The Party Endemic Birds Colombia Tour – 23 Days – Birding Colombia – Nature

THE PARTY ENDEMIC BIRDS COLOMBIA TOUR - 23 DAYS

COLOMBIA ENCHANTED: EASTERN-CENTRAL- WESTERN ANDES, MAGDALENA VALLEY AND CHOCO

This is a 23 days birdwatching tour covers Eastern- Central- Western Andes + Magdalena Valley and Choco. This is very intense tour and we will do what it takes to get the target birds. Endemics and special birds are priority. (72+ endemic bird species) around the 500 birds. Habitats: Cloud, dry, rain, premontane, wetland, valley, paramo and choco! Spectacular birds including Bogota Rail, Green-bearded Helmetcrests, Yellow-eared Parrot, White-mantled Barbet, Antpitta, tanager finch, Black-and-gold, Gold-ringed, falme faced tanager and wren and many more.

This tour has several destinations around Colombian andes the most remarkable Important Bird Areas. You will bird in a variety of habitats. This tour has globally endangered and endemic bird species. You will travel main core the country.
This bird watching trip you will enjoy the surrounding andean area, with total access everywhere, the birds are really close to enjoy and take pictures.Also we can enjoy the coffee tour near to birding areas.

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1: Arrive to Bogota City
Day 2: Sumapaz National Park
Day 3: Guasca & & Observatorio de Colibries
Day 4: Finca Colibri Gorriazul & Dry Forest
Day 5: Cañón del Combeima
Day 6: Bellavista Nature Reserve
Day 7 & 8: El Paujil Nature Reserve
Day 9: El Paujil Nature Reserve to Rio Claro Nature Reserve
Day 10: Rio Claro Nature Reserve to Sabaneta
Day 11: La Romera Nature Reserve
Day 12: Yellow Eared Parrot Nature Reserve and leck Cock of the Rock Nature Reserve
Day 13: Jardin to Manizales
Day 14: Rio Blanco Nature Reserve
Day 15: Nevados del Ruiz National Park – Termales del Ruiz
Day 16: Nevados to Santa Rosa de Cabal
Day 17: Santa Rosa de Cabal – Fuerte’s Parrot area
Day 18: Otun Quimbaya Nature Reserve
Day 19: Montezuma Rainforest Reserve – Western Andes & Choco Biogeographic
Day 20: Montezuma Rainforest Reserve
Day 21: Montezuma Rainforest Reserve
Day 22: Montezuma to Bogota City
Day 23: 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!!!

ITINERARY

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.

DAY 2: SUMAPAZ NATIONAL PARK

Where beautiful Paramo dominates the landscape (2 hours from Bogota) altitude of 3400 m.s.n.m. Habitat. (elfin forest): Target birds endemic: Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Silvery throated Spinetail, Bogota Rail, Apolinar’s wren (frequent the marshland) and near-endemic Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Rufous browed conebill, Noble snipe, Northern Tawny Antpitta Around the wetland with Andean Duck and Merida Speckled Teal. (Morning)- Picnic Breakfast at Sumapaz.

In the afternoon we leave Sumapaz area for to go (Chicaque Natural Park). We will visit feeders where the delightful, restricted-range Golden-bellied Starfrontlet can often be seen.

Lunch options: Picnic or Arboloco restaurant (Chicaque) the Monday doesn’t working. We spent return to Hotel on 6 pm. Night: Hotel Hilton.

Altitude: 9186 ft – 11154 ft (2800m – 3400m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 3: GUASCA & OBSERVATORIO DE COLIBRIES

Leaving early (4:30 am), we drive to Guasca town (rural area). This day our new habitat is cloud forest northeast of Bogota. Our main target the endemic and Vulnerable the extinction: Brown-breasted Parakeet also the near endemic Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-fronted Whitestart (the subspecies here has a white face), Black-capped and Superciliaried Hemispinguses, Rufous-browed Conebill and the brilliant Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Black-collared Jay, Mountain Cacique, Slaty Brush-Finch, and numerous other species. In the afternoon we will visit main feeders for eastern andes where we will likely get views of some truly amazing birds including Blue-throated Starfrontlet and Coppery-bellied Pufffleg (migrant local) and both Black- and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Glowing Puffleg, Sword-billed Hummingbird. Night: Hotel Hilton.

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

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 4: FINCA COLIBRI GORRIAZUL & DRY FOREST

Leaving early (5:00 am), we left Bogota behind and descended down the western slope of the Eastern Cordillera to Ibague town for search our new main target endemic Indigo capped hummingbird (Feeders Finca Colibrí) after the continue the have several stop down the road for lunch and birding look for endemic Apical flycatcher, Turquoise Dacnis tanager and Velvet fronted Euphonia. Night: Hotel Iguaima

Altitude: 5662 ft (1726m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 5: CAÑÓN DEL COMBEIMA – TOLIMA

We will spent above Ibague in the Canon Combeima Valley. We’ll look for some rare and hard-to-find endemics around the feeders the Ukuku rural ecolodge like: Tolima (Andean) Blossomcrown, Tolima Dove and Yellow headed Brushfinch. Then – We had a long drive to the famous colonial town Honda. Night: Hotel Boutique Posada Las Trampas.

