caribbean wildlife tour

The Five Caribbean Islands Nature & Wildlife Lovers Must Visit!

T he Caribbean is famed for its warm weather and calm beaches. However, many people are unaware that several of the Caribbean islands are home to some of the world’s most fascinating wildlife.

Trails, streams, waterfalls, animals, and plants abound in many, and whether you’re a first-time adventurer or more seasoned, there are places to see and terrain to traverse for everyone here.

With so many islands to visit in the Caribbean, choosing which one to visit might be difficult. However we know this part of the world well. So we’ve put together a list of the top five Caribbean islands for wildlife and nature enthusiasts.

From the self-declared ‘Nature Island’ of Dominica to the extraordinary diversity of birdlife in Tobago, here’s your virtual Caribbean safari to help you decide which island is perfect for you.

The Five Caribbean Islands Nature & Wildlife Lovers Must Visit in Their Lifetime

1. dominica: the caribbean’s nature island.

Nestled between the French island territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica is a nature enthusiast’s dream.

This country has earned the moniker “The Nature Island of the Caribbean”, in part due to its rugged topography which is blanketed in dense jungle.

There’s something new to discover around every corner in Dominica, from stunning landscapes to spectacular wildlife. As we’ll show you next.

The Landscape

Dominica has scenery that is unlike any other in the Caribbean, with rainforest covering the bulk of the island. The elevation here is substantial due to the island’s various mountains, which flow into the rainforest landscape. The result of all of that? Fantastic hiking trails, mountains to scale, and countless waterfalls to discover.

And there’s a reason why there’s so many waterfalls on the island. Dominica tends to get more annual rainfall than any other Caribbean island. It averages about 70 inches of rain along the shore each year, yet as you travel deeper into the mountains, that figure rises dramatically to about 200 inches!

All of that rain contributes to the gorgeous raging rivers and waterfalls seen across the island.

Thankfully the island offers a range of fascinating and unique hiking trails so you can discover it all. With over 120 miles of hiking paths, exploring the island in one trip is practically impossible. Those pathways go to several important locations on the island with unique and stunning natural features.

One of those is Boiling Lake, the world’s second-biggest hot spring. The water at the lake’s borders was recorded at over 180 degrees Fahrenheit when it was first measured in 1870. And to this day the lake is actively boiling because the temperature at the center is so high.

Dominica also has the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The park is named after the tallest peak on the island, and is home to a lot of volcanic activity. Even more magnificent natural marvels can be seen in the park, such as the Valley of Desolation, Emerald Pool, and the aforementioned Boiling Lake. (Related: The Best Caribbean Islands for Adventure ).

The Plant Life to Expect

Dominica has a broad set of plant-life, from the tropical jungle to the arid shore. There’s also a diverse range of tropical fruits that thrive on the island.

Avocado, guava, grapefruit, mango, and pineapple are just a few of the many fresh fruits that can be found.

Additionally, aloe vera is abundant throughout the island. Aloe vera, sometimes known as “nature’s remedy,” is utilized in a variety of health products and has a long list of health advantages.

The Animals You Can Expect

Dominica is also home to many rare bird, reptile, turtle, and marine life. In fact over 20 species of whales can be spotted around Dominica, with sperm whales being common finds during whale watching tours.

But in particular, the rainforests on the island are the ideal habitat for the more than 100 different bird species.

The Sisserou Parrot, commonly known as the Imperial Amazon, is the most famous of these species. It’s unique to Dominica and is even featured on the island’s flag. The Sisserou is highly endangered since it is only found on one island, and unfortunately it’s thought that just around 50 remain in the wild.

While Dominica’s birdlife may be seen at any time of year, the months of March to August are the greatest for seeing all of Dominica’s diverse species. Along with the birds, the coast is teeming with marine life like whales, making this a great scuba and snorkeling spot too. This is easily one of the best Caribbean islands for wildlife and nature.

2. Grenada: The Spice Island

Grenada, an island nation less than 100 miles north of Venezuela, offers a Caribbean experience unlike any other.

It’s often known as the “Island of Spice” as much of the land is dedicated to growing spices, such as nutmeg. If visiting you can take spice tours around working farms, or visit the local markets to see the huge array harvested on the island.

Grenada is also home to lake-filled volcanic craters, rainforests, and numerous mountains, so this little island holds a lot inside just 135 square miles!

Granada has two additional islands worth mentioning, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, in addition to the main island.

There are hundreds of smaller islands that make up the country, but these three are home to the majority of the inhabitants.

Grenada’s main island is around 21 miles long and 12 miles broad. To the west, steep mountain slopes can be found, while to the east, more moderate hills and inclines can be seen. Because of the island’s crowded shoreline, the majority of the island’s fauna is found inland, which is also where you can find plenty of breathtaking hiking trails.

Many of the best trails are in the Grand Etang National Park and Forest. This park is located deep in the island’s interior and is one of the most popular hiking destinations. The well-kept pathways can accommodate everything from short hikes to multi-hour trips.

The national park is named after Grand Etang Lake, a gorgeous big lake that was formed within a dormant volcano. Lake Antoine, the island’s second crater lake, is close by. Grand Etang Lake is just around 20 feet deep, although people on the island claim it’s far deeper.

Another magnificent feature of the Grand Etang National Park is the Seven Sisters Waterfalls. These stunning falls are situated deep within the rainforest, preceded by a relatively lengthy yet picturesque journey. Walking the trail feels like going back in time, and honestly we think that the walk to the falls is more gratifying than reaching the final destination itself!

A vast range of flora can be found in Granda’s rainforests. Two plant species found solely in Granada are the Grand Etang Fern and the Cabbage Palm. In addition to the island’s plant life, Granada is home to a number of pretty cultivated gardens and spice plantations that are well worth visiting.

Bananas, oranges, and mangos are all cultivated in wonderful conditions, but the island is most renowned for its nutmeg and a variety of other spices. Nutmeg has proven to be a mainstay of Grenada’s economy, despite the fact that it has only been grown on the island for a little over 100 years.

With its spice farms, jungle, beaches and animals, it’s little surprise Grenada makes it on our list of best Caribbean islands for wildlife and nature.

Mammals, invertebrates, birds, and reptiles can all be found throughout Grenada. There’s two indigenous bird species that are remarkable and worth trying to spot – the critically endangered Grenada Dove, and the endangered Grenada Hook-billed Kite.

In fact, the island is home to over 150 distinct bird species! Another 16 of those species are vulnerable or endangered, in addition to the Grenada Dove and Hook-billed Kite.

The Mona Monkey is another unique creature that can be found on the island. These monkeys, who are said to have arrived on the island via boat, are known to be troublesome and often irritate local farmers.

They’re popular with tourists though and the Grand Etang National Park is the best area to spot them. It’s not uncommon to see them at the park’s entrance, so if you want to spot monkeys on your Caribbean vacation, head there for a start.

3. Puerto Rico: A Hiker’s Paradise

Puerto Rico, a US territory, is sandwiched between the Dominican Republic, United States, and the British Virgin Islands. There is a lot to do and see on the island, which is divided into several distinct sections.

Because there are so many distinct regions on the island, there is also a diverse collection of animals and plant life including birds, bats, snakes , and iguanas.

While we will concentrate on Puerto Rico’s main island as that’s where most tourists visit, the US territory is actually made up of around 143 islands, cays, and islets. Only three islands and one islet are inhabited though. These are the main island of Puerto Rico along with Vieques, Culebra, and the islet of Old San Juan.

Puerto Rico has towering peaks, sandy beaches, and a tropical rainforest that covers part of the island. Mountains and hills encompass about a quarter of the island, whilst the rainforest covers the northern half, and the southern half is mostly arid plains.

The El Yunque National Forest, which is officially the United States’ sole subtropical rainforest, is located in the northeast. The rainforest, named after Pico El Yunque, or El Yunque Peak, provides miles of trekking routes and lots of challenging terrain. Tourists may wander through the forest in search of breathtaking sights, as well as experience the area’s waterfalls and rivers. It’s certainly one of the best hiking areas in the Caribbean. (Related: Exceptional Hiking Trails in Puerto Rico ).

In contrast to the rainforest’s often difficult terrain, the seaside areas provide welcome relief, as well as additional exciting activities if you’re searching for something more to do. There’s always a way to get your fill of nature, whether it’s sitting and taking in the scenery or diving and snorkeling.

Puerto Rico’s plant life is as diversified as its animal life. In fact the island’s bright and interesting vegetation is one feature that tourists often love.

For example, the so-called ‘flamboyant tree’ lives up to its name. These brilliant trees border the road and mountains, and are especially colorful in July. They’re usually bright red, although they can also be yellow or even blue in the rarest situations!

The Flor De Maga is Puerto Rico’s national flower. It has vivid pink and red blooms that grow on branches and resemble decorations.

The beehive ginger, on the other hand, is a cylindrical bloom with a beehive-like appearance, thus the name. These are only a handful of the colorful and unusual plants found on Puerto Rico, there’s many more to see and discover when visiting.

Along with the various landscapes you can expect in Puerto Rico, there are a variety of species that call this place home.

The island is a very popular for bird watchers. The Puerto Rican parrot, nightjar, lizard cuckoo, and others are among the island’s natural birds. Many of these species may be seen at the Bosque Cambalache National Park, which is particularly popular with bird watchers. (Recommended: Rare and Beautiful Birds of Puerto Rico ). There’s also a number of exotic bat species on the island.

Aside from the species found in the forest, the sea offers another world to discover!

Just offshore, manta rays, turtles, whales, and unique fish can all be found. With that being the case, it’s little surprise scuba diving and snorkeling are popular activities in Puerto Rico.

Many tiny islands off the coast of Puerto Rico are ideal locations for this pastime, as they have extensive coral reef structures to explore. (Related: Sharks in Puerto Rico ).

4. Tobago: The Little Island That Packs A Huge Punch

Tobago is a tiny island off the coast of Trinidad, its larger sister island. Yet despite its modest size, Tobago has a lot to offer.

It’s a little island that packs a big punch, with rugged treks and spectacular cliffs. It’s also one of the best bird watching islands in the Caribbean, as the natural landscape provides a great refuge for many native species.

The island was formed by volcanic activity and so has a hilly interior. The mountain line known as the “Main Ridge” extends across the middle of the island, creating dramatic deep valleys on both the north and south sides.

Tobago is surrounded by several tiny islands too, the most famous of which is Little Tobago. Little Tobago is a densely forested island that acts as a wildlife refuge.

The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, as well as Little Tobago, are the perfect spots to explore all of Tobago’s outdoor pleasures, and the reserve is home to the world’s oldest protected rainforest. It’s even been designated as a World Heritage Site.

Several areas on the island are dedicated to environmental protection, making this a pristine landscape to explore. Hiking is therefore understandably popular on Tobago, but the big advantage of this island is that it’s small so visitors can practically experience everything the island has to offer in a relatively short trek.

Plants on the island, like the animals that live there, have a particular selection that is evocative of South America. Flowers flourish here, particularly orchids, of which there are over 700 varieties. Hibiscus, bougainvillea, heliconia, and amaryllis lilies are just a few of the various blooms found on the island, alongside the many orchids.

Nearly half of Tobago is also covered in forest, which is made up of a variety of tree species. The thick zones that give shade and nourish the fauna are created by poui trees, flamboyant trees, palm trees, and others. It’s a beautiful place.

