28 Days Colombia Birding Tour

Upon arrival at Bogota International Airport, we will drive one hour to Florida Marsh for our first targets of this trip, the Bogota Rail and the Apolinar´s Wren. At the afternoon, we will take a flight to Riohacha, overnight at Riohacha.

At 30 minutes from Riohacha, we will spend the day looking for the Caribbean birds highlights: Reddish Egret, Red-billed Emerald, Chestnut Piculet, Black-backed Antshrike, Caribbean Hornero, White-whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Tyrannulet, Tocuyo Sparrow, Vermilion Cardinal, Scarlet Ibis, White Ibis, Buffy Hummingbird, American Flamingo and many other specialties of Caribbean. In the afternoon, we will drive two hours, birding on the way to Minca (600 meters above sea level).

In the morning we will visit The Cabañas (200 meters above the sea level) for some special birds. Then in the afternoon, we drive up (900 meters) looking for tanagers, toucans and others.

Drive-up for the first endemics, arrival for lunch to El Dorado and birding the afternoon around the reserve. Overnigth at Dorado Lodge.

On this day, we will search for the highlights of Santa Marta and we can have the chance to see the 5,775 masl snowy mountains. The highlights are Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta Antpitta, Streak-capped Spinetail, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Bush Tyrant, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Grey-throated Leaftosser, Santa Marta Woodstar, Crowned Woodnymph, Santa Marta Sabrewing, White-tailed Starfrontlet, Black-backed Thornbill and many other specialties.

On our way back, we will keep looking for birds that we have not been able to see on the tour. We will look on every corner, waiting for those hard birds and increasing the chance of seeing those species that we saw far or fleetingly.

Salamanca Island, declared IBA (Important Bird and Biodiversity Area), is named ‘Via Parque’ because it allows the visitor to contemplate mangrove forests, swamps and exceptional beaches from the road between Barranquilla and Santa Marta. In addition, this area along with the Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta were declared in 1998 as Ramsar sites of global importance, and in November 2000 as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Salamanca Island is actually an aggregate of small islands formed by silting of the delta of the Magdalena, against the background of an old bay; connected by small channels, they form a barrier that separates the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta in the Caribbean Sea. We will visit this area looking for Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher, Brown-throated Parakeet, Bicolored Conebill, Pale-eyed Pygmy tyrant, Venezuelan Flycatcher, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Northern Screamer, Bare-eyed Pigeon and many other beautiful birds. Overnight in Hilton or Almirante Cartagena.

We will visit La Romera Reserve (2,000 m.a.s.l.) for Red-bellied Grackle, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Yellow-headed Manakin, Colombian Chachalaca, Red-headed Barbet and then, transfer to Jardin.

With the first sunshine, we will find the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and then we will drive to Alto Ventanas. There we will look for the Yellow-eared Parrot, Tanager Finch, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Rufous Antpitta, Green-and-black Fruiteater among many others.

Many other birds may be possible to see in this place, so we will continue looking for those we have not seen before. Some birds that stand out there are Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Ocellated Tapaculo, Blackish Tapaculo, Barred Fruiteater, Mountain Cacique, Undulated Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Green-fronted Lancebill, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant and Russet-backed Oropendola.

The Rio Blanco reserve not only provides quality water for the city of Manizales but also habitat to many wonderful bird species that can be seen just by walking on the gentle slope tracks that cut through the forest. There are hummingbird feeders at the main house which are visited by a constant flow of hummingbirds such as Speckled Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Buff-tailed Coronet, Bronzy Inca, Collared Inca, Tourmaline Sunangel, Long-tailed Sylph and White-bellied Woodstar. There are also Antpittas feeding stations where the very local and endemic Brown-banded Antpitta sneaks into the territory of a dominant pair of Chestnut-crowned Antpitta. A few other species also show up at the banquette of worms, like the Bicolored Antpitta and the Grey-browed Brushfinch. It is possible also to see the rare Slaty-crowned Antpitta with a couple of Green-and-black Fruiteater. There is a good chance to see the endemic Chestnut Wood-Quail, Rusty-faced Parrot, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Rufous Spinetail, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Streaked Xenops, Pearled Treerunner, Spotted Barbtail, Striped Treehunter, Tyranine Woodcreeper, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Antbird, Bicolored Antpitta, Chesnut-naped Antpitta, the rare and elusive Hooded Antpitta, Blackish Tapaculo, Ash-colored Tapaculo, Spillman’s Tapaculo, Black-capped Tyrannulet, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Mountain Elaenia, , Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied and Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrants, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Barred Fruiteaters, Pale-footed Swallow, Sharpe’s Wren, Mountain Wren, Andean Solitaire, Golden-fronted Whitestar, Citrine Warbler, Black-billed Peppershrike, Blue-backed Conebill, Common Bush Tanager, Gray-hooded Bush Tanagers, Black-capped Hemispingus, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Oleagineous Hemispingus, Black-eared Hemispingus, White-capped Tanager, Red-hooded Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain Tanagers, Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanagers, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanagers, Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers, Golden Tanagers, Metalic-green Tanagers, Beryl-spangled Tanagers, Pluscap, Slaty and Chestnut-capped Brushfinches, the rare Masked Saltator. Overnight in Manizales.

There was rediscovered in 1989 a healthy population of the supposedly extinct and endemic Cauca Guan, being the best place to see this species. In addition to this amazing bird, we will look for the endemics Chestnut Wood-Quail and Stiles´s Tapaculo as well as Sickle-winged Guan, Greenish Puffleg, Andean Motmot, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Streak-capped Treehunter, Moustached Antpitta, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, both Variegated and Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrants, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Pale-eyed and Glossy-black Thrushes and White-capped Tanagers, among many others. Here we will see the enigmatic Red-ruffed Fruitcrow which is better seen in this location than anywhere else in its range.
At a slightly higher elevation, this is a good place for look for the much sought after Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper. We will also look for other specialties of the area like Golden-plumed Parakeet, Multicolored Tanager (endemic), Dusky Piha, Slaty Brush-finch; in the afternoon, drive to Montezuma.

The Cerro Montezuma is ideal for the birding experience in the high Andean forest, where the Andes merge with the Choco, with a little more than 300 species of birds, instead beginning to be recognized among birders as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, finding eleven endemic species of the western mountains, nine endemic species of Colombia and 14 near-endemic species. There, we will look for the endemics Gold-ringed Tanager, Munchique Wood-Wren and Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer; the near-endemics Toucan Barbet, Purplish-mantled Tanager, Black Solitaire, Violet-tailed Sylph, Velvet-purple Coronet and Empress Brillant; and other birds such as Red-headed Barbet, Lemmon-rumped Tanager, Flamme-rumped Tanager, White-tailed Hillstar. Accommodation in Montezuma Rainforest Lodge.

On this day, we will insist for those birds that are not allowed to see the day before. In the afternoon, drive to Buga and accommodation in El Regidor Hotel.

This day we will visit San Antonio Forest at an altitude between 1700 and 2100 m.a.s.l. From there we have access to wonderful forest feeders for hummingbirds and beautiful Tanagers. Several groups of birds are common to see there, including the Endemic Multicolored Tanager, Golden Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Golden-napped Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Crested Quetzal, White-necked Jacobin, Andean Emerald, Blue-headed Sapphire, Steely-vented Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Purple-Throated Woodstar, Brown Violetear just to name a few. We will also be looking for other species along a road that borders the forest and is free of traffic. Overnight at Finca Lolita.

