Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CALI

Welcome to Colombia! We start off our Colombia birding tour at the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali. Cali is located in the Cauca Valley, a prime birding destination in Colombia. This afternoon, we will enjoy birding in the foothills west of Cali, there we will have the chance to see Colombian Chachalaca, Uniform Antshrike, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Crested Quetzal and Golden-winged Manakin, among other birds.

DAY 2: ANCHICAYA

At the Pacific slope of the western Andes, the Old Buenaventura Road crosses the forested area of Anchicaya at an elevation of 750 m. This area is influenced by the Choco region with a great chance to see some Choco specialties. While birding the forested roadsides, we will watch and listen for Choco Toucan, Zeledon’s Antbird, Golden-chested Tanager and Scarlet-browed Tanager.

DAY 3: KM-18 FINCA LA FLORIDA

One hour away from Cali on the eastern slope of the Western Andes, the San Antonio Forest sits at an altitude of 2,100 m. It is a great place to find nice Andean birds such as Scaled Fruiteater, Crested Quetzal and Sickle-winged Guan. We can also find other interesting birds in the feeders at Finca Alejandria. Here, it is possible to see the endemic Multicolored Tanager and several hummingbirds. Among them are the regional endemic Blue-headed Sapphire, Tourmaline Sunangel and Buff-tailed Coronet.

In the afternoon, we will drive to the Sonso Lagoon in Buga. A number of aquatic birds can be observed in this wetland. We hope to see Horned Screamer, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Masked Duck, Red-capped Cardinal and Yellow-hooded Blackbird. The vegetation around the lagoon is the perfect habitat for the endemic Apical Flycatcher. Little Cuckoo, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher and the regional endemic Spectacled Parrotlet are also birds we will search for today. 

DAY 4: LAGUNA DE SONSO TO MONTEZUMA MOUNTAIN

We can revisit Laguna de Sonso this morning to pick up any targets we may still need, then we will work our way north to The Montezuma Mountains and Tatama National Park. The Montezuma Mountain has a strong Choco region influence, making it one of the most biologically diverse places on our Colombia birding tour. This combination between the Pacific and the Western Andes offers many national and regional endemics. We will travel approximately 4 hours to get there, birding along the way. Birding stops will give us the chance to find the endemic Turquoise Dacnis. In Montezuma, we will enjoy the hummingbird feeders. Violet-tailed Hummingbird, Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet, White-tailed Hillstar and Purple-bibbed Whitetip can be seen here.

DAYS 5 & 6: TATAMA NATIONAL PARK

Two full days of birding in Montezuma. We will start very early, and drive all the way to the top of the mountain. While taking in the beautiful sunrise, we will start our day off with two endemic birds, the Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer and Munchique Wood-Wren. We will continue our way down the road in search of the endemics Gold-ringed Tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager and Golden-breasted Fruiteater.

DAY 7: MONTEZUMA TO OTUN QUIMBAYA

A final morning along the Montezuma Road will give us a chance to seek out any other key species found here including Golden-headed Quetzal, Tatama Tapaculo, Toucan Barbet, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Powerful Woodpecker, Slate-crowned Antpitta, and Parker’s Antbird. We will then make our way back down the mountain and drive southeast to Otun Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary.

DAY 8: OTUN QUIMBAYA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

After seven days in the Western Andes, we carry on into the central range. Otun Quimbaya is located at the foothill of the volcanic complex Ruiz-Tolima (Los Nevados National Park) at 1,900 m. This protected area is the best place to look for the Cauca Guan. This rare cracid is an endemic and endangered species, once believed to be extinct until this healthy population was recently rediscovered. Also, the largest Neotropical passerine, the Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, is found here with some ease. We will also look for the endemic Chestnut Wood-Quail and Stiles’s Tapaculo. Regional endemics such as Greenish Puffleg, Streak-capped Treehunter, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, and Chestnut-breasted Wren, also will be highlights of our day.

DAY 9: RIO BLANCO RESERVE

The charm of this reserve lies in the possibility it offers to see several different species of antpittas up close. Here, Chestnut-crowned,Bicolored, Slate-crowned and the endemic Brown-banded antpittas are featured here. They are habituated to receive food from the local guide, luring them outside of the thick understory. At the productive feeders, it is possible to see White-bellied Woodstar, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, and Slaty Brushfinch, among others. On the reserve’s trails, we will focus on searching for Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Dusky Piha, Black-collared (Quindio) Jay, Golden-headed Quetzal and Masked Saltator, to name a few. 