Altitude: 738 ft (225m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 6: BELLAVISTA NATURE RESERVE

Bellavista Nature Reserve (La Victoria /Caldas) (place without feeders).

(Picnic breakfast and lunch on the road). Habitat premontane forest: We’ll walk throw the forest trail in search of further specialities and endemics in the reserve are White-mantled Barbet, Beautiful woodpecker.

Birds: Woodpecker, the vocally Sooty Ant-Tanager, and Velvet-fronted Euphonia. A number of other interesting birds are also found in the reserve. These include several Manakin species like White-bibbed, Western Striped Manakin, Golden headed Manakin and white bearded Manakin on 11 am we spent to finish the birding to continue the Paujil Nature Reserve (around 4 hours by car). Night: El Paujil Nature Reserve.

Altitude: 8070 ft (2460m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 7 & 8: EL PAUJIL NATURE RESERVE

We were lucky to run across a Tawny-throated Leaftosser doing just that. A lock included a Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Red-faced Spinetail and Scarlet-and white Tanagers. After a couple of hours, we decided to beat a retreat. Saying our farewells to our wonderful hosts at the lodge, we drove down the unsurfaced road. Our driver, Hermes, picked up what turned out to be four White-mantled Barbets alongside the vehicle, one of which was making a meal of a large katydid, and the stop also gave us White-thighed Swallow. Between roadworks and traffic, it took the rest of the day to get to within casting distance of our hotel. A late afternoon leg-stretch in foothill forest was very productive, with a lovely Western Striped Manakin, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-tufted Dagnis and many other new birds. We checked into our Río Claro hotel after dark, made for the restaurant. Night 7 & 8: El Paujil Nature Reserve.

Altitude: 3500 ft – 5000 ft (1066m – 1524m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 9: RIO CLARO NATURE RESERVE

Another morning visit to Paujil Reserve will give us a shot as the endemic Blue billed curassow, and another chance at anything else we still need in the area. We’ll then drive to oil bird to one of their nesting caves for search the bizarre and unique Oilbird. We’ll make an afternoon visit Rio Claro Lodge, where we spend a single night on this forested canyon with its crystal clear river. There we can to see the Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant and Magdalena Antbird. Night: Rio Claro Lodge.

Altitude: 492 ft (150m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 10: RIO CLARO NATURE RESERVE TO SABANETA

Birding at Rio Claro in the morning will look for our endemics such as Magdalena Antbird, White-mantled Barbet, Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant, and Beautiful Woodpecker among other more widespread species like Barred Puffbird, Olivaceous Flatbill and Saffron headed parrot and birding forest edge may get us various tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and other species. We leave the lodge after lunch and We’ll then drive to Sabaneta town (Antioquia). Night Hotel Extremadura.

Altitude: 492 ft (150m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 11: LA ROMERA NATURE RESERVE & CAUCA VALLEY

La Romera is a small metropolitan park or reserve out Sabaneta town. The amazing and stunning Red-bellied Grackle is usually the star bird here, but we’ll also look for Stiles’s Tapaculo and the rare Yellow-headed Manakin. Later, we will drive for 2 hours to stop on Dry forest Cauca valley for where we spend few hours for search the new endemic and recently discover: Antioquia wren and also for Greyish Piculet. Night: Hotel Hacienda Balandu – Jardin.

Altitude: 2650 ft (8694m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 12: YELLOW EARED PARROT NATURE RESERVE & COCK OF THE ROCK NATURE RESERVE

Well depart early in throw the mountains above Jardín toward Reserve Yellow-eared Parrots by ProAves whom to do conservation efforts protecting the wax palms they rely on. We look the flocks the parrot fly above us early then. We’ll spend the morning birding the forest, searching for some birds including White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Powerful Woodpecker, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, and Tapaculos among a slew of more common species. Then on 2 or 3 pm we’ll return to Jardin to visit a great Cock-of-the-rock Lek, where several males can usually be seen at close range despite being only a few hundred meters from the center of town. Night: Hotel Hacienda Balandu – Jardin.

Altitude: 4000 ft – 5000 ft (1219m – 1524m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 13: JARDIN TO MANIZALES

Leaving Jardín, We’ll then drive to Manizales Rio Blanco reserve (5 hours) we’ll stop on the road to look birds on the road. Due to the small size of the lodge, single rooms are usually not available here. Night: Rio Blanco Nature Reserve.

