Choco (Whale Season) and Central Andes
Birdwatching | Photography | Wildlife

Biodiverse Lands: The Forests of Choco & Central Andes (Whale Season)

Overview

During this trip we will visit two regions rich in culture and biodiversity. From the Andean region, we will visit the Magdalena Medio region and the Antioquia region, characterized by colorful towns like Jardín, and modern cities like Medellín. And on the other hand, this itinerary extends to the Pacific Coast, this region has the greatest biodiversity in the country and is the least populated; it is characterized by its tropical forests, mangroves, pristine beaches, its amazing biodiversity and black communities of African descent that inhabit the region.

From 3.580 USD 14 Days / 13 Nights Departure: Sep 4th, 2024 Walking Grade: Moderate
  • Day 1: Bogota
  • Day 2: Bogota - Río Claro
  • Day 3: Rio Claro Canyon Nature Reserve
  • Day 4: Río Claro - Medellin
  • Day 5: Medellin - Bahia Solano - Pacific Botanical Garden
  • Day 6: Bahia Solano - Pacific Botanical Garden
  • Day 7: Bahia Solano - El Valle Turtle Beach
  • Day 8: Bahia Solano - El Almejal
  • Day 9: Bahia Solano - Rio Tundo
  • Day 10: Bahia Solano - Utria National Park
  • Day 11: Bahia Solano - Medellin - Jardin
  • Day 12: Jardin - Mirador El Roble
  • Day 13: Jardin - Medellin
  • Day 14: Medellin - Airport Medellin

Trip Details


Country

  • Colombia

Group Size

  • 8 Travelers Max

Schedule

  • Normal

Tour Type

  • Private
  • Scheduled
  • Shared

Next Departures

  • Sep 4th, 2024
  • Sep 18th, 2024

Thematics

  • Birdwatching
  • Photography
  • Wildlife

Itinerary

Bogota, walking tour
DAY 1 - Wednesday Sep 4th, 2024

Bogota

Reception at the airport in Bogota, the Andean capital, and transfer to your hotel.

Aloft Bogota (or similar) 30
Rio Claro (Antioquia, CO) © Tristan Quevilly
DAY 2 - Thursday Sep 5th, 2024

Bogota - Río Claro

Transport from Bogotá to Cañón del Rio Claro Nature Reserve. Approx. 6h30

Without having to leave the Rio Claro Canyon Nature Reserve, you can enjoy a range of activities and adventure sports: rafting, canopy climbing, v...

B, L, D 30 min Rio Claro Reserve in cabaña Mulata (or similar) 6h30
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
DAY 3 - Friday Sep 6th, 2024

Rio Claro Canyon Nature Reserve

Today we’re off early for a birdwatching hike in the reserve. We cross the Rio Claro to stop in the canyon and watch the morning bird activity. Return for lunch We head to Plata manantial to hike an ecological trail to p...

B, L, D Rio Claro Reserve in cabaña Mulata. (or similar)
Medellin (Antioquia, CO)
DAY 4 - Saturday Sep 7th, 2024

Río Claro - Medellin

Morning at leisure in Rio Claro, then private transport from Rio Claro to Medellin.

B, L, D Hotel La Campana (or similar)
Parrot Snake (Leptophis ahaetulla ssp chocoensis)
DAY 5 - Sunday Sep 8th, 2024

Medellin - Bahia Solano - Pacific Botanical Garden

Transfer from hotel to Medellin’s Enrique Olaya Herrera airport (approx. 15 minutes).

Domestic flight to Bahia Solano. Maximum baggage weight is 15kg, any excess will incur an additional cost to be paid directly at the a...

B, L, D Mecana Ecohotel (or similar)
Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis)
DAY 6 - Monday Sep 9th, 2024

Bahia Solano - Pacific Botanical Garden

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a medium-level walk along the trails of the botanical garden. This is an area of unspoilt primary forest, home to the harpy eagle and the crested eagle, which usually have their n...

B, L, D Mecana Ecohotel (or similar)
DAY 7 - Tuesday Sep 10th, 2024

Bahia Solano - El Valle Turtle Beach

Short tour of the hotel. Breakfast and departure with luggage for a boat excursion, where the second whale watching can take place. Arrival in the valley where “Mamá Orbe” is located, a community project for the conserva...

B, L, D Mama Orbe (or similar)
Western Basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus) @ Jose Ivan Cano
DAY 8 - Wednesday Sep 11th, 2024

Bahia Solano - El Almejal

Breakfast at the hotel and early departure with lunch box. 9 km walk on flat ground with mud for the first observation of birds, monkeys, spiders, lizards, insects, butterflies, with traces of mammals, on the path of the...

B, L, D Hotel Almejal (or similar)
Koe-koe (Oophaga solanensis) @ Jose Ivan Cano
DAY 9 - Thursday Sep 12th, 2024

Bahia Solano - Rio Tundo

Breakfast and departure by overland transport to the village of El Valle with packed lunch. From the pier, you’ll take a canoe trip on the Tundo River, where you can observe local birds such as toucans. Hike up the mount...

B, L, D Hotel Almejal (or similar)
Humpback Whale or Yubarta (Megaptera novaeangliae)
DAY 10 - Friday Sep 13th, 2024

Bahia Solano - Utria National Park

A vehicle (tuk tuk or chiva) will pick us up at the hotel and take us to the pier. We’ll bring our own breakfast for the ride. Boat trip for whale and pelagic bird watching. Arrival at Utría National Park. Breakfast and ...

