NEW! Tranquil Trinidad

Following two decades of amazing wildlife watching in the Caribbean, join Heatherlea on this new, even more relaxed holiday! We spend the full week on Trinidad - the original birding hotspot in this part of the world - incorporating more downtime than ever in the manicured gardens and on the world-famous verandah at the Asa Wright Centre, enjoying the laid-back surroundings of the densely-forested mountains and the colourful activity at the array of bird feeders! During the holiday, there are still day excursions out to all the famous birding spots on the island, so it is a case of all the birds, and a lot of time!  We will visit the vast sandflats of the west coast, the long, sandy beaches of the east coast, marshes, tropical forests, Dunstan Cave for the most accessible Oilbirds on the planet, have a night birding trip to see owls and nightjars, and, of course, sip a rum punch on the labrynthine Caroni Swamps marvelling at the constant flow of herons, egrets and Scarlet Ibis coming in to roost - maybe the most special Trinidad moment? 

Heatherlea on Trinidad at the world-famous Asa Wright Centre. 
Recently renovated, reopened, and ready to entertain, each day at Asa Wright begins with birding from the famous balcony, and many days we will be blissfully happy with ‘lifers’ before breakfast! Birding in the immediate vicinity of Asa Wright is superb, and most days we will birdwatch in the forest close to the Centre, with plenty of time to explore the trails in safety under your own steam. Optional early morning walking can be rewarding, and with dawn just after 6am, and nightfall at 6pm, expect to establish a rhythm around these times. We usually depart on excursions around 8.30 — 9.00 am. In this relaxing environment we can take it easy, with comfortable open-air wildlife viewing, early morning coffee, evening rum punch (not too strong!) and a good choice of appetising food at breakfast and dinner. We have visited this exceptional place many times, and our good relationship with the Centre and their highly experienced guides makes for great fun as well as diverse birding with new species always likely to be seen at any time. 

Enjoy your complimentary pre-flight overnight hotel before your holiday begins. Full details from our office! Read more about our Pre-flight Service here!

Day 1: Tue 4 November 2025
After relaxing in our VIP Airport Lounge, we take the scheduled morning flight with British Airways from Gatwick to Trinidad, and transfer to our home for the week - the world-famous Asa Wright Nature Centre, located high in the rainforest.

Days 2 - 7: Wed 5 November - Mon 10 November 2025

Plenty of time relaxing at Asa Wright and exploring the island of Trinidad!

The Centre is in a typical valley of Trinidad’s Northern Range, where coffee, cocoa and squash plantations are still maintained, and where natural secondary growth has festooned the abandoned plantation areas with vines and a host of epiphytes. The resultant effect is of being deep in a tropical rainforest, with the comforts of our well-appointed lodge around us – a great feeling. Above all you will experience the overwhelming presence of the tropical rainforest; a kaleidoscope of bird life, butterflies and wild flowers, all set against the impenetrable tangle of the forest. We awake each day to the raucous noise of Crested Oropendola and Great Kiskadee and a host of other exotic sounds. One of the world’s most enjoyable birding experiences awaits each morning on the verandah, and on the first morning here you may see 20-30 new species before breakfast. We will soon be used to Bananaquit, White-necked Jacobin, Tufted Coquette, Barred Antshrike and Green Honeycreeper, to name just a few. Hummingbirds are inches away on the feeders, tanagers and bellbirds, toucans, manakins and trogons are seen most days. The sheer delight of so many stunning new birds, and the riot of noise and colour is truly unforgettable – one of the world’s most impressive birding spectacles.

At the Centre we explore some of the trails which criss-cross this wildlife sanctuary in the company of our very capable local guide or with the guides at the Centre. We might see Violaceous Trogon, Channel-billed Toucan, Chestnut Woodpecker, White-bearded Manakin darting and displaying, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Bay Tanager, Golden-headed Manakin, Bearded Bellbird and many more. We visit the famous Oilbird colony in Dunstan Cave, using torches to see these fascinating nocturnal birds roosting. This strange bird lives and breeds in dark caves during the day, coming out at night to feed on fruit, which it plucks from trees while in flight. We also look for the rarest of the island’s impressive birdlife, including skulking and secretive Scaled Antpitta and Little Tinamou.

For the rest of our stay we make trips away from the centre, for a stunning programme of exceptional birding. We enjoy a full day birding across the Northern Range, to the seaside village of Blanchisseuse. We look for Turquoise, Swallow and Speckled Tanagers, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-tailed Trogon, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Black, Grey and White Hawks and Bat Falcon, and at the coast we may see our first Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Pelican, Osprey and Green Kingfisher as we enjoy lunch on a palm-shaded Caribbean shore. There is also a chance of the only endemic species on the island - the elusive, enigmatic, and endemic Pawi (or Trinidad Piping-Guan).

We admire the shores of the Trinidad coastlines, with the bright yellow Saffron Finch and shorebirds galore at Waterloo, and the potential of hunting caracaras and Pinnated Bittern in the reedbeds of Nariva Swamp, with antbirds loudly calling in the tangled roots of the mangrove trees.

We take in the savanna habitats of Central Trinidad where seedeaters and grassquits flit in the long grass, spinetails, Yellow-hooded Blackbird and Red-breasted Meadowlark can be found in the scrub, and the highly localised Epaulet Oriole can be found in the taller trees. At night, the landscape is transformed, and we search for a variety of owls and nightjars (the most common of which is the Common Pauraque).

