Birdwatching Tours in Colombia
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As any serious birder knows, Colombia is a true paradise for birdwatching. Below are a few sample itineraries focusing on birdwatching, but we can offer anything from day tours, mixed in with general touring, to general nature tours that focus on birds as well as other animal species, or a package staying at 1 or more lodges in birding hotspots. There are also birdwatching photography tours, since photographers are a little different than birdwatchers. We know lots of operators, so check with us if you prefer to join a group tour and we will try to find something for you. |
A Classic 17 Day Birdwatching Itinerary in Colombia
A Classic 17 day itinerary with minimal flights (click on map for itinerary)
Bogota Area - 7 daysAlmost 200 birds with very good times for photography in paramo and cloud forest.
Day 1 – Arrival in Bogota Dinner and meeting with the guide. If you like we can to visit around Bogota attractions, such as the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro), Cerro Monserrate, or the Candelaria neighbourhood. Night: Hotel Tequendama – https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 2 – Andean forest (Guasca) and Hummingbird Feeders (Observatorio de Colibries)We will depart to the municipality of Guasca, village La Concepcion. This incredible place is located only two hours from Bogota. We will be birding here all the day exploring Paramo, cloud forest and important ecosystems. Endemic Birds: Brown-breasted Parakeet, Silvery-throated Spinetail. Near-Endemic Birds: Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Matorral Tapaculo, Golden-faced Whitestart, Coopery-bellied Puffleg and Black-billed Mountain-Toucan. In the afternoon transfer to La Calera, there are very nice site “Observatorio de Colibries” with many hummingbird species for photography. Night: Hotel Tequendama – https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 3 – La Florida wetland, Laguna El Tabacal and Hummingbird feeders (Jardín Encantado) In La Florida wetland you will can see some very interesting birds such as Bogota Rail, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Noble Snipe and many more birds. After of Birding in the Florida Wetland, we will move to Laguna El Tabacal Nature Reserve in the municipality La Vega, a spectacular area close Magdalena Valley. Endemic Birds: Velvet-fronted Euphonia, Apical flycatcher. Near endemic birds: Bar-crested Antshrike, Scrub Tanager, Spectacled parrotlet, Grey-throated warbler. After the lunch we will visit Jardin Encantado. Some species: Indigo-capped Hummingbird, : Red Billed Emerald, Lazuline Sabrewing, Ruby Topaz, Black Throated Mango, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird and many more. Night: Hotel Tequendama – https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 4 – Chicaque Nature Reserve Chicaque Nature Reserve presents the type of sub-andino and Andean forest with plants like ferns, orchids, mosses, palms, oaks and abundant bushes due to the humidity of the reserve. It has more than 300 ha, becoming the home of more than 200 species of birds. We are here for to observe the enigmatic Golden bellied Starfronlet and other targets birds here in the hummingbird feeders: Tourmaline Sunangel, White bellied woodstar, Sparkling, Lesser Violetear Hummingbird, White collared Inca and Mountain Velvetbrest in an incredible cloud forest in the western slope of the eastern Andes. Night: Hotel Tequendama – https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 5 – Sumapaz National Park Sumapaz National Park is represents two of the main ecosystems of the tropical mountains: the Paramo and the Andean forests. El Páramo de Sumapaz is the largest in the world. It houses a large number of lagoons, all of them of glacial origin. It is one of the most important water sources in the country. Within its ecosystem live spectacled bears, deer, and several species of endemic birds. Endemic Birds: Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Bogota Rail, Apolinar's Wren and Silvery-throated Spinetail. Near-Endemic Birds: Bronze-tailed Thronbill, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet and Rufous browed conebill. Night: Hotel Tequendama – https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 6 – Cerro Quinini Nature Reserve It is part of the biogeographic district of “western cloud forests of the eastern ridge”. It has altitudes ranging from 533ft Up to 650ft at (warm weather) its Summit were is observed to the west the valley of the Magdalena river. Is possible to observe inside Cerro Quinini Nature Reserve: Endemic Birds: Turquoise Dacnis, Apical Flycatcher. Near-Endemic Birds: Scrub Tanager. Night: Hotel Tequendama – https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 7 – Tour ends The participants will we transfer to the airport to take their international flight or connections in Colombia. Northern Birding - 13 DaysBirding around the Santa Marta mountain – Caribe - Isla Salamanca – Km. 4 – Guajira - Flamingos National Park – Chamicero de Perija mountains. This area has been identified as the planet’s single most important and irreplaceable site for threatened and endemic biodiversity. This tour has focused on the endemic and near-endemic bird species. Santa Marta, Perija and Guajira birds. Almost 250 birds + almost 45 endemic!
