BIRDING & NATURE TOUR IN SANTA MARTA HIGHLANDS - 8 DAYS

UNDISCOVERED SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA: BIRDING SECRETS
Blue-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon cyanolaemus)

A great tour that included ALL ENDEMIC BIRDS of the Santa Marta Mountains with the plus Blue-bearded helmetcrest (Oxypogon cyanolaemus), and Santa Marta wren (Troglodytes monticola), plus the subspecies that occurs up there.

All equipment (tents, sleeping bags, etc) and your luggage (backpack) will be move in mules, if you want a mule for you could be available also with an extra cost.

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ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1: Arrive to Santa Marta City
Day 2: Santa Marta to San Pedro de la Sierra
Day 3: San Pedro de la Sierra to Lagunas de Sevilla
Day 4: Lagunas de Sevilla
Day 5: Lagunas de Sevilla
Day 6: Lagunas de Sevilla to San Pedro de la Sierra
Day 7: San Pedro de la Sierra to Santa Marta
Day 8: Depart Santa Marta City

Book this trip as a private departure for any group size (even as a solo traveler you can join to group with established dates).

AVAILABLE ALL YEAR!!

Blue-bearded helmetcrest _Oxypogon cyanolaemus_Santa Marta Birding - NEVADOS - Bogota Birding

ITINERARY

anta Marta - Bogota Birding and Colombia Wildlife Tours - Birding Colombia

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO SANTA MARTA CITY

We will arrive to Santa Marta city, transfer from airport to hotel.  We can to do birdwatching time for to see the Chestnut-winged chachalaca, Chestnut piculet and some birds the caribean forest then we meet for dinner at our hotel to discuss the adventure ahead. Night: Hotel Hilton.

Altitude: 19 ft (6m)

Inclusions: Transfer airport to hotel; Dinner; hotel accommodations.

Santa Marta Parakeet_Santa Marta birding _endemic - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding

DAY 2: SANTA MARTA TO SAN  PEDRO DE LA SIERRA

We will leave our hotel just before dawn, where we will drive east parallel to the coast, to SmallVille San Pedro de La Sierra where we starting our walking to a rustic house 7874 feet  elevation and we will also stop at a few moments for enjoy the Santa Marta Antbird, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Santa Marta Blossomcrown, Santa Marta Brusfinch, Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, Sierra Nevada brush ficnh, White- tailed starfrontet, Santa Marta Woodstar and hopefully Lazuline Sabrewing,  Red-bellied Emerald, Keel-billed Toucan, Whooping Motmot, Collared Aracari, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Gray-headed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue-black Grosbeak, Red-billed Parrot, Black-backed Antshrike as well as the spectacular Golden-winged Sparrow and Rosy Thrush-Tanager. We have a picnic  lunch on the trail. We expect walking (7- 8 hours). The  night in Camping, all meals  supplies for our local guides. The night is perfect for look for endemic Santa Marta screech owl (Megascops gilesi). Night: camping in the mountains.

Altitude: 3937 ft – 7874 ft (1200m – 2400m)

Inclusions: Private transport 4×4, mules; all meals; camping.

Energetic mules will help us to make our ascent a little easier. They will carry our luggage and camping equipment (sleeping bags, tents, etc). If you think you will need an additional mule for your luggage, this will have an additional cost.

Santa Marta Anpitta_Grallaria bangsi_santa marta - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding.

DAY 3: SAN PEDRO DE LA SIERRA TO LAGUNAS DE SEVILLA

Birding and Walking to camping area around 11.800 feet (Lagunas de Sevilla)

At base camp  we will bird around 7874 feet  to 11800 feet elevation in elfin forest (We expect we will be able to walk  around 6 hours) on the trail likely we see several dozen species as we search for Higher elevations support a host of “Santa Marta” specialties – Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta Antpitta, Santa Marta Rufous antpitta, Santa Marta Foliage-Gleaner, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager, Hermit Wod-Wren, White-tipped Quetzal,  Rusty-headed and Streak-capped Spinetails, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, White-lored Warbler, Yellow-crowned Redstart. Night at Lagunas de Sevilla – Camping area. All meals will be supplied by our local guides.

