New Programs for 2018, 2019
Our April and November 2018 Cuba Birding trips will be co-lead by wildlife artist NILS NAVARRO, author of the Illustrated Field Guide to the Endemic Birds of Cuba, and CCT Ornithologist Michael Good.
We are offering an exciting new program in partnership with BirdWatching Magazine. In December acclaimed author and adventurer NOAH STRYKER will escort a group along with CCT Founder and Director Gary Markowski and CCT biologist Dr. Luis Diaz.
We will also be offering our popular Cuba Bird Survey Programs in January through April of 2019.
CCT Natural History of Cuba programs for the coming year will include Gardens and Culture in western Cuba and Havana, and general natural history trips in WESTERN and EASTERN Cuba!
Beginning in late May we will be offering HERPETOLOGY PROGRAMS that will examine Cuba’s abundant and attractive reptiles and amphibians, which feature many endemic and regional endemic species.
These trips will also focus on birds, albeit less intently than our typical programs, and offer an interesting variety of other nature-related experiences and topics, which will include some of Cuba’s amazing reptiles, amphibians, endemic plants, caves, and reefs.
CCT Conservation Initiatives in 2018 will continue in early 2019. Beginning in late 2016 through the current year, CCT donated or facilitated the donation and delivery of more than 80 hummingbird feeders, 50 pairs of binoculars, 100 field guides, 2 spotting scopes and tripods, 1,000 bird conservation-themed coloring books, and several boxes of crayons, pencils, and additional art supplies.
CUBA WINS SAFE TRAVEL AWARD AT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
In January 2018, Cuba won the Excelencias Award as the safest country for international tourism at the International Tourism Fair, Fitur which was held this year in Madrid, Spain.
https://www.caribbeannewsdigital.com/en/noticia/cuba-wins-excelencias-award-safest-travel-destination
Cuba has long been an exceptionally safe destination for visitors, despite rumors and tall tales to the contrary. U.S. Citizens are warmly welcome, as they have been for the 22 + years that Caribbean Conservation Trust has been bringing American birders there under U.S. Treasury Department authorization.
Rule changes for Authorized Cuba Travel for U.S. Citizens and legal residents
On November 9, 2017 the current U.S. Administration announced rule changes affecting an ndividual, People to People authorized travel to Cuba. Individual and group travel to Cuba under our authorization for Cuba travel was not impacted. Our authorization is completely intact, and all of our 2018 and 2019 programs are going ahead as scheduled.
We are monitoring these pending changes, but have little concern that there will be an impact on our legal authorization to travel to Cuba, which we have pursued and been granted successfully each year dating back to 1996.
