WESTERN AND CENTRAL ANDES AND CHOCO ENDEMICS AND SPECIALTIES (15 DAYS)
This birding tour will emcompas world-class birding destinations along altitudinal gradients and geographic regions in the Western and Central Andes and Choco Bioregion that will maximize the number of species we can observe.
Day 1: Medellin
We will pick you up at the exit of the baggage area. We will be holding a Colombia Wild Birding Tours sign with your name on it. Depending on arrival times we may opt to get settled at the hotel and do some birding in the afternoon at Parque Arvi or San Sebastian. Posibilities here include (E) Red-bellied Grackle, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, Plushcao, Ocellated, Ash-coloured,Blackish, and Spillmann's Tapaculos as well as Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped, Bicoloured and Slate-crowned Antpittas. Other specialtis that we may see while birding include Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Black-capped Hemispingus, Yellow-breasted Brush Finch, Tourmaline Sunangel, and Capped Conebill. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Ibis Medellin
Day 2: La Romera, Sinifana, Jardin
After breakfast, we head out to la Romera, just outside of Medellin. Here we will look for (E) Red-bellied Grackle, (E) Stiles Tapaculo and the rare Yellow-headed Manakin. After a brief stop here, we will begin our trip towards Jardin. Along the way we will stop at some dry forest remnant patches in the Cauca Valley. Some of the species we will look for include: (E) Antioquia Wren, (E) Grayish Piculet, (E) Apical Flycatcher, (E) Colombian Chachalaca, (NE) Bar-crested Antshrike. Other specialties include White-fringed Antwren, Jet Antbird, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Moustached Puffbird, Spectacled Parrotlet, Cinereous Becard, Long-billed Starthroat, Guira Tanager, Plain Antvireo, Black-crowned Antshrike, and Striped Cuckoo. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel La Casona
Day 3: Jardin (Ventanas)
After a short night, we will have an early start and make our way to Alto Ventanas. Probabilities on this day include: (E) Yellow-eared Parrot, (E) Dusky Starfrontlet (rare) (E) Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, (E) Chestnut Wood-quail, (E) Red-bellied Grackle, (E) Colombia Chachalaca,(NE) Golden-fronted Whitestart, (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, (NE) Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, and (NE) Tanager Finch. Other specialties: Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, White-rumped Hawk, Purple-backed Thornbill, Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous Antpitta, Ocellated Tapaculo, Spillman’s Tapaculo, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Striped and Flammulated Treehunters, Bronze-olive Pygmy Tyrant, Barred Fruiteater, White-capped Tanager, Andean Cock-of-the-rock (lek), Red-hooded Tanager, Black-collared Jay, and Powerful Woodpecker. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel La Casona
Day 4: Los Termales road, Termales del Ruiz
This Morning we look for birds we may have missed the previous day. Around noon, we will begin our drive towards Manizales and bird along the lower portions of the road into the Nevado del Ruiz. Here, our possibilities include: (NE) Crescent-faced Antpitta, (NE) Bicolored Antpitta, (E) Chestnut Wood-quail, Chestnut-naped Antpitta. Other possibilities include: Black-chested Mountain-tanager, Grey-breasted Mountain-toucan, Black-headed Hemispingus, Agile tit-tyrant, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Purple-backed Thornbill, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Crowned , Slaty-backed, Brown-backed and Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrants, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, White-browed Spinetail, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Blackish, Ash-colored and Spillman’s Tapaculos, Barred Fruiteater, Powerful and Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Blue-backed Conebill, Mountain Avocetbill, Dusky Piha, Ocellated Tapaculo. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Estelar Las Colinas
Day 5: Termales del Ruiz and Paramo Nevado del Ruiz
Today we will explore Los Nevados National Park, located on the highest part of the Colombian central Andes. We will wind through patches of forest that open up to Paramo, a montane ecosystem above the treeline dominated by espeletia (frailejon), and grasses. We will reach elevations up to 3,950 meters (13,000 feet), so it will be cold and we will take all precautions to avoid elevation sickness. On our ascent, we will stop at the hummingbird feeding station at Termales which attracts Páramo Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Tourmaline Sunangel, Viridian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. As we enter the paramo habitat, possibilities include: (E) Buffy Helmetcrest, (E) Rufous-fronted Parakeet, (NE)Black-backed Bush-tanager, (NE) Black-thighed Puffleg, (NE) Golden-breasted Puffleg. Other specialties include Tawny Antpitta, White-chinned Thistletail, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Andean Condor, Many-striped Canastero, Paramo Seedeater, Noble Snipe, Black flowerpiercer, Golden-crowned Tanager, Ash-coloured & Paramo Tapaculo, Andean Pygmy-owl, Mountain Avocetbill, Plain-capped Ground-tyrant. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Estelar Las Colinas
Day 6: Rio Blanco Reserve
