BirdsCaribbean Partnership Tour

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Hispaniola Endemic Birding

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Hispaniola Endemic Birding Quantity
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- 2024 :: January 11 - January 18
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SCHEDULED TOURS

2024 :: January 11 - January 18

TRIP LEADERS

Gabriel Lugo

TOUR COST

From: $3,000 (See details)
Cost is per person, double occupancy from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (SDQ)

GROUP SIZE

4 - 6 Participants

AVAILABILITY

FULL [waitlist]

PRIVATE TOUR OPTION

This tour is available as a private trip for any size group. The tour cost will vary with the number of people and any custom requests.

TESTIMONIALS

Highlights of DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Hispaniola Endemic Birding

32 endemic bird species including the critically endangered Ridgway’s Hawk!

Palmchat is the sole representative of the family Dulidae!

Description of DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Hispaniola Endemic Birding

As one of the most enticing birding destinations in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, the second-largest island in the Greater Antilles. The varied landscapes and friendly people provide for ample interest during our week-long birding tour, spanning multiple elevations in several locations. From montane cloud forests and lush tropical habitats, to the limestone karst and sparkling turquoise waters off the coast, the Dominican Republic hosts 32 avian endemics including the cheerful Palmchat which is the sole representative of the family Dulidae!

We’ll focus on the rugged Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, where most of the country’s endemics and specialties can be found. In the high-elevation forests, we’ll look for Eastern Chat-Tanager, White-fronted Quail-Dove, and La Selle Thrush. In the broadleaf evergreen forests we find Hispaniolan Spindalis, Green-tailed Ground-Tanager and Narrow-billed Tody. And in towering pine forests we’ll look for Hispaniolan Crossbill, Golden Swallow, and Antillean Siskin.

The expansive Lago Enriquillo Basin hosts American Flamingos and various species of herons, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Hispaniolan Palm Crow, White-necked Crow, and Broad-billed Tody are endemics of the lowland’s arid mesquite scrub surrounding the lagoon. We’ll spend time on the north shore of the island looking for the critically-endangered Ridgway’s Hawk, confined to just the forested foothills of Los Haities National Park.

SOME TRIPS MAY BE COMBINED WITH OUR PUERTO RICO 5-DAY TOUR.

SOME TRIPS MAY BE COMBINED WITH OUR JAMAICA ENDEMICS TOUR.

NOTE: When combining two of these trips, we include a FREE hotel night between trips!

Itinerary

Length of Tour

8-Days/7-Nights

Brief Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Santo Domingo; transfer to Los Haitises NP.

Day 2 – Los Haitises NP; Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens.

Day 3 – Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope, Rabo de Gato Trail.

Day 4 – Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope; Lago Enriquillo.

Day 5 – Sierra de Bahoruco, southern slope; Cabo Rojo.

Day 6 – Sierra de Bahoruco, southern slope.

Day 7 – Sierra de Bahoruco, eastern slope; transfer to Santo Domingo late in the day.

Day 8 – Flights home

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Santo Domingo / transfer to Los Haitises NP

Arrive (the earliest flight is best) in Santo Domingo and drive north east to Cano Hondo on the edge of the Los Haities NP. We’ll seek Double-striped Thick-knee and Grasshopper Sparrow on the way. Evening go for Ashy-faced Owl nearby. o/n Paraiso Caño Hondo.

Day 2 – Los Haitises NP/ Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens

Ridgway’s Hawk and White-necked Crow on the morning walk. At noon we’ll drive south west to Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens for the Hispaniolan Parakeet, Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Palmchat and West Indian Whistling Duck. o/n Santo Domingo, Hotel BQ Santo Domingo.

Day 3 – Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope, Rabo de Gato Trail

Head west towards Duverge and the north slope of the Sierra de Baroruco to do mid-elevation birding. We’ll bird the Rabo de Gato road for the White-fronted Quail-Dove, Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Trogon, Oriole, Pewee, Broad-billed Tody, Narrow-billed Tody, Flat-billed Vireo, Antillean Siskin, Antillean Euphonia. o/n Villa Barrancolí-Rabo de Gato Trail, Puerto Escondido.

Day 4 – Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope/ Lago Enriquillo

Early start to get to the highlands at Zapoten on the north slope of the Sierra de Baroruco, for La Selle Thrush, Highland-Tanager, Western Chat-Tanager, Green-tailed Ground-Tanager, Black-crowned Palm Tanager,Emerald and Spindalis. Lunch in Duverge, then onto the dry scrub around Lago Enriquillo to look for waterfowl, waders, terns and gulls and late afternoon the Palm Crow. o/n Barahona, Hotel La Saladilla Beach Club.

Day 5 – Sierra de Bahoruco, southern slope/ Cabo Rojo

Drive west towards Pedernales to and depends on time we will stop the wetlands at Cabo Rojo for shorebirds, waders, and also the cliffs for pelicans, Brown Boobies and White-tailed Tropicbirds.

Afternoon birding on the southern slope of the Sierra de Baroruco, which is where we would spend the remainder of the day, looking for Golden Swallow, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Siskin, Palm Crow, Flat-billed Vireo, Broad-billed Tody, Narrow-billed Tody, Antillean Piculet and Hispaniolan Parrot. At dusk look for Hispaniolan Nightjar followed by Ashy-faced owl (if needed). o/n Pedernales, Hostal Doña Chava.

Day 6 – Sierra de Bahoruco southern slope

After breakfast we go back to southern slope of Sierra de Bahoruco to look for the birds we may have missed the afternoon before then continue on to Casa Bonita and have a relaxing lunch and afternoon at this luxury hotel. Night birding nearby, to look for Least Pauraque and Northern Potoo. o/n Barahona, Casa Bonita.

Day 7 – Sierra de Bahoruco, eastern slope/ transfer to Santo Domingo late in the day

Early start to drive nearby into the broadleaf forest of the eastern slope of the Sierra de Baroruco to look for the last of our endemics, Eastern Chat-Tanager at daybreak. Return to Casa Bonita for a late breakfast and late morning checkout. Then drive from Barahona to Santo Domingo.

Day 8 – Flights home

Depart at anytime to return home or continue on to our Jamaica tour.

Full list of the Dominican Republic’s endemic bird species:

Cost Details

Cost

Cost is $3,000 per person, based upon double occupancy, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Airport code SDQ).
This trip ends in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Airport code SDQ).

Single Supplement

If a single room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $350 will be assessed.

Deposit Requirements

A $500 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.

How to Book

In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.

Final Payment

For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.

For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.

NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.

Accommodations

This trip includes mostly standard hotels. One location will have shared bathrooms for one night to reduce our driving time in the morning by several hours.

Activity Level

Activity Level Rating: 2 (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)

There are some very rough roads on this tour… all travel will be in SUVs. Walks are not too difficult, but may be muddy or rutted trails and dirt roads.

Additional Information

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.