

• Difficulty Level: Low
• Hiking or bird watching in some of the following trails: Las Salinas, Santo Tomas, Bermejas, Los Arroyones, Enigmas de las rocas, Sistema Espeleolacustre or other areas to be defined.
• Duration: 4 hrs
• The excursion is carried out in groups of 10 people, always accompanied by a local guide specialized in ornithology.
• Including 2 liquids of national production.

Important:

• The routes until reaching the places where the trails start will be done in the means of transport provided by the TTOO or the clients.
• The tour does not include transfer.
• When the group is staying more than 1 day as part of the birding program, it is mandatory to stay in a single room with the local specialized guide under the same conditions as the group's clients. (Price 14 USD x Room per day)

TIPS: - Light clothing, sunglasses, hats or caps, tennis, sandals or comfortable shoes, water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent and camera.