TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

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Best time to go: November - March / Also all year round

Duration: 28 full days

Group size: from 2 - max 6 person

Starts in: Bogotá

Finishes in: Bogotá

Good for: Bird photography, wildlife, mammals, frogs, reptiles. Also very interesting culturally​

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​This long tour covers different and varied areas of the country, exploring lots of spots in the Andean mountains which are great for bird photography, then the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta with lots of endemic species, Guajira pennisula with striking and colorful birds and finally the Eastern plains (los Llanos), an amazing place for animal encounters and wildlife photography​​

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ITINERARY

DAY0

Bogota arrival and transfer to Hotel, meeting and dinner

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DAY 1

During this first day we will visit Chingaza National Park, a high elevation protected area where we have possibilities to photograph Spectacled Bear and hight altitute hummingbirds. Return to Bogota

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DAY2

We will spend the morning shooting hummingbird at feeders close to city then We will take a flight to the city of Cali. Visit Cloud forest habitat in "km 18" area where stay for three nights at nice lodge with good feeders set up

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DAY3

We will spend the whole day doing session in feeders for different colorful species such as the endemic Multicolored Tanager, Red headed Barbet, Andean/Highland Motmot, the endemic Chestnut Wood-quail, White thorated Quail dove, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Sickled-winged Guan, Saffron crowned, Flame-rumped, Golden-naped, Golden Tanagers, Litttle Tinamou and many more!

 

DAY 4

This day we visit lower elevation feeders, after 1 hour drive towards Queremal town. All day session at El Descanso - Doña Dora feeders. some spectacular species can be photograph here including Toucan Barbet, Emerald Toucanet, Silver-throated, Rufous throated, White-lined Tanagers, Green Thorntail, Rufous-gaped Hillstar, Crowned Woodnymph, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Green Honeycreeper, Black-headed Brushfinch

 

DAY 5

All morning photographing hummingbirds and tanagers at Finca Alejandria, then 5 hours drive to Montezuma Rainforest Lodge, overnight here for 3 nights Long-tailed Syplh, Booted Racket-tail, White-bellied Woodstar, Blue-naped Chlorophonia

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DAY 6

In the first whole day in this magnificent place we we'll explore the highlands in search for key species such as Chestnut-bellied flowerpiercer, Munchique Wood-wren, Smoky bush-tyrant, Velvet-purple coronet. We will explore forest and visit feeder station along the way down during the rest of the day, we might photograph endemic species such as Gold-ringed and Black-and-gold tanagers and other colorful like Glistening Green tanager, Orange-breasted fruiteater, Golden-headed Quetzal, Fulvous-dotted treerunner, Tanager finch and Black solitaire.

 

DAY 6

In this day we'll concentrate on the feeders around the lodge in the lower part, where we might photograph Purple-throated woodstar, Andean Emerald, Purple-bibbed whitetip, Green thorntail. We will also explore forest in the low part in search for nice photo opportunities

 

DAY 7

After some photo sesion in the morning around the lodge we will drive to Pereira city where stay for one night at Otun Quimbaya National Park, good place for the endemic Cauca guan, Red-ruffed fruitcrow, Torrent duck, Wattled Guan and more

 

DAY 8

We will drive up along the dirty road, early in the morning we might photogarph White capped tanager, Collared trogon, Golden-headed Quetzal, Red-ruffed fruitcrow, Cauca Guan. In the afternoon we will drive to Manizales city where stay for four nights

 

DAY 9

Early in the morning we drive 45min to Rio Blanco reserve, all day session in antpitta feeders and hummingbird area, at Rio Blanco we might be able to photograph Bicolor Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Brown-banded Antpitta, Stale-crowed Antpitta, Buff-breasted Mountain-tanager, Slaty Brush-finch, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Collared Inca, Bronzy Inca, Buff-tailed Coronet, White-bellied woodstar and more species

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DAY 10

Visit to Los nevados National Park area in the morning which is paramo ecosystem at very high elavation (12000 ft), Then visit to Termales del Ruiz for afternoon session, then drive back to Recinto del Pensamiento hotel in Manizales. This day we will photograph very nice highland species such as Buffy Helmetcrest, Tawny Antpitta, Rainbow bearded Thornbill, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Lachrymose Mountain tanager, Shining Sunbeam, Great sapphirewing, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Pale-naped Brushfinch and more

 

DAY 11

Drive 30 minutes from Hotel to Hacienda El Bosque, All day session at Hacienda El Bosque then back to hotel. This is the best place for amazing cloud forest species such as Gray-bellied Mountain toucan, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Andean Guan, Equatorial Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Crescent-faced Antpitta, Gray-browed Brush-finch, White-throated Quaildove, Mountain wren, Yellow-bellied Chat-tyrant and hummingbirds such as Sword-billed hummingbird, Mountain velvetbreast, Tyriant Metaltail and more

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DAY 12

One hour drive in 4x4 to reach El Color de Mi Reves, we will spend the morning here photographing more cloud forest birds suchs as Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Black collared Jay, Masked Trogon, Ocellated Tapaculo, Blue-capped Tanager, Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Bicolor Antpitta, Great Thrush, Rufous-collared Sparrow, in the afternoon 1 hour 30 min drive to Hotel Tinamu Reserve in the Cauca Valley.