In comparison to other Caribbean islands, Tobago has a far larger number of animal species. And because of Tobago’s proximity to the South American continent, several bigger creatures liver here. Wild pigs, armadillos, a variety of reptiles, and even agouti can be found on Tobago.

Agoutis are rodents that are similar to guinea pigs but have longer legs! They are well-known for spreading a variety of plants over the islands by transporting seeds from one location to another. They also have exceptionally lengthy lives for a rodent, living for up to 20 years!

The island is also home to Quenk. Although these animals resemble pigs or boars, they are actually unrelated. Due to overhunting, there are fewer of these species on the island than there used to be, although they are still prevalent.

Tobago shines in terms of bird and sea life diversity too. Sea turtles are widespread here and huge! These turtles, which may weigh up to 1,000 pounds, relax along the Tobago coastline. Great Courland Bay, Mt. Irvine Back Bay, and Grafton Beach are particularly popular with turtles, and March to September is the best time to spot them.

There are around 487 bird species in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, two of which are native to the islands. But it’s Little Tobago, often known as “Bird of Paradise Island,” which is one of the greatest spots to see and hear many of the region’s bird species.

It may be small, but Tobago is a no brainer for our list of best Caribbean islands for wildlife and nature.

5. Anguilla: The Perfect Place For Adventure Newbies

Anguilla is a British Territory located just east of the British and US Virgin Islands. There’s a lot to see and do on this little island, which consists of one main island and a few smaller islets.

With its tiny size and low terrain, Anguilla is ideal for those new to nature exploration as hikes aren’t as intense and difficult as others on our list of best Caribbean islands for nature and wildlife lovers.

Anguilla is only 16 miles long and 3 miles wide, about half the size of Washington, D.C., and its highest point is only 65 meters above sea level!

Forest covers more than half of the island, which is simple to navigate on foot due to its flat terrain. Scrub Island, Dog Island, Sombrero Island, and the Prickly Pear Cays are all part of Anguilla, in addition to the main island.

Anguilla’s beaches are well-known and any of them, including Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, and Shoal Bay, will provide spectacular vistas and calm atmospheres.

Horseback excursions on the beach are a unique pastime that many tourists love. There’s a few companies that organize these horseback rides and they are always happy to take people who are completely new to horse riding.

Little Bay is also a popular tourist destination on the island. This little cove has a lovely panorama of cliffs and water, and it’s also an excellent area to snorkel and watch sea life.

While there is plant life to discover, Anguilla is more recognized for its animals and beaches rather than its flora.

However the low elevation and little rainfall here has led interesting plant life to adapt and spring up.

The Loblolly tree, which resembles a huge bonsai tree, is an intriguing species that thrives on the island. The tree has evolved to retain water during periods of drought, and the trunks grow in an irregular pattern, giving each one a distinct appearance.

The islands are also covered with mangrove forests. Those are currently making a return after being wiped out by many storms, along with much of the other plant life on the island. While the island as a whole hasn’t yet reached its full plant potential due to past natural disasters, it is well on its way.

Anguilla boasts a diverse range of animals, including reptiles, sea turtles, goats, and a variety of bird species.

The turtledove, the country’s native bird, is worth looking out for, while four of the cays surrounding Anguilla have been classified as ‘Important Bird Areas’.

The wetlands on the main island are also a fantastic site to see birds since they provide a safe haven for both local and migratory species that pass through.

The beauty of bird watching in Anguilla is that various months bring different species, so two or three journeys to the island might give you an entirely different collection of birds to look for.

Residents have also learned to share their space with over 4,000 goats! While some Anguilla residents have control over some of those goats, several wild goats graze freely over the island. As a result, you never know when one will appear!

The Best Caribbean Islands for Wildlife and Nature Lovers: Our Final Thoughts

Many of the Caribbean islands provide wildlife and nature that is one of a kind and unique. However Dominica, Grenada, Puerto Rico, Tobago, and Anguilla are all great picks in terms of abundance and diversity of both plants, animals, and overall landscape.

From the amazing natural formations of Dominica to the relaxing beaches of Anguilla or the spectacular birds of Tobago, if you’re looking for the perfect Caribbean island for wildlife and nature lovers, one of our five above is bound to suit you.

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• Caribbean wildlife encounters: Discovering Unique Fauna and Flora with Enchanting Delight.

• December 17, 2023 3:25 pm

Caribbean wildlife encounters: Discovering Unique Fauna and Flora with Enchanting Delight:

Travelers looking for scenic views and outdoor experiences will find heaven in the Caribbean, with its blue waters, immaculate beaches, and verdant surroundings. The area is a paradise for Caribbean wildlife lovers, even though many tourists come for the sun and sea. There is a wide variety of unusual species in the Caribbean, both on land and in the surrounding waterways. We’ll take you on a tour of the remarkable ecology of the Caribbean in this blog article, highlighting the remarkable flora and fauna that make this area a must-see for wildlife enthusiasts.

1. Marine Marvels: Coral Reefs and Underwater Wonders

The underwater environment of the Caribbean is a diver’s and snorkeler’s dream come true. Some of the planet’s most colorful and diverse coral reefs can be found in warm, clear waters. The coral reefs are not only incredibly beautiful, but they also serve as vital habitats for a vast number of marine creatures.

Coral Reefs

With its vast coral reef network, the Caribbean offers a rich habitat for marine species. It is astounding how different the corals are, with pillar, brain, and elkhorn among them. Underwater explorers are treated to an amazing show by the vibrant species that abound on these reefs, ranging in color from angelfish to parrotfish.

The coral reefs of the Caribbean are home to a wide variety of marine life, including fish, sponges, invertebrates, and corals of various kinds. Because these ecosystems support a wide variety of marine species, they are essential for both tourism and conservation. Furthermore, the bulk of the coral reefs in the Caribbean are composed of hard corals, soft corals, and other coral species. Staghorn, elkhorn, brain, and star corals are among the typical hard corals found in the Caribbean.

Sea Turtles

• The hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles are among the several species of sea turtles that use the Caribbean as a significant nesting site. During guided turtle-watching tours or when snorkeling or diving close to nesting places, one can frequently spot these amazing creatures. Here are some additional details regarding sea turtles in the Caribbean:
• The Hawksbill Sea Turtles: The remarkably exquisite and beautifully patterned shells of Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are well-known. By regulating sponge populations, they are a vital component in preserving the health of coral reefs, as their primary food source is sponges.
• Loggerhead Sea Turtle: The largest hard-shell sea turtle in the world is the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). They can break through the tough shells of crabs and other crustaceans thanks to their powerful, massive jaws. Given their reddish-brown shells, loggerheads are considered fragile.
• Leatherback: The largest species of sea turtle, the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) is distinguished by its distinct, leathery shell as opposed to its hard one. They are frequently seen in the open ocean and are well-suited for deep diving. Primarily consuming jellyfish, leatherback turtles are regarded as vulnerable.

Stingrays and Nurse Sharks 

Caribbean stingrays and nurse sharks are two charismatic and unique marine species commonly encountered in the waters of the Caribbean. They are often a highlight for tourists, particularly those who engage in snorkeling and scuba diving activities. Here’s more information about these fascinating creatures:

• Dasyatis americana, sometimes known as the southern stingray, is one of the most prevalent stingray species in the Caribbean. Its body is fashioned like a diamond, with a white underside and a black upper surface. The sand-covered seafloor is where these rays typically burrow themselves in order to protect themselves from predators.

Behaviour: Despite having a stinging barb at the base of their tail, Caribbean stingrays are mostly calm and non-aggressive. They usually save the use of this barb for defensive purposes, such as when they sense danger or are cornered.

• Nurse Sharks: Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum): Known for their characteristic traits, including a large head, small eyes, and sensory whiskers (barbels) surrounding their mouth, nurse sharks are slow-moving, bottom-dwelling sharks. They are thought to pose no threat to humans because they are small in comparison to many other shark species.

Behaviour: Most of the day is spent sleeping on the seafloor, and nurse sharks are calm, nocturnal animals. When they search for small fish, crabs, and other prey at night, they are more active.

In shallow, sandy waters, both Caribbean stingrays and nurse sharks are frequently seen; in certain places, they are frequently found together.

In the Caribbean, some well-liked locations to spot these aquatic animals are:

• Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands): The southern stingray population in Stingray City, a sandbar in North Sound, is well-known. Visitors are able to feed and engage with these kinds of rays.
• Hol Chan Marine Reserve (Belize): Located off the coast of Belize, Hol Chan is a protected marine region where visitors can frequently view stingrays and nurse sharks. It’s a well-liked location for diving and snorkelling.
• Ambergris Caye, Belize: Friendly southern stingrays and nurse sharks can be seen in the area near Ambergris Caye, also called Shark Ray Alley. Snorkel alongside these creatures and watch as native guides feed them by hand.
• Tobago Cays: Nurse sharks and a variety of ray species can be found on the deserted Grenadines cays known as Tobago Cays. Snorkelers can get up close and personal with these marine creatures there.

2. Birdwatcher’s Paradise: The Avian Diversity

The biodiversity of the Caribbean region is found far outside its borders. With a diverse range of bird species, including graceful flamingos and vibrantly coloured parrots, the area is a sanctuary for avian enthusiasts.

Caribbean Parrots

Parrot species vary widely in the Caribbean, with many being endemic to the area. Beyond being instantly recognizable due to their vivid feathers, these bright birds are also essential to preserving the islands’ natural equilibrium. Among the most well-known Caribbean parrot species are the Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis), Saint Vincent Amazaon (Amazona guildingii), Yellow-billed Amazon (Amazona collaria), Red-necked Amazon (Amazona arausiaca), Grand Cayman Parrot (Amazona leucocephala caymanensis), and Puerto Rican Amazon, also known as the Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata).

West Indian Whistling-Duck

An intriguing species of duck seen in many Caribbean wetlands is the West Indian whistling duck. It is easily distinguished by its characteristic whistling call and is frequently observed wading across shallow waters.

One of the most recognizable birds in the Caribbean is the flamingo, which stands out in wetlands and coastal lagoons due to its unique pink colouration. As they take in the breathtaking scenery, visitors may observe their beautiful movements and social interactions.

3. Island Endemics: Unique Flora and Fauna

A multitude of endemic species—species that are unique to the Caribbean—have evolved as a result of the region’s isolation and variety of environments. A few noteworthy examples are as follows:

Jamaican Iguana

Prior to its discovery in the 1990s, it was believed that the Jamaican iguana, often referred to as the Jamaican rock iguana, had gone extinct. It is a unique reptile that is native to the Jamaican Hellshire Hills and is currently under severe threat of extinction despite continuous conservation efforts.

Anolis Lizards

There is a wide variety of anolis lizards in the Caribbean. Every island is home to a unique species that differs slightly in behavior and color. Herpetology lovers will enjoy witnessing these lizards, which are renowned for their swift movements and aggressive shows of territory.

Caribbean Pine Forests

Many islands are home to Caribbean pine forests, which provide a distinctive environment for a variety of indigenous plants and animals. Animals like the non-venomous Puerto Rican boa constrictor and the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot find refuge in these woodlands.

Conservation and Ecotourism

The natural beauty of the Caribbean attracts travelers, but it’s equally important to stress the value of conservation and responsible tourism. The distinctive fauna and ecosystems of the Caribbean are being protected by numerous organizations and local groups.

