Sunrise Birding, LLC - Birding and Wildlife Tours
Sunrise Birding LLC
Birding & Wildlife Tours

Upcoming Tours

Costa Rica Special
March 22-29, 2024
>Info & reservations

Vietnam: Endemics & Specialties
Mar 27-Apr 7, 2024
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Lesvos: Spring Migration
April 17/20-27, 2024
>Info & reservations

Finland:
Owls & Grouse

May 18-24, 2024
>Info & reservations

Norway:
Varanger Peninsula

May 24-30, 2024
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Brazil: Pantanal Wildlife Safari
Sep 1-10, 2024
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Spain: Fall Migration
Aug 31-Sep 14, 2024
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Ecuador
Jocotoco Lodges Special!
Sep 8-21, 2024
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Panama: Raptor Migration
Oct 24-Nov 3, 2024
Private tour

Bolivia
with Diego Calderon
Plus Blue-throated Macaw & San Pedro Tanager

Oct 29-Nov 13, 2024
>Info & reservations

Madagascar
Birds & Lemurs
Nov 23-Dec 14, 2024
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Texas Winter Special
January 11-19, 2025
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Minnesota: Boreal Specialties
February 20-25, 2025
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Jamaica: 29 Endemics
February 16-22, 2025 TBA
Info soon!

Morocco: Spring Migration
March 8-17, 2025
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Costa Rica:
Toucan/Tanager Special

March 21-28, 2025
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Costa Rica Special
March 27-April 3, 2025
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Bhutan: Birds & Culture
April 20-May 5, 2025
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Lesvos: Spring Migration
April 26-May 3, 2025
>Info & reservations

Finland:
Owls & Grouse

May 10-16, 2025
>Info & reservations

Norway:
Varanger Peninsula

May 16-22, 2025
>Info & reservations

West Papua
Sept 16-29, 2025
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Tanzania Safari
March 31-April 11, 2026
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Cyprus
April 18-24, 2026
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Lesser Antilles
10 Island Endemics

Jan 11-24, 2027
>Info & reservations

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TIPPING ON BIRDING TOURS
More Travel Resources>

Jamaican Tody. Photo by Steve Bird.Tipping on birding tours is frequently fraught with uncertainty. In some places tipping is discouraged and considered offensive, in others it is expected. People often want to show appreciation for good service with a tip. Gratuities are at your discretion, nonetheless people always ask about it and how much is appropriate.

Our intention here is to provide simple guidelines for tipping on birding tours and our standard suggestion is in the box below. Beyond that, it can get a little complicated so we have included some links to web sites that can help you get a sense of how various countries view tipping.

Our standard suggestion for tipping on birding trips based on advice from several of our local agents is:
  • Birding tour guide: US$ 10.00 - $20.00 per person/day.
    Note: If there is more than one guide, this can be split among them.
  • Transfer driver: US$ 2.00 - $5.00 per person
  • Tour driver: US$ 5.00 per person/day
  • Lodge staff: US$ 5.00 - 10.00 per person/day
  • Tour boat driver: Up to US$ 5.00 per person/day
  • Pelagic day trips: 10% of the trip cost to the boat crew
  • Hotel & international airport bellmen: US$ 1.00 per suitcase

Green Aracari, Guyana. Photo by Gina Nichol.On a successful birding tour, guides and drivers often work extremely long hours.
It is likely that they receive low basic wages so tips for them are an important part of their annual income.

Canopy Tower in Panama has posted suggestions that generally agree with our recommendations above.
Read it online>

Beyond birding trips, here are web sites that offer suggestions for tipping in several different countries:

There is also an app called iWorld Tip that provides advice about tipping in various countries and calculates tips. Find it in iTunes in the "finance" category. Developed by DynamicDust s.r.o.

Comments & suggestions are welcome to [email protected]

Good Birding!

Photo credits:
Jamaican Tody, Jamaica, by Steve Bird
Green Aracari, Guyana, by Gina Nichol.


NOTE: Linked web sites are not under the control of Sunrise Birding and Sunrise Birding is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Sunrise Birding provides these links only as a convenience, and the inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the linked site by Sunrise Birding.



© Sunrise Birding.  All rights reserved.
All photos by Gina Nichol unless otherwise noted.
Contact Gina Nichol at [email protected]