Day 1
Arrive at Bogotá, rest and welcome.
Briefing at hotel in Bogotá.
Overnight
-/-/-
Day 2
Chingaza Natural Park area searching for the endemic Brown-breasted Parakeet and other Chingaza specialities such as White-capped Tanager, Spectacled Prickletail, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Roufus Antpitta and Ocellated Tapaculo among others. Observation of high elevation hummers of the east mountain range, like the near endemic Blue-throated Starfrontlet, and other highlights like Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Great Sapphirewing, Long-tailed Sylph, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail and Sword-billed Hummingbird.
Overnight in Bogotá
B/L/D
Day 3
Sumapaz Natural Park, searching for the endemic and beautiful Green-bearded Helmetcrest, the near endemic Golden-fronted Redstart, the Great Sappherwing and other páramo birds like the Many-striped Canastero.
Visit the moorlands of Bogotá in search of the endemics Bogota Rail and Apolinar’s Wren. During the day we will see many other birds worth mentioning like Spot-flanked Gallinule, Subtropical Doradito, Andean and Masked Ducks, Silvery-throated Spinetail and Striped Owl.
Overnight in Bogotá
B/L/D
Day 4
In the morning, descend to the Magdalena Valley where we will concentrate on hummingbirds. Endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird is one highlight but we’ll see many others like Black-throated Mango, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, White-vented Plumeleteer, the three species of Violetear, Green Hermit, Crowned Woodnymph, White-bellied and Gorgeted Woodstars.
Then, we’ll look for some aquatic birds at the Magdalena Valley, visiting Guarinocito Lake, we’ll see the Near endemic Northern Screamer, and others like Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Blue-headed Parrot and Black-capped Donacobius.
Overnight at Victoria, Caldas.
B/L/D
Day 5
In the morning, we will visit different spots in search of the endemics Sooty Ant-tanager, White-mantled barbet, Beautiful Woodpecker, Velvet fronted Euphonia and Colombian Chachalaca.
Other interesting birds in the area are Tody Motmot, Bar-crested ant-shrike and several species of Manakins: White-bibbed, White-bearded, Striped and Golden-headed Manakins. Other birds worth to mention are Little tinamou, Citron-throated Toucan, Chestnut-fronted macaw and Squirrel cuckoo.
Transfer to Río Claro Reserve and overnight.
B/L/D
Day 6
Birding at Rio Claro Natural reserve. Our main targets are the endemics White-mantled Barbet, Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant, and Beautiful Woodpecker. We can also see the near endemics Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo, Scarlet-browed Tanager and Saffron-headed Parrot.
In this reserve we will spot many other species. Transfer to the surroundings of Medellín City and overnight.
B/L/D
Day 7
In the morning we will visit La Romera, an area near Medellín, looking for endemics like Red-bellied Grackle, Stiles’s Tapaculo, Colombian Chachalaca, and the near endemics Yellow-headed Manakin, and Bar-crested Antshrike.
Visit to the dry forest of the Cauca Valley, searching for the endemics Antioquia Wren, Grayish Piculet, and Apical Flycatcher and the near endemic Bar-crested Antshrike.
Arrival at Jardín- Antioquia and visit to the Andean Cock-of-The-Rock LEK.
Overnight at Jardín.
B/L/D
Day 8
Visit the Ventanas area, searching the Yellow-eared Parrot, endemic from Colombia. We will look for other interesting species like the near endemic Tanager Finch, the rare Chestnut-crested Cotinga, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Sacarlet-rumped Cacique, crested Oropendola, Torrent Duck, the beautiful Golden-headed Quetzal and the near endemic Rufous-brested Flycatcher.
Overnight at Jardín
B/L/D
Day 9
Visit Morro Amarillo area, searching for the endemics Yellow-eared Parrot, Colombian Chachalaca, Parker’s Antbird, and the near endemic Scrub Tanager.
Travel to Manizales area and overnight.
B/L/D
Day 10
Visit to Los Nevados Natural Park, search for the great Andean Condor and the endemic Buffy Helmetcrest. On the road, the endemic Rufous-fronted Parakeet is possible. Near endemics are possible like Black-backed Bush-tanager and Golden-breasted Puffleg.
Visit hummingbird feeders to spot the near endemic Black-thighed Puffleg and the beautiful Rainbow-bearded Thornbill and Shining Sunbeam among others.
Overnight at Rio Blanco Reserve or Manizales surrounds depending on permits.
B/L/D
Day 11
Rio Blanco reserve is very interesting for several birds, but it is considered a paradise for Antpittas. We will search for the endemics Chestnut Wood-Quail, East Andean Antbird, Brown-banded Antpitta. Near endemics like Rusty-faced Parrot, Bicolored Antpitta, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Golden-fronted Redstart. Other birds like Ash-coloured and Ocellated Tapaculo are possible.
