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Wildlife Locations

Colombia has unrivalled landscape and biological diversity. To show you its rarest and most spectacular wildlife we feature locations right across this extraordinary country, including the High Andes, the Magdalena Valley, the Caribbean coast and unique Santa Marta.

12 recommended locations. Please contact us for further suggestions.

Cali

Cali

The city of Cali is not only a vibrant cultural hub known for its festivals and street parties, but it’s also a superb destination for any wildlife tour. With more than 550 species of birds recorded within the city limits, it’s one of the most biodiverse urban birding locations in the world. Find Out More

  • Where: Southwest Colombia
  • Ideal for viewing: Andean cock-of-the-rock, multicoloured tanager, bronzy inca, western emerald, spectacled parrotlet
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Chingaza National Park

Chingaza National Park

Covering 77,000 hectares in the eastern range of the Colombian Andes, Chingaza ranges from 800 metres above sea level to over 4,000. It is consequently home to a wide range of Andean fauna and flora, including spectacled bear, mountain tapir and unique, mountain-adapted flora. Find Out More

  • Where: Eastern Colombian Andes
  • Ideal for viewing: spectacled bear, Andean white-tailed deer, green-bearded helmetcrest, noble snipe, Andean ruddy duck
  • Excellent for: Bear watching, Rare mammal watching, Birdwatching ,

Jardin

Jardin

Surrounded by coffee farms and the lush green slopes of the Andes, and boasting distinctive brightly coloured houses, this small mountain town has a relaxed laid-back air, and unique charm. This is authentic Colombia, popular with backpackers and one of the country’s must-visit destinations! Find Out More

  • Where: Western Cordillera
  • Ideal for viewing: Andean cock-of-the-rock, lachrymose mountain-tanager, saffron-headed tanager, black-billed mountain-toucan, green-and-black fruiteater
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Las Tangaras Reserve

Las Tangaras Reserve

Las Tangaras, on Colombia’s Pacific Slope, can be explored in 4WDs, from 1,800 to 1,250 metres in altitude, going in search of the reserve’s star species: black-and-gold tanager and gold-ringed tanager as well as other Choco specialities including black solitaire, and Choco trogon. Find Out More

  • Where: Western Cordillera
  • Ideal for viewing: black-and-gold tanager, gold-ringed tanager, black solitaire, bicoloured antvireo, toucan barbet
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Los Llanos

Los Llanos

Supporting some of the greatest wildlife of South America, the sparsely populated Llanos is a vast tropical grassland spanning over 500,000 square kilometres across both Colombia and Venezuela. Home to South American icons such as jaguar, giant otter, giant anteater, green anaconda and exceptional birdlife. Find Out More

  • Where: Eastern Colombia
  • Ideal for viewing: giant anteater, jaguar, scarlet ibis, Orinoco crocodile, green anaconda

Nevado del Ruiz

Nevado del Ruiz

Nevado del Ruiz is one of numerous volcanoes which make up Los Nevados Natural National Park in the central Andes of Colombia. In addition to its volcanic and glacial history, this beautiful area is home to 1,200 species of vascular plants and a corresponding diversity of animals. Find Out More

  • Where: Central Colombian Andes
  • Ideal for viewing: mountain tapir, western mountain coati, plushcap, undulated antpitta, buffy helmetcrest
  • Excellent for: Rare mammal watching, Birdwatching ,

Otún Quimbaya Sanctuary

Otún Quimbaya Sanctuary

Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary lies in the headwaters of the Otún River in the Central Andes of Colombia. In addition to its great beauty, the reserve is famed for its many rare birds, including the exquisite red-ruffed fruitcrow. Several mammals are also found here. Find Out More

  • Where: Colombian Central Andes
  • Ideal for viewing: red-ruffed fruitcrow, torrent duck, Cauca guan, multicoloured tanager, Colombian howler monkey
  • Excellent for: Rare mammal watching, Birdwatching ,

San Juan de Aramá

San Juan de Aramá

A colourful and remote rural town at the foot of the forested Serranía de La Macarena National Park in Colombia. The friendly town acts as a gateway to many wild regions, including some breathtaking forests and canyons, rich in birdlife including harpy eagle and Guianan cock-of-the-rock. Find Out More

  • Where: Meta department
  • Ideal for viewing: harpy eagle, Guianan cock-of-the-rock, military macaw, paradise tanager, king vulture
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching , Walking safaris