B, L, D Hotel Almejal (or similar)
Bahia Solano © Tristan Quevilly
DAY 11 - Saturday Sep 14th, 2024

Bahia Solano - Medellin - Jardin

Breakfast and departure from the hotel with luggage. Land tour by tuk tuk or chiva where we can do a final birdwatching along the way (depending on flight schedule). Species we can observe: tanager sp, sarcoramphus papa,...

B, L, D Hotel La Casona (or similar) 3h
Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis)
DAY 12 - Sunday Sep 15th, 2024

Jardin - Mirador El Roble

Departure at 5 a.m. by 4×4 vehicle for our day trip to Ventanas and the Mirador el Roble. We’ll go in search of Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis) and visit the viewpoint to enjoy the variety of birds; we’ll ge...

B, L, D Hotel La Casona (or similar)
Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus)
DAY 13 - Monday Sep 16th, 2024

Jardin - Medellin

Morning visit to the Jardín de Rocas reserve for observation of the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), in the afternoon you’ll take a walk along the Herrera path with your local guide for a final observation....

B, L, D Hotel La Campana (or similar) 3h
Medellin © Tristan Quevilly
DAY 14 - Tuesday Sep 17th, 2024

Medellin - Airport Medellin

Before Trasnfer to Airport we will take a Graffititour to the COMUNA 13: Medellín’s Comuna 13 used to be one of the most violent neighborhoods in the city. Tired of the situation, however, young people decided to react b...

B

Hotels

Casa Deco

Hotel Casa Deco is a beautiful, charming building, with a very art-deco style in La Candelaria, in Bogotá's historic center. You will easily access the tourist attractions, like the Gold Museum, the Modern Art Museum, and the Botero Museum. The Hotel includes a splendid terrace on the rooftop with the perfect view of the Cerros. The rooms are the perfect combination of European elegance with the local Colombian charms. The decoration is very colorful, with many works of art imitations. Some of the rooms have a balcony or a small terrace, where you will be able to admire the many beauties of La Candelaria.

Wifi Restaurant Bar

Ecolodge El Almejal

This reserve is located between the rain forest and El Almejal beach, close to the village of El Valle, in the middle of Bahia Solano beach and close to the natural park of Ensenada de Utria. This complex has 12 independent huts with its own private bathroom and a terrace, as well as one suite hut. The huts were built following bioclimatic parameters and following a sustainable architecture: it is the perfect balance between comfort and nature. Restaurant service is proposed.

Video

YouTube video

Gallery

Price Details


Included

  • Meals indicated in the program
  • Accommodation in first class hotels
  • Accommodation in Guest House (Double Occupancy)
  • Accommodation in standard hotels
  • Transportation in comfortable vehicles
  • Tour leader and English speaking guide
  • Local guides specialized in the region
  • Domestic flights
  • Local transportation

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Additional drinks and meals
  • Medical insurance
  • Expenses not specified in the program
  • Tips

Price

  • 3.580 USD per person

Terms & Conditions

The terms of sale may differ based on the nature of your trip and how close your departure date is. Please review our conditions here for more information.

Spotted Species

Here is a non-exhaustive list of Animal Species you can spot during this tour

Choco Nuqui Bahia Solano Wild Expedition

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), commonly known as the Tortuga Carey in Spanish, is...

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Screenshot

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The Loggerhead turtle is a marine reptile known for its distinctive large head and strong...

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Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis)

Red-capped Manakin

The Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis) is a Chunky little bird of middle levels and understory...

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Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)

Red-legged Honeycreeper

The Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) is a small, warbler-like tanager of tropical lowlands. Favors forest...

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Humpback Whale or Yubarta (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Humpback Whale

Humpback whales are remarkable creatures, admired for their grace, intelligence, and the vital role they...

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Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus)

Spectacled Parrotlet

The Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) are endemic to Middle and South America, including northern and...

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Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti)

Blue-billed Curassow

Impressively large bird restricted to lowland rainforest in northern Colombia. It is critically endangered due...

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Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) © José Iván Cano

Collared Aracari

The Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) has a black body with a yellow chest band and...

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Chachalaca Colombiana (Ortalis columbiana)

Colombian Chachalaca

The Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) is a noisy bird species found in the forests of...

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Beautiful Woodpecker (Melanerpes pulcher) © José Iván Cano

Beautiful Woodpecker

The Beautiful Woodpecker (Melanerpes pulcher) is a colourful bird about 18 cm (7 in) long....

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Sooty Ant-Tanager (Habia gutturalis) © José Iván Cano

Sooty Ant-Tanager

The Sooty Ant-Tanager (Habia gutturalis) is a species of bird in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae);...

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Magdalena Antbird (Sipia palliata) © José Iván Cano

Magdalena Antbird

The Magdalena Antbird (Sipia palliata) is a medium-sized, short-tailed antbird with a bright red eye....

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Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis)

Oilbird

The Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis), locally known as the Guacharo, is a bird species found in...

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White necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)

White-necked Jacobin

The White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) is a rather large, spectacular hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands...

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Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola) © Wild Expedition @ Mathieu Perrot Bohringer

Bay-headed Tanager

The Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola) is a vibrantly-colored, tropical bird that occurs in Costa Rica,...

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Your Tour Guides

Jose Ivan Cano

Languages:English, Spanish
Guiding since: 2000
Specialties: Photography, Willdlife, Communities, Trekking
Learn More
Jose Ivan

Mathieu Bohringer

Languages:English, French, Spanish, Portugues
Guiding since: 2006
Specialties: Wildlife, Trekking, Filmmaker, Photografer, Drone
Learn More
Mat Orinoco
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