Today we rise early before dawn and head towards the Rio Blanco Reserve. The Rio Blanco Reserve is managed by Aguas de Manizales, the municipal water company near the city of Manizales. This is one of the finest destinations for birdwatching in Colombia where we will be able to observe spectacular birds. Our first order of business will be to see upclose, a handful of the shy Antpittas that are attracted to worm feeder stations: these include the endemic Brown-banded, Bicolored, Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped, and Slate-crowned Antpitta. The secretive Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush and Gray-browed Brush-Finch also appear during the feeding sessions. visit A walk up the reserve will yield many species and possibilities like the Rusty-faced Parrot, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Golden-faced Redstart, Dusky Piha, Black-billed and Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanagers, Grass-green and White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rusty-faced Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Ocellated, Blackish and Spillman’s Tapaculos, Black-billed Peppershrike, Plushcap, Mountain Cacique, and Golden-plumed Parakeet. During lunch a the small lodge, we will have the opportunity to see up to 20 species of hummingbirds that visit the many feeders that surround the lodge including Tourmaline Sunangel, the aggressive Buff-tailed Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Collared and Bronzy Inca , Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, and the Green and Sparkling Violetear. Among the flowering shrubs in the garden we will likely get excellent looks at White-sided Flowerpiercer , and the beautiful Masked Flowerpiercer. Other species that we have seen from the comfort of our lodgings include Black-billed Toucan, Sickle-winged Guan, and the target Masked Saltator. After dinner at the lodge, we will go down to Manizales for the night. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel Estelar Las Colinas
Day 7: Santa Rosa de Cabal (Cortaderal), Otun Quimbaya
We will rise early and head towards Santa Rosa de Cabal. Here we will look for (E) Fuerte's Parrot (indigo-winged parrot), and (NE) Bicolored Antpitta. Other specialties include: Mountain Avocetbill, Dusky Piha, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Ocellated Tapaculo, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Hooded-Mountain Tanager, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Speckled-faced Parrot, White-capped. After Lunch, we will head south toward Otun Quimbaya where we will have the opportunity to do some late afternoon Birding. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Otun Lodge
Day 8: Otun Quimbaya
Otun Quimbaya is well-known as the best site for the endemic, endangered and now very local Cauca Guan, as well as being a great location to spot Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, (E) Chestnut Wood-Quail, (NE) Moustached and Hooded Antpittas, Torrent Duck, (E) Golden-plumed Parakeet, (E) Multicolored Tanager, (E) Stiles’s Tapaculo (E) Grayish Piculet, and (E) Crested Ant-tanager. The birding here will be done along a seldom- used stretch of unpaved road. The understory is pretty navigable and open, making this a great place to look for Antpittas and the Wood-Quail. Other great birds to look for include (NE) Colombian Screech-Owl, (NE) Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Wattled Guan, Rusty-winged Barbtail, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Streak-capped Treehunter, Bronze-olive Pygmy-tyrant, Black-billed Peppershrike, Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, and Whiskered Wren among others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Otun Lodge
Day 9: Otun Quimbaya, Apia, Montezuma
Today we rise early and will lok for species we may have missed on the previous day. We will surely stop at various places along the Otun river to spot the torrent Duck and (E) Turquoise Dacnis. Then we begin our 3.5 hr drive to Montezuma. The Montezuma Peak lies within Tatama National Park in the Colombian Western Cordillera. Recognized as one of the best birding sites in the world with over 600 bird species identified, and with the most endemics in the Americas, Montezuma promises to be a feast to the senses. We will have the opportunity to see some unique species such as (E) Gold-ringed Tanager, (NE) Tanager Finch and (E) Munchique Wood-Wren, (NE) Black Solitaire, (NE) Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, and (NE) Beautiful Jay. (E) Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, White-faced Nunbird, There are so many specialties at Montezuma Peak that it will be impossible to mention them all here. However, some of the day’s highlights can include: (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) Dusky Chlorospingus, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain-tanager, Crested Quetzal, Olive Finch, and Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Semicollared Hawk (rare). Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, and Barred Fruiteater among many others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Montezuma Lodge
Day 10: Montezuma High and Mid-elevation