Day 1. Barranquilla City Our Tour starts in Barranquilla City. Transfer airport to Hotel. Arrive and Meeting with Guide. . Dinner. Night: GHL Collection Barranquilla Hotel- https://www.guestreservations.com/ Day 2. Isla de Salamanca National Park & Km. 4 Very morning we will transfer from hotel to Km. 4 and Isla de Salamanca National Park. Birding in Km. 4 and the Salamanca National Park in the Mangrove ecosystems. Possible species for today: Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, Bicoloured Conebill, Black-backed Antshrike, Keel-billed Toucan, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Golden-fronted Greenlet, Rufous-breasted and Rufous-and White Wrens. After the lunch we will transfer to Santa Marta. Night in Hotel Minca - http://www.hotelminca.com/ Day 3. Minca Birding in Minca area (Tropical rainforest). Foothill to Santa Marta mountains, where we starting our first endemic birds: Santa Marta Brushfinch, Santa Marta Antbird and secretive Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, also the other target birds: Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Coppery Emerald, Keelbilled Toucan, Black-backed Antshrike, Pale-tipped Inezia, Pale-eyed Pygmy Tyrant, Rufous-breasted and Rufous-and-white Wrens, and the stunning and Coloured Golden-winged Sparrow. Night in Hotel Minca - http://www.hotelminca.com/ Day 4. El Dorado From Minca we continue birding our way up the andean forest of the Santa Marta range, to the most scenic accommodation of our tour - El Dorado Lodge. The isolated Santa Marta mountain range supports a phenomenal array of biodiversity frogs, orchids as well BIRDS! our way up the foothills of this ProAves reserve in 4x4 jeeps. On the road we can to see : Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Crested Oropendola, Rufous-breasted Wren, Black-striped Sparrow, Rufous Tailed Jacamar, and the smart-looking Around the lodge has hummingbird feeders buzz with activity, with species including White-tailed Starfrontlet and tiny Santa Marta Woodstar, the endemic race of (Santa Marta) Tyrian Metaltail, and sometimes Lazuline Sabrewing. The compost pile coming the Black-fronted Wood Quail, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Black hooded Thrush and Sierra Nevada Brushfinch. After the dinner we can try to get views the Santa Marta Screech owl. Night: El Dorado Lodge Day 5. Santa Marta Mountains - El Dorado. This morning we head higher up the mountain (High-elevation (10,000ft). Endemic time: Great morning for to watch the flocks of Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta bush Tyrant, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager, Yellow-crowned, Santa Marta parakeet, Whitestart, Brown-rumped Tapaculo and Santa Marta Antpitta, among many others / Nocturnal walking owling and endemic frogs / Dinner. Night: El Dorado Lodge Day 6. Santa Marta Mountains - El Dorado. Birding all day below the Dorado Lodge: Santa Marta Tapaculo and attention to other endemics that I miss, Santa Marta Blossomcrown, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Streak-capped Spinetail, Santa Marta Antbird, White-lored Warbler and white tipped quetzal. Night El Dorado Lodge Day 7. El Dorado to Tayrona National Park. We leave El Dorado to way Tayrona area. We will can see some amazing birds close Santa Marta town as Blue-billed Curassow, Crested Guan, Lance-tailed Manakin, Cocoa Woodcreeper, White-necked Puffbird, White-bellied Antbird and many more birds. Night Hotel in Tayrona area Day 8. Tayrona National Park. Birding all day in Tayrona área. We leave to Tayrona way to Riohacha via Los Camarones and the Guajira Peninsula. After morning birding. We move to