Book your 2025 & 2026 adventures Risk free.
About the tour:
Colombia, with over 1850 bird species (the longest bird list of the world), is a birdwatchers paradise. The huge diversity of birdlife is due to the variation of its terrain: Two oceans, the Andes mountain chain, divided into three sub mountain chains, the highest coastal mountain chain in the world, the bio-geographic Choco, the Amazon jungle, the Orinoco plains. The Colombian weather, the diversity of its terrain, and its landscapes, make this country the best place in the world for bird lovers. Observe around 300 species by destination, 90% of the endemic species in the whole trip, a big range of ecosystems and a variation of altitudinal steps that go from the sea level up to 4000 meters of altitude.
We always first check the current local safety conditions, before selecting a spot; so relax and enjoy bird watching in Colombia...
TOUR DETAILS:
Leader: Oswaldo Cortes (Colombian English speaking bird guide)
Length: 15 days
Starting city: Bogotá
Ending city: Bogotá
Birding pace: moderate
Physical tour categories: Easy to moderate (Bangsia reserve are the most steep mountain trails)
Thematic: birding
Max group size: 9
Accommodation: The Lodges and Hotels are normal standard.
Transportation: The roads are mostly good along this trip. We will use Minibus (MercedesBenz) and 4x4
Note: Good opportunities for bird photography’s
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Bogota
Our vehicle will pick you up from the international airport of Bogota Transfer to our hotel. Accommodations in our hotel in Bogota (Hotel Plaza 36).
Day 2: Chingaza National Park
Early in the morning, we will depart to Chingaza National Park. This incredible place is located only one hour away from Bogota. We will be birding here all the day exploring Paramo, cloud forest and moorland ecosystems searching for Matorral Tapaculo, Andean Siskin, Golden faced Redstart, Coppery-bellied Puffleg (endemic), Black-headed Hemispingus, Brownbreasted Parakeet (endemic), Bronze-tailed Thronbill, Glowing Puffleg, Longuemare´s Sunangel, Bluethroated Starfrontlet, Rufous Antpitta, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Noble Snipe, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan and many more. Inside the surroundings wetland we will try to see Bogotá Rail (endemic), Silvery-throated Spinetail (endemic) and Apolinar´s Marsh Wren (endemic).
Briefing for the next days. Welcome cocktail, Accommodation at the same hotel in Bogota. (Hotel Plaza 36). B/L/
Day 3: Tabacal – Mariquita
Early in the morning, we will start our way to the high Magdalena Valley. We will visit the Jardin Encantado for a few hummingbird species like White-vented Plumeleeter, the endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird as well as more common species like Lazuline Sabrewing and White-bellied Woodstar and Black-throated Mango. Then we will walk around El Tabacal lagoon Park in the municipality of La Vega. There we will be able to watch birds like Ash-browned Spinetail, Rosy Thrush Tanager, Grey-throated Warbler, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, White-bellied Antbird, Scrub Tanager, Spectacled Parrotlet, Stripe-breasted Spinetail, Bar-crested Antshrike and more.
In the afternoon, we will travel to Mariquita city for accommodation in our hotel, near Honda. Here we will search for two endemics in the hotel area, Apical Flycatcher and Velvet-fronted Euphonia (Hotel San Felipe).B/L/D
Day 4: Falan Reserve
Today we will spend this morning birding in a new ProAves reserve (not yet officially open!) at Falan, Ranita dorada reserve is located in the foothills of the central Andes. Here we will search for very range-restricted endemic species such as Tolima Dove and Yellow-headed Brush-finch, Crested Ant-tanager and other specialties. In the afternoon we come back to our hotel to take some a break. Accommodations at the same hotel near Mariquita. (Hotel San Felipe) B/L/D
Day 5: El Hato Lagoon – El Silencio
After Breakfast we will drive south to El Hato Lagoon for a few new species of the low Magdalena valley, Grey-necked Woodrail, Black-bellied Whistling-duck, Russet-throated Puffbird, Red crowned Woodpecker, Pied Water-tyrant, Pearly-vented Today-Tyrant, Apical Flycatcher (endemic), Velvet-fronted Euphonia (endemic), Black-bellied Wren. Then, we will drive to our new hotel for the two next night in Juntas. After a short break, we will start birding in El Nevado del Tolima, El Silencio and Juntas locations, looking for Golden faced Redstart, Spillmann’s Tapaculo, Ocellated Tapaculo, Black-collared Jay, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, the endemics Masked Saltator, Crestedant Tanager, Tolima Dove, Yellow-headed Brush Finch (endemic), Yellow-headed Manakin (endemic), Blossomcrown (endemic), Golden-plumed Parakeet, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan and so much more. Accommodations in our hotel in Juntas. (Hotel Iguaïma Campestre).B/L/D
Day 6: Tolima National Park
We will spend this other day looking for more endemic around the Tolima national park.
