BIRDING COLOMBIA IN THE ANDEAN MOUNTAINS
THE IRIDESCENT TOUR - 16 DAYS

Crescent-faced Antpitta_Grallaricula lineifrons_Mega Tour_Photography Tour_BirdingColombiaBuffy Helmetcrest_Oxypogon stuebelii_Endemic Tour_Photograhy Tour_Mega TourGolden-bellied Starfrontlet - Coeligena bonapartei - Birding photography trip through Eastern andes - Bogota BirdingBogota Rail - Rallus semiplumbeus - Tingua Bogotana - Bogota BirdingENDEMIC, Chestnut-bellied Flower-piercer,Diglossa gloriosissima, Dusky starfronlet reserve Colombia BirdingENDEMIC, Buffy Helmetcrest, Oxypogon stubelii, Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados, Birding tour central andes (Colombia)Semnornis ramphastinus - Bogota BirdingBlue-throated Starfrontlet - Coeligena helianthea - Bogota BirdingMunchique Wood Wren_Henicorhina negreti_Endemic Tour_Mega Tour_Andes Tour_ColombiaBirdingBogota Rail, Rallus semiplumbeus, Tingua Bogotana, Bogota BirdingMerganetta armata_Torrent Duck_Mega Tour_Andes tour_ColombiaBirdingAndean Endemics - Birding Colombia

THE IRIDESCENT TOUR - HUMMINGBIRD AND TANAGER COLOMBIA TOUR

This is an exciting 16-day photographic & birding tour where you can find almost 170 hummingbird species This exciting tour explores some of the very best birdwatching spots in Colombia: Eastern-central-Western Andes. Main targets (Hummingbirds and tanager) also the being endemics such as Buffy Helmetcrest or Cock-of-the-Rock beside amazing Antpittas, great toucans or Barbet!!! This tour can be extended upto 22 days on request but if you like we focused strategy the tailor made tour or less days.

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1: Arrive to Bogota City
Day 2: Chingaza National Park & Observatorio de Colibries
Day 3: Chicaque Nature Reserve
Day 4: Verde & Agua Park
Day 5: Cañón del Combeima
Day 6: Mariquita Dry Forest
Day 7: Bellavista Nature Reserve
Day 8: Rio Blanco Nature Reserve
Day 9: Nevados del Ruiz National Park – Termales del Ruiz
Day 10: Tinamu Nature Reserve
Day 11: Montezuma Rainforest Reserve – Western Andes & Choco Biogeographic
Day 12: Montezuma Rainforest Reserve
Day 13: Montezuma Rainforest Reserve
Day 14: Laguna de Sonso
Day 15: Finca Alejandria Nature Reserve – Km.18
Day 16: Depart Bogota 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!!!

ColombiaBirding_ Colombia Birding
Transport BirdingColombia - Bogota Birding - BirdwatchingColombia

ITINERARY

Catedral primada de Bogota - Bogota Birding

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO BOGOTA CITY

Transfer El Dorado International Airport to hotel. Meeting with the leader guide of Bogota Birding & Colombia Wildlife Tours. If you like we can to visit around Bogota attractions, such as the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro), Cerro Monserrate, or the Candelaria neighbourhood. Night: Hotel Hilton.

Altitude: 8530 ft (2600 m)

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

Flame-Winged Parakeet

DAY 2: CHINGAZA NATIONAL PARK & OBSERVATORIO DE COLIBRIES 

We will depart to Chingaza National Park. This incredible place is located only one hour and half away from Bogota. We will be birding here all the day exploring Paramo and moorland ecosystems. Targets: Hummingbirds, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Glowing Puffleg, Longuemare´s Sunangel, Blue throated Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltail, Sword-billed hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Great sapphirewing.

Endemic Birds: Silvery-throated Spinetail, Green-bearded Helmetcrest.

Near-Endemic Birds: Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Golden-faced Whitestart, Coopery-bellied Puffleg and Black-billed Mountain-Toucan.

In the afternoon transfer to La Calera, there are very nice site “Observatorio de Colibries” with many hummingbird species for photography. Night: Hotel Hilton.

