Expeditions Colombia Birding Photography Tour

Arrive at any time. We will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Bogota. Depending on the traffic, the drive from the airport takes around 30-45 minutes.

Bogotá, the largest city in Colombia, is located in the Andes at 2,640 meters above sea level, and due to this high altitude, its weather is like spring year-round, with chilly mornings and warm afternoons. 

This cosmopolitan city uniquely blends colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers, offering an interesting variety of cultural activities like museums,  art galleries, and theatres. Bogotá is also home to various natural areas that provide great opportunities for birding, hiking, and outdoor adventures, making it a perfect destination for the adventurous traveller.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: None

We will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel and head towards Bosque Guajira in Guasca, located just two hours from Bogotá. In this incredible area, we’ll go birding through páramo and cloud forest habitats at approximately 2,800 to 3,200 meters above sea level, searching for hummingbirds, Andean Teal, Black-billed Toucan, and many more species.

Next, we’ll visit a hummingbird observatory in La Calera that attracts over 20 species, including the stunning Long-tailed Sylph, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and Andean Emerald. We’ll enjoy watching these colourful creatures flit through the garden and around the feeders—perfect for bird photography. At the end of the tour, we’ll take you back to your hotel.

Overnight: Bogota
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

This birding experience in Bogotá begins at the Botanical Garden, home to around 90 bird species, including the Great Egret and Sparkling Violetear. The garden hosts birdwatching events and educational activities during major birding days.

Finally, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cali, where we’ll take you to your hotel upon arrival.
 

Overnight: Near Cali – Ecolodge la Araucana
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Today, we’ll visit Doña Dora, a reserve that protects the birds, insects, and flowers of the Anchicayá forest. It’s a peaceful and relaxing spot, perfect for bird photography, fresh coffee, empanadas, and homemade meals. In this small area—no larger than 150 square meters—visitors can spot between 28 and 60 bird species daily.

Some standout species perfect for photography include the Brown Inca, Dusky Chlorospingus, Mountain Cacique, and White-winged Tanager, among many others.
We’ll spend the morning birding at the reserve, and after lunch, we’ll take you back to the hotel.

Overnight: Near Cali – Ecolodge la Araucana
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today We will visit La Florida Bosque de Aves. At this place We will find various feeders to have a chance to see endemic Multi-coloured Tanager, Booted Racket-tail, Blue-headed Sapphire, purple-throated Woodstar and Bronzy Inca. Also, the tanagers like: Golden Naped tanager, Golden tanager, Saffron crowned tanager, flame-rumped tanager, scrub tanager and Green honeycreeper as well as the chachalaca and toucanet. 

We will go back to the hotel.

Overnight: Near Cali – Ecolodge la Araucana
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early in the morning, you will spend about 2 hours birding at the Lodge Araucana to search for some species, including the Parker’s Antbird, Greyish Piculet, Apical Flycatcher, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacled Parrotlet,  Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Colombian Chachalaca and Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant. 

Then We will go to Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, a national protected area covering 1,208 acres of Andean cloud forest between 5,741 and 7,382 feet above sea level. The sanctuary is part of the larger Otún River watershed, an important habitat where more than 300 bird species have been spotted, including the Torrent Duck, Cauca Guan, Wattled Guan, and Chestnut Wood-Quail. Visitors will also be able to take stunning photographs in the cloud forest, benefiting from excellent natural lighting. At the end of this tour, go to the Hotel Casa Kumanday.

Overnight: Hotel Casa Kumanday or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning, departure to Los Nevados National Natural Park. This unique ecosystem features low temperatures, stunning Andean views, and a volcanic system with perpetual snow. It is home to rare birds like the Buffy Helmetcrest and Rusty-faced Parrot. Along the way, We will stop to spot tanagers, hummingbirds, and thorn birds before reaching the Brisas sector to search for an endemic hummingbird. This journey also offers excellent opportunities for capturing images of high-altitude species in their unique habitats. At the end of this tour, We will go to the hotel.

Overnight: Termales del Ruiz
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning, We will go to Rio Blanco Nature Reserve (Owl’s Watch) a stunning nature ecolodge close to Manizales, in the nature reserve of Rio Blanco. This premier birding destination offers an exceptional experience for birdwatchers and nature photographers alike. With over 500 bird species, including rare and endemic ones, it is one of the world’s top birding hotspots. Visitors can join guided birdwatching tours, capture stunning shots at feeding stations, and relax in luxury cabins in lush natural surroundings. The reserve provides a peaceful setting to connect with wildlife. At the end of this tour, We will go to the Termales El Ruiz Hotel.

Overnight: Termales del Ruiz
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning, we’ll travel to Jardín town, a journey of approximately 3.5 hours. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Cock-of-the-Rock Lek Reserve, which is dedicated to protecting the vibrant Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus). This stunning bird, known for its bright red-orange plumage and unique courtship displays, is the reserve’s main attraction.

The reserve is named after the “lek,” a communal display area where male cocks-of-the-rock gather to perform elaborate dances and vocalisations to attract females. There's also a good chance of spotting two endemic species here: the Red-bellied Grackle and the Crested Ant Tanager. At the end of the tour, we’ll head to the hotel.

Overnight: Jardin – Hacienda Balandu or Casa Passiflora
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Today, We will visit the Ventanas sector to see the critically endangered Yellow-eared Parrot (E) at the Loro Orejiamarillo. You can also see other species such as Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Red-bellied Grackle, Tanager Finch, White-capped, Red-hooded, Golden-crowned, and Saffron-crowned Tanagers, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Black and Chestnut Eagle, Golden-headed Quetzal, Slaty Brush Finch and more.  At the end of this tour, We will go to the hotel.

Overnight: Jardin – Hacienda Balandu or Casa Passiflora
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

At the appropriate time, we’ll transfer you to the Medellín airport for your flight to Santa Marta. Upon arrival, we’ll take you to your hotel near to Tayrona Park

Overnight: Santa Marta - Hotel close to Tayrona Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast

We will go to Los Flamencos Sanctuary early in the morning, located 40 minutes from Riohacha.  Los Flamencos Sanctuary is a protected area that covers coastal lagoons, mangroves, and dry forests. It is the perfect place to see all the near-endemic desert specialities such as Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird, Russet-throated Puffbird, Chestnut Piculet, White-whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Inezia, Orinocan Saltator, Pileated Finch, Tocuyo Sparrow and the splendid Vermillion Cardinal. After visiting this spectacular Sanctuary, We will go to the hotel.

Overnight: Santa Marta - Hotel close to Tayrona Park
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, We will head to Mountain House, a charming lodge located in Minca near the city of Santa Marta, making several birding stops along the way. The lodge features a spacious terrace overlooking a flower-filled garden with hummingbird and fruit feeders, as well as breathtaking panoramic views of the Caribbean coast. The sunsets here are truly spectacular! From the lower terrace, a row of hummingbird feeders creates an impressive display, offering the perfect setting to spend hours capturing stunning hummingbird photos.

Overnight: Minca – Mountain House Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will begin the day birding at Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, a small mountain ridge separated from the main Santa Marta range by a deep valley. Its highest point reaches 2,700 meters, which is high enough to spot most of the area’s endemic species, including the Santa Marta Brushfinch, Santa Marta Mountain Tanager, and Santa Marta Parakeet, among others. We'll spend the morning exploring this area, then return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we'll continue birding along other trails within the reserve.

Overnight: Minca – Mountain House Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning, you’ll have time to enjoy bird photography from the terrace, where hummingbirds and tanagers frequently visit the feeders. After lunch, we’ll pack our bags and begin the descent, making a few birding stops along the way to try and catch any species we may have missed. At the appropriate time, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your international flight home.

Overnight:
Meal Plan: Breakfast