DAY 1 - ARRIVAL

Arrive in Bogota. Night hotel in Bogota.

DAY 2 - CHINGAZA NATIONAL PARK & BIOANDINA RESERVE

Chingaza National Park is located an hour and a half from Bogota in the eastern Andes Cordillera. It offers very good birding in the paramo and en route. The most important target species is the Brown-breasted Parakeet, a vulnerable species with limited range and declining population. Other interesting species there are Glowing Puffleg, Noble Snipe, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Black-collared Jay, Ochre-breasted Brushfinch, Golden-fronted Redstart, and Golden-crowned Tanager. The nearby Bioandina private reserve also offers excellent birding. This reserve was set up to rehabilitate and reintroduce captured animals so it has a somewhat zoo-like atmosphere. However, it has excellent elfin forest and paramo habitat. Some of the special birds there are Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Brown-breasted Parakeet, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, and Ochre-breasted Brushfinch. En route back to Bogota a stop at the gravel pits near La Calera is a great place to see Bogota Rails, which are common there. The nearby La Calera Hummingbird Observatory has feeders that attract more than 10 species of hummingbirds. The stars are Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, and Sword-billed Hummingbird. Night at a hotel in Bogota.

DAY 3 - LAGUNA CHISACA & CHICAQUE NATURAL PARK

Early departure for Laguna Chisaca area of Sumapaz National Park in the eastern Andes outside Bogota. This morning will be a second opportunity to find paramo species of the highlands including Brown-breasted Parakeet. It's worth a second morning birding the highlands around Bogota. Possibilities include Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Noble Snipe, Tawny Antpitta, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Apolinar's Wren, and Rufous-browed Conebill. After bird activity slows down in the highlands, return to Bogota and visit Chicaque Natural Park an hour and a half west of Bogota. The main target species is Golden-bellied Starfrontlet that visits the hummingbird feeders there. Also present is the Black Inca. A variety of tanagers and other species can be seen along trails in the forest. Night at a hotel in Bogota.

DAY 4 - PEDRO PALO LAGOON, & TRANSFER

Early morning visit to La Florida Park near the international airport in Bogota, mainly to see Bogota Rail if not already seen. Also usually present is Spot-flanked Gallinule and other wetland birds. If the rail has already been seen, skip this park and go directly to Pedro Palo Lagoon outside Bogota en route to Ibague. Pedro Palo is perhaps the best place to see the rare endemic Turquoise Dacnis. The lagoon has a variety of wetland birds such as Spot-flanked Gallinule and is another chance for Black Inca and Moustached Brushfinch. Other possibilities include Southern Emerald-Toucanet, Moustached Puffbird, Spectacled Parrotlet, Whiskered Wren, Black-backed Grosbeak, Blue-capped Tanager, and Scrub Tanager among many others. From there transfer toward Ibague with some birding of oak forest patches in the lower Magdalena Valley en route. The night will be spent at a hotel in the Combeima Canyon above Ibague, allowing a very early visit to Ukuku the next morning. Night Hotel Boutique Los Pinos.

DAY 5 - COMBEIMA CANYON & TRANSFER

Depart very early for Ukuku Lodge, a rustic lodge about 9km farther up Combeima Canyon from the hotel. Arrive there before first light to see rare endemic Tolima Doves feeding on seeds spread on the lawn for them in front of the lodge. Additional birds of special interest at the lodge are Tolima Blossomcrown and the rare endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird that come to the feeders along with the endemic Yellow-headed Brushfinch. A variety of other birds can be found on the lodge grounds as well, including Bar-crested Antshrike, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Inca Jay, White-naped Brushfinch, Yellow-backed Oriole, and Black-winged Saltator. Then walk back down to the hotel, birding along the road. After checkout, transfer to Otun, about a 4 hour drive. Night at a hotel in Otun.

DAY 6 - OTUN QUIMBAYA SANCTUARY & TRANSFER

Morning birding Otun Quimbaya Reserve. The habitat is sub-Andean forest with a limited number of trails. The main target species is the vulnerable endemic Cauca Guan, which is common in the reserve. Chestnut Wood-Quail is probable with a little luck. Less likely is the secretive Hooded Antpitta, possible with some effort. Other possibilities include Grayish Piculet, Parker's Antbird, Streak-capped Treehunter, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Chestnut-breasted Wren, and Crested Ant-Tanager. Afternoon transfer to Montezuma. Night at Montezuma Ecolodge.

DAY 7 - TATAMA NATIONAL PARK

Tatama National Park is located in the Andes Mountains on the western slope of the upper Cauca Valley and is home to offer 550 species of birds including 11 endemics. Birding is mainly along the rather steep 11km road up the mountain. This day will be devoted to birding the upper section of the road towards the military base located at the end of the road. It takes an hour to get up this rough road, and a pre-dawn departure is necessary to reach the summit by first light. Birds of special interest include Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Greater Scythebill, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Beautiful Jay, Munchique Wood-Wren, Black Solitaire, Tanager Finch, Gold-ringed Tanager, and Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer. Working down the road, the middle elevation will be reached by afternoon. Birding there may yield Nari&tilden;o Tapaculo, South American Leaftosser, Brown-billed Scythebill, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Black Solitaire, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia. Still lower down mixed species tanager flocks are often encountered. Night at Montezuma Ecolodge

DAY 8 - TATAMA NATIONAL PARK

Birding this second morning will begin at middle elevation and work lower, looking for species missed the preceding day. Birds of interest include Bicolored Antvireo, Parker's Antbird, Chami Antpitta, Choco Tapaculo, Tatama Tapaculo, Streak-capped Treehunter, Choco Vireo, Crested Ant-Tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, and Scarlet-and-white Tanager among others. Several bird and hummingbird feeders attract a variety of species at the lodge, located at the entrance to the park. Night at Montezuma Ecolodge.

