-COLOMBIA ENDEMICS BIRDING TOUR-

-EAST, CENTRAL AND WEST MOUNTAIN RANGE. MAGDALENA AND CAUCA VALLEYS, GUAJIRA AND SANTA MARTA-

 

Overview

This birding adventure will take you to a great diversity of ecosystems and natural areas, covering the main specialties of endemics and near endemics of Colombia, as well as sub-species of the eastern and western mountain ranges.

You will travel on a private transportation with a driver and an expert guide searching for the best of each area. Birding from the high elevations at paramo ecosystem, to sea level at the Caribbean region, passing through Andean forests at central, east and west cordilleras; dry forests at Cauca valley, humid forests at Magdalena, semi desert areas at Guajira, and massive natural areas with the Choco region influence like the Montezuma road and the Low Anchicayá, very special and isolated areas where you will delight yourselves with rare species.

Fast view of your Birding Tour

 

Day 1: Arrive at Bogotá

Day 2: Birding in Chingaza Natural Park, high altitude hummers

Day 3: Birding in Sumapaz Natural Park and Bogotá moorlands

Day 4: Transfer Bogotá – Victoria Birding in Middle Magdalena Valley

Day 5: Birding endemics at Victoria, Transfer to Rio Claro Natural Reserve

Day 6: Birding Río Claro Natural Reserve, Transfer to Medellin

Day 7: Birding La Romera, and dry forest at Cauca Valley, Transfer to Jardín

Day 8 and 9: Birding in Jardín, Antioquia Transfer to Manizales

Day 10: Birding in Los Nevados Natural Park

Day 11: Birding Rio Blanco Natural Reserve. Transfer to Otún Quimbaya

Day 12: Birding at Otún Quimbaya. Transfer to Pueblo Rico and Tatamá National Park

Day 13 and 14: Birding Montezuma Road and Tatamá Natural Park. Transfer to Low Anchicayá

Day 15 and 16: Birding the Low Anchicayá Pacific Region. Flight to Barranquilla

Day 17: Birding the Salamanca Natural Park transfer to Guajira Peninsula

Day 18: Birding Los Flamencos Natural Park and La Guajira Peninsula endemics transfer to Minca

Day 19 and 20: Birding Minca – Transfer to El Dorado Reserve and San Lorenzo Ridge

Day 21: Birding San Lorenzo Ridge. Transfer to Santa Marta airport. Fly to Bogota

What’s included

  • Private transportation services from day 1 to day 21

  • All Domestic Flights Cali – Barranquilla and, Santa Marta – Bogotá

  • All meals from breakfast of day 1 to breakfast of day 21

  • Open menu at restaurants, snacks and water during the whole trip

  • At meals, first drink is included (local beer, soda, juice or water)

  • Double accommodation as described in the program

  • Entrance fees and permits at natural reserves

  • Expert guide during all your itinerary

  • Private driver during all the trip

  • Scope, pointing light and audio playback equipment

  • Checklist of the potential species of the trip

What’s not included

  • International Flights and taxes

  • Personal equipment

  • Laundry service

  • Tips

  • Medical expenses

  • Alcoholic drinks

  • Phone Calls

  • Other activities and services

  • Insurance. We suggest Global Rescue services but our travellers are free to choose their insurance company

Birding Tour Relevant information and Feature 

  • Tour Dates:

    13 Nov – 3 Dec 2022

    09 April – 29 April 2023

    13 Nov – 3 dec 2023

  • Length: 21 Days

  • Tour price per person: 

    US$ 6690

  • Single Supplement: 

  • Max group Size: 8 travelers + 1 Leader

  • Expected Number of Birds:

  • Birding tour extensions:

  • Starting City: Bogotá

    Ending City: Bogotá

  • Pace: Moderate

  • Physical difficulty: Easy

  • Tour Type: Birding Endemic Focus

 

 

 

Itinerary Map

 

 

 

Calendar

March 2024

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
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 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/-/-

 

 

 

Gallery