Starting at 5:00 a.m. Anchicaya is located at 600 m.a.s.l. and is one of the favorite places to observe some endemic, near endemic and rare birds of the Chocó region. The most important birds are: Banded Ground cuckoo, Golden-chested Tanager, Yellow-green Bush Tanager, Rose-faced Parrot, Choco Poorwill, Baudo Guan, Great Curassow, Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Gray-and-Gold Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Choco Tapaculo, Choco Tucan, Streak-chested Antpitta, Lita Woodpecker, Zeledon´s Antbird, Sooty-headed Wren, Scarlet-browed Tanager, Purple-crowned Fairy, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, White-headed Wren, Long-tailed Tyrant and many others. In the afternoon drive to Buga. Night at Buga

That day we will continue searching for those birds that we could not observe before. In the afternoon, flight to Bogotá.

Flight 2 hours in the morning to Inirida and visit Caño negro in the afternoon with many possibilities to see Pink Dolphins while you are birding. Night at Toninas Hotel.

This is a great opportunity for the amazing Capuchinbird and Pompadour Cotinga. We will receive local services by the indigenous community as the local guide and typical food for lunch. Night at Toninas

This is the perfect place for Amazonian Umbrellabird, Varzea Schiffornis, Red-throated Caracara, many Antbirds and Jacamars among others. Night at Toninas.

A perfect day for Amazonian Antbird, Trogons, and other Amazonian birds.

Another opportunity for those birds that have not been recorded or for a better view of the amazing birds. In the afternoon, flight to Bogotá.

We will visit San Francisco de Sales on the way for Indigo-capped Hummingbird, then drive 3 hours to Guarinocito Marsh for the near-endemic Northern Screamer and other birds, then drive 1 hour to Victoria for resting and visit early in the next morning Bellavista Reserve.

Bellavista Reserve (IBA) is a good place for White-mantled Barbet, Sooty Ant-Tanager, Beautiful Woodpecker and others, in the afternoon, drive 3 hours to Bogotá.

Drive two hours for Cundinamarca Antpitta and other special birds in this place, then transfer to Villavicencio (500 m.a.s.l.)

The road from Villavicencio to San Jose del Guaviare, is surrounded by jungle, this route is full of surprises for birding. Therefore, stops will be made along the way to see what’s special.
San Jose del Guaviare is a new destination in our country. For years was an impossible destination that waited patiently for birders around the world and is now a reality. There are several birding routes operated by the local community and more than 200 birds with many specialties such as Speckled Chachalaca, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Horned Screamer, Orinoco Goose, Brazilian Teal, Spix’s guan, Jabirú, Wood stork, Anhinga, Agami Heron, King Vulture, Plumbeous Kite, Sunbittern, Gray-breasted Crake, Sungrebe, Blue Ground-Dove, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Great Potoo, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Black-bellied Thorntail, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Green-backed Trogon, Amazonian Motmot, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Pied Puffbird, Spotted Puffbird, Black-fronted Nunbird, Swallow-winged Puffbird, White-eared Jacamar, Brown Jacamar, Gilded Barbet, Ivory-billed Aracari, Golden-collared Toucanet, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Barred Forest-Falcon, Black Caracara, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Black-headed Parrot, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Fasciated Antshrike, Plain-winged Antshrike, Mouse-colored Antshrike, Amazonian Antshrike, Cinereous Antshrike, Pygmy Antwren, Moustached Antwren, White-fringed Antwren, White-browed Antbird, Silvered Antbird, White-chinned Woodcreeper, Forest elaenia, Cliff Flycatcher, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Spangled Cotinga, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Wire-tailed Manakin, Wing-barred Piprites, White-browed Purpletuft, Coraya Wren, Masked Yellowthroat, Red-capped Cardinal, Magpie Tanager, Masked Crimson Tanager, Masked Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Opal-rumped Tanager, Grassland Yellow-Finch, Blue-black Grosbeak, Epaulet Oriole, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Violaceous Jay, Great-billed Hermit, White-throated Toucan, Chestnut Woodpecker, Purple Honeycreeper,Hoatzin and many other. Finally, on the morning of the 28th day, we look for some birds with a better view or new personal records. In the afternoon back to Bogotá.