Altitude: 9186 ft – 9842 ft (2800m – 3000m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Chicaque Nature Reserve

DAY 3: CHICAQUE NATURE RESERVE

Chicaque Nature Reserve present subandino and Andean forest with plants like ferns, orchids, mosses, palms, oaks and abundant bushes due to the humidity of the reserve. It has more than 300 ha, becoming the home of more than 200 species of birds.

We are here for to observe the enigmatic Golden bellied Starfronlet and other targets birds here in the hummingbird feeders: Tourmaline Sunangel, White bellied woodstar, Sparkling, Lesser Violetear Hummingbird, White collared Inca and Mountain Velvetbrest in an incredible cloud forest in the western slope of the eastern Andes. Night: Hotel Madaura. 

Altitude: 6889 ft – 8858 ft (2100m – 2700m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 4: VERDE & AGUA PARK

Photographic with farm verde y agua (Moustached brush finch and Flame face tanager). Afternoon we go to Ibague town. Night: Hotel Iguaima

Altitude: 5662 ft (1726m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Tolima Dove - Leptotila conoveri - Tórtola Tolimense - Birding Colombia - Bogota Birding

DAY 5: CAÑÓN DEL COMBEIMA – TOLIMA

Morning and afternoon photographic time behind the Tolima Dove, Tolima Blossomcrown, Yellow-headed Brush-Finch, Indigo capped Hummingbird. Night: Hotel Boutique Posada Las Trampas.

Altitude: 738 ft (225m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Apical flycatcher - Myiarchus apicalis - Endemico - Mauricio Rueda

DAY 6: MARIQUITA DRY FOREST

Dry forest moment near to Mariquita town. target birds: Apical flycatcher, Heron, Parrot and Parrotlet. Night: Hotel Boutique Posada Las Trampas.

Altitude: 738 ft (225m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

White-Mantled Barbet _Capito hypoleucus_Endemic Tour_Mega Tour_ColombiaBirdwatching

DAY 7: BELLAVISTA NATURE RESERVE

Bellavista Nature Reserve (La Victoria /Caldas) (place without feeders). Here we try to get photographic time with manakin and woodcreepers (morning) Afternon we leave the place and we’ll go to Manizales. Night: Rio Blanco Nature Reserve or Paraiso Verde Lodge.

Altitude: 8070 ft (2460m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Bronw-banded Antpitta - Grallaria milleri - Endemic Tour - Colombia Birding - Bogota Birding

DAY 8: RIO BLANCO NATURE RESERVE

Cloud forest. The more stunning and awesome place in eastern andes, there we have the show antpitta around the feeders: Chestnut-crowned Antpitta , Brown-banded Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, Slate-crowned Antpitta, some times Chestnut-naped Antpitta Other birds also come into the antpitta feeding sites including Green-and-black Fruiteater , Gray-browed Brushfinch, Great thruhs, rufous collared sparrow. Around the hummingbird feeders : Long-tailed Sylph, Bronzy and Collared Incas, Tourmaline Sunangel, Lesser Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Speckled Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Buff-tailed Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, Booted Racket-tail and some times wegde bill hummingbird. The places also has the banana feeders, which at the moment coming the Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager and Slaty Brush-Finch. Around the forest we can to find the stunning Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Masked Trogon, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Black-collared Jay, Rusty Faced Parrot or Andean Pygmy Owl. Night: Rio Blanco Nature Reserve or Paraiso Verde Lodge.

Altitude: 7053 ft (2150m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Buffy Helmetcrest_Oxypogon stuebelii_Endemic Tour_Photograhy Tour_Mega Tour.

DAY 9: NEVADOS DEL RUIZ NATIONAL PARK

Early morning we leave the Rio Blanco lodge or Manizales town. At least 13 species the hummingbirds are possible to photograph here: Golden-breasted and Black-thighed Pufflegs, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Shining Sunbeam, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Great Sapphirewing, Tourmaline Sunangel, Mountain Velvetbreast, Viridian Metaltail, Tyrian Metaltail, Sparkling Violetear, Mounatin avotcebill. Around the elfin forest we can to find Lacrimose and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Pale-naped and Gray-browed Brush-Finches, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Brown-bellied Swallow, Paramo seedater, Rufous fronted parakeet BUFFY HELMETCREST, an impressive endemic hummingbird, often can be photographed on perches or while feeding on Espeletia flowers near to the top the mountains (not coming to feeders) . Other targets here are Tawny Antpitta, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Sedge Wren, Andean Tit-Spinetail, White-chinned Thistletail, Andean Siskin and Plane Naped Brush Finch. Night: Hotel Termales del Ruiz.

