PHOTONATURA COLOMBIA

 

In this bird photography trip we will explore different places in the Andean mountains that offer outstanding opportunities to portrait a wide variety of colorful and amazing birds, including some endemic species. Most of the photography sessions will take place in nature reserves or private properties with adequated spaces to attract birds such as feeders, gardening plants, and some sessions will be made in the field along trails to look for particular species tha do not visit feeder stations 

   

The tours begins in Cali, from here we will explore different elevations visiting amazing feeder areas and wonderful forest. 

  

Our route continues towards the city of Manizales and its bird-rich surroundings, where we'll visit different lodges and reserves at different elevations where we can photograph many tanagers, hummingbirds, mountain toucans, antpittas and many more amazing species 

  

From Manizales in the Central Andes region we depart towards the Western andean mounatins from where we visit the town of Jardin and the amazing Andean Cock of the Rock lek, one the impressive highlights of the trip, but also we will have the opportunity to photograph other fantastic species such as some hummingbirds and incredible tanagers and the endemic Yellow-eared parrot.   

   

 Some highlight species to photograph: 

Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Toucan Barbet, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Hooded Tanager, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Multicolored Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Andean Motmot, Golden Tanager, Sword-billed hummingbird, Indigo-capped hummingbird, Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Long-tailed Sylph, Empress Brilliant, Blue-necked Tanager, Chestnut Woodquail, Chestnut-capped Brush-finch, Colombian Chachalaca, Andean Guan, and many more amazing species 

  

 

ITINERARY 

  

DAY 0 

The tour starts in the city of CALI, so depending on your arrival time we will pick you up at the airport and transfer to hotel in the city or birding lodge 

Hotel: San Felipe Birding Lodge or Hotel in Cali city 

 

DAY 1 

We visit Finca La Florida El bosque de las Aves / San Felipe Birding Lodge in Km 18 area for the whole day. This is session in feeders for spectacular species such as the endemic Multicolored Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Andean/Highland Motmot, Green Jay, Chestnut Wood-quail (endemic), White-thorated Quail dove, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Sickled-winged Guan, Saffron-crowned, Flame-rumped, Golden-naped, Golden Tanagers, Litttle Tinamou  and different species of hummingbirds 

Hotel: San Felipe Birding Lodge 

 

 

 DAY 2 

1 hour drive towards Queremal town, where we visit a really good hotspot for the whole morning, photo session at El Descanso - Doña Dora feeders for Toucan Barbet, Spot-crowned Barbet, Southern Emerald Toucanet, Silver-throated, Rufous-throated, White-lined Tanagers, Green Thorntail, Rufous-gaped Hillstar, Crowned Woodnymph, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Green Honeycreeper, Black-headed Brushfinch and many more species 

In the afternoon we will drive 1 hour 30 minutes towards Buga city where stay one night 

Hotel: Guadalajara de Buga 

 

DAY 3 

In the morning we visit the trails around Sonso Lagoon, where we might see Common Potoo, Spectacled parrotlet, Blue-headed parrot, different species of heron and kingfishers and other water-related species. Then we continue our journey to Anaime Canyon region where stay for couple of nights 

Hotel: Urapanes del Bosque 

 

DAY 4 

In the morning we will visit the best place to photograph the endemic and conservation iconic, the Yellow-eared parrot, this species nest in Wax palms so other species of birds possible in the same area. In the afternoon we focus on hummingbirds in the special reserve:  Retorno del Colibri, where we might see the spectacular White-tipped Sicklebill and other species of hummingbirds 

Hotel: Urapanes del Bosque 

 

 DAY 5 

In the morning we have the chance of doing another session at the Yellow-eared parrot spot or try again hummingbirds and fruit feeder birds such as tanagers, before driving around 4 hours to the city of Manizales, where stay for several nights. 

Hotel: Recinto del Pensamiento 

 

DAY 6 

All day session at Hacienda El Bosque, a very unique place where we might photograph different and very cool birds such as Undulated, Equatorial, Bicolored and Crescent-faced Antpittas, 

Gray-bellied Mountain-toucan, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Andean Guan, Gray-browed Brush-finch, Mountain wren, White-browed spinetail and lots of hummingbirds like Sword-billed, Buff-tailed Coronet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Sparkling Violetear and Purple-backed Thorntail 

Hotel: Recinto del Pensamiento 

 

DAY 7 

Visit to Los nevados National Park area in the morning, this is a very high elevation area, reaching 4000m/12000ft, so it is cold and windy. In this spot we hope to see the specatacular and endemic hummingbird Buffy Helmetcrest, also other high elevation species are possible. We also visit feeders for Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Great Sapphirewing, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Lachrymose Mountain tanager, Shining Sunbeam, Buff-winged Starfrontlet 

Hotel: Recinto del Pensamiento 

  

 

DAY 8 

 In the morning we will have session at El Color de Mi Reves, another high elevation spot for Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Ocellated Tapaculo, Black-collared Jay, Masked Trogon, Blue-capped Tanager, Mountain Velvetbreast,  Bicolor Antpitta and some hummers such as Collared Inca, Tourmaline Sunangel, Long-tailed Sylph. Then we drive towards Tinamou lodge, in lower elevation 

Hotel: Tinamou Birding Lodge 

  

DAY 9 

Photo session at the feeders of Tinamuo Reserve during the morning, here it is a great place for some antbirds species such as Bar-crested antshrike, Great Antshrike, Jet, Parker's and Blue-lored Antbirds. Also Moustached Puffbird and other forest species like Blue-necked Tanager, Grey-headed Dove, Scrub Tanager, Crimson-backed tanger, Blue gray Tanger, Red-crowned Woodpecker. 

In the afternoon we will have a 4 hours drive to the colorful town of Jardin 

Hotel: Hotel Macao Jardin 

  

DAY 10 

Morning visit to Mirador El Roble for the morning, feeders for Chestnut naped Antpitta,  Chami Antpitta, Slaty Brush-finch, Mountain Velvetbreast, Grass-green Tanager, Tourmaline Sunangel, Masked Flowerpiercer, then drive 2 hours to jardin town through good forest, chances for  mixflocks on the way, back town and the  visit specatcular lek of Andean Cock of the Rock, overnight at Jardin 

Hotel: Hotel Macao 

  

DAY 11 

During this day we visit to the best place to see and photograph Oilbird in Colombia, plus other species at feeders such as the endemics Crested Ant Tanager and Scarlet-bellied Grackle, also Blue-necked Tanager, Green Jay, Black-chested Jay and Southern Emerald Toucanet and many more, then drive 4 –5 hours to San Rafael town where stay for two nights. 

Hotel: Palagua Lodge 

 

DAY 12 

During this day we visit a new stablished place which is ideal for several interesting species such as the endemic White-mantled Barbet, Collared Aracari, Russet-backed Oropendolas, Orange-billed Sparrow, Rufous Motmot, Ruddy Quail Dove and some hummingbird species like Long-billed Starthroat and Blue-chested hummer 

Hotel: Palagua Lodge 

 

DAY 13 

This last full day we visot another new place with great feeders, here we hope to photograph Squirrel Cuckoo, White-bearded Manakin, Gray-cowled Woodrail, Russet-crowned crake, Bicolored Wren, White-breasted Wood-wren and also hummingbirds such as Rufous-breasted Hermit, White-necked Jacobin. 

In the afternoon we drive 2 hours to the city of Medellin where the tour finishes. 

Hotel: Hotel Santiago de Arma, close to international airport for next day flight 

DAY 14 

In the morning we will take you to international airport. 

End of the Tour 

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