biogeographic area with called Guajira Here the cactus-studded scrub and Xerophytic vegetation. Along our birding road, we make stop for a to get views Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Double-striped Thick-knee, Lancetailed Manakin and golden fronted Greenlet. Night Guajira town – Taroa Hotel Day 9. Guajira – Flamencos National Park Very early in the morning we starting to way Los Flamencos National Park. several targets: Vermilion Cardinal ,Green-rumped Parrotlet ,Bare-eyed Pigeon, Trinidad Euphonia, Slender-billed Inezia, Glaucous Tanager, Dwarf Cuckoo, Northern Scrub Flycatcher, Orinoco Saltator, stunning Buffy Hummingbird, Chestnut Piculet and the difficult Tocuyo Sparrow. Near to beach we can try to see the American Flamingo, Roseate Spoonbill , Scarlet Ibis After a full morning’s birding, we will then make our way to Valledupar town and Perija Mountains for our new birding area. Night in Valledupar – Hotel Hampton by Hilton Day 10 & 11. Chamicero de Perija.We spend stay two nights at Perija Natural Reserve. This is the site for some of Colombia’s best-known and most mythical birding areas at Colombia. Perija Mountains has different elevations of Foothill, andean forest and Paramo (900ft to 8000 ft.). Some of the most important endemic and target birds to see here include: Perija Thistletail, Perija Metailtail, Perija Antpitta, Perija Brush-Finch, Perija Tapaculo, Perija Starfrontlet, Phelp’s brush finch also the rufous-shafted woodstar, Andean Condor, Slaty brush finch, Golden headed Quetzal, Venezuelan Tyrannulet, Rufous headed Tanager and Black and chestnut eagle. Nights in Chamicero del Perija EcoLodge Day 12. Chamicero de Perija to Bogota City.After some final birding time around the Perija Nature Reserve we may still be searching more birds. The we leave the lodge begin heading to Valledupar town for domestical flight from Valledupar to Bogota in the afternoon. Delicious final dinner in the hotel. Night Hotel Holiday Inn Airport - Night: Hotel Tequendama - https://www.tequendamahotel.com/ Day 13. International flight for home – Transfer Hotel to El Dorado Airport |
More ExamplesBIRDWATCHING & EXPEDITION IN THE JUNGLE OF THE AMAZON, MITÚ - VAUPÉS - 10 DAYS
Mitu is a dream come true for birders. During these 8 days we will be immersed in the Amazon jungle of the Vaupes region, walking through lush and full-of-life trails. We will visit trails in Varzea forest, White Sand forest, Terra Firme forest, and Amazon forest in the places of Urania, Cajure, Ceima Cachivera, Bocatoma, Santa Cruz and Mituseno. We hope to see more than 300 species of birds during this tour. NORTHERN COLOMBIA : BARRANQUILLA, SANTA MARTA, GUAJIRA, PERIJA - 12 DAYS
This is a cheerful and relaxing holiday and birding trip in Barranquilla: Km.4, Isla Salamanca national Park; Santa Marta: Minca, El Dorado Nature Reserve, Cuchilla de San Lorenzo; Guajira: Flamencos National Park, Camarones; Valledupar: Chamicero de Perija Nature Reserve. This area has been identified as the planet’s single most important and irreplaceable site for threatened and endemic biodiversity. This tour has focused on the endemic and near-endemic bird species. Santa Marta, Perija and Guajira birds. Almost 250 birds + almost 45 endemic! BIRDING & NATURE TOUR IN SANTA MARTA HIGHLANDS - 8 DAYS
A great tour that included ALL ENDEMIC BIRDS of the Santa Marta Mountains with the plus Blue-bearded helmetcrest (Oxypogon cyanolaemus), and Santa Marta wren (Troglodytes monticola), plus the subspecies that occur up there. BIRDING & NATURE TOUR IN THE ANDEAN FOREST, LLANOS FOOTHILLS & ORINOQUIA - EXPLORE THE ORINOCO - 10 DAYS
