Jaguar, Puma, Tapir and Birds
The privileged geographical conditions of this region have made protected areas refuges for thousands of species of fauna and flora. Its beauty and great variety make Colombia the ideal destination for nature lovers, this is a special country for wildlife photography. The options and opportunities are many, but we are going to focus on the search for two big cats: the Puma and the Jaguar; a giant of the Andean forests: the Mountain Tapir and variety of Birds. That is why we have put together a team and a set of services for you to enjoy the experience to the fullest. During this itinerary we will explore part of the three slopes of the Andes mountain range (Cordillera de Los Andes), and the Orinoco region (Llanos Orientales). A guide experienced in wildlife monitoring and photography will accompany us for you to live a memorable experience.
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Day 1: Bogota
Day 2: Yopal - Hato La Aurora
Day 3: Hato La Aurora
Day 4: Hato La Aurora
Day 5: Encanto de Guanapalo
Day 6: Encanto de Guanapalo
Day 7: Guanapalo - Yopal - Pereira
Day 8: WildLife at Otun Quimbaya
Day 9: Otun Quimbaya - Montezuma
Day 10: Birdwatching at Tatamá Natural Park
Day 11: Birdwatching at Tatamá Natural Park
Day 12: Montezuma Rainforest to Pereira
The Encanto de Guanapalo Nature Reserve is located in the heart of the Colombian savannah, comprising 3 "Hatos" (large cattle farms, spread over several thousand hectares): Mata de Palma, Altamira...
Country
- Colombia
Thematics
- Birdwatching
- Photography
- Wildlife
Group Size
- 4 Travelers Max
Included
- Meals indicated in the program
- Accommodation in standard hotels
- Transportation in comfortable vehicles
- Tour leader and English speaking guide
- Local guides specialized in the region
- Local transportation
- Homestay / Hut accommodation
- Boat transportation
Not Included
- Domestic flights
- International flights
- Additional drinks and meals
- Medical insurance
- Expenses not specified in the program
- Tips
Minimum Deposit
- 30 %
Payment Options
- Credit Card (+2.5% fee)
- Paypal (+2.9% fee)
- Wire Transfer (no fees)
Bogota
Reception at the airport in Bogota, the Andean capital, and transfer to your hotel. Journey time approx. 30 minutes.
Yopal - Hato La Aurora
Transport from Hotel Casa Deco to Bogota airport, approx. 30m. Domestic flight to Yopal (The maximum weight allowed is 15kg per piece of luggage, any excess will incur an additional cost to be paid directly at the airport). Depart Yopal by 4x4 for the Hato La Aurora reserve, crossing the department of Casanare, in the heart of the Llanos. Arriving at the Juan Solito ecolodge welcomes you to its charming facilities, built with local materials in keeping with the architecture of the region. Through the various activities on offer, you can discover the surrounding incredible wildlife: primates, variety of birds, pumas and others mammals that populates these magnificent landscapes.
Hato La Aurora
After breakfast, Jeep safari in the reserve to get to know the Hato la Aurora, an hour and a half from the hotel. We observe wildlife such as the mighty Jaguar, Capybaras, White-tailed Deer, Alligators, Cattle, Wild Horses, a large number of birds such as Herons, Plovers, Owls, Ibises and a variety of other countless species that inhabit these lands. For lunch, we enjoy meat with a variety of side dishes and many other delicacies. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. If the sun has already set, meet the nocturnal fauna and, sky permitting, enjoy some stargazing. Dinner at the hotel and, if we still have some strength left, we can enjoy an explanation and demonstration of the llanera harp, poems, traditional folk songs.
Hato La Aurora
For this day, we can choose one of the following two options:
1. Horseback riding in the reserve, where we discover the many species of birds and Howler Monkeys that live in these forests.
2. A boat tour of the reserve to admire the beauty of the surrounding landscape. We can fish on the river and enjoy the sunset at the end of the day.
Transport: according to the selected routes
Encanto de Guanapalo
You'll arrive at the first Hato in the Nature Reserve, where you'll spend the next two nights. Settle in and visit the house: you'll meet the family, the workers and learn about the local history. Typical lunch at the Hato and free time to relax in the hammocks in the shade of the tall trees lining the river. In the afternoon, you'll embark on a safari tour by 4x4 (summer) or tractor (winter), through the Reserve's immense savannahs. Admire the unique landscape and ecosystem of the Llanos Orientales, and observe whole families of capybaras, numerous herons and multicolored egrets and many other local mammals, reptiles and birds. Enjoy the famous Llanos sunset.
