The
Nature and Birds of Jamaica
Feb 14-22, 2007, with an extension to St. Lucia,
Feb. 22-26
Print
Version, Itinerary in Brief
Although
Jamaica is best known for its beaches and coffee, this island has
far more to offer naturalists: it ranks fifth in biodiversity among
the world’s islands, and many of its animal and plant species
are found nowhere else in the world. Since 1990 Jamaica has increased
the number and quality of its national parks, recognizing the global
importance of its rare species.
Our
goal is to see a good number of the island’s 25-plus endemic
bird species, including the Jamaican Owl, Jamaican Mango, Jamaican
Becard, Jamaican Tody, and more. In addition to time on the Caribbean
coast, we explore a variety of habitats, including lush montane rainforest,
quiet rivers, and two impressive botanical gardens.
In
addition to its unique bird species, we discover Jamaica’s flora
-- including a variety of ferns, orchids (66 endemic species), bromeliads,
and other unusual species. We also enjoy walks on mountain trails,
local culture, and time to relax on the beach or go snorkeling. We
stay four nights at the ecology award-winning Hotel Mockingbird Hill,
and two nights at Forres Park Lodge, part of a working shade-grown
coffee plantation. This journey is a great opportunity to combine
tropical pleasures of a Caribbean vacation with exploration of an
exceptional island.
ITINERARY
Wed.,
Feb. 14 Arrival in Kingston / Liguana Gardens Hotel
Our journey begins in Kingston, where we will arrange transfers for
you upon arrival as various flights come in. Relax at our hotel, enjoy
the pool, or walk in the gardens, where one can enjoy first sightings
of Jamaica’s colorful birds. We gather in the evening for a
local welcome dinner at the Orchid Garden, a prized local restaurant
that features Jamaican and international cuisine.
Accommodations at Liguana Gardens Hotel (D)
Thurs.,
Feb. 15 Hope Gardens / Blue Mountains / Forres Park Lodge
Enjoy your first cup of Blue Mountain coffee with some fruits and
breads as an early snack. Then it’s off to meet local bird guide
John Fletcher for early morning birding at Hope Botanical Gardens,
the largest botanical gardens in the West Indies. Established in 1881,
Hope Gardens lies adjacent to the Mona campus of the University of
the West Indies; this serene spot offers by far the best birding in
the vicinity of bustling Kingston. Conservation groups Birdlife International
and Wildlife Jamaica have been carefully watching encroaching development,
as several of Jamaica’s endemic birds occur here: Yellow-billed
and Olive-throated Parakeets, the tiny Vervain Hummingbird, and White-chinned
Thrush, locally known as “Hopping Dick.” We may also find
lingering North American wintering warblers such as Northern Parula,
American Redstart, Cape May, and Black-and-White.
After
a delightful brunch, we travel into the heart of Jamaica’s mountainous
coffee-growing region to our accommodations at the Forres Park Lodge,
near the town of Mavis Bank. At an elevation of 2,500 feet, the lodge’s
Swiss Chalet style fits with the cooler climate. The lodge is part
of a working shade-grown coffee plantation, and its grounds and trails
are replete with birds. Here we watch for Jamaican Tody, Red-billed
Streamertail, Vervain Hummingbird, the remarkable Stripe-headed Tanager,
White-chinned Thrush, Jamaican Oriole, and other species. After a
relaxing dinner, enjoy the evening air from the balcony of your room.
If we are lucky, as we were last year, the Jamaican Owl will be roosting
nearby!
Accommodations at Forres Park Lodge. (B,L,D)
Fri.,
Feb. 16 Blue Mountains / Hardware Gap
Enjoy a wonderful breakfast featuring local dishes such as homemade
plantain porridge and Blue Mountain coffee before driving up into
the mountains for the day. We pass through farmlands, forests with
Tree Ferns, Caribbean Pine, bromeliads, and a wide variety of orchids
– of Jamaica’s 820 endemic flowering plant species, 66
are orchids! Enjoy the views overlooking the mountain range and landscaped
gardens with a range of lilies and roses, as well as old man’s
beard trailing from the trees. 
