Trinidad and Tobago Birding Odyssey
7 Days, 6 Nights Package – Trinidad and Tobago
Quick Details:
Dates
From July 16 to July 22
Max. Capacity
15 persons
Cost
$1,779 per person
Includes: Accommodation at HADCO Experiences at AWNC (16, 17, 18, 19) and Blue Waters Inn Tobago (20, 21), private transport during tour and transfer to conference venue, all meals, all reserve entrance and cultural program fees, expert guides, boat fees, and VAT.
Not included: Round-trip flight to Tobago (we will advise on which flights to purchase; seats being held by Caribbean Airlines for our group), and gratuities.
What to bring: Comfortable clothing, medication, reusable water bottle, natural/non-toxic sunscreen, natural/non-toxic insect repellent, bathing suit, hat, ziploc bags to keep items dry, towel, snacks, small backpack, small umbrella or raincoat, hiking poles, hiking shoes, binoculars, and any other necessary items.
Overview
Experience the remarkable diversity of Trinidad and Tobago through a thoughtfully designed birding journey that spans rainforest, wetlands, savannah, and coastal ecosystems. This multi-day trip offers exceptional opportunities to observe a wide range of species—including many South American birds not seen elsewhere in the Caribbean—while exploring some of the country’s most iconic natural areas.
The itinerary combines immersive birding with moments to relax and take in the surroundings, from Tobago’s scenic coastline to the world-renowned Asa Wright Nature Centre, where you can watch hummingbirds and tanagers at close range from the famous veranda. Cultural experiences, including a visit to Brasso Seco for local cuisine and cacao traditions, add depth to this unforgettable introduction to Trinidad and Tobago.
Designed exclusively for conference participants, this trip offers outstanding value for a fully guided, all-inclusive, multi-day birding experience.
Accommodation
Trinidad: Stay at Asa Wright Nature Centre for four nights, set within a 1,500-acre protected forest in the Northern Range. The Centre offers comfortable accommodations, extensive trail systems, and exceptional birdwatching directly from the lodge’s famous veranda.
Tobago: On July 20, transfer to Tobago for a two-night stay at Blue Waters Inn, a beachfront eco-hotel with direct access to excellent coastal birding habitats and nearby forest reserves.
Itinerary Highlights
- July 16 – Day 1: Arrival in Trinidad
Arrive in Trinidad, transfer to Asa Wright Nature Centre, settle in – optional night tour at 7:30 PM.
Birding Highlights: Southern Lapwing, Least Grebe, Purple Gallinule, White-cheeked Pintail, Rufous-vented Chachalaca. - July 17 – Day 2: Forest Birding at Asa Wright
Spend the day observing hummingbirds, walking the trails at AWNC with a guided orientation walk at 8:30 AM. Sit on the veranda to watch the sunrise in the valley, and hummingbirds come alive, look for tanagers, and other forest species. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided trail walk and visit the Oilbird Cave, one of the most accessible colonies of this remarkable, nocturnal, fruit-eating species.
Birding Highlights: Striped Cuckoo, Striated Heron, Savannah Hawk, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Barred Antshrike, Silver-beaked Tanager, Red-breasted Meadowlark, Crested Oropendula, Limpkin. - July 18 – Day 3: Wetlands and Savannah Ecosystems
Visit Aripo Savannah, Nariva Swamp, and Bush Bush Island, exploring diverse habitats and their abundant birdlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by nature.
Birding Highlights: Bearded Bellbird, Tufted Coquette, Purple Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper, Turquoise Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Channel-billed Toucan. - July 19 – Day 4: Northern Range and Cultural Experience
Birding in the Northern Range, including Las Lapas and Paria Junction. Continue to Brasso Seco for a cultural experience featuring lunch and a cacao and chocolate demonstration.
Alternative option: Visit Waterloo and Caroni Swamp (Orange Valley).
Birding Highlights: Copper-rumped Hummingbird, White-chested Emerald, Guianian Violaceous Trogon, Orange-winged Amazon, White-bearded Manakin, Violaceous Euphonia, White-necked Thrush, Silver-beaked Tanager, and White-lined Tanager, with possible Ornate Hawk-Eagle. - July 20 – Day 5: Transfer to Tobago: Tobago and Coastal Birding
Take a short flight to Tobago and transfer to Blue Waters Inn. En route, enjoy birding at Bon Accord Lagoon, known for its rich coastal and wetland birdlife.
Birding Highlights: Southern Lapwing, Least Grebe, Purple Gallinule, White-cheeked Pintail, Rufous-vented Chachalaca. - July 21 – Day 6: Rainforest and Seabirds
Explore Gilpin Trace and the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, home to several endemic species.
Birding Highlights: White-tailed Sabrewing, Trinidad Motmot, Collared Trogon, Stripe-breasted Spinetail, Blue-backed Manakin. Optional boat excursion to Little Tobago Island to observe seabirds such as Red-billed Tropicbird and Red-footed and Brown Boobies. - July 22 – Day 7: Return and Conference Transfer
Return to Trinidad and transfer to the conference hotel.
Logistics
Participants should plan to arrive in Trinidad on July 16, ideally early enough to reach Asa Wright during daylight hours. If this is not possible, consider arriving the day before and overnighting at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Trincity (5 minutes from the airport with free shuttle; not included in the tour price), with a transfer to Asa Wright the following morning (included). Check-in is at 3:00 PM, but guests are welcome to enjoy birding from the veranda and around the property upon arrival.
