The Cauca Valley, one of the important eco-regions in Colombia, the Cauca Valley is home to a handful of endemic species not occurring anywhere else in the country. The Western and Central Cordilleras on both flanks of the valley, harbor many species with ranges restricted to the cloud forests, grassland and Paramos of the mountains. Some of these species are shared with bordering Ecuador but most of them are more easily seen in Colombia where the populations of such species are either better represented or found in areas of easier access.
This route is easy to visit, in only 10 days you can visit almost all places adapted for birdwatching with feeders, special services and birding trails, short transfers between places as well.
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Day 1: Arrival to Bogotá and transfer to Cali (900 m.a.s.l. warm)
Transfer to Finca Alejandría, the main target is the endemic Multicoloured Tanager, there are hummingbird feeders as well.
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Day 2: 5:00 am, drive to Anchicayá and birding at Doña Dora feeders (1.300 m.a.s.l.)
On the old way to Buenaventura looking for the Chocó endemics, the Main birds are: Golden-chested Tanager, Gray and Gold Tanager, Black Solitaire, Toucan Barbet, Rufous-throated Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Club-winged Manakin and others, in the afternoon, drive to Buga two hours. Overnight in Guadalajara Hotel.
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Day 3: Transfer to Montezuma 4 hours
Montezuma is a Rainforest Lodge located in the Tatamá National Natural Park, there are feeders for hummingbirds and Tanager from 1.300 to 2,600 m.a.s.l. There is possible to get fantastic pictures of the endemics Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, Munchique Wood-Wren, Gold-ringed Tanager and Black and Gold Tanager, as well as many interesting birds like Velvet-purple Coronet, Brown Inca, Violet-tailed Sylph, Purple-throated Woodstar and many others.
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Day 4: Full day in Montezuma
This day we will visit the top of the mountain at 2,600 m.a.s.l. (cold weather) and Los Chorros, in the afternoon back to the hotel.
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Day 5: We take advantage of the first sun rays taking pictures around the lodge, after breakfast we need to move to Tinamú Hotel (1,200 m.a.s.l. warm)
We spend 3 hours to go there and visit the feeders in the afternoon. Overnight there.
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Day 6: Visit to Hacienda el Bosque at 2,900 m.a.s.l. (Cold) and Brisas at 4,000 m.a.s.l. (very cold)
In the morning and Termales del Ruiz at 3,000 m.a.s.l. in the afternoon. The targets for that day are: Crescent-faced Antpitta, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Barred fruiteater, Buffy Helmetcrest, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Black-thighed Puffleg, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Tyrian Metaltail, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager and many others. Overnight in Paraíso Verde Hotel in Manizales.
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Day 7: Drive to Rio Blanco (2,600 m.a.s.l. cold)
Rio Blanco is located 50 minutes from the Hotel, this day is special for Antpitta`s pictures because they feed this jewel here, almost 4 different species is possible to see and photograph here, there are also hummingbird`s and tanager´s feeders, in the afternoon, drive to Pereira Airport and flight to Bogotá.