DAY 9 - MONTEZUMA ROAD & JARDIN

Morning birding around the lodge and possibly the lower section of Monezuma Road. Depart mid-morning for the 5-6 hour drive to Jardin, arriving in time to visit the large Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek in the Gallito de Roca Preserve located just 3 blocks from city center. It's also a good place to see the endemic Colombian Chachalaca and Red-bellied Grackle. Night at a hotel in Jardin.

DAY 10 - YELLOW-EARED PARROT RESERVE

Morning birding the nearby ProAves reserve established to protect a vulnerable population of the Yellow-eared Parrot. The reserve is located in cloud forest an hour's drive from Jardin. This parrot was thought to be extinct until two small populations were rediscovered in 1998. While the parrots are the main attraction, other good birds are also present in the reserve. With effort and luck, the recently split Chami Antpitta may be seen. Other possibilities include Spectacled Parrotlet, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Ocellated Tapaculo, Spillmann's Tapaculo, Barred Fruiteater, Munchique Wood-Wren, Yellow-billed Siskin, Tanager Finch, Golden-fronted Redstart, and a variety of tanagers. Afternoon transfer to Manizales. Night at Hotel Recinto del Pensamiento.

DAY 11 - RIO BLANCO RESERVE

All day birding Rio Blanco Reserve, not far from Manizales. The reserve is widely known as one of the best birding locales in Colombia. It is best known for the antpitta feeding stations there. Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and Brown-banded Antpitta are regular visitors at one feeding station, while Bicolored Antpitta and Slate-crowned Antpitta can also appear but less often. The very secretive Chestnut Wood-Quail sometimes comes to the feeding stations as well. Black-billed Mountain-Toucan can be difficult but is often seen in the reserve. Also possible is the elusive Plushcap, sometimes seen there. Mixed species flockscruise through the forest understory, comprised of species such as Golden-fronted Redstart, Black-capped Hemispingus, Black-eared Hemispingus, Gray-hooded Bush Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, and Blue-and-black Tanager. Other notable species possible there are Rusty-faced Parrot in the forest canopy, East Andean Antbird, Ocellated Tapaculo, Flammulated Treehunter, Dusky Piha, Black-collared Jay, and Red-hooded Tanager.Night at Hotel Recinto del Pensamiento.

DAY 12 - HACIENDA EL BOSQUE & NEVADO DEL RUIZ

Depart early for Hacienda El Bosque near the CHEC Forest Reserve. The main target species is Crescent-faced Antpitta, which comes to a feeding station there. Also possible are Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan and Barred Fruiteater. Afternoon transfer to Nevado del Ruiz National Park. Andean Condors are possible en route or in the highlands of the park. The hotel feeders in the park are the best place to see the high elevation Buffy Helmetcrest. Other possible hummingbirds are Green-fronted Lancebill, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Viridian Metaltail, Glowing Puffleg, and Golden-breasted Puffleg among others. Night at Hotel Termales del Ruiz.

DAY 13 - NEVADO DEL RUIZ & TRANSFER

Morning birding the highlands of Nevado del Ruiz. Key species are Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Equatorial Antpitta, and Black-backed Bush Tanager in addition to possible high elevation raptors such as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and other widely distributed species. Afternoon transfer to Doradal, a 5-6 hour drive. Night at Los Colores Ecohotel in Doradal.

DAY 14 - RIO CLARO RESERVE

All day birding the Rio Claro Reerve, which protects one of the best tracts of subtropical forest still present in the middle Magdalena Valley. The main target species here are five endemics, all of which should be seen this day. They are White-mantled Barbet, Beautiful Woodpecker, Magdalena Antbird, Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant, and Antioquia Bristle and Antioquia Bristle and Sooty Ant-Tanager. Many other species should be seen as well, including among others Barred Puffbird, Checker-throated Stipplethroat, Slaty-winged Foliage-gleaner, Striolated Manakin, Black-chested Jay, Orange-crowned Oriole, and Golden-hooded Tanager. The afternoon will feature a visit to the famed Oilbird cave, where good views of this strange bird will add to the highlights of the day. After dark, some owling at the reserve could well yield Choco Screech-Owl. Night at Los Colores Ecohotel in Doradal.

DAY 15 - TRANSFER & END OF TOUR

Morning transfer to Rionegro near the international airport outside Medellin, arriving in time for connecting flight to Bogota or international flight home. End of tour at the airport.

ADDITIONAL INFO
(Not on Menu Above)

• Country Map
• Accommodations
• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES

• Chicaque Natural Park
• Chingaza National Park
• Colibri Del Sol Reserve
• Combeima Canyon
• Laguna Chisaca - Sumapaz
• Nevado del Ruiz
• Otun Quimbaya Sanctuary
• Pedro Palo Lagoon
• Rio Blanco Reserve
• Rio Claro Reserve
• Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve