San Jose del Guaviare and Inírida are the new birding destinations in Colombia, for years were an impossible fate that waited patiently by birders around the world and is now a reality, with several birding routes operated by the communities and more than 300 birds with many specialties, This city is located around 130 meters above sea level and is 400 kilometers from Bogota, both are part of the Colombian Amazon piedmont. But these regions are not special only for their birds but also for the beauty of their landscapes, culture and the presence of scenarios where the indigenous inhabited and left us part of their history in huge natural murals, there is jungle everywhere and life there is dynamic. Likewise, the Andean region has enormous wealth in birds that worth to know, from low to high elevations, birding in Colombia is funny and easy, here a full program to visit us.
To start this tour we recommend arriving a day early, so you can take the plane to Inirida next day in the morning (9:00 a.m.) and spend the afternoon exploring our first place looking for the first Amazonian birds at Caño Cunuben, then go back to inírida and lodging at Fuente del Guainía Hotel. Target birds are Varzea Schiffornis, Cream-coloured Woodpecker, White-throated Toucan, Amazonian Umbrellabird and others.
We will visit a beautiful indigenous family, this family is a local community that offers Eco-tourism services, guiding and meals mainly. There, we will visit Sendero Sabanitas looking for the amazing Capuchinbird and Pompadour Cotinga, many Antbirds, Antwrens and other birds can be seen on this day, in the afternoon, back to Inírida (Just one hour)
This place is a true hidden paradise, you must go by boat on the Inírida River for two hours in which you can only see water and jungle, there we will explore at the base of the rocks for some birds and visit some trails to look for other birds of the Amazon, This place has three giant rocks up to 800 meters high that jut out into the jungle and give a magical touch to the route. Target birds are Red-shouldered Tanager, Capped Heron, Green-backed Trogon, Amazonian Trogon, Pied Lapwing and others. In the afternoon back to Inírida.
In the morning, we can visit Sendero Matraca looking for Amazonian Birds, we go on a boat to the entrance of this trail, Sendero Matraca is located 20 minutes from the town and it is easy to walk, we go back before noon to make the checkout and then take our flight to Bogotá to get ready for the next day at the eastern Andes. Overnight in Bogotá, AZ Hotel.
We will drive early two hours to Monterredondo, just one hour before Villavicencio city, the main target here is the Cundinamarca Antpitta but the way offers many other birds of the Eastern Andes, we will spend the day on that place, in the afternoon, we will drive one hour to Villavicencio (900 ma.s.l.) overnight at Don Lolo Hotel.
After breakfast, we will drive 5 hours to San Jose del Guaviare with some stops on specific spots looking for special birds. In the afternoon, visit to Sendero del río, where is possible the first views of the Hoatzin. Overnight at Hotel Aeropuerto.
This day we will visit this wonderful place looking for the Gianan Cock of the Rock, Clif Flycatcher, Purple Honeycreeper and others, we have to climb 30 minutes but it´s worth it, as well, we will explore the área for other birds. Overnight at Hotel Aeropuerto.
It is two hours from San Jose del Guaviare and is a very special place to continue exploring the aérea, Manakins, Antbirds, Nunbirds, Puffbirds, Antwrens, Barbets, Toucans, Cotingas, and many other birds you can see in this wonderful place, at the afternoon w ego back to the hotel, this i sour last night.
Visit to Laguna Negra in the morning, it is a very easy trail with wonderful birds like Jacamars, Barbets, Orioles, aquatic birds, may bee better views of the Hoatzin, Cotingas, Tanagers and others; in the afternoon flight to Bogotá for the international flight.