Altitude: 13123 ft (4000m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Black-throated Mango -Anthracothorax nigricollis - Colombia Birding - Bogota Birding

DAY 10: TINAMU NATURE RESERVE

Birding and photographic bird in the morning in the feeders around hotel. We will move in the afternoon fron nevados to Tinamu Nature Reserve. Birds for this day: Steely-vented Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Rufous-tailed Hummer, Long-billed Starthroat, White-vented Plumeleteer. Banana feeders : Green Honeycreeper, Bay-headed Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia, Scrub Tanager, and Streaked Saltator, Clay-colored Thrush, Great Kiskadee. The grounds of the lodge offer opportunistic shots of other species including Bar-crested Antshrike, Buff-rumped Warbler, and Spectacled Parrotlet. Some times coming the little tinamu. Night: Tinamu Lodge.

Altitude: 4101 ft (1250m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Dusky Starfrontlet - Coeligena orina - Endemic Tour_Tatama - Birding Colombia
Munchique Wood Wren_Henicorhina negreti_Endemic Tour_Mega Tour_Andes Tour_BirdingColombia

DAY 11, 12 & 13: MONTEZUMA RAINFOREST NATURE RESERVE

We leave the Hotel tinamu in the morning and then we’ll go to Montezuma (Choco biogeographic)Has few feeders but we can try on the pristine road to get photo the endemic birtds like: Black-and-gold Tanager, Gold-ringed Tanager, Munchique Wood-Wren, Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, Parker´s Antbird, Alto-Pisones Tapaculo.

Other targets bird: Crested Ant-Tanager, Violet tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstart, Toucan Barbet, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Uniform Treehunter, Bar-crested Antshirke, Bicolored Antvireo, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Club-winged Manakin, Choco Vireo, Beautiful Jay, Sooty headed Wren, Black Solitaire, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Purplish mantlet Tanager, Glistering Green Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Scarlet and White Tanager, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Dusky Bush-Tanager, Tanager Finch, Yellow-green Brush-Finch, Ochre-breasted Tanager, Yellow-collated Chlorophonia, Western Emerald, White-tailed Hillstar, Greenish Puffleg, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzal, White-faced Nunbird, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Streak-capped Treehunter, Barred and Scaled Fruiteater, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Olivaceous Piha, Flame-faced Tanager, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Black-winged Saltator, Red-headed Barbet, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Striped Manakin, Zeledon´s Antbird, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Barred Hawk, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Lanceolated Monklet, Brown-billed Scytebill, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner, Golden Tanager, White-headed Wren and many more. Night: Montezuma Lodge.

Altitude: 5741 ft – 12467 ft (1750m – 3800m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Bar-crested Antshrike - Thamnophilus multistriatus - Laguna Tabacal - Bogota Birding

DAY 14: LAGUNA DE SONSO NATURE RESERVE

Birding in the morning in Montezuma, after the lunch we’ll go to Buga. Stop on the road for look birds in the swamps. Night: Hotel Guadalajara.

Altitude: 3179 ft (969m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Multicolor Tanager-Chlorochrysa nitidissima-Photography tour-endemic Tour_BirdingColombiaTours

DAY 15: FINCA ALEJANDRIA NATURE RESERVE – Km18

Full day the photographic time around the feeders of km18 natural reserve very good opportunities: Multicolored Tanager, Colombian Chachalaca, Red-headed Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Montane Woodcreeper, Red-faced Spinetail, Crested Quetzal, Streaked Xenops, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Marble-faced and Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Saffron-crowned, Golden-naped, Metallic-green, Golden, Bay-headed, Black-capped, and Beryl-spangled, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Dusky Bush-Tanager HUMMINGBIRDS: White-necked Jacobin, Green Violetear, Brown Violetear, Black-throated Mango, Blue-headed Sapphire, Booted Racket-tail, Speckled Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, Bronzy Inca, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Buff-tailed Coronet Long-tailed Sylph, and Purple-throated Woodstar. Flight Cali to Bogota city in the afternoon. Delicious final dinner and end the amazing birding and nature trip. Night: Hotel Hilton.