Marine Protected Areas

For the purpose of protecting marine life and coral reefs, several Caribbean countries have created marine protected areas. These places offer travelers sustainable opportunity to experience the undersea environment, in addition to being beneficial to animals.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

There are wildlife rehabilitation facilities all across the Caribbean that are committed to saving and caring for sick or abandoned animals. Because they provide care for animals like parrots and sea turtles, these institutions are essential to conservation efforts.

Sustainable Tourism Practices

Travelers can have a positive impact on the Caribbean by selecting lodging and tour companies that value environmental responsibility and sustainability. It is imperative to appreciate the local wildlife and take part in guided eco-tours.

The Caribbean is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise as well as a place to soak in the sun. This location offers a multitude of chances for discovery and appreciation, from the colorful underwater worlds of coral reefs to the distinctive bird species and endemic flora and wildlife. But the honor of discovering these natural treasures is accompanied by an obligation to preserve them. In order for future generations to continue to be astounded by the amazing wildlife and vegetation of the Caribbean, it is our responsibility as tourists to promote sustainable tourism and to contribute to conservation initiatives. So gather your snorkeling equipment, binoculars, and environmentally conscious attitude, and set off to explore the natural wonders of the Caribbean.

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Caribbean Wildlife & Ecotourism

For animal lovers, ecotourism in the Caribbean provide endless opportunities to interact with local wildlife. Take a look at some of the best places to encounter Caribbean wildlife, many of which are not found anywhere else on the planet.

Barbados is one of the go-to Caribbean vacation spots for those who want to see hawksbill or leatherback turtles in their natural environment any time of the year.

One of the reasons Barbados is able to offer this unique ecotourism excursion is that there are numerous close-to-shore reef systems surrounding the island. These reefs are the perfect habitats for the turtles, and their proximity to shore allows visitors to easily spot the turtles throughout the year.

Off the coast of Grand Cayman , visitors are able to take part in a memorable excursion: feeding wild stingrays .

For decades, the shallow sandbars found off the coast of the island have witnessed a large growth in stingray population. These gentle creatures first gathered here to eat discarded pieces of food from fishing ships; over time, they have grown accustomed to snorkelers and divers feeding them by hand. Today, visitors to Grand Cayman's beaches are able to get up close to stringrays on this interactive outing.

Known as "The Nature Island," Dominica is home to an impressive number of hiking trails and waterfalls. But off the coast of this lush destination is an attraction of another sort involving Caribbean wildlife: whale watching .

Sperm whales breed in the deep waters off the coast of Dominica, and whale watching excursions are available to witness these majestic and massive creatures. Whale watchers may also encounter pilot whales and false killer whales, along with several types of dolphins.

One of the most popular ecotourism attractions in the Caribbean is in Costa Rica. The Sloth Sanctuary Rescue Center outside of Limon .The sanctuary takes in injured and abandoned sloths and rehabilitates them so that they can live peaceful lives.

Visitors can tour the adult sloth exhibit, see baby sloths, and learn more about this treasured creature of the rain forest.

Ready to see these exotic animals? Plan your Caribbean vacation and discover which itinerary is right for you.

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Caribbean wildlife encounters, cruise to the caribbean to sip salt-rimmed cocktails on sugar-sand beaches and delight at the turquoise waves and swaying palms – and while you're here, get up close and personal with some of the world's most unique and exotic wildlife. whether you prefer dry-land experiences like frolicking with flamingos on the beaches of oranjestad, aruba, or want to get wet and wild with bahamian dolphins, you can take a walk on the wild side all throughout the caribbean. from a short getaway to the dominican republic to peek at playful monkeys to a longer expedition to witness wondrous whale sharks off the coast of mexico's yucatan peninsula. discover adventure with the best caribbean wildlife holiday..

FROLIC WITH FLAMINGOES

From graceful birds to playful primates, these land animals will keep you on your toes. learn a thing or two about sunbathing from rock-basking reptiles, or try to keep pace with a flighty hummingbird. either way, you'll experience your best caribbean wildlife encounter..

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Tropical birds are abundant throughout the Caribbean, so you're likely to see colourful toucans or a flock of red parrots flying over the turquoise water and white sand of the area's many beaches. You can also tour locations like the Rocklands Bird Park in Montego Bay, Jamaica, or the Adastra Zoo in Nassau, Bahamas, to find these feathered beauties.

SUNBATHE WITH IGUANAS

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MATCH WITS WITH MONKEYS

Located only an hour by car from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the aptly named Monkeyland is a great place to get up close and personal with primates. Whether you make friends with monkeys in the wild or at a primate wonderland, mind your belongings: They are curious critters that will try to snatch up your goods!

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You don't necessarily have to jump in the water to enjoy a caribbean wildlife encounter with sea creatures and marine life, but a flick of a dolphin's tail will definitely get you soaked. whether you're viewing turtles or sharks from the deck of a boat or from an inland wildlife centre, you will be thrilled with your caribbean wildlife holiday..

DOLPHIN DIVE

Whether you snorkel, scuba dive or watch from a boat, you're destined to encounter dolphins at Dolphinaris in Cozumel, Mexico. Check out a charter tour adventure in Saint Maarten, where you can watch the graceful creatures through the bottom of a glass-bottomed boat.

START THE STINGRAY SHUFFLE

Reach out and feel the velvety skin of a stingray at the aptly-named 'Stingray Cities' of the Cayman Islands or Antigua. As your guide will tell you, all you need to do to befriend them is shuffle your feet around these wily underwater creatures.

TIME TO SHELL-EBRATE

If you swim with turtles, you might be amazed how fast these 'slow' land creatures seem to move underwater. At Xcaret Water Park on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, where you can watch turtles hatch and slowly make their way to the sea, it's the beauty of the turtle life cycle that will amaze you.

BEST CARIBBEAN WILDLIFE CRUISES

A cruise to caribbean wildlife encounter is filled with exciting destinations, each with its own style and vibe. whether you choose eastern, southern or western, you will discover incredible wildlife and nature onboard the best royal caribbean cruise ships..

JOIN A SHORT JUNGLE JOURNEY

On a quick 3-4 night island cruise from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, stay active and engaged with treks through the jungle in Falmouth or Yucatan or satisfy your local shopping craving in George Town or Nassau. No matter where you go or how long you stay, you're bound to bump into some Caribbean critters.

EXPECT PARADISE ON EXTRAORDINARY EXPEDITION

Spending more days at sea also means more time to lounge on land. Longer 7-8-night cruises allow you to take in all the Caribbean has to offer, from exotic birds to playful primates – and the local rum cocktails in between. Explore Cozumel, Aruba, and San Juan and remember to stop and savour the moment.

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18 Fascinating Animals in the Caribbean to See

By Kieran Meeke

Last updated: April 17th, 2024

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There are a wide variety of animals in the Caribbean. From monkeys on land to starfish and lobsters underwater, you’ll find a delightful variety. Leaping dolphins and colorful butterflies are among the most photogenic of the region’s wildlife.

From Antigua to the US Virgin Islands, you can enjoy a delightful experience among nature’s wonders, whether you see birds and animals in the wild or observe them close up in some of the conservation and rehabilitation centers in the Caribbean.

Green Monkey

Green monkey

It’s something of a surprise to find the African green monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) in the Caribbean. They were probably first brought to St. Kitts as pets by 17th-century French settlers.

They have thrived in the wild on the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Martin, Tortola , and Barbados. With no natural predators, most of these populations have actually grown too large.

Indeed, St. Kitts & Nevis is thought to have more monkeys than people. While they remain shy of humans, their sheer numbers mean you will have no problem seeing them on an island tour, scampering in the trees.

Mona Monkey

Mona monkey

Grenada is famous for its Mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona), which first came to the land aboard 18th-century slave ships. They originated in the forests of west Africa, primarily in Ghana or Cameroon.

In Grenada, they found refuge in the lush rainforest interior. The monkeys, with their distinctive cheek pouches, are now a popular sight in Grand Etang National Park.

The mischievous monkeys have learned to approach visitors for treats, such as fruit or nuts. However, these cheekiest of Caribbean animals will also steal sunglasses or other shiny objects, so beware.

Agoutis are a small rodent-like animal, around two feet in length, weighing up to 11 pounds. They are shy animals, living in tropical forests where they feed on fruit, seeds, and nuts.

Several different species have been introduced to the Caribbean from their South American homeland. You’ll now find them on the Cayman and Virgin islands, and in the Lesser Antilles.

As reclusive, forest-dwelling animals, it’s hard to see an agouti in the wild. However, Trinidad and Tobago , Grenada, St. Vincent, and Puerto Rico are good places to start the search.

Caribbean Flamingo

Caribbean flamingo

The distinctive silhouette of the flamingo makes it one of the few birds everybody can instantly name. The Caribbean flamingo stands out even more for its startling pink/red plumage—the brightest of all flamingo species.

Properly called the American flamingo, it is found throughout southern North America, and even in the Galapagos Islands. In the Caribbean, it’s seen everywhere from Jamaica and The Bahamas to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.

However, the salt flats of the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary on Bonaire must be one of the most spectacular places to see these magnificent birds. You can also feed them on Renaissance Island, part of the neighboring Dutch “ABC” island of Aruba.

Aruba is also a good place to see donkeys, which once served as work animals for farming, transport, and salt mining. That proud history is celebrated in the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba.

Near Santa Cruz, the sanctuary has more than 100 animals in its care. Visits are free but donations are always welcome to help with the center’s running expenses.

Many of the donkeys roam free, and you can also pet, brush or otherwise interact with them. A shop with some lovely donkey-themed gifts provides perfect souvenirs for any donkey-lover.

Bats are not to everyone’s liking, but these fascinating animals have lived in the Caribbean for millions of years. They are now the most diverse remaining group of terrestrial mammals in the region.

Trinidad, being close to mainland Venezuela, has more than 60 species of bat, more than on any other Caribbean island. In the Tamana Bat Caves, you can watch the evening spectacle of thousands leaving their roosts.

The Windsor Great Cave on Jamaica and the Camuy River Cave Park on Puerto Rico offer a similar experience. You can also see them up close at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, only 35 minutes from Bridgetown.

Butterflies have become a major attraction on several Caribbean islands, among them Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, and St. Martin. Even tiny St. Kitts hosts an eco park whose butterfly garden showcases the many colorful local species.

St. Martin’s Butterfly Farm is typical of the lush gardens where you can admire these loveliest of creatures. A guide will fill you in on their life cycle, if you can concentrate among the butterflies and moths flying around.

Aruba’s Butterfly Farm is another well-known destination, as is Jarabacoa Butterfly Garden in the Dominican Republic. On Grand Cayman , the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park attracts some 60 species of butterfly to its Floral Colour Garden.

There are some 20 species and subspecies of iguanas in the Caribbean, most critically endangered. Loss of habitat, and attacks by invasive species such as rats, dogs or cats, are the major concerns to conservationists.

Indeed, the green iguana (Iguana iguana) is itself an invasive species that threatens native animals. In response, projects such as the Blue Iguana Recovery Program on Grand Cayman have sprung up.

Visitors can see these beautiful Caribbean animals up close, and help the work of re-introducing them to the wild. Similar projects exist in Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Lucia .

Birdwatchers love the Caribbean for its many unusual species, among them the bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). It’s named for its yellow chest, and belly, and is common throughout the Caribbean.

You’ll spot them flying through the parks of Puerto Rico, or Jamaica. You’ll see them feeding among the gardens of Barbados , or St. Kitts and Nevis.

