Includes: Transport, professional guides, boat operators, water, coconut water, and all reserve entrance fees.

Not included: Gratuities, snacks, and lunch. However, participants will have the opportunity to purchase lunch from a selection of vendors offering a variety of delicious local dishes. Please plan to spend approximately TTD$40–50 ($5 – $8 USD).

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, small umbrella or raincoat, and any other necessary items.

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Overview

This full-day experience explores the productive wetlands and tidal mudflats along central Trinidad, widely regarded as one of the island’s most significant areas for observing shorebirds and migratory species. The region’s dynamic coastal systems, shaped by tidal flux and sediment deposition, create ideal feeding and resting habitats for birds traveling between North and South America.

The tour begins in the Waterloo region, where expansive mudflats support a diverse assemblage of resident and migratory birds. Visits to Sumaria Trace and Orange Valley further enhance the birding experience, offering excellent vantage points for observing birds in rich coastal habitats. These shallow environments, buffered by the Gulf of Paria, provide critical refuge during migration and adverse weather, making them important sites for ecological observation and study.

Complementing the ecological experience is a visit to the Temple in the Sea, one of Trinidad’s most iconic cultural landmarks, built on reclaimed land as a symbol of perseverance and devotion. Adjacent to the temple stands the 85-foot Dattatreya Temple Hanuman Murti, one of the tallest statues of the Hindu deity Hanuman in the Western Hemisphere. The statue represents strength, devotion, and protection, and provides cultural context to the landscape, reflecting the deep historical and spiritual connections of Trinidad’s Indo-Caribbean community.

The experience concludes at the Caroni Swamp, where participants board a guided boat tour through mangrove-lined channels to witness the Scarlet Ibis roosting spectacle at sunset, one of the most visually striking wildlife events in the Caribbean.

Experience Highlights

• Birding along Trinidad’s west coast wetlands and tidal mudflats
• Excellent opportunities for migratory shorebirds and coastal species
• Visit to the Temple in the Sea at Waterloo
• Evening boat tour through the Caroni Swamp
• Sunset viewing of Scarlet Ibis at roost

Birding Highlights

Possible species include: Scarlet Ibis, American Flamingo, Black-crested Antshrike, Bicolored Conebill, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Green-throated Mango, Yellow-headed Caracara, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Saffron Finch, Masked Cardinal, Anhinga, Yellow Oriole, Osprey, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Yellow-billed Tern, Large-billed Tern, Collared Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt, Southern Lapwing, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron.

The area is also known for occasional rarities, and raptors such as Common Black Hawk may be seen near Caroni.

Logistics

Estimated departure at 7:00 AM, and return at 7:00 PM. Departs from and returns to conference hotels in Port of Spain.

This trip is offered on select pre-, mid-, and post-conference dates. Participants may book one or more one-day trips while staying at conference hotels at special rates.