Once
at Hardware Gap, a lushly forested ridge in the mountains, we listen
for the flute-like call of the often-elusive Rufous-throated Solitaire.
This is the scenic realm of the endangered Jamaican Blackbird, which
feeds on insects associated with the abundant bromeliads. We look
for high-elevation bird species such as Jamaican Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed
Flycatcher, the endangered Ring-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-billed Cuckoo,
and the beautiful Crested Quail-Dove. During lunch at the Gap Café,
take in the lovely views overlooking Kingston.
With
an annual rainfall of more than 100 inches, the forest hosts an array
of fascinating ferns; some of the giant Tree Ferns reach a height
of 30 feet! Amid this lush vegetation we enjoy a walk and look for
Arrow-headed Warbler, White-eyed Thrush, Jamaican Becard, Blue Mountain
Vireo, Sad Flycatcher, and other species. Impressive native trees
include huge Mahogany, Cedar, Blue Mahoe, and Broadleaf. We also can
look for mixed flocks of tanagers and warblers and listen for the
noisy Jamaican Woodcreeper. Jamaican Tody occurs here, and we hope
to find this bright green jewel perched like a tiny jacamar waiting
to prey on insects.
Accommodations at Forres Park Lodge. (B,L,D)
Sat.,
Feb. 17 Kingston / Institute of Jamaica / Devon House / Castleton
Gardens / Tamarind Hill
As we pass
through Kingston to reach our route over the mountains, we have added
time in this year’s journey to see a bit of the city of Kingston
and its excellent natural and cultural 
museum,
the Institute of Jamaica. Enjoy lunch at Devon House, a well-preserved
mansion that is one of Jamaica’s most prized historic sites.
After
lunch, we leave the city and continue onto our lovely accommodations
at the Tamarind Great House, built in the 18th century on a hill in
a citrus growing region. En route we stop at the small but very enjoyable
Castleton Gardens, where we may see Jamaican Crow, some herons along
the river, or some wintering warblers. We arrive in the late afternoon
for some free time at the lovely Tamarind Hill, where a pool, walking
trails, and spacious, well-appointed rooms await us. The meals at
this lodge are particularly wonderful, as the owners raise their own
chickens, grow their own vegetables, and produce a special local honey.
Accommodations at the Tamarind Great House, St. Mary’s (B,L,D)
Sun.,
Feb. 18 Sun Valley Plantation / Coastal Hike from Green Castle/Robins
Bay, St Mary
This morning early risers can join the jaunt for birding on a country
road that leads out from the Tamarind Estate. After breakfast and
packing up, we visit a nearby working fruit and coconut plantation,
the Sun Valley Plantation. The owners of this family-run business
personally show you around their grounds and acquaint you with the
various tropical fruits and herbs. They demonstrate how the coconuts
are harvested and the wealth of products that can be derived from
the coconut. We then travel to the coast near Robins Bay. Enjoy lunch
at a seaside restaurant in the charming town of Port Antonio.
Our
route then takes us along the coastal road to the lovely Hotel Mockingbird
Hill, our home for the next four nights. This relaxed, 10-room hotel
recently won the Caribbean Hotel Association’s award for the
best small “green” hotel – an honor bestowed for
its adherence to environmentally sound practices in all phases of
its operations. In the afternoon, relax by the pool or traverse the
trails of the hotel grounds for some late-day birding. Watch for 
fascinating
birds such as Caribbean Dove, Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, and Jamaican
Lizard Cuckoo.
This
remarkable hotel is set high on a hill with fantastic views of Port
Antonio and the Caribbean Sea. The spacious rooms feature tile floors,
handcrafted bamboo furniture, and original artwork. From the charming
swimming pool you can watch hummingbirds such as the Black-billed
Streamertail and the Jamaican Mango. We’ll have dinner at the
hotel’s first-class terraced restaurant – a fantastic
culinary experience acclaimed by Gourmet magazine! Enjoy the scent
of Night Jasmine and the cool tropical breeze.