Transfer to Otún Quimbaya Reserve and overnight.
B/L/D
Day 12
Birding at Otún Quimbaya. This area has lots of nice birds, but our main target is the endemics like Cauca Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Moustached Antpitta, Stiles’s Tapaculo, Multicolored Tanager and Crested Ant-Tanager. Near endemics like Rufous-breasted Flycatcher are possible as well.
Transfer to Pueblo Rico Risaralda and Tatamá National Park
B/L/D
Day 13 and 14
Birding at Montezuma Road.
This is an excellent birding road on the Chocó slope of the Western Andes. It is a very big extension of nature and gathers lots of different species of birds.
Endemics: Chestnut Wood-Quail, Grayish Piculet, Parker’s Antbird, Alto Pisones Tapaculo, Munchique Wood-Wren, Black-and-gold Tanager, Gold-ringed Tanager, Multicolored Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, Crested Ant-Tanager
Some near endemics: Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstar, Toucan Barbet, Bar-crested Antshrike, Bicolored Antvireo, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Choco Tapaculo, Nariño Tapaculo, Uniform Treehunter, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Club-winged Manakin, Choco Vireo, Beautiful Jay, Black Solitaire, Golden-fronted Redstart, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Purplish-mantled Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia
Overnight at Tatamá area the night of day 12. After birding the morning of day 13, we will transfer to kilometre 18 near Cali.
Overnight at KM 18.
B/L/D
Day 15 and 16
Birding at low Anchicayá searching rare species. Some near endemic are Berlepsch’s Tinamou, Baudo Guan, Choco Poorwill, White-whiskered Hermit, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Violet-tailed Sylph, Empress Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstar, Blue-tailed Trogon, Five-colored Barbet, Choco Toucan, Rose-faced Parrot, Bar-crested Antshrike, Rufous-crowned Antpitta, Choco Tapaculo, Uniform Treehunter, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Black-tipped Cotinga, Club-winged Manakin, Sooty-headed Wren, Glistening-green Tanager, Gray-and-gold Tanager and Scrub Tanager among others.
Our main birds will be the endemic Chestnut Wood-Quail, Choco Woodpecker and Multicolored Tanager.
The Day 14 we’ll sleep at KM18.
After birding in the morning during day 15, transfer to Cali and Flight to Barranquilla.
Night at Baranquilla.
B/L/D
Day 17
From Barranquilla visit the km 4 and Salamanca National Park searching for the endemic Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, and the near endemic Bar-crested Antshrike, other good birds we have seen in the area include the Central-American Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Golden-green Woodpecker, American Pygmy Kngfisher, Bicoloured Conebill, Pied and Russet throated Puffbird, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Stripe-backed Wren, and Caribbean Hornero among others.
From here, transfer to Guajira Peninsula with the possibility to stop at some areas; overnight at Taroa Hotel in Riohacha.
B/L/D
Day 18
In the morning, we’ll visit Los Flamencos Natural Park, and other spots of la Guajira peninsula. The specialties are: Bare-eyed Pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird, , Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Orinocan Saltator, Glaucous Tanager and Pileated Finch and the near endemics Chestnut Piculet, White-whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Tyrannulet, Vermilion Cardinal, Tocuyo Sparrow
Other good birds are Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Dwarf Cuckoo, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Green-rumped Parrotlet and Two-banded Puffbird.
Transfer to Minca and overnight.
B/L/D
Day 19 and 20
At Minca and surrounds, you will see specialties like Golden-winged Sparrow, Coppery Emerald, Northern Royal Flycatcher, Black-crowned Antshrike, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Keel-billed Toucan, Scarlet Piculet, Rufous-and-white Wren, Black-headed Tanager, Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Little Tinamou, Rufous-capped Warbler, Swallow Tanager, Bicoloured wren, Rufous nightjar and Sooty-capped Hermit.
Transfer to El Dorado Reserve at San Lorenzo Ridge and accommodation for the next two nights.
San Lorenzo is a small mountain ridge separated from the main Santa Marta Mountains by a deep valley. It is the best dessert for an Endemics Birding trip. The endemics are listed in order of how easy they are to see. From very common to rare: Santa Marta Brush-finch, White-lored Warbler, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Santa Marta Mountain-tanager, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Sierra Nevada Brush-finch, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Santa Marta Antbird, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Blossomcrown, Santa Marta Woodstar, White-tailed Starfrontlet, Santa Marta Antpitta, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Brush Tyrant, Santa Marta Parakeet, Black-backed Thornbill, Santa Marta Sabrewing, Blue-billed Curassow.
Overnight at El Dorado Reserve.
B/L/D
Day 21
Transfer from San Lorenzo Ridge to Santa Marta airport, flight, and end of services.
B/-/-