Well known for its cigars, rum, and baseball players, the Dominican Republic forms one half of the island of Hispaniola, the second largest of the Antilles. Santo Domingo is one of the oldest colonial cities in the New World, and the capital city of the Dominican Republic. Our visit to the Dominican Republic will be enriched by the hospitality of its people and their wonderful Caribbean-style cuisine.

 

The island’s scenery is some of the most dramatic in the region. Situated at the center of the West Indies, Hispaniola has the highest avian endemism, with 32 species and three unique endemic families. This is due in part to its size, very ancient geological history, a great diversity of habitats, from wetlands to cloud forests, and the presence of the highest mountains in the region. A total of 306 bird species are recorded from the Dominican Republic.

 

Our search for the endemics and regional specialties will take us to the cloud forest, pine forest, and thorn scrub of the Sierra de Bahoruco where most of the birds could be found. A side trip to the very different north shore of the island will allow us to look for the extremely rare Ridgway’s Hawk in the limestone karst forest.

Day 1: Arrivals into Santo Domingo

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Day 2: AM Transfer to Sabana de la Mar; PM Birding Los Haitises NP

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Day 3: AM Sabana de la Mar-Los Haitises; PM Salinas de Bani

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Day 4: AM Birding on way to Pedernales; PM Birding Alcoa

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Day 5: AM Birding Los Arroyos cloud forest; PM Birding Cabo Rojo and Transfer to Barahona

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Day 6: AM Birding Rabo Gato trail; PM Birding La Placa

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Day 7: AM Birding at Zapotén

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Day 8: AM Birding at Rincón Lagoon and transfer from Barahona to Santo Domingo

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Day 9: Departure

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