Altitude: 4000 ft – 7053 ft (1219m – 2150m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 14: RIO BLANCO NATURE RESERVE

Cloud forest. Rio Blanco the reserve with huge cloud forest has feeders for several Antpitta species near the lodge, and we will stop and look all. Chances to see Chestnut-crowned, Brown-banded, Bicolored and Slate crowned Antpittas, and occasionally Chestnut naped Antpitta. Apart from the Antpittas, there are several mix flock of other birds to look for including Dusky Piha, Masked Saltator, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Grass-green Tanager, Black-collared Jay, Black-capped Hemispingus, Capped Conebill, Sharpe’s Wren, Golden-headed Quetzal, Flammulated Treehunter and numerous tanagers. Owling time in the night get us White-throated Screech-Owl or Rufous-banded Owl. Hummer feeders are also quite good with Bronzy Inca, Long-tailed Sylph, and Tourmaline Sunangel among several species that visit. Night: Rio Blanco Nature Reserve.

Altitude: 7053 ft (2150m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 15: 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.

DAY 16: NEVADOS DEL RUIZ TO SANTA ROSA DE CABAL

Birding morning around the Nevados for another chance at anything else we still need in the area. We’ll then drive to the town Santa Rosa de Cabal, where we spend a single night on this village. Night: Hotel Santa Clara.

Altitude: 5538 ft (1688m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 17: SANTA ROSA DE CABAL – FUERTE´S PARROT AREA

We leave early in the morning for to get the top. This is the best spot to found the critically endangered, endemic, Indigo winged (Fuertes’s) Parrot. Known from but a few locations in the area, this relatively new site is perhaps the best place on Earth to see the species. Other target birds: Golden-plumed Parakeet, White capped Tanager, Ocellated Tapaculo, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan and a huge host of Tanagers are possible today! Then we finish on 10 am we’ll drive to Otun Quimbaya reserve for night on this village. Night: Hotel Yarumo Blanco (Pereira).

Altitude: 5538 ft (1688m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 18: SANTUARIO DE FAUNA Y FLORA OTUN QUIMBAYA

Otun Quimbaya Nature Reserve features a charming lodge, surrounded by subtropical. We’ll search here for Cauca Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Hooded Mountain Antpitta (Only place for this Antpitta) Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Moustached Antpitta (Hard to see), Chestnut-breasted Wren, Wattled Guan, Torrent Duck, Metallic-green Tanager, Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, Rusty-winged Barbtail and other. Owling for Colombian screech owl and mottle owl. Night: Hotel Yarumo Blanco (Pereira).

Altitude: 4629 ft (1411m)

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 19, 20 & 21: MONTEZUMA RAINFOREST NATURE RESERVE

We leave the Otun Quimbaya 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 and the newly-described Tatama Tapaculo. All days by 4×4’s all the way to the end of the road for a different set of species.

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. Birding below the Lodge Montezuma (2 hours by car) the scenic Choco rain forest is a great spot for several Baudo Oropendola and to head downhill towards Santa Cecilia to finding Baudo Oropendola, Baudo Guan, Spot-crowned Barbet, Grey-headed Chachalaca. Night: Montezuma Lodge.

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

Inclusions: Private transport; all meals; hotel accommodation.

DAY 22: MONTEZUMA – PEREIRA – BOGOTA CITY

Birding around to Montezuma few more hours of birding this morning before driving to Pereira. 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.

DAY 23: 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 the Party Endemic Bird Colombia Tour With Us!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

You will visit the ecosystems of Paramo in Sumapaz National Park.
You can observe and photograph more than 22 species of hummingbirds in the Observatorio de Colibries, Chicaque and Montezuma.
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: 23
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: Pereira 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 (22 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.

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

Brown-breasted Parakeet
Black-billed Mountain Toucan
Chestnut-bellied Flower-piercer
Golden-fronted Whitestart
Black-capped Hemispingus
Superciliaried Hemispingus
Rufous-browed Conebill
Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager
Black-collared Jay
Mountain Cacique
Slaty Brush-Finch
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
Coppery-bellied Pufffleg
Black- and Green-tailed Trainbearers
Glowing Puffleg
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Sooty Ant-Tanager
Velvet-fronted Euphonia

White-bibbed Manakin
Western Striped Manakin
Golden Headed Manakin
White Bearded Manakin
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
Brown-banded Antpitta
Bicolored Antpitta
Slate Crowned Antpitta
Chestnut-naped Antpitta
Equatorial Antpitta
Dusky Piha
Masked Saltator
Golden-plumed Parakeet
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher
Grass-green Tanager
Capped Conebill
Sharpe’s Wren
Golden-headed Quetzal

Gold-ringed Tanager
Black-and-gold Tanager
Flammulated Treehunter
White-throated Screech-Owl
Rufous-banded Owl
Gray-browed Brushfinch
Long-tailed Sylph
Tourmaline Sunangel
Lesser Violetear
Speckled Hummingbird
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Buff-tailed Coronet
Booted Racket-tail
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager
Slaty Brush-Finch
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher
Rusty Faced Parrot
Andean Pygmy Owl

Colombia Birding