Maritimes Nature Travel Club information page

Maritimes Nature Travel Club

MNTC birding in El Valle, Panama

El Valle, Panama - photo © 2005 by Richard Stern

Who Are We?

The Maritimes Nature Travel Club is a loose affiliation of congenial people who enjoy traveling together.

The word “club” is a bit of a misnomer, however. There is no actual organisation, hence no membership fees, meetings, or other obligations.

Our “club” had its genesis in a Nova Scotia Bird Society trip to the Cuba in April, 2000.
(Click on the button to read the report).

Birding the Hills around El Saltón
Birding the hills above El Saltón; photo © Ken McKenna, 2000

We so enjoyed our trip together that we decided to organise future outings together.

1) - April 2002 -- Portugal (Évora & the Algarve).
No trip report, but photos of the trip are available here. The trip bird species list, in PDF format, is here.

2) - April 2003 -- Cuba (Oriente).
No trip report, but similar to the Nova Scotia Bird Society 2000 trip above.
The trip bird species list, in PDF format, is here.

3) - March 2005 -- Panama. For our report, click on the following button.

Birding in Playa Blanca, Panama, photo © Richard Stern, 2005

4) - January 2006 -- Western Mexico.

Birding at El Guamuchil, photo © by Blake Maybank

Birding in El Guamuchil, Mexico photo © Blake Maybank, 2006

5) - April-May 2007 -- Turkey. A trip report is in the works.

In the meantime, the full list of bird species seen is available here, as a PDF file.

6) - Brazil, mid-March through end of April 2008.

                   We ran three two-week trips based at the Serra dos Tucanos Lodge, outside Rio de Janeiro.

                    Each group was limited to 12 participants.

                    A full trip report will be prepared in autumn 2008.

                    In the meantime, the full list of bird species seen is available here, as a PDF file.

How Do We Operate?

We select destinations offering interesting natural and cultural experiences, in relatively comfortable and secure surroundings. While there are no rules that govern our wanderings, we have preferences.

We organise vacations, not tests of endurance. We try to base ourselves for several days (or a week, or two weeks) at one location, and make daily sorties. Frequent re-packing is the antithesis of a relaxing vacation.

We choose comfortable economy over luxury, but prefer not to rough it if possible. We appreciate accommodations that are surrounded by or near to areas of natural and cultural history interest.

We try to choose destinations that also appeal to non-naturalist spouses and companions, so that couples and families can enjoy a vacation as well.

Whenever possible we use local guides, both as a matter of principle (keep the employment in-country, and they know their area best), but also to keep costs down (bringing guides from elsewhere is expensive).

We limit the number of l-o-n-g days afield, preferring to start at a civilized hour, and finish in time for a relaxed dinner. We also try to incorporate several days with no planned activities.

Most importantly, we like to have fun, returning home refreshed, rejuvenated, and replete with new experiences.

Most members live in Nova Scotia, but through word of mouth membership is spreading, across Canada and into the United States and Europe. If you believe that our style of travel is compatible with your own, and you enjoy exploring nature and culture with a group of like-minded people, then please contact us.

Blake Maybank, organiser, Maritime Nature Travel Club
(902) 852-2077 or e-mail