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DAY 13

All day Photo session at the feeders of Tinamu Reserve, very nice feeder that attract hummingbirds such as Western Emerald, Black-throated Mango, White-necked jacobin, Green Hermit, Blue-necked Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia, Grey-headed Dove, Scrub Tanager, Crimson-backed tanger, Blue gray Tanger, Andean Motmot, Summer tanager, Red-crowned woodpecker and more

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DAY 14

Photo sesion in the morning at the feeders and visit lek of Golden-collared Manakin in the forest and possible to photogrpaph Common Potoo. In the afternoon, a 4 hours drive to Jardin town will take place, overnight in Jardin in the Western Andes

 

DAY 15

Visit to Mirador El Roble for the morning, feeders for Chestnut naped Antpitta, Chami Antpitta, Slaty Brush-finch, Mountain Velvetbreast, Tourmaline Sunangel, Masked Flowerpiercer, also in the forest good opportunities for mix flock species along the way back to town, and also the very famous Yellow-eared parrot. In the afternoon visit the impressive lek of the Andean Cock of the Rock

 

DAY 16

Visit to the best place in Colombia to photograph Oilbird and also feeders for endemic Red-bellied Grackle, Crested Ant-Tanager and nice tanagers. In the afternoon 3 hours 30 min drive to Medellin, overnight in Medellin

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DAY 17

1 hour 30 minutes drive to San Rafael town area and visit feeders for nice species such as the Rufous Motmot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Rufous-crowned Crake, Collared Aracari, and other good species like White-lined Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Striolated Manakin and many more. Return to Medellin

 

DAY 18

1 Hour drive to Cocorna area where visit nice feeder area for good species of birds such as the endemic Sooty ant tanager, Black-bellied Wren, Little Cuckoo, Collared Aracari and possible the endemic monkey Silvery-browned Tamarin. In the afternoon we will take a flight from Medellin to Santa Marta in the north of the country, and drive 45 min to Minca town in the foothills of the Santa Marta mountains.

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DAY 19

We will visit feeders in the the Faunal Reserve and spend the whole morning in feeders with nice species such as Black-chested Jay, Collared Aracari, Golde-winged Sparrow, Whooping Motmot, Crested Oropendola Keel-billed Toucan and more, in the afternoon we will drive higher elevation where spend two nights in very nice lodge.

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DAY 20

This day we will start very early to drive to the top of the mountains for amazing scenery and photograph some of the unique bird species of the Santa Marta mountains, the place of America with more endemic birds, like Santa Marta parakeet, Santa Marta warbler, Santa Marta mountain tanager, Yellow-crowned redstart, Santa Marta starfrontlet and other very nice such as White-tipped Quetzal, Golden Grosbeak, Emerald Toucanet, Masked Trogon. In the afternoon we will have session at the feeders of the lodge, where we might see Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Bay-headed Tanager, Santa marta brushfinch, Yellow-bacled Oriole, Black-headed tanager, Black-capped Tanager and many more

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DAY 21

In the morning we will shoot at the feeders of the lodge and surroundings for Band tailed Guan, Groove-billed Toucanet, Rusty flowerpiercer, Lesser Violetear, Lazuline Sabrewing, Violet-crowned woodnymph. Then we will start driving down to Santa Marta city and the drive towards Guajira penninsula in desertic area where spend one night.

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DAY 22

We will have session at feeders for spectacuar birds such as Vermillion Cardinal, Orinocan Saltator, Yellow Oriole, Pileated Fich, Scaled Dove, Red-crowned woodpecker and other nice species such as Vermillion flycatcher, American flamingo. In the afternoon we will drive 30 minutes to the city of Riohacha in order to take flight to Bogota, overnight in Bogota

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DAY 23

In the morning we will take flight to Yopal city in the Eastern plain, locally known as Los Llanos, a flat area of savanna and gallery forest, then we will drive for almost 5 hours doing some stops in order to reach our destination: Hato LaAurora, where spend the following 5 nights

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DAY 24

During our first day in this huge private reserve, we will explore the surroundings of the lodge by walking and attending feeders, in the afternoon we will take a boat trip along the river. Some very good species are Whistling heron, Orange-winged parrot, Blue crowned parrot, Scarlet macaw, Violaceous Jay, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Masked cardinal, Sunbittern, Amazon kingfisher, Green kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Wire-tailed Manakin and many many more. At nigh it is also possible to take a look for some nocturnal wildlife

 

DAY 25

This day we will take a Safari in a 4x4 Jeep throughout the savanna and the forest, this expedition will take place during the whole day, driving to different spots for different species, this place is very special for photographing wildlife so we might have the chances to shoot White-tailed deers, Capibara, Orinoco crocodile, Spectacled caimans, Green Iguanas, different species of lizards and maybe snakes including Green Anaconda, Giant anteater, Southern Tamandua and one of the highlight possibilities is seeing a Jaguar.

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DAY 26

We will explore early morning the road driving slowly for good photo chances, In the afternoon we will spend time around the lodge and feeders. We might see Jabiru, Scarlet Ibis, Buff-necked Ibis, Horned Screamer, Red-breasted Meadowlark, Burrowing owl, Great Potoo, Hoatzin, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Pale-headed Jacamar, White beared Manakin and many more

 

DAY 27

During our last complete day at this wonderful place we will do another Jeep Safari searching for more nice species and photo opportunities along the savanna and gallery forest

 

DAY 28

After breakfast and some time to photograph at the feeder and around we will start our trip back to Yopal city and then take a flight to Bogota to finish this tour. One night at very nice hotel.

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DAY29

Transportation to airport to take international departure flight.

 

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PRICES:

1 photographer ............. USD $18760

2 photographers ............USD $11200 per person

3 photographers ............USD $10650 per person

4 photographers ............USD $9760 per person

5 photographers ............USD $8920 per person

6 photographers ............USD $8120 per person

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Included 

Airport pick up and drop off, all ground private transportation, 4 local flights, three meals per day with non-alcoholic drinks, 30 nights in double accommodation, entrance fees to private reserves, national parks and feeder stations, guiding services, local guides needed at some places, water supply and snacks