The bananaquit loves nectar, fruit, and insects, so look for them among flowering plants anywhere. Its slender, curved bill is perfectly adapted to feeding on flowers although, unlike a hummingbird, it has to perch to feed.

Brown Pelican

Brown pelican

Another distinctive bird, the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is also found throughout the Caribbean. From the coastal regions of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula to the shores of Puerto Rico, you’ll see flocks gliding over the sea before diving to catch fish.

Photographers love coastal settings, for the contrast between land, and water. Add in a picturesque fishing scene, and you also have the perfect setting to attract pelicans.

You’ll spot the pelican on the Barbados Coat of Arms, as well as those of St. Kitts & Nevis, and Sint Maarten . Indeed, it is the national bird of all three countries.

Underwater is where most of us expect to see the Caribbean at its most diverse and colorful. The barracuda, found in tropical waters around the world, is a large, toothy, fearsome-looking fish that any diver is soon familiar with.

You’ll find them among the waters of the Belize Barrier Reef, around Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao , or gliding through the wrecks off the Cayman Islands. They approach divers or snorkelers without fear, and can’t help but chill the spine.

Of course, being a popular sport fish, they are more at risk from humans than vice versa. However, it’s best to stay calm, make no sudden movements, and admire their sinister beauty from afar.

Another species whose fearsome appearance doesn’t match the reality, the Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) has become a popular attraction on several islands.

The most famous may be Stingray City on Grand Cayman, where you can hand-feed a shoal of these graceful creatures.

Stingray City, Grand Cayman

Antigua has a similar Stingray City, where you swim with stingrays in their own environment. In the world, you are likely to see stingrays anywhere from Belize’s Hol Chan Marine Reserve to Mexico’s Cozumel Island with its amazing offshore reef.

Nurse Shark

Nurse shark

Nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) are gentle, slow-moving members of the shark family. This makes them a popular species for divers, and snorkelers to encounter in the wild.

They are bottom feeders, posing little danger to humans unless you step on one. Their preferred diet is fish, shrimp or squid, which they catch with thousands of tiny teeth.

To swim near them, you can join dive trips off islands as diverse as Tobago or Roatán, Honduras . Cozumel, Bonaire, and St. Maarten also have good reputations among divers for nurse shark encounters.

Blue Caribbean Tang

Blue Caribbean tang

One of the most colorful reef fish, the Blue Caribbean Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) is found throughout the Caribbean. Its vibrant blue coloring, and distinctive pouting profile, make it easily recognizable.

The juvenile fish is yellow, so this fish is more common than might at first appear. They are seen on reefs, where they actively forage in shoals for algae to feed on.

Given the size of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off Cozumel , it’s no surprise this is a great place to spot the blue tang. Other good sites include Bonaire,  Grand Cayman, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are familiar to all of us. They are one of the most loved animals in the Caribbean, bringing joy to all.

Nothing beats the thrill of seeing these lovely creatures in the wild. One hotspot for dolphin-watching tours is Samana Bay, in the Dominican Republic.

In Belize , you can see them at Tres Cocos, off the coast of Ambergris Caye. San Juan Bay, and Condado Lagoon in Puerto Rico, are also good places to enjoy dolphins in their natural habitat.

These curious creatures will often approach small excursion boats for a closer look. It’s a great opportunity to photograph them, or simply admire their graceful moves.

Sea Turtles

It’s a memorable experience to swim with a sea turtle. These seemingly ungainly creatures are literally in their element in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean.

Many countries have major conservation efforts that ensure a healthy turtle population in their waters. These include Costa Rica , where Tortuguero hosts more than 100,000 green turtle nests per year.

Cayman Turtle Centre, Grand Cayman

The Cayman Islands has a major facility in the Cayman Turtle Centre where you can snorkel with the animals. Puerto Rico’s Mona and Culebra islands are also important sanctuaries for green and hawksbill turtles.

Other notable destinations to see green turtles include the west coast of Barbados, and Akumal on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Buck Island Reef National Monument on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, is an important sanctuary for hawksbill turtles.

Caribbean Lobster

Caribbean lobster

Being nocturnal feeders, it’s more likely you will see Caribbean lobsters (Panulirus argus) on a menu than in the wild. However, while a night dive is always a memorable experience, you do stand a chance of seeing them during the day.

Good islands for seeing lobsters while diving or snorkeling in the Caribbean include Aruba, Grenada, and St. Lucia. The British Virgin Islands are also a notable hot-spot for the species.

Around the U.S. Virgin Islands , fishing surveys estimate there are at least one million lobsters. That gives you a very good chance of seeing them in the waters around St. Thomas or St. Croix.

Read: Best Places to Go Fishing in the Caribbean

The bright color of a starfish, or sea star, is a delight for any snorkeler or diver to see. In the Caribbean, the most common is the red cushion starfish (Oreaster reticulatus).

Starfish Point, Grand Cayman

Starfish Point is famous for the number to be seen in its wonderfully clear water, making it a popular spot for snorkeling in Grand Cayman . At Tres Trapi, on the northwestern coast of Aruba, you can also enjoy hundreds of starfish on the seabed.

Other key sites for a colorful display include White Bay on Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands, and Trunk Bay on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Carlisle Bay on Barbados has a coral reef protected by a marine park. One of the best places to go snorkeling in Barbados , starfish are among its many underwater wonders.

Has this guide to the 18 best animals to see in the Caribbean inspired you to go on a tropical safari? Then why not browse our itineraries to find the perfect Caribbean cruise for you and your loved ones?

Kieran Meeke

Kieran is a freelance travel writer who has lived and worked in 12 different countries, on every continent except Antarctica. He now spends his time between Kerry, Ireland, and Granada, Spain, while writing for newspapers and websites worldwide.

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Home » Jamaica Wildlife Tours & Nature Trips: The Absolute Best Animal Encounters

Jamaica Wildlife Tours & Nature Trips: The Absolute Best Animal Encounters

There is a great deal more to Jamaica’s wildlife than just a fascinating variety of bird species and wild lizards.

The environment of Jamaica is nothing short of enchanting; from the rolling green hills to the rippling waterways ranging in colors blue, Jamaica’s wildlife has so much to offer. Jamaica is commonly referred to as the “Land of Wood and Water” for a good reason. It doesn’t matter where you go in this area; you can be practically certain that the location you choose will come naturally decorated with a generous helping of the landscape.

Even though it is a relatively tiny island, a trip to Jamaica has a lot to offer to those who are interested in nature.

Jamaica wildlife is without a doubt a paradise for birdwatchers because it is home to about 200 different bird species, including more indigenous birds than any other Caribbean island. Long before the Spaniards came, the island was home to a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians, including snakes, lizards, frogs, the coney, iguanas, and the American crocodile. It is not difficult to spot lizards because many of them eat insects and live around houses and gardens. 

The coney, which is closely related to rats and looks like a large brown guinea pig, and the iguana have not fared as well as the lizards in terms of their ability to survive. Both of these animals have been eaten by the ferocious mongoose, which is a relative newcomer to Jamaica and was brought there from India to control field rats. 

Both the supposedly harmless American crocodile and the manatee have managed to cling to existence along our South Coast in relatively modest numbers. In addition, there are over a dozen distinct species of tiny frogs, one hundred distinct species of butterflies, and 25 distinct species of bats that are not harmful to humans.

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What Jamaica Wildlife Can You Expect To Encounter?

Table of contents.

The manatee is undoubtedly one of the most interesting animals that one may come upon when exploring Jamaica . These friendly animals, which are also referred to as “sea cows,” are most commonly discovered in regions where rivers flow directly into the ocean. 

They frequently rise to the surface in search of drinking water, so if they are there, you should have no trouble finding them if you look. Even though this species is at risk of extinction at the moment, they are completely harmless to humans and consume nothing but plants as their food source.

2. Crocodiles

Crocodiles do not make up a significant portion of Jamaica’s wildlife and are concentrated primarily along the island’s southern shore. 

As a result of the extraordinary work that a small number of conservationists have been putting in, these animals have lately been given the status of “protected,” and there are signs that their populations are beginning to improve. Many of the hotels offer what is known as a “crocodile safari” that travels between Treasure Beach and Black River if you are interested in seeing one of these creatures.

3. Mongoose

The first mongoose was imported to Jamaica in 1872 to combat the vast number of rats that were ruining the sugar plantation during that period. Mongooses are not a very old species of the country because they were brought here to combat rats. 

However, later on, this creature also went on to lower the population of many birds and snakes in the vicinity, and within no time at all, the number of mongooses had significantly increased. In Jamaica, it is not difficult to see one or two on the other side of the road.

4. Sea Turtle

The sea turtles that inhabit Jamaica are members of one of the island’s animal populations that are critically threatened. The sand in certain protected locations has been raked into a smooth surface specifically for the use of young turtles learning to navigate their environment. 

These nature lovers not only keep a close eye on the newest additions but also assist them with their fundamental requirements and emergency medical care if it is required. Hotels such as the Jamaica Inn offer tours that provide visitors who are interested in seeing turtles in their natural habitat with the opportunity to do so in a controlled environment.

The Jamaican owl and the Barn Owl are the two most common species of owls found on the island of Jamaica. 

The former is a magnificent creature with a light brown color that is frequently seen at night when the locals are throwing stones at the bird because they believe it is a portent of death. On the other hand, the latter is primarily located in the mountains and the eastern part of Jamaica and has a dark brown color.

6. Giant Swallowtail

This species of native butterfly can only be found in Jamaica. It is quite amazing to look at. The wing span of the swallowtail is around six inches. 

It is a striking combination of gold and black, and the underside of its wings is patterned with blue circles. The John Crow Mountains, the Blue Mountains, and Cockpit Country are all places where you can locate the huge swallowtail butterfly.

7. Sea Turtle

The fish sanctuary in Oracabessa Bay has been able to protect the critically endangered sea turtle. 

The turtle makes its way onto land at Ocho Rios, where it then digs a hole and deposits its eggs. Hotels on the north shore, such as the Jamacia Inn, offer secure settings in which individuals can observe these endemic species.

Best Places To Visit Wildlife: Where To See Wild Animals Ethically

1. black river safari.

This is easily one of the best places for Jamaica wildlife lovers. Black River is famous for housing a large number of different species since it is one of the longest rivers in Jamaica. 

Crocodiles are among the animals that may be discovered in the area surrounding this river, which is home to more than one hundred different types of birds. The dark color of the river is caused by a substantial layer of sediments made up of several types of flora. 

You may schedule a tour of the Black Safari on any of the internet sites, and some of them will even let you include spots of your choice that you can see along the way if you so choose when you arrange the tour.

2. Seven Oaks Sanctuary For Wildlife

This is another hotspot for Jamaica wildlife tours . The Seven Oaks Sanctuary for animals in Jamaica is a non-profit organization that is home to a wide range of species. 

These species range from indigenous Jamaican birds like the Patoo to the Jamaican Boa, which is a unique kind of snake that can only be found in Jamaica. This group not only works to stop the unethical business activities that are associated with the trafficking of many Jamaican species, but it also saves animals in need, including Jamaican parrots, parakeets, snakes, and even some domestic animals. 

This has had to be one of the most impressive sanctuaries for Jamaica’s various animal species!

3. Jamaica Swamp Safari Village

In 1969, an American named Ross Heilman, also known as Ross Kananga, built Jamaica Swamp Safari Village as a crocodile farm. 

Today, the attraction is known as Jamaica Swamp Safari Village. After some time had passed, Ross was able to purchase other wild creatures, such as a lion and a pair of black leopards. Eventually, he started inviting tour groups for daily shows at his zoo. 