Encanto de Guanapalo
A day dedicated to the search for local wildlife. We get up at dawn to enjoy the sunrise and the birdsong that accompanies it. We can observe the animals around the house in these early hours. After breakfast, we set off for a canoe trip on the river that runs through the Nature Reserve. We can admire the animals along the water's edge, such as Capybaras, Crocodiles and a wide variety of Birds. In the afternoon, we head further into the Reserve on a tractor safari. If you're lucky, you'll spot Anaconda, Deer, Anteater, Fox and Puma. Arriving at the magnificent Garcero de Altamira, a key breeding ground for Herons and Egrets circling the water mirrors at sunset.
Guanapalo - Yopal - Pereira
We rise at dawn to admire the sunrise, and take a short walk through the savannah and woods to observe the local wildlife and the magnificent llaneros landscape. Breakfast and free time to rest and enjoy our last moments in the Reserve. Transfer from the Reserve to Yopal. Before our departure for the airport, a little free time to browse the craft stores and discover the town. NOTE: Program subject to change according to conditions. Domestic flight to Pereira. Maximum baggage weight is 23kg, any excess will incur an additional cost to be paid directly at the airport. Our guide will be waiting for us at Pereira airport to take us to the Otun Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, where we'll spend the night.
WildLife at Otun Quimbaya
Visit to the Otún Quimbaya reserve (2000 m, cold, rainy climate). A local guide accompanies us to discover the verdant surroundings garden and forest. Some of the most representative species are Crab-eating Fox, Tayra, Torrent Duck, Cauca Guan and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow.
Transport to Cabaña El Cedral, the trip takes around 40m, but we'll be making plenty of stops along the way to try and spot some of the region's many bird species. Venturing into these territories is also a fantastic opportunity to catch a glimpse of the region's emblematic animal, the Andean Tapir!
Otun Quimbaya - Montezuma
Early in the morning, we set off from El Cedral towards the Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge. Our transport takes its time to add new bird species to our checklist. Before lunch (free on the way), we look for some of the following species:
Arrival to Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge, in the afternoon offers us the chance to enjoy hummingbird garden. At the gateway to Tatama Natural Park, home to over 550 species of birds, 450 species of orchids and 700 species of butterflies. The lodge is located at the entrance to the park, 13 km from the summit, making it the perfect base for exploring the park.
Birdwatching at Tatamá Natural Park
This is one of the Andean region's most biodiverse sites near the Pacific Ocean. In Montezuma, birdwatchers, butterfly enthusiasts and orchid lovers find an ideal place to explore the incredible abundance of life in a natural ecosystem of virgin rainforest located in one of the planet's major biodiversity hotspots and one of Colombia's great natural treasures: Tatamá. The park covers 51,900 hectares of primary Western Andean tropical and subtropical forest, temperate cloud forest and páramo habitat, and is a source of water for rivers in all directions. It is home to over 550 bird species, 450 orchid species and 700 butterfly species. Enjoy the 1st FULL-DAY of activity (4WD, local guide, picnic)
Birdwatching at Tatamá Natural Park
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. Enjoy the 2nd FULL-DAY of activity. Program the schedules according to your check-list.
Some special birds:
Gold-ringed Tanager, Collared Inca, Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, Golden-fronted Redstart, Dusky Starfrontlet, Club-winged Manakin, Velvet-purple Coronet, Purplish-mantled Tanager, Chamí Antpitta, Munchique Wood-wren.
Montezuma Rainforest to Pereira
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.
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.
Juan Solito Ecolodge
Located 180km away from Yopal, in the Llanos area, the ecolodge Juan Solito welcomes you in its small structure built with local materials, in complete harmony with the local architecture and with the Aurora natural Reserve. The hotel offers 7 rooms with its own private bathroom, and only welcomes a small amount of travelers, 21 at a time. Camping or hammocks are also available. The ecolodge is an ecological building so there will be no air conditioning system and the electricity is limited to 4 hours at night. Several activities are available in the hotel to let you enjoy the surrounding ecosystem. Lunch and dinner are included.
