Colombia

Rio Blanco Nature Reserve

Jul 3

The Río Blanco Reserve, managed by Aguas de Manizales, the city’s water utility, is located along an elevational gradient, resulting in a rich mosaic of ecosystems. This diversity supports an impressive array of birdlife, including up to five species of antpitta. With luck, and just a short walk from the lodge, you may encounter the endemic and endangered Brown-banded Antpitta, the elusive Bicolored, as well as Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped, and Slate-crowned Antpittas at specially maintained feeding stations.

Other rare feeder visitors may include Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush and Stripe-headed Brushfinch. Throughout the reserve, birders also have the chance to spot uncommon and threatened species like Rufous-fronted and Golden-plumed Parakeets, as well as the highly coveted Masked Saltator.

Among the many other birds that may be encountered in this biodiverse haven are Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Golden-fronted Whitestart, Dusky Piha, Lachrymose and Buff-breasted Mountain Tanagers, and the brilliantly colored Grass-green and White-capped Tanagers. Keep an eye out for the striking Powerful Woodpecker and the elusive trio of Ocellated, Blackish, and Spillman’s Tapaculos. Other noteworthy possibilities include the Long-tailed, Black-billed Peppershrike, the distinctive Plushcap, Red-hooded Tanager, Mountain Cacique, and another opportunity to see the endangered Golden-plumed Parakeet.

Owl’s Watch Nature Reserve

Jul 4

Located next to Río Blanco, the Owl’s Watch Nature Reserve offers a valuable opportunity to search for any species that may have eluded us earlier. The dedicated staff here have also perfected the use of feeders to attract a dazzling variety of hummingbirds. Among the possible highlights are Tourmaline Sunangel, Buff-tailed Coronet, Speckled Hummingbird, Bronzy and Collared Incas, Mountain Velvetbreast, the delicate and slow-flying White-bellied Woodstar, and the spectacular Long-tailed Sylph.

Manizales to Caldas

Jul 5

Hacienda El Bosque is about an hour’s drive from Manizales, so plan to arrive early enough to enjoy breakfast before diving into a day of exceptional birding. This working dairy farm, set amid highland forests and páramo, has been actively conserving its natural habitats for decades.

The reserve is home to several sought-after species, including the elusive Crescent-faced Antpitta and the striking, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, which often visits feeders for grapes. Hummingbird highlights may include Collared Inca, Tourmaline Sunangel, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Purple-backed Thornbill, and the remarkable Sword-billed Hummingbird. You might also encounter the colorful Hooded Mountain-Tanager along the trails.

Lunch will be served at the hacienda, followed by more birding in the afternoon. Later, you'll continue your journey up into the high Andes to Hotel Termales del Ruiz, perched at 11,000 feet. Here, you’ll settle in for two nights, with time to unwind in the therapeutic, mineral-rich hot springs and take in sweeping views of the Central Andes.

Los Nevados National Park

Jul 6

Explore Los Nevados National Park, located on the highest part of the Colombian central Andes. Wind through patches of forest that open to Paramo, an ecosystem of tropical grasslands above the treeline, toward the picturesque 5,300-meter (17,400-foot) volcano Nevado del Ruiz. The scenery in Paramo is magical and surreal, with velvety frailejon plants adding to this effect. Frailejon plants belong to the Espeletia genus and are endemic to Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
The tour reaches elevations up to 13,000 feet, so it will be cold. Here the goal is to find species adapted to high elevations like the endemic Buffy Helmet Crest and the near endemic Rainbow-Bearded Thornbill, both of which sometimes forage on the ground. Also possible are Viridian Metal Tail, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Brown-backed Chat-tyrant, the beautiful Golden-crowned Tanager, near endemic Black-backed Bush Tanager, and Glossy Flower Piercer. We may also find a variety of seedeaters in the Paramo, including Plumbeous Sierra Finch plus Paramo and Plain-colored Seedeaters.

Los Nevados National Park to Pereira via Tinamu Nature Reserve

Jul 7

The morning is spent searching for any targets that may have been missed and enjoying the hummingbird feeders at the hotel. There is also a chance to look for the very rare and endangered endemic Rufus-fronted Parakeet along a two-kilometer stretch of road that passes through elfin forest, an ecosystem of dwarfed plants. You may spot the very tame Tawny Antpitta, a common companion in this area.

You will stop for lunch at Tinamu Lodge where some of the species include Moustached Puffbird, Jet Antbird, Stripe-throated Hermit, and Bay-headed, Blue-necked and Guira Tanagers. Fifteen species of hummingbirds have been observed at the lodge, including Long-billed Star Throat, White-vented Plumeteer, and Western Emerald.

Otun-Quimbaya Reserve

Jul 8

Located on the western slope of the Central Andes, the Otún-Quimbaya Reserve is a protected sanctuary for both flora and fauna. It is home to the majestic Wax Palm—the tallest palm in the world and Colombia’s national tree. Uniquely adapted to thrive at high elevations and in cool, misty climates, these palms create a dramatic backdrop for wildlife viewing.

As you enter the reserve, you'll likely be greeted by the resonant calls of Howler Monkeys and, if you're lucky, a sighting of the endangered and endemic Cauca Guan. Once thought extinct, this striking species was rediscovered here in 1990. Another elusive highlight is the endemic Hooded Antpitta, while Otún-Quimbaya is also among the best places on Earth to observe the impressive Red-ruffed Fruitcrow.

Your birding efforts will focus on several endemics, including the Chestnut Wood Quail and the recently described Stiles’s Tapaculo. Near-endemics like the Moustached Antpitta, the dapper Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, and the vibrant Golden-fronted Whitestart are also top targets. Other standout species you may encounter include Three-striped, Russet-crowned, and Canada Warblers; Masked Trogon; Green Jay; Andean Motmot; Blue-naped Chlorophonia; and Orange-bellied Euphonia. You'll also be on the lookout for Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Marble-faced and Variegated Bristle-Tyrants, and both Glossy and Masked Flowerpiercers.