Since 2011, River Raft Limited has been the company in charge of running Jamaica Swamp Safari, which is situated on fifty acres of naturally occurring mangrove environment near Falmouth, Trelawny. The American Crocodile is the highlight of the Safari, and it is one of the few places in the world where visitors have the opportunity to see crocodiles at every stage of their lives.

4. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge spans multiple islands in Jamaica Bay, which are dispersed over both the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. 

The refuge serves as a home for a diverse range of marine and terrestrial plant and animal life, providing habitat for both. It is a fantastic spot for watching birds and bird migrations, as well as horseshoe crabs mating and laying eggs, diamondback terrapins laying eggs, and diamondback terrapin egg laying. 

The refuge covers a large area, the majority of which is open water; nevertheless, it also has a highland shoreline and islands with salt marsh, dunes, brackish ponds, woods, and farms. Within the boundaries of the National Park System, there is only one wildlife refuge .

KEY TAKEAWAYS ...🛪

There is no shortage of options in this location, whether you are interested in the charming creatures that can be found on the land of Jamaica, are a wildlife enthusiast who would like to see them up close, or even if you would like to practice your photography skills with some of these exotic creatures. 

Therefore, when you are deciding what to do, make it a point to go check out the animal sanctuaries for an unforgettable experience.

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Caribbean Birding Trail

Know the Caribbean, Bird by Bird

Tour Guides and Operators

Trained local guides are essential to getting the most out of your travel experience, which is why the Caribbean Birding Trail is partnering with operators and guides throughout the region to organize one of the most comprehensive guide training and certification programs in the region.

This page is dedicated to listing the guides that have completed the CBT guide training program or have obtained training and certification through other programs and are trusted partners of the Caribbean Birding Trail. If you are interested in a packaged tour, or a multi-island tour, be sure to also check out our Tours page .

This page is a work in progress and we welcome your comments, concerns and questions at all times about guides in the Caribbean.   Please contact us at any time. We are particularly interested in:

• feedback (negative or positive) about any of the guides or companies listed here
• if you know of a guide or a company that should be shared on this list, and/or
• if you or someone you know is interested in taking the CBT guide training program.

Directory of Tour Guides and Operators

Nature explorers anguilla.

Jackie Cestero founded Nature Explorers Anguilla in 2010 and shares her passion for Anguilla’s rich culture and wildlife on every tour. She is the author of Nature Explorers Anguilla Wild Side Guide and Anguilla: Martin’s Island Paradise, a children’s book about Anguilla’s visiting American Flamingo.  After Hurricane Irma’s devastation in 2017, Jackie spearheaded a campaign to “Bring Back the Buttonwoods” and restore mangrove habitat at the West End Pond IBA. Whether a bird watcher, photographer, or a little bit of both, Nature Explorers Anguilla helps clients explore beyond the island’s glorious beaches and observe the less traveled areas rich with incredible flora and fauna.

Antigua and Barbuda

Environmental awareness group.

Shanna’s interest in birds was borne from her work removing harmful rats and goats threatening the nesting seabird colonies on Redonda. This interest reached its peak in 2017 when she was asked to be a part of the team conducting population surveys of the island’s sole endemic bird, the Barbuda Warbler after the devastation of Hurricane Irma. Shanna leads the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) birding club, the Wadadli Warblers, and has a passion for birds that continually inspires others. Shanna is now heavily involved in birding throughout Antigua with the EAG, who offer birding day trips of Caribbean endemics and hard-to-spot migrants.

Junior Prosper, Independent Guide

Joseph “Junior” Prosper is a schoolteacher and dedicated local conservationist, and one of the best birders on the island of Antigua. His interest in birding started in 2002 after attending a West Indian Whistling-Duck (WIWD) and Wetlands Education Training led in collaboration with BirdsCaribbean. After that he was hooked, and Junior has since spent years documenting the status and distribution of the WIWD on Antigua. He has also worked with BirdsCaribbean and Environmental Awareness Group on various conservation projects and co-authored BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas of Antigua & Barbuda .

Birdwatching Aruba

Michiel Oversteegen was born and raised in The Netherlands and moved to Aruba in 1995. As a passionate photographer, he was drawn in by the diversity in wildlife both on land and in the water, and by the island’s magnificent fauna and stunning landscapes. Birds, especially, carry a special place in his heart. Michiel’s tours allow participants the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of Aruba’s nature under expert guidance. He offers small, private tours (no more than four people) at whatever your pace may be, from intensive birding trips to relaxed tours that highlight the local culture.

Bahamas Outdoors Ltd

With a passion for birds spanning 17 years, Lillian has dedicated the past 5 years to sharing her knowledge and love of nature as a birding and nature guide in The Bahamas. She currently conducts half-day birding and nature tours on weekends and select weekdays on New Providence, showcasing the island’s diverse avian life, including local and regional endemics, as well as cultural and historical aspects. Having joined Bahamas Outdoors Ltd (an ecotourism company started in 1997 by now-retired naturalist, Carolyn Wardle), Lillian is proud to contribute to responsible travel and inspire appreciation for the unique beauty of The Bahamas.

Birds “R” Us Adventures

Tarra Lindo is a conservationist, environmentalist, and lover of nature. As a certified bird guide, she is a strong advocate for the protection of the American Flamingo, the national bird of the Bahamas. Tarra guides on Great Inagua and enjoys introducing her guests to an array of wildlife ranging from the tiny endemic Inagua Woodstar, the American Flamingo, and 138 other species of birds, to the fierce wild boars, the stubborn wild donkeys and the shy wild cows. She can show you true nature at its finest in Great Inagua, offering half and full-day tours incorporating birding, history, and even snorkeling.

Birding Barbados

Damian has been involved with birding in Barbados since he was small boy. A small island sitting on the Atlantic Flyway, shorebirds are more accessible in Barbados than most anywhere else. Damian is intimately familiar with all the shorebirds and their local habitats, flight patterns, and calls. He is also an accomplished shorebird whistler, an art unique to Barbados. Half-day and full-day tours to secret spots are flexible and can include lunch/beach stops, with spots chosen to take in local culture and food. Some of the island’s most breathtaking “off-grid” scenery is taken in on all tours.

Birding the Islands, Ltd.

Born and raised in Barbados, Ryan is the author of the forthcoming Birds of the Lesser Antilles Field Guide and owner/lead guide for Birding the Islands—a regional birding company specializing in multi-island, endemic-focused tours through the Lesser Antilles and half and full-day trips around Barbados. Prior to starting his company, Ryan conducted avian research in the rainforests of Ecuador and Brazil; was Chief Naturalist and Environmental Consultant at Barbados’ Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary; and managed volunteer development and eco-guide training for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in the United Kingdom.

Birds of Barbados

Birds of Barbados is the most informative and popular online resource for birds in Barbados. Its author, Julian Moore, has shared his passion for birds and nature with readers since 2013. The blog gradually evolved into an educational source where Julian shares his wealth of knowledge on birds and everything that affects them. He hosts educational workshops, consults, and guides tours. Julian’s vast knowledge of the island, including off the beaten path ‘nooks and crannys’, and his uncanny ability to find rare birds are all at your disposal. Book a tour with him today and let him show you the Birds of Barbados .

Bird Watching Bonaire

Elsmarie Beukenboom was born and raised on Bonaire. As the past director of STINAPA, the national parks authority of Bonaire, she has been working with nature conservation specialists for almost 15 years. Elsmarie leads half-day, full day, and multi-day tour experiences. Her typical tours take visitors through villages, highlighting the historical and cultural components of the island. Elsmarie prides herself on her ability to locate almost all the terrestrial birds of the island.

Bonaire Bird Photography Tours

Susan Davis is a certified bird guide and graduate of the CBT Interpretive Guide Training Program. Having lived on Bonaire for over 25 years, she is knowledgeable about the island’s nature, history, and culture. Always involved in conservation efforts of the island’s nature, Susan served on the STINAPA Board of Directors (the foundation which is the caretaker of the island’s park systems) for five years. She offers a variety of birding tours around Bonaire (southern, interior, northern, or custom) to meet the wishes of all tour participants.

British Virgin Islands

Clive petrovic, independent guide.

Clive Petrovic started leading birding tours in the 1970s for the Tropical Audubon Society in Florida and has led tours over the past 30+ years on six continents. He is an ecologist and consultant who provides customized tours (by special arrangement only) featuring the unique birds and natural history of the British Virgin Islands. Special efforts are made to show visitors rare and endangered plants, invertebrates and herps; and birding opportunities include wetlands and seabird colonies on remote uninhabited islands. Tours can be customized to allow participation in ongoing field research and monitoring projects.

Cayman Islands

Bird-cayman.

For many years, Stuart piloted deep-diving submersibles for science and nature tourism. In 2008, he switched to providing guided hikes of Cayman’s forests, and has since become an accomplished birder, locating their native birds by sight and sound. On a dedicated birding tour, Stuart typically visits several hotspots: a natural freshwater pond, a cliff-top site for tropicbirds, an extensive wetland (providing stunning views through a large telescope), a visit to the Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park, or a hike along the Mastic Trail. Island endemics include Vitelline Warbler, Cayman Bullfinch, and Grand Cayman Parrot. Tours are 4–5 hours and custom tours are available.

Silver Thatch Excursions

Geddes Hislop is a wildlife biologist from Trinidad and Tobago who lives in the Cayman Islands. He developed an interest in the rich variety of wildlife from an early age and, as an educator at heart, he frequently works with everyone from kindergarten students to professional photographers and field scientists. Geddes owns and operates Silver Thatch Excursions, an award-winning ecotourism service operating on Grand Cayman since 1996. He loves culture, hiking, and ecology—particularly ethnobotany and zoology—but birdwatching is his favorite! Geddes currently works as a curator of terrestrial exhibits and education programs and conducts birding tours part-time on weekends and select weekdays.

Ernesto Reyes Bird Photography & Tours

Ernesto Reyes is a Cuban biologist with more than 15 years of experience with birds in Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. He spends most of his time in his house in Hondones Town in Zapata Swamp National Park, one of the most famous destinations in Cuba. Ernesto’s private multi-day birdwatching and bird photography tours allow visitors to observe more than 95% of the endemic bird species, from the smallest bird in the world (Bee Hummingbird) to the beautiful national bird of Cuba (Cuban Trogon).

Kirkconnell Birds Conservancy

Arturo Kirkconnell is a Cuban ornithologist and was a bird curator and researcher at the National Museum of Natural History in Cuba for 37 years. He also led tours through the museum for 32 years. Arturo co/authored the Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, Birds of Cuba: A Photographic Guide , The Birds of Cuba: An Annotated Checklist (v26) , and  A Birdwatchers’ Guide to Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Caymans . He works in environmental education and bird conservation, conducts bird surveys, and has guided more than 200 birding groups.

Nils Navarro, Independent Guide

Nils Navarro is an incredibly talented Cuban author and illustrator ( Field Guide to the Endemic Birds of Cuba , Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba , and the forthcoming Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba ) with vast experience in Cuban ornithology and taxonomy. He is one of the pillars of the birding movement in Cuba, an eBird reviewer, and the co-founder of the Cuban Big Year competitions. Nils organizes private and group tours throughout the Cuban archipelago and brings his extensive knowledge of the island’s birds, fauna, biodiversity, and an all-around holistic knowledge of Cuban culture to all his tours.

