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Cuban Endemics Nov-Dec 24 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter MacHector
- Start date
Giving this thread a bump, as the trip is now confirmed with most of the pieces now in place. Flights are 8th Nov returning on 17th, from LGW. Guides booked where necessary, and there's still space in the car for 1 more (or 2 if we tweak the booking for a larger car!).
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
Do let us know if you see a Zapata Rail! ;-)
PS Cuba is great fun!
PS Cuba is great fun!
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
Birded during citizen science Earthwatch trip, then hired private guide and car for the swamp.
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
The car totally depends on who you hire as a guide. Cuba is a country hungry for dollars and everyone has a network for acquiring anything you want. The real issue for most Cubans is fuel. State run businesses associated with tourism receive special allocations of petrol. Private owners often have to stand in line for hours. But discuss with guide beforehand and they’ll tell you what’s available.
Of course if you go through car rental agency, then it’s on them. My guess is car rental agencies are state owned or associated? If so, technically off-limits to US citizens :-(
Of course if you go through car rental agency, then it’s on them. My guess is car rental agencies are state owned or associated? If so, technically off-limits to US citizens :-(
temmie
Well-known member
That’s why you use an intermediate agency for the car hire. Mine was German. Details are in my report on cloudbirders.
I don't think we had difficulty arranging a car from the airport earlier this year. There are 2 types of petrol stations, those for locals and those for tourists. We never had to queue for petrol but occasionally had issues with supply (and the situation has gotten worse). We had to clean the car before returning it: we just paid an airport cleaner to
Not difficult, use ebird. We had a guide but I believe unnecessary. Some of the Cayo coco things were a little difficult, could perhaps have benefited from more time. Laguna flamencos was good to us for whistling duck views etc. Contact if specifics.
Sounds like fuel situation may be worse now (and power)
Sounds like fuel situation may be worse now (and power)
Went there last August for 6 days. First afternoon & morning at San Diego de los Banos, rest was spent at Playa Larga area with guide (2 days Playa Larga area, 1 day Trinidad area). Could have easily done without, but as I had done no research prior, this was a very easy and tempting option after 1.5 months without guides in the Americas.
Rented a car with an agency (rather expensive), but all went well. As tourist, apparently, you are only allowed to get fuel at 29 fuel stations (see picture). If you rent a car, make sure you have the coordinates of these fuel station already loaded in maps.me/google maps. Fuel price was 1.30USD.
Seen all endemics, but Cuban Parakeet was the hardest (only distant fly-by views). All obs. on eBird, with most pins placed at exact location. Hope this helps.
Rented a car with an agency (rather expensive), but all went well. As tourist, apparently, you are only allowed to get fuel at 29 fuel stations (see picture). If you rent a car, make sure you have the coordinates of these fuel station already loaded in maps.me/google maps. Fuel price was 1.30USD.
Seen all endemics, but Cuban Parakeet was the hardest (only distant fly-by views). All obs. on eBird, with most pins placed at exact location. Hope this helps.
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raymie
Well-known member
I assume this doesn't mean the rail, though, right?
cheshirebirder
Well-known member
The one we nearly missed was Gundlach’s hawk . Only got it when driving back to Havana on our last birding day.
Oh yes that's another one. The Havana botanic gardens are good for this dubious endemic (=Cooper's Hawk) now.
