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Jamaica - An Island of Endemics!
Tour Code: JAM02A hugely rewarding, yet relaxing, 9-day birdwatching holiday to the tropical Caribbean island of Jamaica.
£5,995 (Inc flights)
£5,095
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This is a two-centre holiday (with an initial night in Kingston on Day 1) based in the Blue Mountains and along Jamaica's northern coastline. Each day we will look for Jamaica’s endemic species (seeing all 28 during the tour is a possibility!) and other exciting species, visiting sites in the Blue, and the John Crow Mountains – in mountainous areas we’ll look for species such as Jamaican Blackbird, Arrowhead Warbler and Jamaican Spindalis, as well as the secretive Crested Quail Dove. As well as plentiful bird species, we won't fail to be impressed by the impressive diversity of butterflies, dragonflies and reptiles. There is much time to relax during this tour as all activities are optional, although experiencing the taste of and making of the Blue Mountain coffee is very much worth attending. We will also take in another aspect so famous in Jamaican culture... the food!
- Jamaica has 28 endemic bird specires, more than any other Caribbean island!
- Look for colourful American wood warblers which winter here
- Hotels situated in the Blue Mountains and along the North Coast
- Night-walks to look for endemic Jamaican Owl plus Northern Potoo
- An ideal birdwatching break to enjoy with a non-birding partner!
- Superb photographic opportunities
- Led by expert in-country guides and a UK leader
Grading
Grade A. Easy birding and cultural walks only.
If fabulous birdwatching, Caribbean sun and beautiful hotels sound like the ingredients for your perfect early break from the UK winter, then this birdwatching holiday to Jamaica could be just for you!
Jamaica is home to 28 species of endemic bird, more than on any other Caribbean island. These are joined each spring by numerous northbound migrants — amongst them a host of colourful American wood warblers — which use the island as a stepping stone between their wintering grounds in South America and their breeding grounds further north. Finding all of the 28 endemic birds during the course of the week is a distinct possibility! These species include Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo, Jamaican Mango, Orangequit, Jamaican Tody, Yellow-billed Parrot and White-chinned Thrush, whilst a night-walk could reveal the endemic Jamaican Owl or perhaps the more widespread Northern Potoo.
During our 7-night stay, we will not only spend time thoroughly the hotels' premises (located onsite and elsewhere), but will also head further afield into both the Blue Mountains, which dominate the eastern section of the island, and the nearby John Crow Mountains. In these two mountain regions we will be looking for the localised Blue Mountain Vireo, plus Jamaican Blackbird and the spectacular Black-billed Streamertail. If fortunate, we may even find the beautiful, but secretive, Crested Quail Dove.
With a host of special birds, warm sunshine and superb photographic opportunities on offer, all from an exceptionally comfortable base, we expect this to be a popular holiday.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
When in-country, we will use three separate hotels, the first, a typical airport hotel to get over the flight. Then, we will have three nights at a luxury hotel in the Blue Mountains, and then another three-night stay along the north coast.
- Food: All included in the price.
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Andy Smith
Andy lives on the edge of Dartmoor in South Devon. He’s been a keen birder and naturalist for as long as he can remember and has enjoyed a varied career divided between conservation work in Britain and Ireland, school teaching and wildlife tour leading. He started leading for Naturetrek way back in 1997 and has now led over 150 tours to a wide range of destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Antarctica. When not currently leading tours Andy teaches geography and history to teenagers and in his spare time he explores the natural history of Dartmoor and the South Hams and serves on the records committee of Devon Birds. He also makes regular trips to the west of Ireland to visit his children and grandchildren.
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[description] => Bargain Birdwatching Holidays
Our bargain birdwatching tours suit keen birders who want an active, fast-paced birding holiday with a dedicated focus on searching for birds rather than on looking at the area’s other wildlife or cultural highlights.
We offer a wide selection of long-haul holidays to many destinations in South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
What can I expect?
- An expert English-speaking local ornithologist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk birding with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable bird lists
- Focused searches for endemics and regional specialities
Who are these tours best suited to?
- Keen & active birders – whether expert or making their first visit to a country or continent
- People looking for an action-packed bird-focused tour
Where can I go?
Naturetrek's selection of birdwatching holidays includes many South and Central American countries including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Panama.
In Africa our selection includes Malawi, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in India and Nepal we offer a choice of 17 bargain birdwatching tours! Here are a few more choices:
- Endemics of Western Australia
- Argentina's Mar Chiquita
- Birds of Brazils Atlantic rainforest
- Colombia – home to the world’s richest avifauna
- Sri Lanka’s endemic birds
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
All Bargain birdwatching Tours
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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