Birds of a Feather: Birding in Nicaragua
TBD 2020
9 days, 8 nights
This 9-day birdwatching tour is for birders, twitchers, and pajareros alike. Great birding sites span the breadth of Nicaragua, Central America's largest country. Nicaragua can be seen as an ecological bridge that connects North and South America. Consequently, Nicaragua – just like other Central American countries – enjoys an extraordinary level of biodiversity. If you bring your eagle eye, and your binoculars, you will not be disappointed! Knowledgable local private guides will lead all daily birding tours. ITINERARY Day 1-3 Selva Negra Selva Negra lies between 1,300 and 1,500 meters above the sea level, in Northern Nicaragua. The reserve protects 100 hectares of premontane rain forest and cloud forest, which are part of the Cerro Arenal Natural Reserve. Here, a great variety of local and migratory birds, commonly seen in the Pacific and the Atlantic lowlands, inhabit the area. Also, mountain species whose ranges extend South from Mexico use the reserve as their migratory route.When walking through the 20 kilometers of trails Selva Negra, you will listen to the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Tropical Kingbird and Bushy-crested Jay. Flocks of North American migrants occur in winter, both in the forest and at flowering trees around the farm. The Wood Thrush, Black-throated Green and Baltimore Oriole are part of this migration. Other common species are the Three Wattled Belbird, White-Breasted Wood-Wren and Slate-colored Solitaire. Selva Negra is also a coffee estate and sustainable farm with a rich history in Nicaragua dating back to the late 1800s, when the Nicaraguan government invited young German immigrants to come and settle in Nicaragua in order to promote coffee harvest in the northern highlands. That history is still palpable today and you will have the chance to be a part of it as we tour its expansive mountainside grounds. Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners Day 4-6 El Jaguar Private Wildlife Reserve Located at an elevation of 1,350 meters above sea level, with over 200 different bird species, visitors can expect to see over 50 different species in a single day in the reserve's cloud forest. Birds that can be encountered in this reserve include tanagers, hummingbirds, toucans, euphonias, warblers, woodpeckers, finches, and trogons. It was here that researchers re-discovered the Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) for the first time in Nicaragua since 1891. There are several places in Nicaragua where the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal can be found and we will be looking for them in the department of Jinotega during our stay at La Bastilla Ecolodge. This ecolodge is nestled into the idyllic emerald cloud forest of Jinotega complete with howler monkeys. We will boat around the crystalline waters of nearby Apanas lake, as well as tour the local farm and businesses of the La Bastilla Technical Centre for Agriculture & Tourism. Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners |
Check out all of local guide Orlando Jarquín's birds on Flickr.
Day 7-8 Montibelli A mere 30 minutes from the capital city of Managua lies the peace and quiet of Montibelli Private Natural Reserve, known to be a favorite hotspot for birders. It is not hard to spend an entire day hiking its tropical dry forest in search of Long-tailed Manakins, White-throated Magpie-Jays, Hoffman's Woodpeckers (Melanerpes hoffmannii), Lesser Ground-Cuckoos (Morococcyx erythropygus), and Pacific Parakeets (Aratinga strenua). A short ride from the reserve we will enter the undulating countryside of pineapple country, where some of Nicaragua's sweetest fruit ripens under the full sun. We will visit a local farmer and his family making a living off this golden fruit. See how life is lived in el campo, its challenges and rewards. Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners Day 9 You won't want to leave this new friend of yours but no worries, Nicaragua is patient, it will wait for your return! What is included
Not included
Group is limited to eight (8) participants so reserve your place early. If you are a group with at least 6 people and would like to arrange your own travel dates, please contact us. Tour cost is for double occupancy. Single room supplement is $325. Additional travel extension packages are available. Come early or stay late and really get to know Nicaragua! Ask us! NOTE: The conditions on this tour can be difficult due to the nature of the developing world. While accommodations are upscale for Nicaragua, there may still be issues with electricity, water, access to the internet, and Nicaraguan culture continues to run on its own schedule - that's why we adore it! |