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With 1903 species, Colombia is the number one country in bird diversity in the world (with over 33% all bird species in the world!) Additionally, the country is number three in South America with almost 70 endemic species after Brazil and Peru respectively listing 203 and 105. Colombia is a paradise for birdwatchers with innumerable options in the cloud forest and páramos of the Andes, the jungles of the Amazon, the lowlands of the and Caribbean.
Vibrant and diverse Bogotá, the country’s capital and commercial back-bone. Colombia's bustling metropolis is a mix of old and new, trendy and traditional, stately and charming. Home to a dazzling array of museums, churches, colonial mansions and stately buildings Bogotá has a fine balance between its historical past and its movement in to the future. This city in central Colombia is located at an elevation of 2,650 m./8,660 ft. on a mountain rimmed plateau high in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes Mountains. The city lies only 4°36' north of the equator. Upon arrival at El Dorado International airport you will be collected by your billingual guide and private vehicle. Read more
La Florida Park is a wetland area outside Bogota that has been heavily impacted by devleopment. The small remaining natural areas are an excellent place to find the endemic Bogota Rail. Like most rails, this species is quite secretive and is most likely to be seen very early in the morning. The second primary target bird to be found in the park is the endemic Apolinar's Wren, a fairly common bird of tall cattails. You will be collected from the hotel from your bilingual guide and private chofer. The tour has a duration of aproximately four hours. After your tour you will have the afternoon at leisure. Read more
The Colombian Amazon forms part of the largest ecosystem on the planet. More than one third of the world’s species live in the Amazon rainforest, a giant tropical forest and river basin with an area that stretches more than 5,400,000 sq km. The River Amazon runs through the Amazon jungle and is a lifeline for so many species and humans alike. The river provides water, fishing and habitat and without it many thousands of people and a far greater number of species of birdlife, mammals and marine life would not exist today. From its humble source in the Peruvian Andes to its immensity at the Atlantic coast of Brazil, this giant ecosystem is truly one of the natural world’s greatest marvels. Using the river as your primary means of transport it is possible to see indigenous tribes, wildlife such as the famous pink river dolphins and pass over the three frontiers of Colombia, Brazil and Peru. Most people start in the department’s capital of Leticia. This interesting city borders both neighbors Brazil and Peru and is fast merging with Tabatinga on the Brazilian side. It is only possible to enter Leticia by air or by water from Brazil or Peru. You will be collected at the airport in Leticia where you will have a 2 hour transfer to your hotel. After check in you will have a night jungle walking tour around the sector.As night falls and after your first jungle lodge meal you will enjoy a short walk along the paths close to the lodge. Night and day in the jungle could not be more different, as dusk sets in the day shift check out and hole up for the evening while a whole new raft of wildlife wake up ready for the night shift. You will have the opportunity to walk the local trails with your guide looking for these night-time creatures. You can fix with your guide the distance and time you want to be away but estimate on a walk of approximately 1 hour. You will learn about the creatures that inhabit the jungle canopy and floor, with luck you will get to see local frogs, maybe snakes and even night-time mammals. Then it’s back to the lodge for a well-earned rest after your first day. You will quickly find that jungle life is all about early nights and early starts! Read more
Today is a full day outing including more time on the river and also time walking on jungle trails. You will head by boat to the nearby San Martin area in the Amacayacu National Park. As well as jungle, you will see local traditional farming and how this is done to maintain not conflict with the local ecosystem. You will also learn about the pressures that the jungle is under and its daily fight for survival. There will be more time for wildlife spotting both from the boat and walking the trails. You will stop for a local lunch during the day before taking the boat back to the lodge mid-afternoon. In the evening you will have the opportunity again to engage in some local artisanal fishing if you like. Read more
The people that live in the jungle are its beating heart and as important to the local ecosystem as the jungle itself. Today you will visit a local indigenous community; the Mocagua community are very proud of their culture and connection to the jungle and are happy to share the experience they have with visitors. You will have a chance to visit this local community, learn about their way of life and interact with them as you start to understand how this delicate ecosystem all fits together. After a local lunch, there will be some time spent observing the river and local wildlife, there is an opportunity to engage in some local fishing if you like, then it’s time to hit the river once again. The idea this afternoon is spotting the famous pink river dolphins that inhabit this region. These mystical and graceful creatures are amazing to watch as they move up and down the river. You will learn about these wonderful marine mammals and the stories the locals tell of them. Then late afternoon its back to the lodge to rest and dinner. Read more
