The ‘Neotropics’ that collectively comprise Central America, Southern America and the Caribbean are without doubt the richest of all the planet’s six zoogeographic regions for almost every animal group. Possessing well over 4,000 different birds, comprising 41% of all bird species, simply knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Fortunately here at Wildlife Worldwide we run trips from the Andes to the Amazon and everywhere in between, helping you get to grips with the ‘Greatest Bird Show on Earth’.
Perhaps the best way to get started on your Latin American birding adventures is to plump for a trip to the Caribbean - with Trinidad the obvious choice. A famously laid-back island, the birding is likewise and you’ll receive a fabulous reception at the famed Asa Wright Nature Centre. Using this as a base you can familiarise yourself with colourful tanagers and enchanting hummingbirds, while highlights should include the opportunity to marvel at both a scarlet ibis roost and an oilbird colony - in between taking it easy of course!
Costa RicaA step up in diversity can then be experienced in the incomparable country of Costa Rica. Despite its diminutive size, the country’s diverse habitats - ranging from lowland jungles and cloud forests, to beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean - mean that Costa Rica is the proud custodian of 5% of all known global biodiversity. Undoubtedly the main draws here are both feathers and fur, where the opportunity to watch sloths, anteaters and howler monkeys must be balanced in between the main business of hunting for quetzals and bellbirds!
But if your ambition is both quality and quantity then heading to the staggeringly biodiverse nations of either Ecuador or Colombia will be your obvious next step. Both countries not only straddle the Andean mountain chain, but these two birding meccas also possess a portion of surely Planet Earth’s most impressive habitat - the Amazon rainforest.
Our Ecuador’s Birds and Mammals Trip offers an unparalleled opportunity to embrace the very best birdlife this fabulously compact and bijou country has to offer. Taking in over 3,500m in altitude along this rollercoaster ride taking you from west to east, you’ll visit the cloud forest for colourful tanagers and hummingbirds, the high altitude páramo for condors and Andean bears, before macaws, harpy eagle and sloths await the Amazon.
ColombiaWith over 1,900 species recorded, Colombia has the highest bird list of any nation on Earth. Travelling from the páramo to the cloud forest, and the dry grasslands to golden Caribbean beaches, the focus on this wonderfully immersive trip is to search for Colombia’s iconic and endemic species, such as the sword-billed hummingbird, buffy helmetcrest and beautiful woodpecker.
Browse all our birdwatching holidays in Latin America, or browse our extensive portfolio of birdwatching holidays around the world. To find out more contact our expert team.
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Group Tour
Lying just 15 kilometres off the north coast of South America, the island of Trinidad is the perfect place to dip a toe into the avian wonders of the Neotropical region, and on this relaxed birdwatching holiday we base ourselves at the famous Asa Wright Nature Centre. Find Out More about Easy Birding in Trinidad
Destination
Costa Rica’s world-class protected areas offer exceptional biodiversity and enshrine a proud conservation heritage. The varied topography guarantees a wide range of wildlife and scenery. Highlights include egg-laying turtles, the call of howler monkeys resounding through the jungle, brightly-coloured toucans and parrots, plus exquisite tree frogs. Find Out More about Costa Rica
Destination
Straddling the equator, this land of startling contrasts extends from Amazon jungle across the desert-like páramo and snow-capped Andean volcanoes to the Pacific coastline and Galapagos Islands. Wildlife enthusiasts can see a staggering number of species, many of which are endemic. Find Out More about Ecuador
Destination
With dramatic and varied landscape, soaring mountains, Pacific and Caribbean coasts, more birds than any other country (including countless gorgeous endemics), and a comparable diversity of mammals, friendly, beautiful Colombia is quite simply one of the world’s finest destinations for wildlife. Find Out More about Colombia
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