Accommodations at Mockingbird Hill Hotel (B,L,D)
Mon.,
Feb. 19 Ecclesdown / John Crow Mountains
We have an early start this morning, taking a packed breakfast along
as we ride to Ecclesdown, at the foothills of the John Crow Mountains.
During a morning walk along a forested road, we hope to find a number
of endemic birds, including Black-billed and Yellow-billed Parrots,
Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Oriole, and Jamaican Crow. Our next stop
is Reach Falls, some lovely secluded falls surrounded by lush forest
where you can take a swim to cool off if you like! Our special lunch
stop at scenic Long Bay offers good Jamaican cuisine on the beach.
You can relax with a view of the Caribbean, take a dip in the waves,
or walk along the longest beach in this area.
We
arrive back at the hotel in the afternoon, where our guide will lead
us around the hotel’s lushly vegetated grounds. Here as many
as 40 species of birds can be found, including Ring-tailed Pigeon,
the impressively beautiful Black-billed Streamertail, Chestnut-bellied
Cuckoo, and Rufous-tailed Flycatcher. At day’s end, enjoy an
engaging evening of dinner and conversation at this beautifully situated
hotel, with hosts Barbara Walker and Shireen Aga.
Accommodations at Mockingbird Hill Hotel. (B,L,D)
Tues.,
Feb. 20 Scenic Rio Grande River Rafting / Sightseeing
Enjoy a change of pace today! After a delightful breakfast, we take
off for a scenic rafting adventure on the Rio Grande. Before a blight
destroyed Jamaica’s valuable banana crop, Port Antonio was the
banana capital of the world and the busiest port in the Caribbean.
The two-seater rafts we ride were originally used to transport bananas;
then Port Antonio’s most famous resident, the movie star Errol
Flynn, made raft rides popular by challenging visitors to race them
down the Rio Grande.
Our
lazy float down this quiet, scenic river affords close looks at herons,
egrets, kingfishers and possibly some shorebirds. We’ll pull
ashore for lunch at Miss Betty's, another chance for authentic Jamaican
food. We return to Mockingbird Hill for the afternoon. You can choose
to end the day at our hotel or at Frenchman’s Cove, a lush cove
with a lovely sand beach.
Accommodations at Mockingbird Hill Hotel (B,L,D)
Wed.,
Feb. 21 Caribbean Culture / Free Afternoon with Optional Snorkeling
This morning we have our last birding and natural history walk at
one of two locations: either Sherwood Forest, or the amazing Ecclesdown
Road. We’ll choose the location based on what we still hope
to see of the Jamaican endemics. This afternoon you are free to do
what you like – we want to make sure you leave suffused with
some good Jamaican easy living! In the evening we enjoy a final, marvelous
dinner at the hotel, watching as night falls on the blue Caribbean.
Accommodations at the Hotel Mockingbird Hill. (B,L,D)
Thurs.,
Feb. 22 Departures from Kingston
Taking a packed breakfast with us, that we enjoy at a vista point
where we may see seabirds, we drive a scenic route back to the Kingston
airport and departing flights. Plan a departing flight that leaves
no earlier than NOON. Please note that we have about a three-hour
drive and you need to be there two hours ahead. At this time, we plan
to arrive the airport by 10:00 am to accommodate flights leaving after
NOON. (B)
St.
Lucia Extension
Feb. 22-25, 2007
After our journey to Jamaica, join us for a three night extension
to St. Lucia, a mountainous island in the Windward Chain of the Lesser
Antilles. The island has miles of beaches and an excellent network
of forest trails in nature reserves. The rugged twin peaks “Les
Pitons” create a spectacular backdrop to our lodgings in Soufriere
look out upon “Les Pitons,” twin volcanic peaks that rise
2,600 feet above sea level. We plan a three night stay, with two full
days to explore, birdwatch, and -- for those who wish to -- enjoy
time snorkeling. We also plan to have a grand time sampling the local
cuisine, a rich blend of Caribbean, French, and British influences.