Pereira to Aruacana Lodge via Rio Bravo

Jul 9

This day is devoted to traveling to the spectacular Araucana Lodge, with a stop at Rio Bravo in the Cauca Valley where the main goal is to photograph Ruby Topaz Hummingbird. The bird is attracted to the yellow flowers of the Aloe Vera plant, which is planted at the park specifically to attract this species.

Cloud Forest of KM 18 and San Antonio

Jul 10

Spend the day around the famous KM 18, located on a 5,900-ft (1,800-m) pass 11mi (18km) northwest of Cali, along the road connecting Cali with Buenaventura's port city. Birding can be very productive with more than 180 species recorded in the San Antonio Forest. You’ll search for four endemics: Chestnut Wood Quail, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet, and the threatened, spectacular Multicolored Tanager. This area is a tanager paradise where you have a good chance to observe some stunning birds like Choco-endemic Purplish-mantled, Summer, Golden, near-endemic Scrub, Metallic-green, Saffron-crowned, and Golden-naped Tanagers as well as Ashy-throated Bush Tanager and Blue-winged Mountain Tanager.

You may be privileged to see an impressive show of hummingbirds at a private house along the same road including the beautifully ornate Long-tailed Sylph, Booted Rackettail, Blue-headed Sapphire, Green Violetear, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin, Brown Violetear, and Tawny-bellied Hermit. Birding the forest can also produce many near endemics such as Scrub Tanager, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Nariño Tapaculo.

Upper Anchicaya

Jul 11

Perhaps Colombia’s most famous birding locations is the Anchicaya watershed is in the Farallones National Park, one of the most diverse parks on the planet. The bird¬ing begins just 30min from the hotel via a paved road that can offer many of the Choco endemics that this mega diverse locality has to offer. You will spend the day birding along the upper portion of the road.

You will devote some time to the El Descanso area where Doña Dora, displaced by war, started a small cafeteria to support her family, which she, over time, has turned into a destination for birders. You can observe many of the following in the area: Rufous-throated, Glis¬tening-green, and Silver-throated Tanagers. A day of birding on the road should yield many highly prized species including the endemic Crested Ant Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, White-whis¬kered Puffbird, Uniform Treehunter, Sooty-headed Wren, Green Thorntail, and Empress Brilliant. Toucan Barbet, sporting five different colors elegantly while still having a tough de¬meanor, will be one of the main targets. Don’t forget to keep scanning the skies for Barred hawk, Ornate Hawk-eagle, and Swallow-tailed Kites, whilst keeping an eye out on low branches for the attractive Ornate Flycatcher feeding. Another target is the recently described Tatama Tapaculo.

After lunch you’ll drive two hours to an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek to witness the spectacular mating rituals of these fascinating birds.

Araucana Lodge

Jul 12

Spend the day on the 30 acres of the Araucana Lodge in search of some of the targets that include species such as Parker’s Antbird, Grayish Piculet, Apical Flycatcher, Smoky Brown Woodpeck¬er, Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacled Parrotlet, Scaled Antpit¬ta, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Colombian Chachalaca, and Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant.

You will also have opportunities to explore the more than 5km of trails that wind through the pre-montane forest on the property and stroll around the organic coffee, fruit, and vegetable gardens that provide produce for your meals at the lodge.

San Cipriano Reserve

Jul 13

Drive for about 1.5 hours to Zaragosa, your entry point into the humid forests of the San Cipriano Reserve. Since the reserve does not have roads, access is via a pleasant ride on brujitas, which are motorcycle-powered wooden carts on rails that have been ingenuously engineered by the locals. In the heart of the Choco Bioregion, the area is known for being one of the wettest and most biodiverse on the planet. Some of the possible birds include Choco Toucan, Stripe-billed Aracari, Blue-headed Parrots, Spot-crowned, Broad-billed Motmot, Pur¬ple-throated Fruitcrow, and Tawny-crested Tanager. Also possible are near endemics: Black-tipped Cotinga, Rose-faced Parrot, and Five-colored Barbet.

The area is teeming with antbirds, with chances to see Ocellated, Jet, Stub-tailed, and Bicolored Ant¬birds. With the high humidity and heat, you hope to find species such as Pacific and Checker-throated Antwrens, Pacific Flatbill, Cinnamon Becard, Thicket Antpitta, Black-chested Puffbird, White-ringed Flycatcher, Blue-black Grosbeak, and Blue-crowned and Golden-collared Manakin.

Atuncella and Rio Bravo

Jul 14

Begin the day with a 40-minute drive to the village of Atuncella, where a unique dry forest ecosystem thrives thanks to a localized rain shadow. This unusual habitat supports several endemic cactus species and is home to charismatic birds such as Bar-crested Antshrike and Striped Cuckoo. Other key species in the area include Pale-breasted Spinetail, Golden-rumped Euphonia, and two Colombian endemics—the Apical Flycatcher and Cocoa Woodcreeper.

As temperatures rise, you’ll return to the main road for lunch before continuing on a one-hour drive to the Río Bravo Reserve—one of the wettest regions on Earth. Here, the lush forest provides excellent birding opportunities, with potential highlights including Rufous-throated and Purplish-mantled Tanagers, Brown-billed Scythebill, Sooty-headed Wren, White-winged Tanager, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Uniform Antshrike, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Cerulean Warbler, and Uniform Treehunter.

Depart for home

Jul 15

After breakfast at the Araucana Lodge, you will be transferred to the airport for your flights home.