After breakfast, we will bird forests between 1,600 to 2,500 mts in elevation We will have the opportunity to see some unique species such as E) Gold-ringed Tanager, (E) Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, (E) Dusky (Glittering) Starfrontlet (rare), (E) Munchique Wood-Wren (NE) Tanager Finch, (NE) Black Solitaire, (NE) Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, (NE) Orange-breasted Fruiteater, (NE) Beautiful Jay, (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) Dusky Chlorospingus, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain-tanager, (NE)Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, (NE) Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, (NE) Brown Inca, and (NE) Nariño Tapaculo. Specialties include: White-faced Nunbird, Greater Scythebill (rare), Crested Quetzal, Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Semicollared Hawk (rare). Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Barred Hawk. Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Semicollared Hawk (rare). Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, and Barred Fruiteater among many others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Montezuma Lodge
Day 11: Montezuma Low Elevation, and Travel to El Queremal
Today we will bird the morning in the lower elevations of Montezuma before we begin our trip towards the High Anchicaya around mid morning. When we arrive at El Descanso, we will bird along the road where possibilities include: (E) Tatamá Tapaculo, (E) Grayish Piculet, (E) Crested Ant-tanager, (E) Parker’s Antbird, (NE) Toucan Barbet, (NE) Rufous-throated tanager, NE) Chocó tapaculo, (NE) Uniform Treehunter, (NE) Orange-breasted fruiteater, (NE) Club-winged Manakin, (NE) Sooty-headed Wren, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, (NE) Ochre-breasted tanager, (NE) Black Solitaire, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) White-whiskered Hermit, and (NE) Yellow-collared Chlorophonia. Specialties include Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Torrent Duck, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black-headed Brush-finch, Green Thorntail, Olive Finch, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Russet Antshrike, White-headed Wren,and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario
Day 12: Anchicaya
Colombia's most famous birding location is within minutes after we depart the hotel. Over 300 species have been recorded along the old Cali to Buenaventura Road. We will begin or birding along a narrow dirt road surrounded by lush vegetation and gorgeous waterfalls. As we descend, possibilities include the near endemic Lemon-rumped Tanager, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Summer Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Bright-rumped Atilla, Golden-collared Manakin, White-headed Wrens, and Chestnut-headed Oropendola. We will stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant before descending further into the lower Anchicaya where we will have opportunity to search for Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Collared Aracari, White-tipped and Blue Cotinga, Rose-faced and Blue-headed Parrot, Spot-crowned Barbet, Black-chested Puffbird, and Purple-throated Fruitcrow. Other possibilities include Blue-whiskered, Emerald, Palm, Dusky-faced, Tawny-crested and Rufous-winged Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Ruffous-tailed Jacamar, Ocellated, Jet, Stub-tailed and Bicolored Antbird, and Long-tailed Tyrant Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario
Day 13: Anchicaya
We will focus today on the Lower and Middle and (to some extent) the Higher Anchicaya Valley, beginning at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) and ending in humid tropical forests at 400m (1,300 ft) in the Pacific Lowlands. Besides the impressive landscape, we will look for (E) Tatamá Tapaculo, (E) Grayish Piculet, (E) Crested Ant-tanager, (E) Parker’s Antbird, (NE) Toucan Barbet, (NE) Rufous-throated tanager, Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Black Solitaire. Other possibilities that we will surely look for include (NE) Chocó tapaculo, (NE) Uniform Treehunter, (NE) Orange-breasted fruiteater, (NE) Club-winged Manakin, (NE) Sooty-headed Wren, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, (NE) Ochre-breasted tanager, Torrent Duck, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) White-whiskered Hermit, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black-headed Brush-finch, Green Thorntail, Olive Finch, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Russet Antshrike, White-headed Wren, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, (NE) Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and many others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario
Day 14: Queremal, Dona Dora, and Km 18
Today we spend the morning in El 18, which is located on km 18of the road that connects Cali to the port of Buenaventura. Birding can be very productive here, and we will look for four endemics – Chestnut Wood-Quail, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet and Multicolored Tanager. Besides the four endemics, we can be treated to a very colorful experience. Purplish-mantled, Summer, Beryl-spangled, Flame-rumped, Golden, Metallic-green, Saffron-crowned, and Golden-naped tanagers as well as Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager. We will also stop at Finca Alejandria, a private home with multiple hummingbird feeders that are visited by hundreds of Hummers. Species include Long-tailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail, 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, Nariño Tapaculo, Purplish- mantled Tanager and Yellow-headed Manakin. Depending on international flights the following day we will either stay at Kilometer 18 or choose a hotel nere the airport in Cali. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: TBD
Day 15: Departure Home or to Extension Tours
Transfer to the airport to travel back home or to extensions.
EXTENSION TOURS
Pacific Lowlands, Bahía Solano, Utria National Park, El Valle (6 Days)
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Caribbean (6 Days)
Eastern Plains (4 days)
