On my journeys around the world with Nikon’s BATV I have stayed at some very hospitable birding lodges. The vast majority of guests that visit these “birder-friendly” lodges are birders and the primary target market of these places is the birding segment. The one exception is Punta Cana Resort and Club in the Dominican Republic. This is not a birding lodge. Far from it. In fact, many birders might be put off by the sheer size and scale of this operation. Golf courses, swimming pools, restaurants and a diverse collection of accommodation options. Punta Cana even manages the airport!
But Punta Cana Resort and Club is the perfect base for those birders who would like to explore the island’s birdlife without enduring the rigors of budget accommodations. And a handful of the island’s 31 endemics can be found within the resort. Add to this the fact that you can be birding within 2 hours of leaving the USA and you have a pretty unbeatable birding vacation!
Punta Cana means birding in style!
If you think that this town-sized resort is simply a large-scale commercial operation think again. In fact Punta Cana is a shining example of how large hotels can conduct their operations in a sustainable manner whilst contributing significantly to the preservation of birds, wildlife and habitats.
The Punta Cana Ecological Foundation has been specifically set up to ensure that the business is run on ecological and sustainable principles. Additionally the foundation provides a facility for important biological field work. Universities like Harvard, Columbia and Cornell regularly use the research facility. Guests are even able to participate with Cornell on their annual census of the islands’s birdlife. The Punta Cana Ecological Foundation ensures that pioneering waste management and water-conservation technology is practiced on a daily basis by resort operations. But perhaps most importantly for us as birders, Punta Cana is the leading partner in the Ridgway’s Hawk Reintroduction Project. This project has ensured that this critically endangered bird is being brought back from the brink of extinction.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuOcQcnuAVM
On the grounds, Punta Cana has preserved a 1,500 acre Ecological Park that is an excellent place to view the local endemic bird species and enjoy nature.
Natural Springs in the Eco-park
Next time you plan a birding trip be sure to check out the conservation and sustainability policies of the places you are staying at. We can all play our part by choosing operations that give back.
How interesting. I had contemplated going there a few years back, but intell received from the birding community seemed to indicate that it was more of a lay on the beach sort of place, rather than a place that had much to offer in the way of birding opportunities. In fact, I was told that it was not suggested [ or possible? ] that you leave the grounds.
I would love to have more info on the birding opportunities, and a bird list of the grounds if possible. It is on my radar as a place to go { renowned as a good travel value for the $ } if I can get around to finding the time for a vacation.
PS
I accidentally caught your show. Saturday 7am on VS hereabouts- don’t think you could hide it much better if you tried So tell me, how do ~I~ get the local Audubon chapter to spread out and stake out a rarity for me?
I went to an “eco-lodge” at the other end of DR with the aim of seeing the 2 endemic Cyclura iguanas at Lago Enriquillo. I was slightly surprised given the lovely pictures on the nice website to find we had no electric and a “cottage” made of corrogated tin with rust holes (neither of which I mind as long as a) it’s what’s advertised, b) the price reflects it and c) I haven’t persuaded my better half to go there as it is “a lovely romantic cottage”).
Iguanas were awesome but next time I’ll stay at Punta Cana – it looks awesome!
@Arie Please email me at james@birdingadventures.com for a list and also a programme as follows: “We have guided walks with renowned Cornell researcher Dr. Andre Dhondt every winter at the hotel as well. We havent been able to set up anything more regular in terms of bird walks, but we have been developing the ecological reserve trail quite a bit for excursions and guided bird walks will come eventually, hopefully in the next 6 months or so.”
do you have any lodge recommendations for the birding in the mountainous south west of the DR?
I went birding yesterday and they wanted 50$ per person to allow me and my wife to bird the reserve. I don’t remember having to pay such a high fee anywhere I go birding to access a trail. I decided to go birding along the road. Found the hawk and who else was involved in the rehab program, I deeply thank them for helping survive this wonderful species. I find prices extremely high here compared to that in the rest of the island. I am not so sure that this would be my primary location to guide a tour. There have been a substantial deforestation and landscape alteration to please the golfers and tourism industry. David Ascanio – Coauthor Birds of Venezuela.