Colombia is located in the north of South America; it has two oceans and a variety of climatic zones combine with its tropical location and is recognized as the most biodiverse region in the world. Colombia has become an attraction for naturalists, mainly birders who want to experience the richest country in species. During the visit, the tourist will also discover a country rich in culture, friendly people, beautiful landscapes and a variety of climates, which makes the visit much more enjoyable.
The Andean mountains suffer a huge change in Colombia, right in the south is divided into three branches spanning almost the entire country, creating unique ecosystems in the world with valleys and peaks that reach up to 5,000 meters. Another important aspect is that Colombia has the only mountain with snow beside the sea, this mountainous separation has generated one of the most important endemic areas in the world, 22 species were isolated in this place and they are now available for those who want to know it. In just 24 hours, birders can record between 12 to 18 of them.
Colombia has almost 50 species of Piculets and Woodpeckers. This time, we offer to you, a customized proposal according to your request and places you want to visit for this group in Colombia, so, here is the program.
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Day 1: Arrival to Bogotá and flight to Inírida
We recommended to take your flight calculating the arrival to Bogotá airport between 4:00 and 6:00 hours, then meeting with the guide, breakfast and flight to Inírida at 08:53, Inírida is located in the East of Colombia just two hours by air and is 100 meters above the level of the sea (m.a.s.l.), in the afternoon we will be focused on our first targets: Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Scale-breasted, Red-necked Woodpeckers, Golden-spangled Piculet and others. Overnight at Toninas Hotel (Basic but clean).
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Day 2: Visit to Cunuben marsh (100 m.a.s.l. warm weather)
We spent the morning on a boat looking for Cream-coloured Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, Yellow-throated, Lineated and Ringed Woodpeckers, in the afternoon we will visit Sabanitas Trail for more chances, likewise here is possible the Capuchinbird and Pompadour Cotinga among others. Overnight at Toninas Hotel.
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Day 3: Matraca´s Trail (100 m.a.s.l. warm)
On our last day in Inírida, we will visit the Matraca Trail trying to check those birds missed on the last days here. In the afternoon we will fly back to Bogotá, Overnight in Bogotá.
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Day 4: Flight to Cali (900 m.a.s.l. warm) and drive to Anchicayá (700 m.a.s.l. fresh and rainy)
We will take our Flight to Cali at 6:33 hours, then we will drive one hour to Anchicayá in the Chocó region, we will make some stops on the way looking for some woodpeckers and other birds, this day is possible to check Red-crowned, Acorn and Lineated Woodpeckers, the first attempts to see the endemic Greyish Piculet begin near the airport in Cali.
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Day 5: Anchicayá Full day
We will descend by an open road bordered by the dense forest of the Chocó, here we spent the day looking for Chocó Woodpecker, Grayish Piculet, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Lita Woodpecker among others. Overnight at Campanario Hotel In Queremal (1,500 m.a.s.l.) Basic but clean.
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Day 6: Bajo Anchicayá – Buenaventura (200 m.a.s.l. Warm)
A good chance for Cinnamon Woodpecker, Litta Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Crimson-bellied and Black-cheeked Woodpeckers among others. In the afternoon, we will drive to Buenaventura (10 m.a.s.l. warm). Overnight at Tequendama Inn or Ofihotel Plazamar.
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Day 7: Drive four hours to Sonso Lagoon (900 m.a.s.l.) and drive to Pereira (1,600 m.a.s.l.)
In the morning, we will drive making some stops for special birds, in the afternoon we will visit the Sonso Lagoon to try for the Grayish Piculet if it has not been checked yet, Spot-breasted, Lineated and Red-crowned Woodpeckers, there are also many aquatic birds. Overnight at Guadalajara Hotel in Buga (900 m.a.s.l.)
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Day 8: Drive to Río Blanco Reserve (2,600 m.a.s.l.)
We will spend de morning driving to Manizales city, in the afternoon we will visit Rio Blanco Reserve, it is the perfect place for Powerful and Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers, it is also a very good place for Antpittas, Tanagers, brush-Finches and others, Río Blanco has also feeders for Hummingbirds and you can enjoy it dinking Colombian Coffee. In the afternoon back to Manizales (2,100 m.a.s.l.) at Benidorm or Varuna Hotel.
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Day 9: Río Blanco Reserve
Another opportunity for Woodpeckers that have been not recorded, we will have another day here for the Antpittas show, 4 hard species is possible to see sharing the warm-feeders with other species like Grey-browed Brush-Finch and Green and Black Fruiteaters. Parrots, Tanagers and Tapaculos make funnier the visit. Overnight at Manizales city.
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Day 10: Los Nevados National Park and drive Mariquita (484 m.a.s.l.)
At 4.000 m.a.s.l and just one hour from Manizales is located de Nevados National Park, Snowy mountains and active volcanos with amazing views, we will make a stop here looking for Bar-bellied and Golden-olive Woodpeckers, this place offers a very good chance for the endemic Buffy Helmetcrest, recently split of Green-bearded Helmetcrest in the eastern Andes of Colombia, both are endemics. In the afternoon we will drive three hours to Mariquita, overnight there.
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Day 11: Bellavista Reserve
Bellavista is a IBA Reserve in Victoria municipality, there we will try to see the endemic Beautiful woodpecker and Olivaceus Piculet, other endemics like Sooty Ant-Tanager and Magdalena Antbird are present here. We will spend all the day here and overnight in Victoria (728 m.a.s.l.)
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Day 12: Drive to Bogotá and flight to Riohacha (0 m.a.s.l. warm)
After breakfast, we will drive three hours to Bogotá making a little stop on the way looking some birds, we will take our flight to Riohacha at 15:15 with two hours flying, we will be lodged at Arimaca Hotel in Riohacha in the Caribbean coast.
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Day 13: Camarones and Gaviotas trail (10 m.a.s.l. warm)
We will spend the day for the Caribbean birds starting at Camarones (Beside the sea-Warm weather) looking for Reddish Egret, Red-billed Emerald, Chestnut Piculet, Red-crowned Woodpecker Black-backed Antshrike, Caribbean Hornero, White Whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Tyrannulet, Tocuyo Sparrow, Vermillon Cardinal, Scarlet Ibis, White Ibis, Buffy Hummingbird, American Flamingo and other Caribbean specialties. In the afternoon we will visit the Gaviotas trail drive to Tayrona National Park. Overnight at Tayrona Park. Tayrona Tended Lodge or La Mar de Bien.
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Day 14: Santa Marta and Minca (600 ma.s.l. warm)
We will drive to Santa Marta for Chestnut-winged Chachalaca, White-chinned Hummingbird and others, then drive to Minca and exploring Sendero Las Cabañas for Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Black-backed Antshrike, White-bearded Manakin, Scaled Pigeon, Lance-tailed Manakin, Black-crowned Antshrike, Keel-billed Toucan, among others. Overnight at Minca. Sierra Sound Lodge (600 m.a.s.l.)
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Day 15- Drive to Isla Salamanca (10 m.a.s.l. warm)
Isla Salamanca is located two hours from Santa Marta and it is the perfect place for Golden-green and Crimson-rumped Woodpeckers, there are also Crimson-crested and Red-crowned Woodpeckers, other special Caribbean birds is possible to see there. In the afternoon we will drive to Barranquilla airport to take our domestic flight to Bogotá and then back home.