The coffee region for many people is the heart and soul of Colombia, its cultural epicentre. With every turn, a spectacular panorama changes your perspective, from the rolling hillsides of fertile coffee plantations to plunging valleys and bold elevations. Campesino or rural life continues as it has done for centuries harvesting coffee, plantains (a type of Banana) and many other fruits in this lush and fertile land. A visit to the Coffee region permits you to experience the tranquillity of the region. It also offers the opportunity for adventure or for friendly encounters with locals going about their daily lives. Staying in one of the many fincas or haciendas provides an opportunity to get a feel for the areas ambience and harmony and a great place to rest after a day exploring. Three departments make up the “Triángulo Del Café”. They run in a North to South line following the Central Andean Cordillera. Caldas is the most northerly of the departments, then heading south to Risaralda and in turn Quindío. All three are flanked by the snow capped peaks of the Parque Natural los Nevados to the east. The climate is reflected by the extremes in altitude, from the harsh temperatures and savage beauty of the surrounding mountains at 5000 m.a.s.l, to the sultriness of the Rio Cauca. The Rio Cauca is the largest watercourse in the region and the second most important in Colombia. The river begins from its source in the department of Cauca to its mergence with the Rio Brazo and then onto its connection with the Rio Magdalena further north. As the name suggests the coffee region is the home to the famous Colombian coffee but there is far more on offer in this amazing part of the country. You will be collected from Mantecaña international airport by your bilingual guide and transfered to the hotel where you will be spending the next two nights. Read more
Venture to Otún Quimbaya, the ideal location for observing birdlife such as Cauca guan, Monte toro and carriquí, along with howler monkeys, mountain tapir and guatín — though these mammals can be difficult to spot. Enjoy a picnic lunch, surrounded by lush slopes where our naturalists points out ficus, yarumos, bromeliads, orchids and other flora native to the cloud forest. Read more
To continue this magnificent birdwatching journey you will be collected from the hotel by your bilingual guide and private vehicle and will be transfered to Manizales. The transfer has a duration of aproximately 1 hour and a half. Manizales is located near el Nevado del Ruiz is the capital of the Caldas department . One of the founding towns of the Coffee region Manizales importance in the region cannot be over stated. Its history is key to understanding the region as a whole. The back bone of the coffee industry was and still is managed from Manizales. Set on top on a mountain crest the city has amazing views in to the valleys below and departments (regional districts) beyond. Read more
The Los Nevados Nation Park is a landscape of mountain ranges, dormant volcanoes, hot springs, and recent memories of tragic eruptions. The highest range of the three ( Nevado del Ruiz, Nevado de Santa Rosa and Nevado Tolima ) , is del Ruiz (5231m) erupted in 1985, completely destroy one village. The journey will take you by road out through Manizales and into the stunning scenery of the highlands of the department of Caldas. The journey by road will be approximately 2 hours before reaching the park entrance, from here its unpaved roadway to the final car park. Your guide will explain the climates, flora and fauna, and history of this savage but beautiful landscape. There are some amazing photo opportunities at every corner of the winding road. During the first stages you will see the Frailejon plants; this is a herb endemic to the Andean Region. Read more
Founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was formerly the Caribbean gateway port used by the Spanish. Here they would store the riches plundered form the interior before they were transported back to the old world. It is not surprising therefore that the city was a draw for buccaneers and pirates who attempted on many occasions to take the city, most notably by Sir Francis drake in 1586 who "mercifully" agreed not to level the city in return for 10 million pesos that he carted back to England. It was after the attack by Drake that plans were made to fortify the city and work on the defensive walls began. These walls still stand today and mark the boundary between the old and new parts of the city. The walls and fort took a total of 200 years to build and complete and the Spanish finished them just 25 years before Colombia gained Independence. Cartagena eventually won its Independence in 1821; a full 3 years after Bogota had been liberated. Cartagena's rich history, diverse culture and energy absorbs every visitor allowing them a glimpse into the past and a chance to relax in superb surroundings. This passionate and vibrant city with some of the best preserved colonial architecture in all of South America exudes character, mix in African rhythms and indigenous influences with the Spanish colonial splendor and Cartagena is truly an amazing destination. Read more
You will be taken on an approximately one-hour drive south to the Colombian National Aviary. Colombia is high among the leading countries when it comes to avian biodiversity with about 1,900 different species. Of these species, 197 are migratory, 86 are endemic and 15 are in critical danger of extinction. Several species are endangered, including the Andean Condor, Colombia’s national bird. Home to more than 135 species of birds, the aviary in Barú, south of Cartagena, is now the largest aviary in the country. The different environmental spheres are designed to preserve. The most impressive habitats, and also the most challenging to construct, include the tropical rainforest setting and the environments constructed for condors and flamingos. The Colombian National Aviary Foundation states its main objective is to promote and educate the public on conservation, reproduction and repopulation of the treasured Colombian avifauna. While some of the birds, like the toucans, are able to interact with visitors, others prefer to keep their distance such as the condors and the flamingos. After a quick refreshment break, it will be time to depart the aviary and return back to the hotel. Read more
You will have plenty to keep you occupied with a free day in Cartagena. The streets are alive with life and people watching is an endless activity. This can be done strolling the cobbled streets or from the comfort of a local restaurant with cool fruit juice in hand. Cartagena is an attraction in itself, but there are also plenty of local shops to occupy even the most ardent shopper. If you fancy a good walk (or taxi if you don’t) a trip down to the beaches of Boca Grande will let you soak up some sun and see how the locals enjoy their city beach. Read more
You will be collected at the hotel by a billingual guide and private vehicle to transfer you to Rafael Nuñez International airport for your departure flight.
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