Enjoy this birding, nature and safari tour in the amazing Andean forest, Llanos foothills (Grasslands and Savannas biome) in the departments of Cundinamarca, Meta and Casanare. This offers different experiences including; mammals tours, safaris, anaconda views, watching jaguar, birding and cultural tours in the Colombian Llanos. Andean cloud forest, Bavaria Forest Nature Reserve, Rancho Camana Nature Reserve, Hato La Aurora Nature Reserve ANDEAN ENDEMICS: BOGOTA - CUNDINAMARCA - 8 DAYS
The main focus is the lands surrounding Bogota, including Cloud forest, the eastern Andes, paramo, Magdalena Valley, and dry forest. Well-known as well as less-visited birding localities in near Bogota are explored. COLOMBIA BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR - 15 DAYS
More and more sites are offering feeding stations conducive to photography, not just for the spectacular hummingbirds, but also for tanagers, Antpittas, and more. This photo tour to offer diverse opportunistic shooting. Bogota City; Observatorio de Colibries; Parque Verde y Agua; Finca Colibri Gorriazúl; Ukuku; Tinamu NR; El Color de Mi Reves; Hacienda El Bosque; Nevados del Ruiz; Km. 18: La Florida El Bosque de Las Aves; Doña Dora ANDEAN ENDEMICS: BOGOTA - CUNDINAMARCA - BOYACA - 15 DAYS
Bogota City; Chingaza National Park & Observatorio de Colibries; La Florida Wetland, Laguna Tabacal & Jardin Encantado; Chicaque Nature Reserve; Sumapaz National Park; Cerro Quinini Nature Reserve; Los Cactos Nature Reserve; Guayabetal; Rogitama; Duitama; Soata ANDEAN ENDEMIC TOUR - THE PARTY - 23 DAYS
This 23 days birdwatching tour covers Eastern- Central- Western Andes + Magdalena Valley and Choco. This is very intense tour and they will do what it takes to get the target birds. Endemics and special birds are priority. (72+ endemic bird species) around the 500 birds. Habitats: Cloud, dry, rain, premontane, wetland, valley, paramo and choco! Spectacular birds including Bogota Rail, Green-bearded Helmetcrests, Yellow-eared Parrot, White-mantled Barbet, Antpitta, tanager finch, Black-and-gold, Gold-ringed, falme faced tanager and wren and many more. This tour has several destinations that are Important Bird Areas. You will bird in a variety of habitats. This tour has globally endangered and endemic bird species. Bogota City; Sumapaz National Park; Guasca & Observatorio de Colibries; Finca Colibri; Cañón del Combeima; Bellavista NR; Paujil NR; Rio Claro NR; La Romera NR; Jardin; Rio Blanco NR; Nevados del Ruiz NP; Santa Rosa de Cabal; Otun Quimbaya; Montezuma-Tatama National Park COLOSSAL TOUR! MORE THAN 700 BIRD SPECIES - 32 DAYS
An endemic birding tour throughout Colombia with three cordilleras (eastern-western-central Andes), the remote Amazonian and the stunning Santa Marta. Normally you can expect to see anything from 700 up to 1000 species of birds in a month if you are lucky. Bogota City; Guasca & Observatorio de Colibries; Finca Colibri; Cañón del Combeima; Bellavista NR; Paujil NR; Rio Claro NR; La Romera NR; Jardin; Rio Blanco NR; Nevados del Ruiz NP; Otun Quimbaya; Montezuma-Tatama National Park; Barranquilla; Santa Marta Mountains; Guajira; Perija; Mitu Check with us for itinerary and pricing details for these trips. Hummingbirds and TanagersThis is a 16 day photographic birding tour where you can find almost 170 hummingbird species This exciting tour explores some of the very best birdwatching spots in Colombia: Eastern-central-Western-Santa marta and Orinoquia. Main targets (Hummingbirds and tanager) also the being endemics such as Buffy Helmetcrest or Cock-of-the-Rock beside amazing Antpittas, great toucans or Barbet!
More Examples of Specific Regions and Animal Types
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