About this trip

Join Holbrook Travel’s Jill Hays on this exploration of Cuba's western regions to get to know the many birds that call this great island home. Cuba’s geography makes it the perfect classroom to study island endemism and biodiversity as you make your way through a selection of ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, coastal lagoons, and limestone hills. Together with an ornithologist guide, have the opportunity to seek out and identify highlights like the Cuban Trogon—Cuba’s national bird, known locally as the Tocororo—and the world’s smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird. Not only will you visit prime birding hotspots, you will also encounter the lively spirit of the Cuban people as you interact with and learn from local residents.
SPECIAL NOTE: This Holbrook Explorers trip is an excellent introduction to birding in Cuba! In particular, it offers birding organization representatives and leaders a way to familiarize themselves with Cuba and its birding opportunities, should they wish to plan and/or lead a future group trip to Cuba for their organization, Audubon chapter, or birding club. (Plus, any participants who return to Cuba with a group of their own are eligible for a refund of their program fee; see Pricing tab for full details.) However, members of the general public who do not have intentions of organizing a future group trip are also welcome!

Highlights

  • Discover the complex history and natural riches that have shaped Cuba as you explore Old Havana and the National Botanical Gardens.
  • Watch for target species like the Cuban Grassquit and Olive-capped Warbler and meet with residents at Las Terrazas, a community and reserve that is a model of sustainable development and ecotourism.
  • Go birding amid the distinctive limestone formations of Viñales Valley and look for Cuban Solitaire, Cuban Tody, and Cuban Pewee.
  • Visit the home of world-renowned nature artist and author Nils Navarro, who will provide a lecture, talk about his book, and show his art studio.
  • Explore several sites in the Zapata Swamp, a Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar wetland, and enjoy encounters with several of its endemic bird species – like the Zapata Wren and Zapata Sparrow – and meet local conservationists.

Meet your leader

Jill Hays

Jill Hays discovered a passion for birding in 2008 after a breathtaking encounter with a Northern Parula near her home in the Ozarks of Missouri. She began volunteering in various capacities with the local Greater Ozarks Audubon Society Chapter and the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems. Her growing love of nature, travel, and birding led to university coursework in geography, geotourism, and ornithology. She also became a Missouri Master Naturalist in 2015. Jill has traveled for birding extensively in the US, as well as destinations including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, and Mexico. Her great joy is sharing the love of birding and nature in a style that reflects positivity, wonder, and gratitude. After leading trips with Holbrook since 2019, Jill joined the team as a travel consultant in 2023. She specializes in planning group expeditions that focus on birding and natural history.

NOTE: Holbrook has been facilitating travel to Cuba for more than 20 years, and the country and its people hold a special place in our hearts. From its endemic species to its rich history and vibrant culture, this destination is unlike any other, while also posing its own unique circumstances and challenges. We’d like to acknowledge the recent setbacks the Cuban people are facing, including a series of natural disasters and instability in the island’s energy infrastructure. We are working closely with our local partners and will continue to monitor the situation; if we decide we must cancel the program for safety or quality reasons, we will refund all payments. However, as of now, we feel confident that we can provide you with the level of service and safety our travelers expect. We believe it’s as important as ever to support responsible tourism in Cuba, and we look forward to sharing this beautiful country with you!