International Birding Tours
Bird the world with Tucson Audubon!
Trinidad & Tobago: Incredible Birds and Wildlife with Naturalist Journeys and Tucson Audubon
June 21–30, 2023 with Tucson Audubon host Jennie MacFarland
Experience Trinidad and Tobago, the best introduction to tropical birding possible, with Naturalist Journeys and Tucson Audubon’s Conservation Biologist, Jennie McFarland. Trinidad, with its proximity to Venezuela, offers a number of South American species, while Tobago feels entirely different―classic Caribbean. Combined, these islands provide a variety of habitats that yield dramatic diversity. In many ways it feels like two vacations in one!
Spend time with toucans, trogons, manakins, honeycreepers, colorful tanagers, elegant seabirds, the iconic Bearded Bellbird, Oilbird, Trinidad Motmot, Rufous-vented Chachalaca, and Orange-winged Parrot, and so much more! See over a dozen species of dazzling hummingbirds including the tiny Tufted Coquette and the brilliant Ruby Topaz. In Trinidad’s northeastern corner at Grand Riviere, witness the spectacle of nesting Leatherback Turtles and a chance to see endemic Trinidad Piping Guan.
Tour Summary
- 10-Day / 9-Night Trinidad & Tobago Birding Tour
- $4690, from Port of Spain
- Arrival Airport is Piarco International (POS)
- Departure Airport is Tobago-Crown Point Airport (TAB)
- See details, the full itinerary, and registration info here. Terms and conditions from Naturalist Journeys are here.
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration contact our partner company for this tour, Naturalist Journeys at travel@naturalistjourneys.com or by phone at 520-558-1146 or 866-900-1146.
Ecuador: Exploring the Northern Andes with Sabrewing Nature Tours and Tucson Audubon
September 9–22, 2023 with Tucson Audubon host Luke Safford
ONE SPOT LEFT
Ecuador has long been considered one of the best birding destinations in the world, and once you’re there, you’ll understand why! On this exciting tour, we’ll visit a wide variety of habitats, stay at wonderful lodges, and eat amazing food. Previously on this itinerary, we have seen over 500 species, including 60+ hummingbirds!
Our tour will start in the famous Mindo area at Septimo Paraiso, and from here, we can explore the many birding hotspots of the region including Refugio Paz de las Aves where Angel Paz will feed his famous antpittas. Highlights during this part of the tour could include Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (photo by Brian Zwiebel), Giant, Moustached, and Yellow-bellied Antpittas, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, a plethora of Tanagers, Oilbird, among others!
Once we are finished in the Mindo area, we will move to the Eastern slope of the Andes on the other side of Quito. Here we will visit a variety of elevations which will mean each time we change lodges we will see a host of new species. Highlights on this part of the trip could include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, more Tanagers, San Isidro Owl, Golden-collared Toucanet, and Golden-collared Honeycreeper.
Tour Summary
- 14-Day / 13-Night Ecuador Birding Tour
- $6399 (double occupancy), from Quito, Ecuador
- Arrival/Departure Airport is Quito, Ecuador
- See details, the full itinerary, and registration info here. See Sabrewing Nature Tours for terms and conditions.
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration contact our partner company for this tour, Sabrewing Nature Tours from the registration link on this page, or email info@SabrewingNatureTours.com
West Mexico: Thorn Forest to the Sierra Madre with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
January 7–17, 2024 with Brian Gibbons and Tucson Audubon host Luke Safford
Western Mexico possesses one of the highest rates of avian endemism in North America, and the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental are an outstanding area to observe a superb cross-section of Mexican species.
On this trip, arranged exclusively for members of Tucson Audubon Society, participants will experience the exceptional richness of birds and habitats of the mountains, foothills, and coastal lowlands of western Mexico’s Nayarit and Jalisco states. Based in two choice locations, we will seek the specialty birds of this region—including many endemics—and a wonderful panoply of more widely occurring species.
Very comfortable accommodations and great food; easy to moderate terrain; mostly birding from dirt roads, but some uneven rocky terrain will be encountered; elevations up to 8,000 feet on a few days and lodging at 4,500 feet; midday breaks some days; dusty and bumpy van rides to reach birding areas; mostly dry conditions expected, but very chilly mornings with mild to hot days; rain possible in the mountains.
Tour Summary
- 11-Day / 10-Night West Mexico Birding Tour
- $4515 (double occupancy), from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Arrival/Departure Airport is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- See the full itinerary and registration info here. See Victor Emanuel Nature Tours for terms and conditions.
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration contact our partner company for this tour, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours from the registration link on this page, or call the VENT Operations Manager at 800.328.8368 or 512.328.5221.
Costa Rica Wildlife and Birding with Naturalist Journeys
February 27 – March 9, 2024 with Tucson Audubon host Jennie MacFarland
Few places rival Costa Rica’s ecological diversity. Over a quarter of the country is protected lands, boasting 850 bird species and 200+ mammals. Costa Rica has remained at the top of the list for traveler satisfaction, with talented guides, superb nature lodges, and fabulous birds and mammals.
On this custom journey for the Tucson Audubon Society, hosted by Jennie MacFarland, search pristine forests at La Selva Biological Station for Neotropical specialties. Traverse the Continental Divide, from lowland rainforest to cloud forest. Glide down a river looking for secretive birds such as Sunbittern and Green Ibis, several species of kingfisher, Green Iguana, and Mantled Howler Monkey. Relax at a mountain lodge and witness Northern Emerald-Toucanet and Collared Redstart in the wild Savegre Valley, a special place where Resplendent Quetzal nests and American Dipper feed in the rushing stream.
This is a moderate-paced tour with some full field days and walks of 1-2 miles over uneven terrain. The walks are at a birder’s pace but do require standing and waiting at times to fully observe species. Multiple nights at hotels allows you to choose how much you do on those field days. We travel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus and stay at lovely nature-oriented hotels with dining services and private bath in room. Some of the lodges have stairs and rooms may be situated away from the main dining area. Special diets can usually be accommodated, please ask.
Tour Summary
- 12-Day / 11-Night Costa Rican Birding & Nature Tour
- $4990 (double occupancy), $5580 (single occupancy) from San Jose, Costa Rica
- Arrival/Departure Airport is Juan Santa María International, San Jose Costa Rica (SJO)
- See the full itinerary and registration info here. See Naturalist Journeys for terms and conditions.
Your participation supports conservation, and a portion will be donated to Tucson Audubon! For registration, please contact Naturalist Journeys, let them know you wish to travel on the custom Costa Rica journey set up for Tucson Audubon and they will help you with forms, payment and tour information. travel@naturalistjourneys.com / 866-900-1146. Naturalist Journeys is located in Portal, AZ.