Altitude: 11800 ft (3596m)

Inclusions: Mules; all meals; camping.

Blue-bearded helmetcrest _Oxypogon cyanolaemus_Santa Marta Birding - NEVADOS - Bogota Birding

DAY 4 & 5: LAGUNAS DE SEVILLA

Lagunas de Sevilla área (Paramo Ecosystem) – Blue-bearded Helmetcrest and Santa Marta Wren time

In the paramo at Lagunas de Sevilla, flowers the elfin forest  attract  our target hummingbird including Blue-bearded Helmetcrest and Black-backed Thornbill. About Santa Marta Wren (Troglodytes monticola) it will an easy task to get, since this species is commun in the shrubby slopes, while to find the Helmetcrest.

Other  highlights around the Lagunas de Sevilla: Santa Marta Wren, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Andean Condor, Andean Snipe, Rufous-broweb Connebill, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Red-rumped Bush-tyrant,  Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, Streak-backed Canastero, Chestnut Winged Cinclodes and also the amazing endemic amphibians like Guajira Stubfoot Toad or the amazing Carrikeri Harlequin Frog (Atelopus carrikeri), Atelopus nahumae,  Atelopus laetissimus and Bolitoglossa savagei.

Altitude: 9383 ft (2860m)

Inclusions: Mules; all meals; camping.

Atelopus carrikeri - endemica - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding

DAY 6: LAGUNAS DE SEVILLA TO SAN PEDRO DE LA SIERRA

Descent to Base camp (7700 feet)  end the birding around the Lagunas de Sevilla.

In the morning, we will continue to bird the around the Elfin forest and then we leave the área, specifically looking for any of the specialty species we may not have seen yet. After 10 a.m. we will walking down to Base camp and then. Birding on the trail main focus Santa Marta Warbler and Santa Marta Antpitta (7 – 8 hours walking). Night in Camping.

Altitude: 7700 ft (2346m)

Inclusions: Mules; all meals; camping.

White-tailed Starfrontlet_tour Santa Marta _endemic - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding

DAY 7: SAN PEDRO DE LA SIERRA TO SANTA MARTA CITY

Way to San Pedro de La Sierra and night in Santa Marta town.

In our last morning here, we will have a short birding when leaving San Pedro de La Sierra. Morning of birding around the base camp. This will allow us to  look for other rare include. Santa Marta Woodstar, Yellow-billed Toucanets, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Streaked Xenops, Cocoa Woodcreeper, the endemic Santa Marta Tapaculo, Venezuelan Tyrannulet, Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, and the endemic White-lored Warbler. This is the end of our Blue-bearded Helmetcrest tour we will meet for dinner at Hotel. Night: Hotel Hilton.

Altitude: 3937 ft – 7874 ft (1200m – 2400m)

Inclusions: Private transport 4×4; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Colombia Birding

DAY 8: SANTA MARTA CITY

International flight for home. The participants will we transfer from hotel to the Simon Bolivar International Airport to take their international flights or connections in Colombia.

Altitude: 19 ft (6m)

Inclusions: Breakfast; airport shuttle.

Finished Awesome Santa Marta Highlands Birding Colombia Tour with Us!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
  • You will visit the ecosystems of Paramo and subparamo in the Santa Marta Highlands.
  • Explore in one of the safest, rares and awesome areas of Colombia.
  • Search for Santa Marta highland endemic birds.
  • There are 4 indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: Kogui, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kakuamo.
  • The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta cotains Colombia´s two highest peaks reaching up to 5770m (18930 ft). It is just 46km as the crow files from the sea, making it the world´s highest coastal range and one of the world´s most prominent mountain ranges.
  • The isolation, altitude and sheer variety of ecosystems has led to the Sierra becoming Latin America´s most important centre for endemism.