Birding in Cuba Tours

Tania is a geographic information system (GIS) specialist who has worked since 1995 in the most important birding site in Cuba, Zapata Swamp, as a conservationist and protected areas planner. Since 1999, she has been on the team working to highlight Cuba as a natural tourism destination for Cuba’s National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Tania has been organizing and leading birdwatching tours since 2015. She offers both private and group tours ranging from one day to two weeks and has guided tours for BirdsCaribbean, Rainforest Experience, and Wildside Nature Tours.

Wildside Nature Tours

Gabriel has been an independent Puerto Rico Certified Tour Guide and birding guide since 2010, leading birding groups in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, and North America for Wildside Nature Tours. He has been a central part of the birding community in Puerto Rico since 2008 . A life changing moment was when Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. (SOPI) approached him to undertake a bird count. He was hooked by this amazing world of birds, with no plans to leave anytime soon! He now serves on SOPI’s Board of Directors and will keep working hard to educate and protect Puerto Rico’s birds and their habitats.

Dr. Birdy Birding & Nature Experience Tours

Bertrand Jno Baptiste—more affectionately known as Dr. Birdy—is an avid-birder and a retired officer of Forestry and Wildlife who participated actively in the division’s parrot research program. He is the island’s leading bird guide and coauthor of Dominica’s Birds , who has made the rainforest his business since the 1980s. If a bird is on Dominica, Dr. Birdy will find it! He is fun and energetic and guarantees a positively memorable nature tour experience for all his guests.

Imperial Birding

Stephen Durand has worked with Dominica’s Forestry and Wildlife Division since 1981, during which he conducted parrot research funded by World Wildlife Fund. He has been involved in the conservation, protection, and management plans and policies for Dominica’s two endemic parrots and other bird species for 39 years. Stephen is also a coauthor of Dominica’s Birds . Imperial Tours can be arranged for half-day, full-day, or multi-day experiences, and are conducted to client specifications, focused on species in specific forest habitats, highlighting endemics, exploring rainforest ecology, visiting ecotourism sites, or hiking specific trails.

Dominican Republic

Cúa birding.

A trained artist and well-rounded naturalist with a career as wildlife biologist, Iván has served as the lead guide for Dominican birding tour companies as well as run his own private tours through his birding company, Cúa Birding. Through his years of fieldwork, Iván has developed a clear understanding of the bird species found on the island, their habitat preference, and their seasonality. Cúa Birding offers full-day, customized, and 7-day tours targeting all endemics. Discover the endemic La Cúa (Bay-breasted Cuckoo) and more with them!

Explora Ecotour

Manny Jimenes, lead guide and co-owner of Explora Ecotour, is a passionate Dominican-born, South Florida raised, birding and nature guide with over 15 years of experience leading birding, photography, and general nature tours all over the Dominican Republic. He and his team specialize in finding all of the endemics throughout the country, and frequently lead private tours to the best birding sites in the country for individual clients and birding companies such as Rockjumper, Wings and Field Guides. His favorite sites to take visitors are to the National Park of the East, Ébano Verde Scientific Preserve, Los Haitises National Park, and Sierra de Bahoruco National Park.

Miguel A. Landestoy T., Independent Guide

Miguel A. Landestoy T. has more than 25 years of experience in birding and nature photography, dedicating two consecutive decades of his life to bird guiding and assisting field researchers. He is currently studying biology and is additionally passionate about herpetology (amphibians and reptiles), ecology, and scientific illustration. Miguel has authored and coauthored 20 scientific articles and notes, including the description of a new species of toad in the Dominican Republic. Overall, Miguel is a well-rounded naturalist and experienced tour guide who is excited to show the Dominican Republic and its birds to visitors.

Kate Wallace arrived in the DR as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1994 and began guiding just a few years later. She built Villa Barrancolí, in the village of Puerto Escondido above the Lago Enriquillo basin, which is the base camp for visits to Zapoten (an important high elevation site for many of the endemic birds). Kate is an active member of BirdsCaribbean and the coauthor (with Steve Latta) of Ruta Barrancolí: A Bird-finding Guide to the Dominican Republic . Tody Tours offers a 5–6-day itinerary which allows visitors to see 27 of the 32 Hispaniolan endemics.

Caribbean Horizons

Anne Campbell established Caribbean Horizons Tours in 1992 and is the manager of the tour and vehicle rental department of her family business, McIntyre Bros Ltd. She is trained in Zoology and is passionate about all things Grenadian, reflected in her keen interest in managing her tour company and her passion for horticulture as owner of Smithy’s Garden. Anne and her team deliver memorable and authentic Grenadian experiences for their clients, offering birding, hiking, garden, and historic tours, seasonal turtle watching, specialist group tours, and airport welcomes and transports. Caribbean Horizons is a 2019 industry awardee of the Minister of Tourism awards.

Christopher McDonald is a native Grenadian and well-rounded tour guide. He is a true tourism ambassador for Grenada, recognized as Tour Guide of the Year for 2019 by the Grenada Ministry of Tourism. His guiding skills include birding, hiking, horticulture, history, and culture, as well as airport welcome services and transfers. Christopher is known to have a great sense of humor and to thoroughly enjoy what he does, and it shows in the knowledge and enthusiasm he invests into his time with his clients, and the positive feedback he receives from everyone who takes his tours!

Conservation Kayak

Kendon James is a young, talented, and dedicated professional who is passionate about environmental issues and believes in proactive engagement. He spends a great deal of his time outdoors being fascinated by nature. Kendon attended St. George’s University where he pursued a BS degree in Marine, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. He is also an active and passionate member of the Grenada Birding Club. Kendon is eager to share his vast knowledge of Grenada’s beautiful mangrove and coastline habitats and the rich avifauna diversity which these ecosystems encompass by leading personalized, guided, kayak tours with Conservation Kayak.

Eco-Guide Expeditions

Anthony Jeremiah is one of the most avid and experienced birders on the island of Grenada. With a professional background in forestry, conservation, and natural environment management, he has contributed significantly to bird protection and conservation efforts, particularly for endangered and flagship species (e.g. Grenada Dove, Hook-billed Kite). Jere has extended his passion in the recreation of birding for the past 25 years and is still working as a professional in the field. As Eco-Guide Expeditions, he offers personalized, private birding and historical tours to most of the key birding sites on island (e.g. Mt. Hartman).

Isle of Reef Tours

Allison Caton is a native of Carriacou, Grenada who, after managing the Grenada Board of Tourism office for almost 5 years, set off on her own to establish a locally based tourism company. She is passionate about showing visitors authentic experiences on Carriacou and offers guided hiking tours, island tours, turtle watching tours, and carbon off-set tours (where visitors help plant mangroves in the bird sanctuary). Allison also offers camping experiences on nearby cays and boat tours to the Tobago Cays Marine Park (in SVG) and the Sandy Island Oyster Bed MPA and White Island (on/off the coast of Carriacou).

Natural Mystic Tours

Captain Vaughn “Selassie” Thomas is a fisherman, sailor and boat builder from Carriacou, Grenada and is active in seabird outreach and conservation efforts throughout the Grenadines archipelago. He has been sailing for more than 25 years throughout the Caribbean, Western Europe, Northwest Africa, and has crossed the Atlantic four times. Follow in the footsteps of early explorers on customized excursions to the remote uninhabited seabird colonies and offshore islands of the Grenadines on Vaughn’s 39’ sailboat or hand-crafted 20’ traditional speedboat. With over 100 islands spanning just 100 km, there is always something new to discover!

Tropical Adventures

Vaughan Francis got hooked on birds when he took the Caribbean Birding Trail Interpretive Guide Training in 2013, which left him determined to learn everything about the birdlife on his home island of Grenada. He is now a well-rounded, expert guide who intersperses his bird tours with fun facts about Grenada’s natural history and interpretations of the island’s most historical sites. Vaughan specializes in tours that take visitors off the beaten path to experience more than just the average island vacation. He offers private birdwatching, hiking, and sightseeing ecotourism tours that focus on Grenada’s incredible natural beauty.

Levesque Birding Enterprise

Anthony Levesque created the local bird NGO, AMAZONA, in 1998 when he first moved to Guadeloupe, worked as a ranger at Petite-Terre Nature Reserve, and then as a wildlife consultant for the National Hunting and Wildlife Agency. He’s since started his bird guiding company, Levesque Birding Enterprise. Anthony’s an active birdwatcher (the most active eBirder in the Caribbean, with over 500 species identified in the region) who recently coauthored Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides’ Birds of the West Indies . Anthony has banded more than 10,000 birds and identified over 50 species previously unrecorded in Guadeloupe. Anthony leads tours all over Guadeloupe and has never failed to show visitors the endemic Guadeloupe Woodpecker.

Ann Sutton, Independent Guide

Ann Sutton is the principal author of A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Jamaica and the owner-manager of Marshall’s Pen, a private nature reserve/cattle property and one of the premier bird watching locations in Jamaica (where at least 23 of the 30 Jamaican endemics can be seen). She has been leading bird tours, mainly in Jamaica (but also in Cuba and the Bahamas), for more than 25 years; and works in nature interpretation and in conservation, management, and monitoring of protected areas. Ann leads a variety of birding and natural history tours catered to any schedule (day trips through multi-week excursions).

Arrowhead Birding Tours

Ricardo’s interest in birds started in 2002 while conducting a Masters project studying game bird populations in Jamaica. He became a member of BirdLife Jamaica and volunteered at bird banding stations where he quickly learned all the birds and their calls. Fast forward 20 years later and Ricardo is one of the top birders in Jamaica, boasting an eBird list of 225+ species … and counting. He served as President of BirdLife Jamaica (2010–12), established Arrowhead Birding Tours in 2012, and plays an integral part in the conservation of birds and their habitats in Jamaica.

Birdwatching Martinique

David Belfan is president of Association Carouge which works to preserve the fauna and flora of his beloved island of Martinique. He earned a MSc which focused on the geography and environment of the Caribbean and has completed numerous trainings in ornithology and ecology. David has been guiding since 2004 and organizes tours around the avifauna of Martinique, particularly endemic and restricted-range birds like the Martinique Oriole, White-breasted Thrasher, Gray Trembler, and Blue-headed Hummingbird. He has unique knowledge to share about the fauna, flora, and culture of Martinique and personalizes his tours with an authentic meal in a natural setting serenaded by birds.

Puerto Rico

Island birdwatchers.

Alcides Morales-Pérez is native to Puerto Rico and an expert on the island’s diverse flora, fauna, and natural history. With over 15 years of experience, he knows Puerto Rico like the back of his hand and loves to share his passion with visitors. He’s involved in habitat restoration and bird ecology projects, and even operates a family-owned Airbnb, Colibrí Guest House . Alcides leads island-wide half-day, full-time, and multi-day tours in search of endemics and all the other amazing birds found on the island.

Puerto Rico Birding Trips

Julio Salgado is a Puerto Rican tour guide who has been an avid birder since he was fifteen years old. He is an active volunteer with the Puerto Rican Ornithological Society (SOPI) and Para La Naturaleza (PR Conservation Trust), has worked on Bicknell’s Thrush monitoring for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and has collaborated with the Peregrine Foundation. Julio is Puerto Rico’s top birder with 312 registered species sightings. With over 10 years of experience guiding bird watchers, especially those with the goal of seeing the island’s 17 endemics, he also offers a variety of activities that can be added to excursions such as kayaking and snorkeling.

Sint Maarten/St. Martin

Sint maarten birding.

