La Florida is a green heaven of nearly 200 acres inside the urban matrix of Bogotá. At this park, you will have the opportunity to see over 40 species, including endemic and threatened bird species. The lake has an area of open water and some reeds along the borders, great for spotting rails, ducks and other wetland specialities.
A Unique Experience for the Rugged Birder in ColombiaGet off the beaten path and discover spots only recently open to birders. The spectacular ecosystems across the Mid-Magdalena Valley, Eastern and Central Andes give avid birders the opportunity to spot fascinating species such as the endemic Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti), Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari), White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus), Indigo-capped hummingbird (Amazilia cyanifrons) and many more. Revel in extraordinary natural landscapes and picturesque Colombians towns while spotting a high concentration of endemic bird species. EXPERIENCE TYPE Birding, Eco-Tourism & Local Traditions |
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Tour Highlights
La Florida Regional Park (IBA)
Chingaza National Natural Park (IBA)
Chingaza National Natural Park covers 190,000 acres of paramo, Andean forests and East Andean foothill forests. Most of the park is covered by the paramo ecosystem where you will find a variety of birds, including the Colombian national bird: the majestic Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus).
El Paujil Reserve
The American Bird Conservancy and the Global Conservation Fund created this tranquil reserve in 2003. Their goal was to protect the endemic Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti) because it was critically close to extinction. Spanning 8,449 acres, with altitudes between 150 and 1,200 meters above sea level, this reserve is a prime spot to see exotic species.
Rio Claro Reserve
Located about 3 hours from Medellin, Rio Claro Reserve is a humid tropical forest where you can find different ecosystems that accommodate more than 350 different bird species. The reserve has interesting landscapes and sits along a beautiful river.
Historic Centre of Bogota
The capital city of Colombia has grown around La Candelaria, the famous colonial neighbourhood where most of the historic sites, museums and ancient churches are located. Practically every street corner in La Candelaria marks an important event in Colombian history.
Honda
Boasting colourful colonial buildings and cobblestone streets, Honda has all the charm of well-known Cartagena, but without all the crowds. The tranquil town, located about 3.5 hours from Bogota, is known for its warm climate, friendly people and various bridges that cross the mighty Magdalena River.
Medellin
Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” because of its mild climate, Medellin is Colombia’s second-largest city. It was once infamous for its dangerous past, but now visitors can safely enjoy the city’s many tranquil parks, fascinating museums, vibrant nightlife and historical sites. Medellin has truly reinvented itself as a unique metropolitan destination snuggled between the mountains.
What to Expect
Detailed Itinerary
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DAY 1 Join Tour in Bogota
Arrive at any time. We will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Bogota. Depending on the traffic, the drive from the airport takes around 30-45 minutes.
At the hotel, we will check again your itinerary to make sure everything is clear, help you with anything you may need and give you some practical information about Bogota and Colombia. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have some time to start exploring the city on your own or just to relax.
Overnight: Bogota - Hotel Hacienda Royal Meal Plan: Dinner
DAY 2 Birding in La Florida and Historic Tour in Bogota
Early in the morning (5 am), we will pick you up at the hotel for a birding tour to La Florida Regional Park. La Florida is a wetland in the western area the Bogota, where you will have the opportunity to see some of the special endemic bird species found in this area, such as: the Bogotá Rail (Rallus semiplumbeus), Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari apolinari) and Noble Snipe (Gallinago Nobilis).
After visiting La Florida, we will transfer you back to your hotel where you will have some time on your own. At 2 pm, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to see the most iconic places in Bogota's historic centre. We will visit the Gold Museum, Monserrate, Botero Museum and then walk around the historic neighbourhood of La Candelaria.
Overnight: Bogota - Hotel Hacienda Royal Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3 Birding in Chingaza Natural Park and Hummingbird Observatory Visit
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to Chingaza Natural Park, an Important Bird Area about 2 hours outside of Bogota. You will spend about 4 hours at Chingaza with an expert guide where you could see the majestic Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus).
