Colombia Andes and Caribbean Coast Birding Tour | Uncover Colombia
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Diverse Bird Species

Discover Colombian birdlife and culture during this Colombia birding tour from the East and Central Andes to the Caribbean coast. Explore different ecosystems like wetlands, paramo, montane forest and mangroves while having the opportunity to spot the majestic Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), Bogota Rail (Rallus semiplumbeus), Chesnut Wood-Quail (Odontophorus hyperythrus), Black-thighed puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi), Golden-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera) and more. Along with visiting historic cities such as Bogota and Cartagena and real coffee plantation, you will travel to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This high coastal mountain range provides the chance to see the highest concentration of endemic birds in South America.


EXPERIENCE TYPE Birding, Eco-Tourism & Local Traditions

Colombia Birding Tour
Tour Highlights
What to Expect

Detailed Itinerary

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DAY 1 Join Tour in Bogota

We will meet you at the airport to take you to your hotel in Bogota. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Dinner  

DAY 2 Birding in La Florida and Historic Tour in Bogota

Your first birding experience starts at La Florida Park, a small wetland considered the best spot to see the Bogota Rail (Rallus semiplumbeus) and other endemic species.

Then, we will spend the rest of the day in the historic area of the city, La Candelaria. This neighbourhood is adorned with interesting architectural styles and museums. We will admire the world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold at the Gold Museum and get panoramic views of the city from the top of Cerro de Monserrate.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 Birding in Chingaza Natural Park and Hummingbird Observatory Visit

We will continue our birding experience around Chingaza Natural Park. This area is famous because of its spectacular scenery of montane elfin forest and paramo. Plus, this is where you can find most of the Eastern Andean highland (near) endemic bird species. We will also visit a quaint hummingbird observatory to spend a few hours enjoying nearly 25 species of hummingbirds feeding in the gardens surrounding the Spanish-style house.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 Visit of the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral and flight to Pereira

You cannot leave the city without visiting one of its main highlights: the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. This cathedral, located 50 km north of Bogota and built inside the caves of an old salt mine, is a true testimony to the miners' faith in a higher power and one of the most notable achievements of Colombian architecture.

Then, we will head back to Bogota for an afternoon flight to Pereira, where you will spend the night at a coffee farm. You may have the opportunity to see some birds surrounding the house and the green areas of the farm.

 

Overnight: Pereira - Coffee farm
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 Visit of a Coffee Plantation and birding in Otun Quimbaya Sanctuary

As coffee production is an important part of Colombia’s culture, we will start the day by visiting the coffee plantation of the farm to learn all the details of the coffee-making process, from planting the coffee beans all the way through the picking and roasting process. We will finish this experience with a great cup of coffee before starting the journey towards Otun Quimbaya.

You will spend the afternoon and early evening birding at this beautiful flora and fauna sanctuary where clouds drench the mountains with misty rain and where more than 300 bird species can be seen.

Overnight: Otun Quimbaya Lodge
Meal Plan:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 Birding in Otun Quimbaya Reserve and Rio Blanco Reserve

We will spend the morning exploring the natural reserve where Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) and Chesnut Wood-Quail (Odontophorus hyperythrus) amongst many others bird species can be spotted.

Then, we will go to Rio Blanco, one of Colombia’s best birding sites and a very interesting place for lovers of skulking species.

Overnight: Rio Blanco Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 Birding in Rio Blanco Nature Reserve

We will spend the day exploring this reserve and have the chance to see no less than seven species of Antpitta, including the endemic Brown-banded (Grallaria milleri) and the near-endemic Bicoloured Antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea), plus 5 species of Tapaculo, including Ash-coloured (Myornis senilis) and Ocellated (Acropternis orthonyx)

Overnight: Rio Blanco Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 Birding in Paramo del Ruiz and Flight to Santa Marta

Paramo del Ruiz is a protected area situated below Ruiz Volcano. Its landscape is a combination of paddock, elfin forest, patches of bamboo and paramo. This area is a great spot to see two near endemic hummingbirds: Black-thighed puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) and Golden-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera). We will go to a hummingbird observatory to see nearly 25 bird species.

In the afternoon, we will fly to Santa Marta, the oldest surviving city in South America.

Overnight: Santa Marta
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 City Tour in Santa Marta and Birding in El Dorado Bird Reserve

We will spend some time learning about Colombia’s history during a visit to Quinta the San Pedro Alejandrino, where Simon Bolivar, the commander-in-chief of the patriot army who liberated Colombia from Spanish rule, died in 1830.

Then we will spend the afternoon and early evening birding at El Dorado, bird reserve located in the foothills of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and known as the reserve with the highest concentration of endemic birds in South America.

 

Overnight: El Dorado Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10 Birding in El Dorado Bird Reserve

We will start the day birding at La Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, a small mountain ridge separated from the main Santa Marta mountain by a deep valley. Its highest point is 2,700 metres, which is high enough to find most of the endemic bird species in the area.

Overnight: El Dorado Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11 Birding in El Dorado Bird Reserve - Isla Salamanca

Early in the morning, we will spend more time birding at El Dorado before starting our journey towards Cartagena. On the way, we will visit Isla Salamanca, a natural park with extensive mangrove forests. At Isla Salamanca, we will look for some of the bird species found in this area, such as the Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (Ortalis garrula), Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird (Lepidopyga lilliae), Chestnut Piculet (Picumnus cinnamomeus) and Bicolored Conebill (Conirostrum bicolor). At the end of this visit, we will continue towards Cartagena.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12 City Tour in Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the most beautiful cities in South America and is worth to spending a day walking around the cobbled streets of the old town and visiting the main historic sites. You will be amazed by the walls surrounding the city and Castillo de San Felipe, the greatest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in any of their colonies. It defended the city from many attacks, including a British siege in 1741. You will have the afternoon at leisure for your own exploration.

Overnight: Cartagena
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 13 Canoe in the Mangrove Forest - Visit of La Boquilla and Flight to Bogota

In the morning, we will go to La Boquilla, a small fishing village located 7 km north of Cartagena. At La Boquilla, we will take a trip in a wooden canoe across the mangroves in La Cienga de Tesca. During this trip, we will be able to see native and migratory birds and learn about the flora and other fauna found in this ecosystem. We will also learn how to traditionally fish. We will visit the key places in the town like the cemetery, the main street and the cultural house. We will also have a traditional lunch in the village.

In the afternoon, we will take a flight back to Bogota.

 

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast,

DAY 14 End of the tour. Transfer to the airport for flight back home

Your adventure in Colombia ends today. At the time required, we will transfer to the airport.

Overnight: -
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Essential Information

What's Included

  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • 13 nights' accommodation
  • Domestic flights
  • Private ground transport
  • Meals as defined in the itinerary
  • Birding and local tour guides fluent in English
  • Entry tickets to natural parks and reserves mentioned in the itinerary
  • Entry tickets to museums and tourist locations mentioned in the itinerary

What's Not Included

  • International or domestic flights
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips and other discretionary expenses

How to Book

If you wish to book this tour, please click on the yellow "Book Now" button, select the date, number of people, complete the details and go through a secured online payment platform.

If you have any question or whish to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Accommodations

We have carefully chosen the right accommodations with different styles and standards depending on the cities, small towns or natural reserves visited. We personally ensure that each property has the right combination of features such as cleanliness, location, friendly staff and good service.

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