The Lesser Antilles - Exploring St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Dominica

Nestled in the glittering Caribbean Sea, the Lesser Antilles archipelago is a chain of largely submerged mountains. The outer arc from Anguilla to Barbados comprises largely flat limestone islands, the inner arc a series of dramatic volcanic cones from Saba to Grenada. This holiday takes us to the lush, heavily forested, volcanic islands of St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Dominica, each home to a diverse range of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife with high endemism.

 We start and end this holiday on the beautiful island of St. Lucia, enjoying our first three nights on a secluded 60-acre site with lush, tropical gardens and private beach. Even at breakfast, on the large open-air verandah, we can enjoy nesting Antillean Crested Hummingbirds, Bananaquits and Mangrove Cuckoos. Birding the sprawling Des Cartiers Rainforest, coastal woodlands, and dry broad-leaved forests, species will range from the magnificent St. Lucia Parrot, minuscule Lesser Antillean Euphonia, bemusing Grey Trembler and inquisitive Scaly-breasted Thrasher. At the island's highest point we find Red-billed Tropicbirds! We also take a boat trip to St. Lucia’s two small island neighbours - Maria Major and Maria Minor, home to two of the rarest reptiles on the planet: St. Lucia Whiptail Lizard and St. Lucia Racer! Another privately chartered catamaran cruise allows us to snorkel in the calm, azure waters, home to Hawksbill and Green Turtles as well as a staggering variety of tropical fish.

Leaving St. Lucia, we take a short flight to the stunning, unspoiled island of St. Vincent for three nights. Here we have the privilege to observe flocks of St. Vincent Parrots filling the skies around us and we board a private vessel to sail across sparkling turquoise waters to the reef-fringed island of Bequia. Almost unimaginable beauty oozes from every palm-lined shore and tranquil bay, with seabirds often the only visible inhabitants. Roseate, Bridled and Sooty Terns, Brown Noddies, Red-footed, Brown and Masked Booby and both Red-billed and White-tailed Tropicbirds are all possible.

We will finish our explorations with three nights on the forest-clad, rugged island of Dominica. Within the lush rainforests of towering Mt. Soufriere we aim to observe a range of species from the critically endangered Whistling Warbler to the majestic Imperial Amazon with migrant North American warblers such as American Redstart, Prothonotary and Black-and-White Warbler. Again, we shall take to the waters to observe mighty Sperm Whales at close quarters along with other cetaceans and a range of special seabirds. These tiny island gems are a true naturalist’s delight. Those wishing to extend the holiday to snorkel with Sperm Whales can do so or the tour combines with our popular Trinidad and Tobago holiday.