Afterwards, we will transfer you to La Calera to visit a beautiful hummingbird observatory. Watch these colourful creatures flit around the quaint courtyard of this grand old observatory snuggled between the mountains. We will also take you to eat a traditional Colombian lunch, where you will learn a little more about Colombian culture. Afterwards, we will take you back to Bogota and drop you off at your hotel.
Overnight: Bogota - Hotel Hacienda Royal Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4 Hummingbird Jardin Encantado and Historic visit of Honda
After breakfast, we will head to San Francisco, a small town located about 1.5 hours from Bogota. There, we will visit Jardin Encantado, a beautiful house where you will observe various species of hummingbirds. Since the altitude at Jardin Encantado is different than the previous day’s observatory, you will get the chance to see different species.
Later in the day, we will head to Honda, an important river port. The sunny town was critical to Colombia’s development thanks to its proximity to the Magdalena River. We will eat lunch then take a tour of the charming historic centre, where you will see colonial buildings and tranquil town squares.
Overnight: Honda Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 Birding in Cuchilla de Bellavista and boat visit of Laguna de Guarinocito
Early in the morning, we will head to Cuchilla de Bellavista, located in the small town of Victoria and about 1 hour from Honda. You will have the chance to spot birds in this humid forest environment. Around noon, we will eat lunch and take a short break.
After the break, we will head to Laguna de Guarinocito, which is located about 30 minutes from Victoria. We will take a boat to visit the lagoon and we’ll have the opportunity to see more than 90 bird species. We will transfer you back to the hotel in Honda at the end of the day.
Overnight: Honda Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 Birding in El Paujil Reserve
After breakfast, we will begin our trip to El Paujil Reserve, located about 5 hours from Honda. After arriving to this nature reserve, we will eat lunch and take a break to relax.
In the middle of the afternoon, we will take a short hike through the reserve to begin spotting the some 360 registered bird species. Among these species, 7 species are endemic, 8 are near-endemic and 8 are endangered.
Overnight: El Paujil Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 Birding in El Paujil Reserve
Early in the morning, we will continue birding in the reserve. We will have some time for lunch, then continue birding in the afternoon.
Overnight: El Paujil Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 Birding in El Paujil Reserve and Rio Claro Reserve
We will take our final birding tour through El Paujil Reserve in the morning. After eating lunch, we will travel by road for about 4 hours to reach Rio Claro Reserve.
After arriving to Rio Claro, we will have some time to rest. The reserve sits between two mountains. Thanks to its unique location and micro-climates that facilitate different habitats, you will have the chance to see a large variety of bird species, including: the Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus), Beautiful Woodpecker (Melanerpes pulcher) and Sooty Ant-Tanager (Habia gutturalis).
Overnight: Rio Claro Reserve Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9 Birding in Rio Claro Reserve
Early in the morning, we will continue birding in the reserve. We will have some time for lunch, then continue birding in the afternoon.
Overnight: Rio Claro Lodge Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10 Birding Rio Claro Reserve and transfer to Medellin
We will take our final birding tour through Rio Claro Reserve in the morning. After eating lunch, we will head to Medellin, located about 3 hours from Rio Claro. We will drop you off at the hotel in Medellin and you will have the rest of the night to relax or explore the “City of Eternal Spring” on your own.
Overnight: Medellin - Hotel Poblado Plaza Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 11 Medellin City Tour
We will pick you from your hotel and take you on a city tour of Medellin. You will visit the most interesting parts of the city, including Plaza Botero and the Botero Museum. You will also get a chance to ride the Medellin metro and visit Comuna 13, a previously dangerous neighbourhood that is now adorned with street art.
Overnight: edellin - Hotel Poblado Plaza Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 12 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
- 11 nights' accommodation
- Private ground transport
- Domestic flight to Bogota or to your next destination
- Meals as defined in the itinerary
- Birding and local tour guides fluent in English
- Entry tickets to natural parks and reserves included in the itinerary
- Entry tickets to museums and tourist locations included 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.