El Encanto de Guanapalo
El Encanto de Guanapalo is a natural reserve of 9,000 hectares in Colombia, 110 km from Yopal, formed by the family inheritance of grandfather Gerardo Zambrano in 3 "Hatos" typical of the region, which since 1908 work to preserve the natural wealth, tradition and culture of the Casanare region (Colombia). Category: Excursion. Includes: Room with breakfast, lunch, dinner, excursion, local guide,
Santuario Otún Quimbaya
Located 16 km from the city of Pereira, this lodge is inside the reserve and offers all the basic amenities. About 90% of the protected area corresponds to natural forests, in different stages of succession, and mature forests. In addition to the red howler monkeys and the charismatic torrent ducks, you can also observe the Cauca guan, an endemic species that usually roosts near a beautiful wooden observation tower in the surrounding Andean jungle. It offers restaurant service.
Refugio El Cedral
This resting point is located very close to the Otún Quimbaya Sancturary Flora and Fauna, sharing characteristics in the ecosystem present in the middle basin of the Otún River. A simple and comfortable space surrounded by Andean jungle that receives the local farmers who live in the upper part of the mountains, but the star visitor is one of the great mammals of the Andes, the Woolly Tapir or Andean Tapir. It is an easy and unique opportunity to record this enigmatic and special animal.
Montezuma Rainforest EcoLodge
Family Ecolodge located in one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, has 12 rooms with comfortable beds equipped with bathroom, hot water shower and electricity. Delicious homemade meals based on typical Colombian cuisine are offered to suit all types of dietary preferences (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.). Bird feeders, flowers and fruit trees surround the lodge, attracting every day a great variety of hummingbirds, tanagers, creepers, euphonias and many other species.
Colombia is a country located in South America, known for its rich cultural history, diverse landscapes, and warm, welcoming people. It offers a wide range of experiences from its Caribbean beaches to its Andean mountains.
Reasons to Go
1. Stunning natural landscapes
2. Rich cultural heritage
3. Delicious cuisine
4. Vibrant cities like Bogota and Medellin
5. Affordable travel destination.
Country Facts
- Official Name: Republic of Colombia
- Location: South America- Time Zone: GMT-5
- Capital: Bogotá
- Population: ~51 million
- Official Language: Spanish
- Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic
- Economy: Emerging market economy
Regions at a Glance
Bogotá: The capital city, known for its museums, and vibrant culture.
Medellín: Known as the "City of Eternal Spring" for its pleasant climate.Cartagena: A historical city with beautiful colonial architecture and nearby beaches.
Tourist Attractions
- Cartagena's Walled City (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Tayrona National Park- The Coffee Cultural Landscape
- The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida)
- Medellin's Metrocable
Money Matters
- Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
- Credit cards are widely accepted in cities but less so in rural areas
- ATMs are plentiful
Packing List
- Light, breathable clothing for the coast
- Warmer layers for mountain regions
- Rain jacket, hiking boots
Healthcare Requirements
- Tap water is generally safe in cities but should be purified in rural areas.
- Street food is generally safe but use your judgment.
Culture
Colombia has a rich cultural landscape influenced by Indigenous, Spanish, and African heritages. From the rhythms of Cumbia and Vallenato to the nation's love for soccer, Colombia is a tapestry of traditions.
Accommodation
- Hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs are widely available.
- Budget options from $20/night, mid-range $40-$80, luxury $100+
- Generally safe for solo female travelers, but always take standard precautions.
Visa Requirements
- Illegal drugs are severely punished
- Respect local traditions and customs
- Public displays of affection are generally accepted but may be frowned upon in rural areas.
Emergency Contact Numbers
Police: 112
Medical emergency: 112
Embassy: Check for your country's embassy contact
Electricity, Plugs, and Voltage
- Plug type: Types A and B
- Voltage: 110V
- Frequency: 60Hz
Climate
Tropical near the coast and in the lowlands, cooler in the mountains. Light clothing for the coast, warmer layers for the mountains.
Public Transportation
- Public buses and TransMilenio in Bogotá
- Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber are available
- Domestic flights for long distances
Language Spoken
Spanish is the official language. Basic English is understood in tourist areas.
- Useful phrases: "Hola" (Hello), "Gracias" (Thank)
Sustainability Tips
- Use refillable water bottles
- Respect local customs and natural habitats
- Opt for eco-friendly accommodation and tours
Useful Apps & Websites
- Google Translate for language translation
- Uber or local taxi apps for transportation
- TripAdvisor for reviews and recommendations
Colombia offers a rich travel experience that caters to all types of travelers. From its diverse landscapes to its vibrant culture, Colombia is a destination that should not be missed. Check out other resources on our website for more information.
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