Binkie van Es has lived on Sint Maarten since 1985 and is in love with its nature. He’s the chairman of the Dutch Caribbean Bird Conservation Work Group under the umbrella of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) and he runs Cornell’s BirdSleuth program on the island. Binkie is an experienced guide who offers private tours (full day, multi day, or even boat trips to surrounding islands) covering both the Dutch and French sides of the island of Sint Maarten / Saint Martin. Due to the island’s layout, a day of birding also allows visitors to experience its unique history and culture.

Wildlife Ambassadors, Ltd.

Adams Toussaint’s passion for birding has its roots in his childhood growing up in the small rural town of Fond Assau, near the Castries Water Works Forest Reserve. His first and only job was with the Saint Lucia Forestry Department where he started as a Forest Ranger in 1980 and retired as The Chief Forestry Officer in July 2018. He currently works with Fauna & Flora International and SLU Birding Wildlife Ambassadors. Adams offers bird guiding and leadership tours, wildlife and nature photographic tours, wildlife tours and general nature tours, focusing on hot spots for endemic and specialist birds for the island.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Science bird tours.

Lystra Culzac’s interest in birds and nature started at a young age which inspired her to pursue a career of nature discovery and teaching. She has co-authored a number of publications on birds, including Important Bird Areas of SVG for BirdLife International. Lystra is an experienced forestry expert and conservation biologist as well as the founder of Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE), SVG’s premier birding organization. Through SCIENCE, she conducts biodiversity research, education, and interpretation with the goal of getting more people, particularly kids, interested in birding and conservation. She makes every effort to ensure a memorable experience for her clients!

Glenroy Gaymes has been working in the Forestry Department since 1990 and has a profound knowledge of the birds, wildlife, and plants of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He has deep understanding of the natural ecology, local history, and culture. Glenroy guides specialized birding and nature tours with Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education (SCIENCE) that are customized based on the clients’ needs, from rugged hikes, to roadside walks, to drives to the country. He prides himself of being able to guarantee a good view of the endemic St. Vincent Parrot and almost always encountering the endemic Whistling Warbler.

Trinidad and Tobago

Avifauna tours.

Roger Neckles was born in Trinidad, raised in London, and is one of the Caribbean’s most prominent wildlife photographers. He coauthored (with Richard ffrench) Birds of Trinidad & Tobago and is currently writing An Introduction to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago Vol. 1 . Roger’s true passion is leading bird tours throughout Latin America and in Trinidad and Tobago. His reviews speak volumes for his love for photography, adventure, and teaching a multitude of tips and techniques in an easy to grasp, fun-filled manner, instilling confidence, excitement, and memorable experiences. Avifauna Tours offers full or multi-day customizable and all-inclusive tours.

Eureka Natural History Tours

Jason Radix is one of the most accomplished naturalist guides in Trinidad & Tobago, having led tours since 1991. Most of his career was spent at the world-famous Asa Wright Nature Centre. Now, as an independent operator since 2015, he offers full-time tours mainly on the island of Tobago. Jason is an experienced birdwatcher, equipped and skilled at leading clients at all levels of birding experience. While he primarily leads birding and nature tours, he also offers cultural and history tours and lectures.

Faraaz Abdool, Independent Guide

Faraaz is a passionate nature lover and conservation advocate from the island of Trinidad. He is the author of Casual Birding in Trinidad & Tobago , and a regular contributor to the blogs 10,000 Birds and Wild Tobago . He has written for and been featured by the National Audubon Society on their website, magazine, social media, and live shows several times. Faraaz adheres to a strict ethical code of conduct while birding and is very careful to avoid causing harm to birds or the environment. He also runs birding trips to northern South America and East Africa.

Nanan’s Caroni Bird Sanctuary Tour Operators and Bird Watching Expeditions

Allister “Lester” Nanan is a conservationist and environmentalist who left engineering to join his successful family business of three generations. He is a strong advocate for the Scarlet Ibis (TNT’s national bird), assisting with its designation as an environmentally sensitive species (ESS), and is passionate about ensuring that the Caroni Swamp be a protected area for all species visiting Trinidad. Allister guides throughout the country, introducing guests to its rich biodiversity and culture. Offering 12-day packages showcasing the country’s evergreen forest, open savannahs, pasture farmlands, mangrove ecosystems, and wetlands, his tours can be tailored to suit the needs of every guest.

Nature Lovers

Darren Henry is a trained forester, birder, and environmentalist with a background in forestry and environmental land management. He is a licensed tour guide and holds a certificate in tropical dendrology (the study of trees!). He specializes in fauna, avifauna, and flora identification and mostly conducts tours in rainforest, wetland, and secondary forest habitats as well as to waterfalls and remote beaches. Darren even organizes tours for visitors who want more intensive birding experiences deeper in the forest interior.

To and Fro Tours

William Trim is an experienced conservator of biodiversity, tour guide, and trainer. His interest in birding began while watching two House Wrens feeding an odd-looking fledgling which he learned was a young Shiny Cowbird (an example of brood parasitism). Since then, William has provided professional training and birding services in the tourism sector of Trinidad and Tobago; birded throughout most CARICOM countries and elsewhere across the globe; obtained a M.Sc. in Forestry from the University Aberdeen; and conducted researched on bird-watching opportunities. To and Fro Tours offers tours for rainforest birding, wetland birding, woodland birding, birds-plants association, and nocturnal birds and creatures.

Zee Birding Tours and Nature Hikes

Zolani Frank is an independent certified tour guide with over 20 years of experience in birding and tour-guiding. He learned young, under the guidance of his father, Wordsworth Quincy Frank, the founder of Frank’s Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Tobago. Zolani is a proud tour guide who has conducted tours for Caligo Ventures / Naturalist Journeys. Over the years, he has attained certificates in reef check and tour-guiding. He offers a variety of tours, such as birdwatching, snorkeling, history, and coastline tours and transportation services. Tours are flexible depending on client’s needs and Zolani is a reliable and trustworthy guide.

The Latest from BirdsCaribbean.org

The Barbados-based dynamic birding & #travel experts✈️, Ryan and Alex Chenery of Birding the Islands are crafting tailor-made, multi-island 🏝️ travel itineraries for individuals & small groups. Learn how you can build your own #birding holiday at: bit.ly/Build-your-ow… pic.twitter.com/yEbO…

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Join experienced tour guide Ernesto Reyes🇨🇺 on an extraordinary trip to #Colombia ! For the detailed itinerary head over to: bit.ly/BirdTourColom… ✨For every BirdsCaribbean person that signs up for this trip, Ernesto will make a $100 donation to us! 📸Carlos Roberto Chavarria pic.twitter.com/Blco…

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Endemic Bird of the Day, Day 125! 🦉🦜🦩 A spectacularly colorful Cuban endemic: the Gray-fronted Quail-Dove! 🇨🇺 For feathery facts, puzzles, coloring page & more: bit.ly/GrayFrontedQu… #CEBF2023 #FromTheNest #WaterSustainingBirdLife @BirdingEastCuba @AMA_CUBA pic.twitter.com/WgnQ…

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Watery, Peaceful, Wild: The Call of the Mangroves

On Curaçao, visitors can explore the trees’ habitat, where colorful birds roost on tangled branches and trunks, and small paths through the greenery beckon.

The Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park offers guided tours, elevated boardwalks, programs for local schoolchildren and a tiered entrance-fee system for residents and overseas visitors. Credit... Frank Meyer for The New York Times

Supported by

By Elisabeth Goodridge

Elisabeth Goodridge is the deputy editor for travel at The New York Times.

• May 8, 2024

It was a sunny afternoon in February at the height of the high season on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, but my partner, Aaren, and I were far from lounging on a white-sand beach, snorkeling over a coral reef or strolling among the Easter-egg-colored buildings of Willemstad, Curaçao’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site — typical activities for travelers to this former Dutch colony.

Instead, on a kayak tour with Serlon St Jago, a guide from the Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park , we were learning about the country’s mangrove restoration, and the vital role mangrove habitats play in coastal resilience, protection for marine and bird species, and fighting the effects of climate change.

No poisonous snakes, alligators or large predators live on Curaçao, Mr. St Jago said, reassuring information as we paddled toward a forbidding wall of mangroves lining Piscadera Bay. Up close, the trees were magnificent and cheerful. Colorful birds roosted on tangled branches and trunks, and small paths under the green and occasionally yellow leaves beckoned us to explore. With our kayaks beached, Mr. St Jago pointed out fiddler crabs and mussels, and described differences of the local mangrove species — the red, white and black — and how they adapted to live and propagate where water meets land.

“There’s so much life here,” he said with infectious enthusiasm.

We were the only tourists on the water, but getting more visitors like us interested in mangroves, perhaps even persuading them to replant some of the vital trees themselves, has been a priority of scientists, activists, park rangers and tourism operators on Curaçao in recent years.

The island isn’t alone in its efforts: Similar mangrove-focused work has started around the world, in places like Indonesia , Australia , Belize and Florida , as fragile destinations balance tourism’s growth with the conservation — and restoration — of the natural resources that captivate visitors.

“Coral reefs get all the attention. But mangroves are probably a lot more important,” said Gabby Ahmadia , a vice president with the oceans program at the World Wildlife Fund who oversees the organization’s mangrove science and restoration programs. “My favorite analogy about mangroves is that they are Swiss Army knives, because they do provide so many different benefits and they can do so many different things.”

Though these forests are one degree of separation from the sights and the activities that traditionally draw visitors to the ocean, changing perceptions might be hard. To protect the environment, mangrove kayak tours can be — as are most snorkel, fishing and bird-watching tours offered in other destinations — limited by number, and visitors must be interested in the first place. With their summer reads and beach toys, family traditions and limited vacation days, most tourists might simply agree with the old saying “Life is better at the beach.”

A foundation of life

The twisty branches, trunks and distinctive aboveground roots of mangroves are a stark, complex repudiation of how a child’s drawing portrays a common tree. The roots can arch up, pop up spikelike from the water or form stilts above and under the surface. Adapted to oxygen-poor soil, high salinity and the ebb and flow of an intertidal zone, coastal mangroves thrive where other trees and shrubs would perish. Unless they are yellow, the leaves are green, and some, if you lick them, taste salty.

Mangrove forests can appear impenetrable, muddy, smelly and swampy. For centuries, they have been cleared for firewood, farmland, urban development, aquaculture and, yes, tourism. On Curaçao, mangroves are now found on only 0.012 percent of the island. Globally, more than half of the mangrove forests have been cut down or otherwise destroyed in the past 50 years. Deforestation has slowed — but not stopped — in recent years, and rising sea levels and increased storm activity have done further damage.

But coastal mangroves — there are some 60 species worldwide — are the foundation of life above and below the water. With intricate root systems, they act as nurseries for juvenile fish and other marine life. Mangrove branches and trunks make safe feeding and nesting sites for yellow warblers , tricolored herons and other bird species, reptiles like iguanas, and insects aplenty.

Those strongly anchored roots also protect from flooding, erosion and tidal surges by slowing down seawater and trapping dirt and debris. More crucially, mangrove forests are extraordinary for decreasing the effects of global warming, by absorbing and storing carbon annually at a rate 10 times as great as tropical rainforests. Mangroves, along with other coastal wetlands, “sequester enough carbon each year to offset the burning of over one billion barrels of oil,” according to the Nature Conservancy .

