Lesser Antilles

The classically curving archipelago of the Lesser Antilles divides the Caribbean from the Atlantic. This ambitious wildlife odyssey takes us through half a dozen of these islands, a zone rich in endemic fauna and flora. North to south we’ll start in the Antigua, in the Windward Islands and travel slowly down through the Leeward Islands before finishing in Grenada. Completing all six islands is a big trip so it is possible to join this tour for all or just some of the islands. Just pick which parts of paradise you want to visit!

Around forty million years ago the Atlantic Tectonic Plate began to move under the Caribbean Tectonic Plate and volcanoes grew along the latter’s margin. These were largely submerged but the tops now form the string of islands that reach from Guadeloupe almost to the South American Mainland. The islands generally have a high volcanic interior, are richly forested with ample rainfall, and each has coral reefs developed on the sheltered western coasts. The landscapes are often achingly beautiful with verdant forest bedecked in vines and flowers attracting those shimmering jewels of the air, the Hummingbirds. We’ll spend several days on each island enjoyed the many fine and often little-visited protected areas.

On the quiet and characterful island of Dominica we’ll explore the Northern Forest Reserve where we’ll find the magnificent and extremely rare Imperial Parrot. We’ll visit Morne Trois Pitons National Park which protects the rugged interior of the island, a land of steep volcanos and deep canyons all cloaked in forest home to Red-necked Parrot, Red-legged Thrush, Forest Thrush, Plumbeous Warbler and the glittering Blue-headed Hummingbird. Brilliant orange Anaea dominicana is found only here as are the Dominican Snout, and the endemic hairstreak Electrostrymon dominicana. We’ll make a particular effort to unearth the impressive Giant Ditch Frog which is now critically endangered and we’ll take a whale watching trip to see Sperm Whales as well as Spinner, Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphins.

Guadeloupe National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, protects over 40,000 acres of fabulously luxuriant rainforest, home to endemics such as Guadeloupe Woodpecker as well as endemic frogs like Eleutherodactylus barlagnei. We’ll also explore marine and coastal environments also protected where we can enjoy the underwater world, some great coastal birding, and two rather beautiful reptiles, the green and yellow Anolis marmoratus, found only on Guadeloupe, and the colourful Fantastic Least Gecko.

Lovely Martinique will see us exploring the volcanoes and forests of Pitons du Carbet and the sublime peninsula landscapes and coasts of lovely Presqu’ile de la Caravelle where we’ll find White-breasted Thrasher, Grey Trembler and Martinique Oriole.

The wildlife of St. Lucia is a little better known than the other islands on this tour – the Edmund Forest Reserve, protecting the lovely interior volcanic forests, a popular destination amongst birders. Here we can see the iconic St. Lucia Parrot, as well as St. Lucia Warbler, St. Lucia Oriole and St. Lucia Black Finch. Butterflies are abundant with colourful species such as Gulf Fritillary, elegant Orion Cecropian, the Red-rim and the stunning bright green hairstreaks Chlorostrymon simaethis and Chlorostrymon measites.

St. Vincent of course also has its own parrot, the St. Vincent Parrot. Renowned for its fabulous tropical beaches, St Vincent also has some excellent snorkelling around the little island of Bequia where we’ll also find seabirds such as various Terns, Noddies and no less than three species of Booby. The Vermont Forest reserve in the Buccament Valley on the slopes of Mt Soufriere is home to Grenada Flycatcher, Cocoa Thrush, Whistling Warbler and Lesser Antillean Tanager.

The final island on our itinerary is Grenada which as an island is a masterpiece, shapely volcanos bedecked in lush forest with idyllic crater-lakes dotted here and there. We’ll visit the Mt Hartman National Park, home to the Grenada Dove, one of the World’s most endangered birds. The picturesque Grand Etang National Park is a fabulous place to enjoy Caribbean colour whether it’s the abundant butterflies, flowers or colourful hummingbirds such as the petite Antillean Crested Hummingbird, the Purple-throated Carib, and the iridescent gem that is the Green-throated Carib.