An epic adventure covering 6 countries and 10 islands, taking in all the single island and Lesser Antillean Endemics. Made up of the southerly Windward and the northerly Leeward Islands, the Lesser Antilles are the last frontier of Caribbean birding. These volcanic islands on the edge of the Caribbean Plate are the gateway between the harsh Atlantic Ocean and the warm, tranquil Caribbean Sea. Originally settled by the Taino of South America, the islands have played host to multiple colonisers from the Caribs to the more modern European giants of Britain, France and the Netherlands. Through multiple wars, slavery, epidemics, natural and man-made destruction, the island’s wildlife has managed to escape mostly intact, but equally lives a precarious existence that can be wiped out by a single event.

Starting from Barbados, the most easterly of the islands we embark on numerous short hops to Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Barbuda and ultimately Antigua. Hosting 18 single island endemics, 10 Lesser Antillean endemics, 9 Caribbean endemics and upwards of 43 endemics sub-species (with many liable to be full splits), this travel intensive, but birding relaxed tour appeals to the birder, twitcher and photographer alike. Gaudy birds, picture postcard beaches, turquoise seas, rugged landscapes and friendly locals make this tour one of our birding highlights.

Top Birds

St. Vincent, Red-necked, Imperial & St. Lucia Amazons, Barbados & Lesser Antillean Bullfinches, Green-throated & Purple-throated Caribs, Antillean Crested & Blue-headed Hummingbirds, West Indian Whistling Duck, Grenada Dove, Lesser Antillean Swift, Caribbean Elaenia, Grenada Flycatcher, Lesser Antillean Tanager, Whistling, Plumbeous, Barbuda & St. Lucia Warblers, Brown & Grey Tremblers, Cocoa & Forest Thrush, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Scaly-­breasted Thrasher, St. Lucia Black Finch, St. Lucia, Montserrat & Martinique Orioles, Lesser Antillean Pewee, Rufous Nightjar, Lesser Antillean Saltator, Antillean Euphonia, Guadeloupe Woodpecker, Bridled Quail-Dove.

Top Mammals

Short-finned Pilot, Humpback & False Killer Whales.

Habitats Covered

tropical islands, beaches, volcanic foothills, forest

Expected Climate

tropical

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper Leader & Local Leader

Tour Pace & Walking

relaxed with some moderate walks

Accommodation

good to very good

Ease of Birding

easy, with some tricky species

Other Attractions

stunning local cuisine, deserted beaches

Photographic Opportunities

good to excellent

What our clients say about us

Adam Walleyn
RP - Lesser Antilles 2024

This trip was exceptional. It exceeded our expectations in every way. The two guides, Ryan and Adam were outstanding in every aspect and greatly complemented each other. I highly recommend both of them. There is a fair amount of logistics involved in this trip and everything was well planned, with back up plans if needed. There was a great chemistry among the group, and even though our group varied from intense, hard-core birders to those that were a little more easy going, everyone got along great and the leaders worked well with everyone, helping everyone see all the birds and having a great time while doing it. This is a trip designed to see the endemics of the area and that is what the focus is. The total number of birds seen is certainly less than other trips, but the quality of the birds seen is amazing.

Ryan Chenery
PD, Lesser Antilles 2023

This tour far exceeded our expectations. The pace was mostly fast, and many days were long with early starts, but we fully expected this for an endemic search tour; but we still managed lots of comradery, jokes, and cocktail time. We fulfilled our tour goal of finding all the endemic island species plus most of the endemic subspecies, including those that are most likely to be split in the future. We also got to sample the local culture and food of every island. Our tour was extremely productive and a very fun trip. We had a very experienced group of participants, and everyone was pleased with the tour. Our leaders were exceptional. Forrest Rowland and Ryan Chenery made an excellent team. Both are very knowledgeable, personable, and funny, as well as expert birders. Their knowledge of the species was profound. They worked hard to find each target and to make sure that everyone got on the birds. On several islands, we also had local leaders/drivers who were top-notch birders. They thoroughly knew their local species habits and vocalizations. The Lesser Antilles are Ryans domain; he expertly planned and conducted the tour. When you lead a group of people to ten different islands in 14 days via airplanes, ferries, and speedboats, you know that various matters will require attention and Ryan adeptly dealt with all issues that cropped up, most of which were not even apparent to us. Thanks, also, to Ryans wife Alexandria, who we got meet on their home island of Barbados, who ran the back-office logistics dealing with confirmations and handling real-time changes, as needed. The team of Forrest, Ryan, and Alex kept everything running smoothly and seamlessly. The Rockjumper home office also did a great job of handling the registration and payment processes and all associated travel paperwork and communications. This was our first Rockjumper tour, but it certainly wont be our last.

Ryan Chenery
RP - Lesser Antilles 2024

This trip was exceptional. It exceeded our expectations in every way. The two guides, Ryan and Adam were outstanding in every aspect and greatly complemented each other. I highly recommend both of them. There is a fair amount of logistics involved in this trip and everything was well planned, with back up plans if needed. There was a great chemistry among the group, and even though our group varied from intense, hard-core birders to those that were a little more easy going, everyone got along great and the leaders worked well with everyone, helping everyone see all the birds and having a great time while doing it. This is a trip designed to see the endemics of the area and that is what the focus is. The total number of birds seen is certainly less than other trips, but the quality of the birds seen is amazing.

Lesser Antilles - Pearls of the Caribbean Tailormade 2025

12 Mar 2025 - 26 Mar 2025 (15 days)

USD9,650 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

Pricing notes : Pricing is based on a minimum of 8 pax. The sales price will be adjusted upwards for smaller group sizes.

Tour price (Per person): USD9,650 * GBP7,798 * EUR9,056 * AUD15,026

Single Supplement: USD1,095 * GBP885 * EUR1,028 * AUD1,705

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Route Map

Tour Route Map

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