Caribbean Birding Trail

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You are here: Home / Dominican Republic / Southwest / Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero

Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero

  • About
  • The Birds
  • How to Get There

Located on the Bahía de Neiba, Puerto Alejandro is especially good for a variety of shorebirds and waders, and gulls and terns. Flamingos are often found here as well. The drive in may also be productive for common thorn scrub species, with a possibility of a variety of Neotropical migrants. Puerto Alejandro may also be accessed via its west side through sugar cane and agricultural fields which offer opportunities for some exotic finches and other agricultural specialties. Tortuguero is located on the adjoining Bahía de Ocoa and can be easily visited on the same day. Tortuguero is known for the American Oystercatcher, but also provides habitat for a variety of shorebirds, waders, and seabirds.

From the turn-off from the main road at Canoa, this unimproved road travels 13.8 km (8.6 miles) to a large protected lagoon on the Caribbean coast. From Canoa to the lagoon, expect travel time to be about 30 minutes. You may stop anywhere along here, but look in particular for narrow trails which may lead to the wetlands and salt flats. The thorn scrub opens into the larger inner lagoon which is where most of the waders may be seen. From here, explore on foot for other waders, shorebirds, gulls, and terns.

The lagoon may also be accessed from the west from the village of Jaquimeyes. From the bridge at Canoa, continue to drive west for 4.0 km (2.5 miles). In Jaquimeyes turn left on a small road marked by a sign for Playa Andina. Look here for exotic finches and other species typical of agricultural lowlands. After 6.4 km (4.0 miles) you will reach the gate house of a shrimp farm. With permission you may drive or walk the dikes.

Finally, if returning towards Azua, a stop at the stony beach at Tortuguero can be productive. As you leave Azua, just 2.2 km (1.4 miles) from the police station you will want to continue straight ahead on a gravel road. After 2.7 km (1.7 miles) you will arrive at a stony beach, Tortuguero. Explore the beach and adjoining mangroves.

Target species include American Flamingo, Brown Pelican, Yellow- crowned Night-Heron, Glossy Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Black- bellied Plover, Wilson’s Plover, American Oystercatcher, Black- necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Whimbrel, Gull- billed Tern, Sandwich Tern, White- crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo, Yellow Warbler, Green- tailed Ground- Tanager, Village Weaver, Nutmeg Mannikin, Tricolored Munia

Driving west from Azua, in about 53.1 km (33 miles) you will see a small sign for the village of Canoa. Continue another 0.8 km (0.5 miles) toward a new highway bridge. Turn left on a small and unmarked road just before the bridge. This narrow road will run alongside the bridge for about 100m then turn sharply left to hug a canal. This unpaved road runs through agricultural lands that soon give way to mesquite scrub and thorn scrub, and finally coastal wetlands and lagoons, terminating in a salt works on the coast.

Puerto Alejandro (Map by Dana Gardner)
Puerto Alejandro (Map by Dana Gardner)

Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero

Dominican Republic Sites

Central Mountain Range
Constanza and Valle Nuevo
Ebano Verde Reserve
Hatillo
Jarabacoa with Armando Bermúdez and José del Carmen Ramírez National Parks
La Joya de San Francisco
Loma Quita Espuela
Pico Diego de Ocampo, Santiago
Southeast
Bávaro
Cumayasa
Del Este National Park
Del Este National Park: Boca de Yuma
Del Este National Park: Guaraguao
Del Este National Park: Padre Nuestro Trail
Del Este National Park: Saona Island
Ecological Foundation Trail, Punta Cana
Limón Lagoon
Los Haitises National Park
Los Haitises National Park: Caño Hondo
Los Haitises National Park: Los Limones
Monte Plata
Southwest
Aguacate and Zapotén
Cabo Rojo and Pedernales
Cabral Lagoon
Cachote, Eastern Bahoruco
Jimaní
Lake Enriquillo
Loma Charco Azul
Oviedo Lagoon, Jaragua National Park
Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero
Rabo de Gato and Puerto Escondido
Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
Los Arroyos, Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
North Coast
Cayos Siete Hermanos
El Limón, Samaná
Estero Hondo
Loma Guaconejo
Loma Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata
Monte Cristi and Saladilla
Nalga de Maco National Park, Río Limpio
Samaná
Around Santo Domingo
Las Salinas de Baní
Mirador del Norte Park
National Botanical Garden
Ozama Wetlands

Partners in the Dominican Republic

  • Grupo Acción Ecológica
  • La Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola (SOH)
  • National Aviary

With special thanks to our partners at the Ruta Barrancoli

Ruta Barrancoli logo


Dominican Republic Tour Operators

  • Explora Ecotour
  • Miguel A. Landestoy T., Independent Guide
  • Tody Tours
  • Wildside Nature Tours

Bird Checklists

Click here to download a pamphlet-sized year-round checklist for Dominican Republic.

Recommended Field Guides

Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Aves de la República Dominicana y Haití by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Ruta Barrancolí: A Bird-finding Guide to the Dominican Republic by Steven C. Latta and Kate J. Wallace

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele

Want to know how you can be involved?

Do you know of a place that should be part of the Caribbean Birding Trail? Are you the owner of a lodge or hotel and want to attract eco-tourists? Are you a guide interested in the birdwatching market? Then, get involved with our project!

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