Surreptitious beginnings

Ryan de Jongh, a 53-year-old Curaçao native, activist and tour guide, is the living embodiment of regenerative tourism. He’s an important reason we encountered a lush, thriving ecosystem in Piscadera Bay, and demonstrates how one person can make a difference.

Mr. de Jongh grew up swimming in the bay and watched the area’s mangroves being cleared for fuel and construction. In 2006, he surreptitiously planted the first mangrove tree — a single seedling can mature in around 15 years and lead to an entire thicket — and now, he said, more than 100,000 trees are growing. He made similarly stealthy plantings at other inlets and bays, making himself a local hero in the process.

Mr. de Jongh, who gives kayak tours himself , now works on widespread government-sanctioned restoration projects.

His aim is to eventually plant 1.3 million trees on the island. “I have to transform literally a desert back to green,” he said.

The interior of Curaçao certainly looks like a desert, with a dry, dusty landscape of cactus and other succulents. Along with its closest island neighbors, Aruba and Bonaire, Curaçao is outside the Caribbean’s hurricane belt and receives minimal rainfall. People on the island drink desalinated seawater.

The trade winds bring cooler temperatures. In the 16th century, they also brought Europeans who enslaved and deported the Indigenous population and turned Curaçao into a slaving port. The colonists also planted oranges, sugar cane and other nonnative species, with varying degrees of success, and developed giant salt pans for export, but it was the construction of an oil refinery in 1918 and growing tourism that finally brought widespread jobs. The refinery shut down in 2019 — nine years after Curaçao voted to become a semiautonomous nation from the Netherlands — an event that only emphasized tourism’s importance for Curaçao’s economy. Last year, the island, only 40 miles long, welcomed 1.3 million visitors .

Aaren and I gladly did our part to support the economy: In Willemstad, that meant eating at Plasa Bieu , the Old Market, where individual vendors cook and sell local cuisine. We fought with each other over the fried wahoo and an arepa di pampuna — pumpkin pancake — but we were warned off the cactus soup. “I live here,” said another diner, “and I don’t even eat that.” We also snapped photos, like so many other visitors, while crossing the floating Queen Emma Bridge , and watched it open and close for marine traffic.

We waited in an hourlong, locals-heavy line at De Visserij Piscadera Seafood restaurant (“slaying and filleting” since 2017), where diners choose and purchase their fish fillets before sitting down; we drank oregano punch for the first time (think mint ice tea, but oregano and oh so refreshingly delicious); and we inhaled grilled shrimp and raw fresh tuna.

Further north, we ate “williburgers” — goat burgers — at Marfa’s GoodHangout in Sint Willibrordus, which overlooks an old salt pan that, sadly, the resident flamingoes absented that day, and delighted upon coming across a coral nursery while scuba diving right off the jam-packed Kokomo Beach.

Coral reefs are crucial to Curaçao’s tourism and fishing industries and valued at more than $445 million annually, according to a 2016 economic assessment published by the nonprofit Waitt Institute. And coral reefs, which support roughly 25 percent of all marine life, are enduring cataclysmic bleaching and disease brought on or compounded by climate change.

In the last 10 years, scientists have better understood the symbiosis between coral reefs and mangroves: They don’t need each other to exist, but proximity brings benefits to both ecosystems.

“Working in this field of conservation, you might come in from one entry point and then you realize everything is connected,” said Dr. Ahmadia of the W.W.F. “We can work on coral reefs, but we should be thinking about sea grass beds and mangroves, because they are all really connected. And then of course, they are connected to the human environment.”

One morning, Aaren and I walked through the 30-acre Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park , a short stroll from the center of Willemstad and a shorter one from the island’s cruise ship terminal. Open since 2022, the park offers guided and audio tours, elevated boardwalks, programs for local schoolchildren and a tiered entrance-fee system (guilders and U.S. dollars accepted) for residents and overseas visitors. Some 17,766 people came in 2023, an increase of 14,687 from 2022.

Manfred van Veghel is the new director of the Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation, which oversees the mangrove park and five other national parks. Working with the government of Curaçao, local travel operators and activists like Mr. de Jongh, Dr. van Veghel aims to expand park access, construct an elevated bridge and add a visitor center, among other goals. The efforts are part of his desire to transform Curaçao into more of a nature-based tourist destination.

“We had a record last year and they are pushing to get more,” Dr. van Veghel said of Curaçao’s number of annual visitors. Yet, he said, the beaches are getting full. “So we need to get activities other than going to the beach — and the mangrove park is an excellent activity.”

Mark Spalding is a senior marine scientist with the Nature Conservancy and lead scientist of the Mapping Ocean Wealth initiative , an online tool that applies economic value to coastal ecosystems.

Dr. Spalding said a draw of mangrove activities, like boating and hiking, is that “without having to trek through the Amazon for hours and hours, you can get that sense of wilderness and experience, and also the peace and tranquillity very quickly and very easily.”

“It might only be two hours of your entire holiday,” he said, “but it’s the thing you take home with you — the story you tell.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this story misidentified an nongovernmental organization. It is the World Wildlife Fund, not World Wildlife Federation.

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Elisabeth is the deputy editor for the Travel Desk at The New York Times. More about Elisabeth Goodridge

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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Service reopens comment periods and holds public hearing on proposed downlistings of two Caribbean species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the comment periods on the proposed downlisting of two Caribbean species, to allow interested parties additional opportunities to comment on and attend a virtual public hearing on the actions. Comments previously submitted on these proposals will be fully considered and do not need to be resubmitted.

In late 2020, the Service proposed to downlist the  Virgin Islands tree boa  from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with a 4(d) rule. Partner conservation actions that have benefited the Virgin Islands tree boa include captive breeding, reintroductions and rat eradication. If the proposal to downlist the tree boa to threatened under the ESA is finalized, conservation actions and monitoring efforts would continue.

The Service also proposed to downlist the endangered plant Eugenia woodburyana to threatened, along with a section 4(d) rule. Progress in conserving and recovering the  Eugenia woodburyana  is the result of continuing efforts by Service partners, such as the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, Envirosurvey, Inc. and private landowners.

Recovery actions such as habitat enhancement, cattle exclusion, fire break management, natural population propagation monitoring and introduction into lands managed for conservation will continue to aid recovery of the species. Seventy-three percent of known Eugenia woodburyana trees are found in areas managed for conservation.

The Service has scheduled a virtual public hearing on both proposed actions on May 12, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. AST (6-8 p.m. EST ) via Zoom online video platform and via teleconference. Registration is required.

The public hearing will provide interested parties an opportunity to present verbal testimony (formal, oral comments) regarding either proposed rule. The public hearing will not be an opportunity for dialogue with the Service. It is a forum for accepting formal verbal testimony. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited.

Anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing for the record is encouraged to provide a prepared written copy of their statement to the Service through the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES below). There are no limits on the length of written comments submitted. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing must also register before the hearing.

The use of a virtual public hearing is consistent with our regulations at 50 CFR 424.16©(3).

The Service is committed to providing access to the public hearing for all participants. Closed captioning will be available during the public hearing. Further, a full audio and video recording and transcript of the public hearing will be added to this release after the hearing.

Participants will also have access to live audio during the public hearing via their telephone or computer speakers. Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to participate in the hearing should contact the person listed below at least five business days prior to the date of the hearing to help ensure availability. An accessible version of the Service’s  presentation  will also be added to this release prior to the hearing.

• Edwin E. Muñiz , Field Supervisor
• Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339.

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Week 1: Travel, Challenges, and Incredible Wildlife

Posted on May 13, 2024 by amanda928

My first impression of Costa Rica was one that was preceded by an all-nighter, stress, and a long day of travel. Even with all of that, I was awestruck by the beauty of this country at first sight. Flying over the mountainous terrain surrounded by ocean caused the adrenaline and excitement to kick in. We took a scenic drive from San José, through Braulio Carrillo National Park and its beautiful mountains, to La Selva Biological Research Station. When we arrived, we were greeted by the kind staff, enjoyed a delicious dinner, and headed to our rooms. It was an incredibly long day of travel. The following day, we had a delicious first breakfast and then embarked on a nature hike, which would be my first introduction to this place’s incredible wildlife. I saw two sloths, a toucan, and two macaws flying overhead.  

Thursday, we started our day with a 5:45 am bird hike, when the birds would be most active. I don’t normally do well with early mornings, but luckily, the time change has been helpful. What made this day so special was this it was my first encounter with monkeys. During our bird hike we encountered a group of howler monkeys. Our tour guide managed to capture them in the scope, and we got incredible pictures! This experience was truly surreal. It was only topped by an encounter with a mixed group of capuchin and spider monkeys swinging right above our heads on a hiking trail on Saturday. It is so beautiful to see the wildlife here in their natural habitat existing freely, not in cages at a zoo. It is so much more rewarding encountering them in the wild as well. I was just awestruck, and I don’t think I’ll forget this experience as long as I live.  

Some other cool encounters we’ve had include the creatures we encountered on our night hike. I was, honestly, a little afraid of the night hike. I’ve been scared walking through the forest at night because that is when all the scary forest dwellers, like snakes and bullet ants, come out. However, the night hike turned out to be amazing. We saw a lot of insects, which I would normally not be a fan of, but the tour guide had so much knowledge of all the insects and the important role they play in the ecosystem. I was particularly amazed by the leaf cutter ants. These little ants have a whole production line and seemingly work day and night. They are all females, and they cut and carry leaves back to their colony. There are even ants whose job is to clean the bacteria off the leaves while the other ants transport them. I also got to see a red eyed tree frog, which was one of the animals I was hoping to see while I was here, and a big boa constrictor. The night hike was one of those experiences where I had to challenge myself but the reward was incredible.

Aside from wildlife, most of our focus here is on our research projects. Me and Alaina have been working together on a project about formaldehyde as an air pollutant from two different sources, agriculture and consumer goods. We are looking at the forest filtration effect that occurs by measuring the amount of formaldehyde along trails that pass by farms and buildings and lead into the primary forest. We have faced setbacks with this project, in terms of logistics and not getting the readings we expected. It has been a lot of hard work, because there is a long hike we must take every day on which we take measurements every 100 meters. We’re typically exhausted at the end of the day, but we’re very passionate about this project. I can only hope that it comes together in the end.  

I’ve always been one to appreciate nature. I really appreciate the aesthetics and beauty of the natural world, and that is a large part of what urges me to care about climate change, biodiversity, and conserving our environment. Being here truly shows you the interconnectedness between wildlife and human well-being. I truly feel that the wildlife encounters I have each day energize me and fill me with purpose. To be in a place that harbors 6% of the world’s biodiversity is a privilege, and it is important that I use what I’ve learned to educate and encourage solutions to the biodiversity crisis. It can be incredibly depressing to think about the state of our environment and the endangerment of wildlife, but this trip has also given me hope. From the way that the staff here cares so deeply for this ecosystem and all the people here who are researching it, it is clear that many people are on the side of change. Not to mention, my fellow peers in this program who all come from different paths of study but care about these issues.

My whole life I’ve yearned for adventure. Up until this point, I have never traveled outside of the country. Throughout high school, I kept a travel bucket list of places I’d want to visit and what I’d want to do there. Now, at 20, I’m crossing my first item off my travel bucket list. Not only that, but I’m living here for 3 weeks. This trip is bound to teach me so much about our world, life, and myself. I’m quickly learning that travel is not perfect. There are moments that are challenging but also many moments where I ask myself, “How is this real?”. I am so grateful for the experiences I’ve had so far, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.  

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