Colombia Birdwatching: Best Birds of the Andes

PM – BOSQUE DE NIEBLA Birding & Nature
Reception at the Cali airport, then transfer to the area of Km 18, the sector of the La Elvira forest reserve. Briefing and accommodation in a private nature reserve.

AM – SAN FELIPE
We start the tour in San Felipe, a beautiful traditional farm, we will be welcomed by the local guide and then go to visit the different bird feeding areas, spaces with very good advantages for nature photographers. Some sites have a special design, for example, the water mirrors that allow the reflection of the birds while they feed.

PM – HUMMINGBIRDS GARDEN
In the afternoon we will visit Finca La Conchita, a wonderful place built in the atmosphere of a traditional house that is cared for by Olga and Chucho, our hosts and protectors of the garden. More than 18 species of hummingbirds are registered, but it is also possible to observe dozens of other birds that live in the region.

AM – BOSQUE DE NIEBLA Birding & Nature
We will take advantage of the first rays of sun to explore the cloud forests of the mountains that are part of the forest conservation area of La Elvira. The place has been designed and built very special spaces: a lookout and balcony in the garden of the lodge, frequently visited by hummingbirds and tanagers, advancing on the trail we will find a hide with 360° observation capacity and in the thick forest a hide of handmade construction.

PM – DOÑA DORA Birdwatching
Located in a privileged place between the Western Cordillera and the Pacific Ocean at an altitude of 1200 m, this place will surprise us with a tropical garden, excellent for bird watching, with worldwide recognition. It is the perfect place to spend some quiet time, but with lots of activity of hummingbirds and exotic birds flying around while you enjoy drinking a natural fruit juice or a delicious coffee.

AM – ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK (LEK)
We start the tour at dawn, ready to leave at 05:30am. We go into the coastal jungles of the Pacific (biogeographic Chocó). We have to walk for 30 minutes along a 700 meter trail, short but demanding. The reward is fantastic, an ancestral and exhibition place where colorful males perform dances and songs to attract females in order to reproduce. Hiding in a rustic hideout we will have good opportunities for photo opportunities.

PM – CAUCA RIVER Birding & Nautical Tour
Get ready to discover some jewels of the tropical dry forest. We will walk along a trail surrounded by towering trees that are home to a tiny woodpecker, perhaps the smallest in Colombia and the world.

AM – LAGUNA DE SONSO (IBA) Birding
Early in the morning we will visit the Laguna de Sonso or Chircal (altitude: 930m), which is the largest wetland in southwestern Colombia. This place has been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. In addition to the great variety of aquatic birds, we will look for its emblematic species.

PM – RETORNO DE LOS COLIBRÍES Natural Reserve
We begin our experience arriving in Anaime, a small village decorated with murals dedicated to the biodiversity that surrounds the region. Taking a rural road we go into the mountains, our first stop will be the natural reserve where we can enjoy the history of protection of the territory, which will be narrated by our local guide. At the end of the afternoon we will visit the wax palm forests about 10km from the reserve, in search of some species of parrots, and then head to our resting place.

AM – WAXPALM FOREST, La Tribuna farm
We will enjoy one of the most iconic landscapes of the colombian Andes: the waxpalm forest. Because of its special characteristics, this palm species was declared Colombia’s national tree (Law 61, 1985). We will have to be ready at 5am to go to the top of the mountains where hundreds of palms survive in pastures and forest relicts, are considered home to the Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis), an endemic bird species that is also vulnerable to extinction. If weather conditions permit, you will be able to observe the Nevado del Tolima volcano.

PM – After enjoying a picnic breakfast, we return to El Retorno de los Colibríes to enjoy a picnic lunch. At noon, we will return to the route of this great journey through the coffee region.

AM – OTUN QUIMBAYA FLORA AND FAUNA SANCTUARY
This National Natural Park is located at 2000 meters above sea level, with a cold and rainy climate. A local guide accompanies us for about 2 hours to discover the green surroundings of our lodge. Then we take our time to try to see the local species in the garden or from the observation tower.

PM – At the end of the afternoon we will go to the El Cedral sector to wait for the appearance of the mystical Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). This mammal has nocturnal and early morning habits, so we will take a rest in a simple and comfortable peasant’s house. We will also have the opportunity to observe other mammals such as colombian Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta seniculus) and Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous).

AM – LOOKING FOR THE TORRENT DUCKS
After breakfast we return along the road parallel to the Otún River. We will make several stops to look for this charismatic species of duck that moves quickly swimming against the current of the turbulent waters, a spectacle of nature. Surely this will not be the only species we will see this morning.

PM – Afternoon transfer to Rio Blanco Reserve to enjoy the forest birds and hummingbirds in the gardens.

AM – RIO BLANCO Natural Reserve
Forest reserve located at 2500 meters above sea level, cold and rainy climate, In the morning a local guide will take us to different points where we will be able to observe the different Grallarias that inhabit these Andean forests. After lunch we will walk through different areas of the reserve looking for hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and other species.

PM – Afternoon transfer to Termales del Ruíz to enjoy the garden with hummingbirds and time to relax in the hot spring pools.

AM – PÁRAMO DEL RUÍZ
Get to know the ecosystem near the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano (altitude 4100 masl, cold climate). Very early in the morning we will head to the páramo, a unique ecosystem of the Andes where live very particular species such as the endemic hummingbird Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii), the possibility to see the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), the Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris) and the Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis). After lunch we will have a longer transfer, but with a variety of landscapes and coffee villages, it will be worth our next destination.

PM – Transfer to Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge, located at Tatama National Park.

FULL DAY: Montezuma Rainforest 1 / 2
Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge is one of the gateways to Tatamá National Natural Park, one of the most biodiverse places in the Andean region near the Pacific Ocean. At Montezuma, birdwatchers, butterfly enthusiasts and orchid lovers find an ideal place to explore the amazing abundance of life in a pristine natural rainforest ecosystem located in one of the planet’s main biodiversity hotspots and one of Colombia’s great natural treasures: Tatamá. The park encompasses 51,900 hectares of primary tropical and subtropical rainforest of the western Andes, temperate cloud forest and páramo habitat, and is a source of water for rivers in all directions. It is home to more than 550 species of birds, 450 species of orchids and 700 species of butterflies.

FULL DAY: Montezuma Rainforest 2 / 2
We will walk the same path as the previous day, only this time we will focus on those bird species that were left over from the first day. We will be in the field all day, the food will be picnic style.

This morning’s birding activity will depend on the flight schedule. Please note that you must be in the waiting room 2 hours before for domestic flights and 3 hours before for international flights.