Altitude: 3339 ft (1018m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

Colombia Birding

DAY 16: BOGOTA CITY

International flight for home. The participants will we transfer to the El Dorado International Airport to take their international flight or connections in Colombia.

Altitude: 8530 ft (2600m)

Inclusions: Breakfast; airport shuttle.

Finished Awesome Iridescent Birding & Photography Tour With Us!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • You will visit the ecosystems of Paramo and High Andean Forest in the Chingaza National Park.
  • You can observe and photograph more than 22 species of hummingbirds in the hummingbird observatory and finca Alejandria – Km. 18.
  • You will get to know Rio Blanco Nature Reserve, an iconic space for bird watching in Manizales.
  • You will marvel at the Nevados National Park – Andean cloud forest and Paramo.
  • You will be immersed in the andean mountains and their ecosystems.
  • Every day you will be amazed at the change of thermal floors in the andean mountains: eastern, central and western andes.

OVERVIEW

  • Trip Type: Birding Colombia Tours
  • Total Days: 16
  • Tour Size: 8 Participants
  • Activities: Bird observation and Photography
  • Locations: Eastern, Central & Western Andes
  • Departure / Return Location: Bogota DC – IATA: BOG / Bogota DC – IATA: BOG
  • 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: Bogota (El Dorado International Airport)
  • Depart From: Bogota (El Dorado International Airport)

OUR BIRDING TOUR INCLUDED

TRANSPORT

  • Private transport 4×4 and Jeeps; flight: Cali to Bogota City; private transfer Airport – hotel – aiport

MEALS

  • All food: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in all locations with open menu in restaurants
  • 2 snacks daily that include bottle water, fruit, hot drinks
  • (Water available all the time on the bus –big bottle to recharge the potable bottles)
  • Vegan and vegetarian menus

ACCOMMODATIONS

  • All Hotels described in the itinerary (15 nights)
  • Eco-lodges inside the Natural Reserves
  • Towel and linen provided in all places
  • Entrance fees at National Parks and Reserves
  • Local guides, drivers and cooks
  • The group will be accompanied by a professional guide all time of BOGOTA BIRDING & COLOMBIA WILDLIFE TOURS
  • Experienced cooks in all reserves, lodges and hotels.
ENDEMIC, Chestnut-bellied Flower-piercer,Diglossa gloriosissima, Dusky starfronlet reserve Colombia Birding
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet - Coeligena bonapartei - Birding photography trip through Eastern andes - Bogota Birding
Blue-throated Starfrontlet - Coeligena helianthea - Bogota 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

KEY SPECIES

Multicolored Tanager
Colombian Chachalaca
Red-headed Barbet
Crimson-rumped Toucanet
Montane Woodcreeper
Red-faced Spinetail
Crested Quetzal
Streaked Xenops
Green-and-black Fruiteater
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Golden-crowned Flycatcher
Rusty Flowerpiercer
Orange-bellied Euphonia
Saffron-crowned
Golden-naped
Metallic-green
Black-cappe

Beryl-spangled
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager
Dusky Bush-Tanager
White-necked Jacobin
Green Violetear
Brown Violetear
Black-throated Mango
Blue-headed Sapphire
Booted Racket-tail
Speckled Hummingbird
Andean Emerald
Bronzy Inca
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Purple-throated Woodstar
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
Brown-banded Antpitta
Bicolored Antpitta
Slate-crowned Antpitta

Chestnut-naped Antpitta
Gray-browed Brushfinch
Long-tailed Sylph
Tourmaline Sunangel
Lesser Violetear
Sparkling Violetear
Speckled Hummingbird
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Buff-tailed Coronet
White-bellied Woodstar
Booted Racket-tail
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager
Slaty Brush-Finch
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher
Black-billed Mountain-Toucan
Golden-plumed Parakeet
Rusty Faced Parrot
Andean Pygmy Owl

THE IRIDESCENT BIRDING TOUR ROUTE MAP

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