Possibly the main highlight, however, is our visit to Caroni Swamp, an extensive maze of brackish water in the mangroves holding rare wildlife in its interior. Here our day ends with the spectacular flight of flocks of bright red Scarlet Ibis coming to roost as we sip our rum punch and relax, surely one of the natural world’s most dramatic moments. Birds may also include Long-winged Harrier, Anhinga, Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns, Striated and Tricolored Herons, Bicoloured Conebill, Red-capped Cardinal, Green-throated Mango, Black-necked Stilts, Greater Flamingo, Laughing Gull, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Clapper Rail, American Pygmy and Ringed Kingfishers and Common Potoo, but there’s more: Spectacled Cayman, Ruschenberger’s Tree Boa and Silky Anteaters, this is an exceptional experience! 

Day 8: Tue 11 November 2025
After a last relaxing morning around the grounds, we transfer back to the airport before taking the early evening flight from Port of Spain back to Gatwick, arriving early on Day 9 Wednesday 12 November.  

What's included in your holiday price:

• scheduled return flights from London Gatwick - Port of Spain, Trinidad. Airport taxes and transfers.
• ground and boat transportation as outlined.
• seven nights full-board accommodation, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some mealtimes will be eaten 'in the field'.
• the services of your leaders.
• field trips as specified.
• The Heatherlea Pre-Flight Service offers everything you need at the airport, including hotels, car parking, airport lounges, regional flights, and upgrades. Let Heatherlea take the strain! Pre-flight airport hotel and lounge included free of charge subject to terms and conditions. Read more....

Free Field Guide! - 'Birds of Trinidad and Tobago' by Martyn Kenefick is included in your holiday price. One copy per room booked.

What's not included in your holiday price:

• personal insurance, drinks and other personal expenses, visa costs where necessary, optional tips to  local guides/other staff, and any other costs not specified as 'included'.

More holiday information:

Accommodation is in the newly-reopened, world famous Asa Wright Centre, Trinidad. This is a large establishment with accommodation in chalets separate from the main administration building. The main building contains reception, a small shop, a comfortable dining area and the wonderful veranda which overlooks the treetops. You will enjoy many hours birding from here! It often also contains lizards and Palm Tanagers which sometimes roost inside the building. Accommodation is spacious, with en-suite showers. Everything at Asa Wright is on a single floor, though some accommodation requires walking up a steep slope or a flight of steps.
Food You can expect fresh local produce including meat, poultry and fish. Fresh local fruit and vegetables are usually available and very tasty. Picnic lunches and dinners (including hot food) will be provided where necessary, and include a variety of local produce plus soft drinks. Water is included with your evening meal. Vegetarian and other diets are welcome.
Walking The holiday is not strenuous, but the atmosphere is often very humid and it will be hot! Leisurely walking, occasionally on hilly, uneven forest trails, is the only physical requirement. Most of the time birding will be close to our transport, or within a short walk.
Weather During the day, you can expect temperatures to be around 30 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit), with night time temperatures falling to nearer 20 degrees (70 degrees). November is right at the end of the 'rainy season', however tropical forests have regular tropical showers throughout the year, and although sunshine should be plentiful, wind, cloud and rain are all definitely possible!
Insects There are biting insects on Trinidad, so insect repellent is recommended.
Group size is restricted to 12 clients maximum.
Flights are by scheduled airline, from London Gatwick. We may be able to offer flight arrangements from another airport and/or or quote without flights so you can make your own arrangements. If you wish to add an extension either before or after your holiday, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange this for you.

Why choose Heatherlea for your birding and wildlife holiday in the Americas?

Our overseas holidays are planned with care to offer great birding and wildlife, led by capable Leaders who really look after you. Every holiday is run the 'Heatherlea Way', and we hope our Overseas Adventures remind you of the quality and care so many of you enjoy in Scotland. That means rewarding and exciting days in the field, and good quality accommodation and meals, with a real flavour of the country we are visiting. Heatherlea always seek to include the personal touches that make all the difference.

Heatherlea holidays are not ‘dawn to dusk’ expeditions. Our less-intensive approach is ideal for those who want to relax whilst experiencing the best wildlife watching, and wherever possible we organise early or late activity on an optional basis. We also take sensible breaks when in very hot places and regular comfort breaks on every holiday whenever possible. All itineraries are planned carefully around the best wildlife opportunities, and you won’t miss out on memorable wildlife, whilst enjoying relaxed, informal days that are great fun.

The really important part of any wildlife holiday is the experience for you, our valued customer. Heatherlea invest in many things to offer you the best possible service:

• We have been organising birding and wildlife holidays for over 32 seasons, and have a highly experienced and capable office team. We also offer a telephone and email service outside normal office hours.
• Heatherlea overseas holidays have a maximum of 12 clients per trip, putting the emphasis on personal service, and helping you get the best possible experience.
• Our holidays often include things which others might invite you to pay yourself, for instance Departure Taxes and tips to hotels.
• All elements of our holidays are sold under our own licence, ATOL 6113. Under ‘Flight-Plus’ legislation it is a legal requirement of any tour operator to hold an ATOL licence for the supply of any overseas holiday where a flight is involved, if that holiday includes either overseas accommodation and/or car hire. It can be a criminal offence for an operator to book flights as part of a package without an ATOL licence. Heatherlea also hold full Tour Operator Insurance for your added protection.
• Heatherlea is your complete wildlife holiday provider. Our ‘Back Office’ team can organise all your pre-flight and other travel needs. Our specialists will help you book the right services, at the best price. Book holiday extensions through us, and your ATOL protection is extended further. We don’t charge extra for this service.
• Heatherlea is a limited company, registered in Scotland, and registered to pay VAT (applies to all holidays within the European Union).