Expeditions cauca valley and central andes birding tour

Arrive at your convenience in Cali, where your tour guide will be waiting for you at the airport. From there, you'll be transferred to Hacienda El Diamante, a serene retreat nestled just outside the city.

Hacienda El Diamante also offers exceptional birding opportunities right on the property, making it a paradise for nature lovers at any time of day.

Note: Check-in after 3pm

Overnight: Hacienda El Diamante
Meal Plan: Dinner

We will spend the day birding at Sonso Lagoon (Laguna de Sonso), an extensive wetland reserve designated as a Ramsar site for its ecological importance. This reserve is home to over 300 bird species, making it one of the richest birding hotspots in the country. The lagoon and surrounding marshes host various aquatic birds, including Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Snail Kites, Purple Gallinules, and the striking Horned Screamer, a rare and iconic species of the region. Trails and observation towers offer excellent vantage points for spotting birds, especially in the early morning when activity is highest.

In addition to its avian abundance, Sonso Lagoon is a model for community-based conservation and ecotourism. Local guides, many of whom are former fishermen or community leaders, have been trained in bird identification and sustainable tourism practices. Visitors can explore the area on foot or by boat, gliding through serene waters while watching herons, cormorants, and kingfishers forage along the banks. The presence of endemic and migratory species, combined with the cultural richness of the local communities, makes birding at Sonso Lagoon a deeply immersive and educational experience.

Overnight: Araucana Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll spend the day birding at KM 18. This is home to over 180 bird species, including iconic endemics such as the Multicoloured Tanager, Blue-headed Sapphire, and Crimson-rumped Toucanet. The dense vegetation, towering trees, and abundant epiphytes create a vibrant habitat that also supports mammals, amphibians, and a variety of orchids and ferns. The forest’s well-maintained trails lead to spectacular viewpoints overlooking Cali, the Cauca Valley, and Farallones National Park. A visit to the Bosque La Florida offers exceptional birdwatching opportunities and a deep immersion in Colombia’s unique montane cloud forest environment, making it a must-see destination for ecotourism and nature enthusiasts.

Overnight: Araucana Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Perhaps the most famous birdwatching destination in Colombia, the Anchicayá watershed lies on the edge of Farallones National Park, one of Earth's most biologically diverse protected areas.

Our birding adventure begins just 45 minutes from the lodge, along a scenic road renowned for its abundance of Chocó region endemics.

During the day, we’ll focus on the upper section of the Anchicayá road, stopping at well-maintained feeders that attract a dazzling array of species. Among the highlights are colourful tanagers such as the Rufous-throated, Glistening-green, and Silver-throated Tanagers. A key target of the day will be the striking Toucan Barbet, a charismatic species known for its vivid palette of five distinct colours and commanding presence in the canopy.

Overnight: Araucana Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birding at the San Cipriano Reserve near Cali, Colombia, is a paradise for birdwatchers. Nestled in a lush tropical rainforest, this remarkable reserve is accessible via a unique “brujita “motorised rail cart that adds adventure to the journey. The area is home to over 300 bird species, including vibrant toucans, motmots, trogons, and the elusive Club-winged Manakin. With its dense vegetation and crystal-clear rivers, San Cipriano offers exceptional opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography.

Located in the heart of the Chocó lowlands, one of the wettest and most biodiverse regions on Earth, this reserve is also a haven for herpetology enthusiasts. Notable amphibians include the Yellow-bellied Poison Dart Frog, “Niche” Poison Dart Frog, Condoto Stubfoot Toad, and Imbabura Tree Frog.

Rain is almost inevitable in this humid environment, but it only adds to the experience, and certainly won’t stop us from enjoying an unforgettable day of birding.

Overnight: Araucana Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we will travel by car from the lodge to a hotel near Otún Quimbaya in the coffee region. The drive takes approximately 5 to 6 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Departing from the warm, tropical lowlands near Cali, the route ascends gradually through verdant hills and agricultural fields before entering the lush Andean cloud forests of the Central Cordillera.

Along the way, we will pass through charming towns with opportunities to admire coffee plantations, sugarcane fields, and mountainous vistas. As you approach Otún Quimbaya, the air becomes cooler and mistier, and we may have the chance to spot some birds even from the road. We will spend the night here to be ready for the birding experience at Otun Quimbaya next day.

Overnight: Hotel Casa Kumanday
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will spend the day birding in the Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, a nationally protected area spanning 1,208 acres of pristine Andean cloud forest. Situated between 5,741 and 7,382 feet above sea level, this sanctuary is nestled within the larger Otún River watershed, making it a vital habitat for wildlife. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here, including notable residents such as the Torrent Duck, Cauca Guan, Wattled Guan, and Chestnut Wood-Quail. The sanctuary’s rich biodiversity and diverse elevations create an ideal environment for birdwatching, offering opportunities to observe both rare and endemic species in their natural cloud forest habitat.

Overnight: Hotel Casa Kumanday
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will visit Hacienda El Bosque and Termales del Ruiz, two premier high-altitude birding sites near the Páramo del Ruiz that offer outstanding opportunities to observe a wide range of Andean species. 

Hacienda El Bosque, located between 2,800 and 3,900 meters (9,514 to 12,790 feet), offers a variety of habitats including pastures, high Andean forests, and páramo ecosystems. The property is well-equipped with strategically placed feeders that attract numerous species. Notable birds here include the Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Crescent-faced Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, White-throated Quail-Dove, and Hooded Mountain-Tanager.

Just a short drive away, Termales del Ruiz sits at 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) within the buffer zone of Los Nevados National Natural Park. This site is especially renowned for its remarkable variety of hummingbirds, including the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, and Great Sapphirewing, many of which can be seen up close at feeders, and sometimes even feeding from the hand. 

The surrounding páramo and high-Andean habitats are also home to specialties like the Tawny Antpitta, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, and Plain-colored Seedeater, making this a truly memorable birding day.

Overnight: Hotel Termales del Ruiz
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will spend some more time birding around the hotel before starting the journey toward Rio Blanco Nature Reserve. Departing from the thermal springs near 3,500 meters in elevation, we will slowly descends through cloud forest and páramo zones. Along the way, you'll pass small Andean towns and sprawling páramo meadows dotted with frailejones—those iconic rosette-forming plants unique to this ecosystem. As the elevation decreases, the air becomes noticeably fresher and more humid, and dense montane forest regains dominance along the roadside.

Arriving at Rio Blanco Nature Reserve, you’ll enter a protected area renowned for its exceptionally diverse birdlife and pristine Andean ecosystems. The roads give way to well-maintained forested paths that follow crystal-clear mountain streams and waterfalls. The lodge and main trails are nestled at around 2,200 to 2,800 meters, immersing you in moss-draped trees, orchids, and bromeliads. 

Overnight: Rio Blanco Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will spend the day exploring the Rio Blanco Nature Reserve, a renowned conservation site and IBA already recognised as one of the best birding sites in Colombia. The reserve protects crucial cloud forest and paramo ecosystems, where more than 350 species of bird have been recorded, including the endemic Brown-banded Antpitta and the near-endemic Bicoloured Antpitta. Additionally, we may encounter five species of Tapaculo, such as the Ash-coloured Tapaculo and the Ocellated Tapaculo.

In addition to birdlife, the reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, such as armadillos, spectacled bears, and butterflies. It is also an important watershed that provides water to the city of Manizales. The reserve has various trails and feeders where we can spend the day birding.  

Overnight: Rio Blanco Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your adventure in Colombia ends today. At the time required, we will transfer you to the airport.

Note: Hotel check-out before 12pm

Overnight: -
Meal Plan: Breakfast