This protected area is the only one in the country that belongs to the management category of "Park Way," since the highway that connects the cities of Barranquilla and Santa Marta cross the park through its length. Several wetlands, lagoons and mangroves cover the area, providing a home for several species of fauna and flora associated with this habitat.
Birding Along the Caribbean Coast of ColombiaDuring this short birding tour to the Caribbean Coast, we will have the opportunity to see an amazing concentration of endemic bird species in the spectacular Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, as well as a great variety of shorebirds and aquatic birds that are found in the mangroves and lagoons of Isla Salamanca. You will have the chance to spot Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird (Lepidopyga lilliae), Chestnut Piculet (Picumnus cinnamomeus), Bicolored Conebill (Conirostrum bicolor), White-tailed Starfrontlet (Coeligena phalerata), Santa Marta Sabrewing (Campylopterus phainopeplus) and Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans).This tour will be enhanced by the opportunity to visit the historic cities of Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta. EXPERIENCE TYPE Birding, Eco-Tourism & Local Traditions |
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Tour Highlights
Isla Salamanca National Park
El Dorado Bird Reserve
This reserve protects some 1,729 acres of cloud forest between 900 and 2,599 meters above sea level and was created to protect part of this important area of endemism called Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, which is part of the buffer zone of Sierra de Santa Marta National Park.
City Tour in Cartagena
Cartagena de Indias is one of the most fascinating, romantic and beautiful colonial cities in Latin America. Located on the Caribbean coast, this UNESCO World Heritage site is full of history, colourful streets and friendly people, making it a fairy tale city of romance.
City tour in Santa Marta
Santa Marta, founded by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1525, is the oldest city in South America. The city is rich in history and well-preserved colonial architecture. Santa Marta is also the home of the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where the national hero, Simon Bolivar, died in 1830.
What to Expect
Detailed Itinerary
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DAY 1 Travel to Cartagena
We will meet you at the airport to take you to your hotel in Cartagena.
Overnight: Cartagena - Hotel Casa de la Fe Meal Plan: Dinner
DAY 2 City Tour in Cartagena and Travel to Barranquilla
After breakfast, we will collect you and head off on our tour to the historic city centre. During the tour we will visit the amazing Castillo de San Felipe and then move onto the old city, which is surrounded by impressive walls built during the Spanish rule to protect the city against enemies and looters. The castle of San Felipe is the greatest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spaniards in any of their colonies. It was built on top of the San Lazaro hill and defended the city from many attacks, including a British siege in 1741. The old city is the historic heart and soul of Cartagena. We will walk around its cobbled streets and have a look at the main historical sites.
In the evening, we will travel to Barranquilla for the night.
Overnight: Barranquilla - NH Collection Smartsuites Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 Birding in Isla Salamanca and Travel to El Dorado Bird Reserve
We will start the day early and visit the Isla Salamanca, located 20 minutes north of Barranquilla. We will spend the morning there visiting the mangroves and looking out 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).
After finishing our bird watching at Isla Salamanca, we will travel to El Dorado Bird Reserve. We will spend two days at El Dorado, which is an enormous reserve of cloud forest between 2,952 and 8,530 feet above sea level that was created to protect part of this important area of endemism, called Cuchilla de San Lorenzo.
You will have the opportunity to see some of the 400 bird species registered in this reserve.
Overnight: El Dorado Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 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 5 Birding in El Dorado Bird Reserve
Today, we will carry on birding at El Dorado.
Overnight: El Dorado Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 City Tour in Santa Marta and Transfer to the Airport
After breakfast, we will travel to Santa Marta, the oldest surviving city in South America, where we will have lunch and then take a short tour around the historic area. During this tour, we will also visit the Quinta the San Pedro Alejandrino, which is the house where Simon Bolivar died in December, 1830. Bolivar was the commander-in-chief of the patriot army that liberated what today are the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Panama from Spanish rule.
At the time requested, we will transfer you to the airport in Santa Marta.
Overnight: Meal Plan: Breakfast
Essential Information
What's Included
- Airports pick up and drop off
- 5 nights' accommodation
- Private ground transport
- Domestic flight to Cartagena
- Domestic flight from Santa Marta to Bogota or any destination in Colombia
- Meals as defined in the itinerary
- Birding and local tour guides fluent in English
- Entry tickets to all natural parks and reserves mentioned in the itinerary
What's Not Included
- International 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.