PHOTONATURA COLOMBIA

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In Colombia the huge Andean mountains split into three main ranges or cordilleras: The Eastern, Central and Western Andes. Despite their similarity in lanscape and geography these ranges hold different and quite interesting species among them, making it the most diverse area of Colombia. 

 

The Central and Western mountain ranges hold the biggest Colombian diversity, with highlands landscapes dominated by cloud forest and snow peak volcanos. More than 30 endemic birds can be seen among these huge mountain ranges. 

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ITINERARY

 

DAY 1

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You will be picked up in Cali airport or in the city and transfer to Bosque de Niebla Lodge in the surroundings of Cali where stay for 3 nights

 

DAY 2

We will spend the whole day at Bosque de Niebla. This is 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 throated Quail dove, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Sickled-winged Guan, Saffron crowned, Flame-rumped, Golden-naped, Golden Tanagers, Litttle Tinamou and many more!

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DAY 3

This day we visit a special place after 1 hour drive towards Queremal town. All day session at El Descanso - Doña Dora feeders. some spectacular species can be seen and photograph here including Toucan 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

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DAY 4

Morning of hummingbirds and tanagers at Finca Alejandria, then 1 hour 45 min drive to San Cipriano Reserve, int he lowlands of Pacific where stay for two nights. This place is very humid and rainy, to get there it is needed to take a “brujita”, which is an adapted motorbike on a wooded board that drives along an abandoned train road. It takes 15 minutes.

 

DAY 5

In the first whole day in this magnificent place we we'll explore the dense forest searching for species such as Black-breasted Puffbird, Choco Toucan, Golden-winged Manakin, Black-tipped Cotinga, Choco Manakin, Choco Poorwill, Plumbeous Hawk and different species of Antbirds like Dusky, Spotted, Ocellated and more

 

DAY 6

We will bird in the morning in the forest in San Cipriano, then we will head back and drive around 2 hours to the city of Buga, located in the Cauca Valley. Spen the night here in the nice small city

 

DAY 7

During this day we will visit Laguna de Sonso, a big lagoon and wetland, where we hope to see Horned Screamer, Little Cuckoo, Oriole Blackbird, Common Potoo, Jet Antbird, Slate-headed Pygmy-tyrant, Gray-cowled woodrail, Green and Amazon kingfisher, Apical flycatcher and many more. In the afternoon we will drive up north along the Cauca Valley and get to Pereira city​

Then continue our drive to Montezuma lodge in the boundaries of the Tatamá National Park where stay for three nights.

 

DAY 8

In the first whole day in this magnificent we we'll explore the highlands in search for key species such as Chestnut-bellied flowerpierce, Munchique Wood-wren, Smoky bush-tyrant, Black-billed mountain-toucan aand many more. On the way down during the rest of the day we might see Gold-ringed and Black-and-gold tanagers, Glistening Green tanager, Orange-breasted fruiteater, Tatama tapaculo, Fulvous-dotted treerunner, Pale-eyed thrush, tanager finch and black solitaire.

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DAY 9

In this day we'll concéntrate on the missing species and explore the lowparts and around the lodge in search for Crested ant-tanager, Moustached puffbird, Variable seedeater, tawny-bellied hermit and many more

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DAY 10

After some birding around the lodge we will drive to Pereira city where stay for one night at Otun Quimbaya National Park, good place for Cauca guan, Red-ruffed fruitcrow, Torrent duck, Chestnut woodquail and more

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DAY 11

We will drive up along the dirty road, early in the morning we might see Hooded antpitta, White-capped tanager, Collared trogon, wedge-billed hummingbird, Stile's tapaculo, Black-winged and black-billed saltators, Three-striped warbler, Blue-necked and Fawn-breasted tanagers. In the afternoon we will drive to Manizales city where stay for a couple of nights.

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DAY 12

 

In this day we will visit Rio Blanco Reserve where we attend antpitta feeders such as Brown-banded, Bicolored, Chestnut-crowned and Slate-crowned Antpittas, also watch birds in flocks inside the forest. In the afternoon watch the hummingbirds and tanagers that come to the feeders.

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DAY 13

An early visit to Los Nevados National Park will reward us with great scenery and bird opportunities. Main target species are Buffy helmetcrest, Scarlet-bellied mountain-tanager, Tawny antpitta, Hooded mountain-tanager, Rainbow-bearded thornbill, Golden-breasted puffleg, and great sapphirewing. On the way back we will stay in Tinamu nature reserve in the surroundings of Manizales city for one night

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DAY 14

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Early birding along the trails of the reserve and feeders where we might see Bar-creasted and Great Antshrike, Blue-lored antbird, Little tinamou, Green honeycreeper, Scrub tanager, Long-billed starthroat, Acorn woodpecker, Guira tanager, Highland Motmot, Grey-headed dove and Common potoo.

In the afternoon transport towards Jardín town.

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DAY 15

Birding for th whole day in the highlands searching for birds such as Yellow-eared parrot, Chestnut-crested cotinga,  Visit Antpitta feeders and hummingbirds spot, then return to town to visit  Andean Cock of the Rock's lek in the afternoon. Another night at Jardín town.

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DAY 16

Early birding in the morning visit feeders for Red-bellied Grackle (e), Green Jay, different species of tanagers and also visit amazing spot for seeing OIlbird

In the afternoon transport to Medellín to finish the tour

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