OVERVIEW
  • Trip Type: Birding Colombia Tours
  • Total Days: 8
  • Tour Size: 8 Participants
  • Activities: Birdwatching & Nature
  • Locations: Santa Marta Mountains
  • Departure / Return Location: Santa Marta
  • Tour Leader: You will be accompanied the entire tour by one of our Bilingual and Professional Birding Guides.
  • Clothing: Warm jacket, cap, hiking shoes, Comfortable athletic clothing, long sleeve shirt, t-shirts.
  • Pace: Moderate
  • Friendly: Yes
  • Guide Language: English, French, Portuguese & Spanish
  • Arrival In: Santa Marta (Simon Bolivar International Airport – SMR)
  • Depart From: Santa Marta (Simon Bolivar International Airport – SMR)
Loros - Birding Colombia

OUR BIRDING TOUR INCLUDED

TRANSPORT

  • Private transport 4×4 and Jeeps, mule and horses’ drivers. Mules and horses to carry on all equipment. Tranfer Airport – Hotel – Airport.

MEALS

  • All food: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in all locations.
  • 2 snacks daily that include bottle water, fruit, hot drinks.
  • Water available all the time.
  • Vegan and vegetarian menus.

ACCOMMODATIONS

  • Santa Marta hotels during first and last day of the tour, individual tent and sleeping bag or if you prefer you can bring your own camping equipment (7 nights).
  • Local guides, indigenous guides, drivers and cooks.
  • The group will be accompanied by a professional guide all time of BOGOTA BIRDING & COLOMBIA WILDLIFE TOURS
  • Entrances to Nature Reserves and National Parks. Payments for permission at indigenous communities.
INSURANCE
 
  • Travel insurance.
Black-backed Thornbill_santa marta birds_ednemic-Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding
Santa Marta Parakeet_Santa Marta birding _endemica - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding
Santa Marta Anpitta_Grallaria bangsi_santa marta - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding

OUR BIRDING TOUR NOT INCLUDED
  • International flights and taxes
  • Toiletries and personal items
  • Laundry Service
  • Room service
  • Tips or gratuity
  • Medical Expenses
  • Insurance
  • International or local Phone Calls
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • Activities not included in the itinerary
  • Extensions of a trip due to circumstances beyond our control
Atelopus carrikeri - endemica - Bogota Birding - Colombia Birding

RECOMENDATIONS
  • This tour requires walking ascents and descents for several hours each day, that is why we recommend that you have an excellent state of health and physical condition.
  • Keep in mind that you must take clothes or equipment for low temperatures with you. The nights in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are very cold (below 0 ° Celsius).
  • Camping equipment: individual tent, sleeping bag and pad are included but if you prefer you can bring your own camping equipment. Plates and cutlery must be brought by each person (It is personal). The kitchen and food equipment will be brought by us, there will be cooks who will make delicious and healthy meals.
  • It is necessary and we must follow the indigenous laws and rituals of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. We recommend a lot of patience and respect with this and at the time of the spiritual ritual with the indigenous communities.
  • All equipment will be carrying on in mules. We recommend taking only what is necessary with you for the ascent and descent.
  • There is no service or Wi-Fi connection or cellular signal.

KEY SPECIES

Blue-bearded Helmetcrest
Santa Marta Wren
Santa Marta Blossomcrown
Santa Marta Brushfinch
Streak-capped Spinetail
Santa Marta Antbird
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner
White-lored Warbler
Rossy Thrush Tanager
White-tailed Starfrontlet
Santa Marta Woodstar
Tyrian (Santa Marta) Metaltail
Santa Marta Sabrewing
Black-fronted Wood Quail
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Black-hooded Thrush
Blue-naped Chlorophonia
Sierra Nevada Brushfinch
Santa Marta Antpitta
Mottled Owl
Santa Marta Screech Owl

Brown rumped Tapaculo
Yellow-crowned Whitestart
Santa Marta Mountain Tanager
Santa Marta Warblers
White-tipped Quetzal
Santa marta Bush Tyrant
Golden-breasted Fruiteater
Yellow-legged Thrush
Hermit Wood Wren
Barred Forest Falcon
Shy Lined Quail-Dove
Grey-throated Leaftosser
Santa Marta Rufous Antpitta
Black-backed Thornbill
Masked Trogon
Groove-billed Toucanet
Collared Aracari
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Bat Falcon
Minca Rufous Tailed Hummingbird
Rusty-headed Spinetail

SANTA MARTA HIGHLANDS TOUR ROUTE MAP

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