DAY 10: HACIENDA EL BOSQUE

Hacienda El Bosque is a dairy farm that has embraced nature tourism and birding. At and around the feeders, we will watch for Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, one of the stars of the reserve! Buff-breasted and Hooded mountain-tanagers, White-throated Quail-Dove, Barred Fruiteater, Gray-browed Brushfinch, and Red-crested Cotinga, are common here around the feeders and property. Purple-backed Thornbill, Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian Metaltail, Black-thighed Puffleg, Mountain Velvetbreast, and Buff-winged Starfrontlet frequent the nectar feeders. We can’t forget the antpittas – Equatorial, Bicolored, and Crescent-faced antpittas are found here.

In the afternoon, we will spend time at the Termales del Ruiz Hotel and its beautiful surroundings. At the hummingbird feeders, we hope to see Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Avocetbill, Black-thighed Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, and Great Sapphirewing.

DAY 11: LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK

With another early start this morning we will catch the first rays of the sun in the cloud and elfin forests along the way to Los Nevados National Park. Here we will look for the endemic Rufous-fronted Parakeet, as well as Andean Lapwing, Andean Teal, Golden-crowned Tanager, and Black-backed Bush Tanager. At the entrance of the national park at 4,100 m, we will look for the highlight of this region – the impressive Buffy Helmetcrest. This large, Andean hummer is endemic with a very restricted range. We can also find White-chinned Thistletail, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Tawny Antpitta, Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant and Plumbeous Sierra-Finch. If we are very lucky, we may an Andean Condor soaring overhead. From here, we will travel along thePan-American Highway to Libano.

DAY 12: MIDDLE MAGDALENA VALLEY

The areas around Libano are great places to find three of the Tolima endemics – Yellow-headed Brushfinch, Tolima Blossomcrown, and the shy Tolima Dove, and we will concentrate our efforts today on seeking out these and other birds of the Middle Magdalena Valley. Velvety-fronted Euphonia, Barred Puffbird, White-eared Conebill, Northern White-fringed Antwren, and Russet-throated Puffbird are all possibilities, among many others. In the afternoon we will drive to Honda.

DAY 13: BELLAVISTA RESERVE

The Bellavista Reserve is situated in a lowland wet forest. It is a great place to see other Colombian endemics such as White-mantled Barbet, Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant, Sooty Ant-Tanager, Beautiful Woodpecker and Velvet-fronted Euphonia. We can also find Yellow-backed Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis and White-bibbed Manakin, among others. 

DAY 14: GUARINOCITO LAKE

Today we will visit Guarinocito Lake, where we will have another opportunity to spot some aquatic birds that we have not yet seen. Here we scan the lake and its scrubby edge for Pied Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Yellow-chinned Spinetail and Black-capped Donacobius. However, the jewel of this lake is the Northern Screamer.

DAY 15: LAGUNA EL TABACAL & JARDIN ENCANTADO

As we continue to work our way east, a stop at Laguna el Tabacal will give us a chance to seek out some eastern Andean foothill species, including Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Black-headed Brushfinch, Gray-throated Warbler, and Stripe-breasted Spinetail, among others. On the way to Bogota, we will visit a farm with hummingbird feeders. Among its most prominent visitors is the endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird. Other visitors we hope to see are the Shining-green Hummingbird, Gorgeted Woodstar, Red-billed and Short-tailed emeralds, Lazuline Sabrewing, and another fifteen hummingbird species. Around the farm, we also have the chance to find the Ash-browed Spinetail, Black-backed Grosbeak, and Gray-throated Warbler.

DAY 16: CHINGAZA NATIONAL PARK & HUMMINGBIRD OBSERVATORY

Chingaza National Park is renowned for its excellent birding opportunities. The park’s varying altitudes, overlooking Bogota, and habitats are home to a great diversity of birds, including endemics and rare species. Today we will look for birds unique to the eastern Andean highlands, including Muisca and Boyaca antpittas, Apolinar’s Wren, Rufous-browed Conebill, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Brown-breasted Parakeet, along with other iconic Andean species such as Plushcap, Ocellated Tapaculo, and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. A visit to the “observatorio de colibries” will delight us with great views of Black-tailed and Green-tailed trainbearers, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Longuemare’s Sunangel, and Coppery-bellied Puffleg, among others.

DAY 17: PARQUE LA FLORIDA & DEPARTURE

We will enjoy a final morning of birding at Parque La Florida, where we will hopefully have some luck finding the endemic Bogota Rail, as well as Andean Duck, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Noble Snipe, Subtropical Doradito, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Black Flowerpiercer and many others. Then we will transfer to the airport and catch our return flights home.

Our Colombia birding tour concludes in Bogota.