Our visit
to this small (about 28 miles long and 14 miles wide) and rugged island
complements our Jamaica journey, as the bird species do not overlap.
We’ll hire a local guide to help us find several endemic bird
species including the St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Oriole, St. Lucia
Warbler, St. Lucia Black Finch, and St. Lucia Pewee.
As a southerly
Windward Island, St. Lucia hosts interesting a mix of regional specialties:
Bridled Quail Dove, Lesser Antillean Swift, Lesser Antillean Flycatcher,
Gray Trembler, Brown Trembler, Adelaide’s Warbler, White-breasted
Thrasher, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, Bare-eyed Thrush, Rufous-throated
Solitaire, Black-whiskered Vireo, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Antillean
Euphonia, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Lesser Antillean Saltator, and
others. Hummingbirds include the Green-throated Carib, Purple-throated
Carib and Antillean Crested Hummingbird. During the winter months
we may find a number of North American songbirds wintering as well.
Several forest
reserves protect lush rainforests that are home to giant ferns, wild
orchids, and many tropical tree species. Papaya, banana, and coconut
plantations surround the lush, mountainous forest reserves. The island
is home to an endemic anole, whiptail lizard, and gecko; we should
also find many Common Iguanas, a species that grows to over three
feet long! The plant life, geology, scenery, and local culture beckon
us to explore as well. We think you’ll find this 238-square-mile
island a little piece of heaven!
St.
Lucia is a new destination for Naturalist Journeys, so those signing
on for the extension should bring a sense of flexibility and adventure
with them. We’ll make excellent plans as far as the birds go
– then network to find our typical great restaurants, special
places (like mineral hot springs), and more.
|
Tour
Cost and Travel Arrangements (Jamaica)
COST
OF THE JOURNEY: The cost of the journey, $2,495.00
from Kingston, is based on double occupancy and includes:
all accommodations, most meals as specified in the itinerary,
group airport transfers, transportation in Jamaica, park
and preserve entrance fees, and miscellaneous program costs.
This cost is based on a minimum of 10 persons. If there
are fewer than 8, a small group surcharge (typically $100-$300.00)
may apply. It does not include your flight to and from Kingston
or items of a personal nature such as; beverages from the
bar, porterage, laundry, phone calls, or gift items. We
also recommend a gratuity for our local drivers and guides,
which is left to your discretion. Single supplement is $585.00.
TRAVEL
ARRANGEMENTS: A number of major carriers and their
partners fly to Jamaica, including American Airlines, Continental,
Delta and United. Please plan to arrive before our welcome
dinner on Feb. 14th. We recommend trying to make a mid-day
arrival so you have time to relax, but know that is not
possible from all locations. If you need to come in the
previous day, we can help with arrangements and a private
transfer. Please plan to depart any time after NOON on Feb.
22nd.
--------
Extension
Cost and Travel Arrangements (St. Lucia)
COST
OF THE EXTENSION: Cost is: $925.00 per person,
double occupancy; single supplement is $300.00. This cost
includes accommodations for three nights, picnic lunches
and the final dinner, ground transportation, local guides,
guide service of Peg Abbott of Naturalist Journeys, and
miscellaneous park fees and program expenses. It does not
include air travel from Jamaica. Airport transfers will
be additional, to be divided between passengers at the time
of service. Expenses involved in snorkeling will also be
additional: free snorkeling close to shore is available,
as are half-day trips out to a reef near the island. This
cost is based on a minimum number of 8 participants; if
fewer than 8 continue on to St. Lucia from Jamaica, there
will be a small-group ($100-$300 per person).
IINTER-ISLAND
AIR: Cost of inter-island air: $350.00 round trip
air from Kingston Jamaica. You may wish to investigate a
“triangle” ticket with flights from the U.S.
to Jamaica, Jamaica to St. Lucia, and St. Lucia to the U.S.
– in which case this cost would not apply. If you
wish to get a triangle ticket, you should plan to book air;
if you prefer the inter-island flights (from Kingston to
St. Lucia and back), Peg will book for you upon request.
|
Close
This Window