Accommodations in our hotel in Juntas. (Hotel Iguaïma Campestre). B/L/D
Day 7: Laguna Guarinocito – El Paujil
Breakfast at 5h30am. We will leave early to Las Juntas for birding in Guarinocito Lagoon in search of Double crested Cormorant, Colombian Chachalaca (endemic), Pied Water-Tyrant, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Yellow-hooded Black-bird. Before lunch, we will drive to El Paujil Natural Reserve (5 hours), making stops along the road for birds as Northern Screamer, Blue and yellow Macaw, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Pied Puffbird, Black capped Donacobius and others.
Accommodation at El Paujil Natural Reserve.B/L/D
Day 8 and 9: El Paujil
During these two days, we will bird in a fantastic private area searching for endemics in this typical tropical forest localized in La serrania de las Quinchas, between 200 and 700 meters of altitude. This 974 hectares support a big avian diversity such as the rare and endemic Blue-billed Curassow, White-mantled Barbet (endemic), Sooty-ant Tanager (endemic), Beautiful Woodpecker (endemic), Black-billed Flycatcher (NE), Black Antshrike (NE), Northern Screemer (NE), Citron-throated Toucan (NE), Blackbreasted Puffbird (NE), Black-bellied Wren (NE), Scrub Tanager (NE), Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Marble Wood Quail, Bare-crowned Antbird, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Stripe-throated Hermit, Ruby Topaz, Dull-mantled Antbird, Purple-crowned Fairy, Western White-tailed Trogon, Pied Puffbird, Barred Puffbird, White-whiskered Puffbird, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Jet Antbird, Pacific Antwren, Brown-capped Tyrannulet, Southern Bentbill, Long-tailed Tyrant, Rufous Piha, Blue Cotinga, Yellowbrowed Shrike-Vireo, Black-chested Jay, Rufous Wren, Scarlet-browned Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, White-ear Conebill, Slate-colored Seedeater, Thick-billed Seed Finch, Large-bellied Seed Finch, Masked Yellowthroated, Orange-crowned Oriole, Fulvous-vented Euphonia and also a big diversity of mammals and reptiles.
Two nights at El Paujil Natural Reserve.B/L/D
Day 10: Rio Claro
Early in the morning, we will leave to the west crossing the central cordillera, to Rio Claro. We will spend the morning looking for new endemics such as Sooty Ant-Tanager, Beautiful Woodpecker, and White-mantled Barbet, before heading to Rio Claro in the afternoon. This reserve has similar species, but with an added bonus of an Oilbird cave; we’ll stay out for dusk to watch these amazing birds head out for the night. Accommodation in a nearby hotel.
B/L/D
Day 11: Bangsia (Tangara) Reserve
We’ll drive into the western Andes to explore a new reserve located near El Carmen, a thru tanagers paradise. The two endemics Gold-ringed and Black-and-gold Tanagers, are some common here but also White-headed Wren, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Black Solitaire, and Uniform Treehunter and an undescribed tapaculo. Night at Las Tangaras reserve.B/L/D
Day 12: Las Tangaras
Very early in the morning we will explore the forest trails of the reserve looking for the Choco Poorwills flying over the forest, then some specialties such as Toucan Barbet, Chocó Vireo, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner and Crested Ant-Tanager. Some trails here, are steep and muddy but very rich in endemics species. Accommodation at the same Lodge.B/L/D
Day 13: Jardin
Early in the morning we will drive south-east to Jardin, looking for Munchique Woodwren and Tanager Finch and Dusky Starfrontlet along the roadside. During this two days we will tracking down the fabulous and Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot. This extremely rare parrot is currently extinct in Ecuador and now endemic just to Colombia. These parrots use the protected wax palm tree (national Colombian tree). Some artificial nest boxes have been placed in key nesting areas, helping the population to grow-up. Some trails and road along the cloud forest are some good places for birds like Andean Toucanet, White-capped Tanager, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Tanager Finch, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Spillmann’s Tapaculo, Sharpe’s Wren, Golden-fronted Redstart, and more common montane species. Accommodation at the reserve Lodge.B/L/D
Day 14: Jardin — Medellin — Bogota
We will spend another morning to look for the Yellow-eared Parrot if necessary, but also for Apical Flycatcher and Grayish Piculet in the Cauca Valley before driving soon to Medellin (3h30) for our flight to Bogota. Accommodation in Bogota. (Hotel Plaza 36).B/L/D
Day 15: Bogota – Transfer out
Transfer to the international airport of Bogota for your flights to USA or elsewhere.B/