Sierra de Santa Marta

Sierra de Santa Marta

The Sierra de Santa Marta harbours some 20 Colombian endemic birds – the highest concentration of any location in the country. It is possible to view 15-18 during a three-night stay. The San Lorenzo ridge is one of the most exciting areas and ranks as one of the world’s top birding locations. Find Out More

  • Where: North Colombia
  • Ideal for viewing: Santa Marta antpitta, Santa Marta foliage-gleaner, Santa Marta mountain-tanager, Santa Marta parakeet, Santa Marta sabrewing
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

Situated in picturesque Northern Colombia, Tayrona National Park protects one of the most pristine and unique habitats in the country where the lush and forested foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta meet the shimmering, azure blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Find Out More

  • Where: Caribbean Coast
  • Ideal for viewing: blue-headed parrot, cotton-top tamarin, mantled howler monkey, military macaw, rufous-tailed jacamar
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Villavicencio

Villavicencio

Known as the gateway to the plains of the Llanos, the attractive city of Villavicencio is the capital of the department of Meta in Colombia and offers a transition from the mountains of the Cordillera Oriental and the grasslands to the east. A diverse range of birds and mammals can be found here. Find Out More

  • Where: Central Province
  • Ideal for viewing: giant anteater, ornate titi monkey, Colombian squirrel monkey, hoatzin, scarlet ibis
  • Excellent for: Birdwatching ,

Bogotá

Bogotá

Bogotá is the diverse and thriving capital city of Colombia with a rich cultural life, and home to more than eight million people. It enjoys a cool, stable climate year round and is located in the centre of the country on a 2,600-metre-high plateau known as the Bogotá savannah, which is crossed by the Bogotá River. Find Out More

  • Where: Central Colombia
  • Excellent for: History & culture, Wildlife

View trips to these locations

Wildlife trips

At the meeting place of Central and South America, the Pacific and Caribbean, the Andes, Amazon and Llanos, charming Colombia has a diversity of wildlife and landscape that is unmatched. The home of spectacled bears, endemic monkeys and countless dazzling birds, Colombia is a naturalist’s delight.

6 recommended trips. Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.

Colombia Bird Photography

With over 1,900 species recorded, Colombia is the most bird-rich country on Earth. For some, the greatest joy to be had from birds is in recording their dazzling colours in photographs. With this in mind we have devised this ultimate photographic voyage in search of Colombia's spectacular birdlife. Find out more about Colombia Bird Photography

  • Price (inc. flights): 14 days from £6,895
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • When to go:
    • A
    • S
    • O

Wild Colombia’s Mammals & Birds

Discover the wildlife of Colombia on this small group trip to some of the country's most spectacular reserves and national parks. Mammals we're likely to see include cotton-top tamarin, giant anteater and mountain tapir, with bird species including buffy helmetcrest, Santa Marta endemics and hummingbirds. Find out more about Wild Colombia’s Mammals & Birds

  • Price (inc. flights): 17 days from £7,695
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
  • When to go:
    • F
    • M

Colombia’s Rare Mammals

Famed for its glorious birds, Colombia is also home to many charismatic mammals. Our superb tour goes in search of the elusive spectacled bear and mountain tapir, alongside a range of other South American mammals and birds including Hoffman’s two-toed sloth, olinguito, kinkajou and lemurine night monkey. Find out more about Colombia’s Rare Mammals

  • Price (inc. flights): 14 days from £6,295
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • When to go:
    • J
    • F
    • N

Colombia - Realm of the Jaguar

Discover one of South America’s most iconic mammals, the jaguar, away from the crowds on this pioneering tour to one of the continent's least visited wildlife hotspots. From two bases, enjoy the thrill of searching for jaguars, giant anteaters and white-tailed deer on tropical grasslands, and exploring gallery forests. Find out more about Colombia - Realm of the Jaguar

  • Price (inc. flights): 11 days from £5,395
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • When to go:
    • F
    • M

Colombia’s Birding Highlights

Our unique birdwatching trip to Colombia visits key sites with an experienced local leader to discover the country’s most sought-after birds, including endemics and other gems like multicoloured, black-and-gold and gold-ringed tanagers, Cauca guan, red-ruffed fruitcrow and yellow-eared parrot. Find out more about Z) Colombia’s Birding Highlights

  • Price (inc. flights): 16 days from £6,730
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
  • When to go:
    • N
    • D

Colombia’s Harpy Eagle Adventure

The awe-inspiring harpy eagle is among the world’s most magnificent and elusive birds. This tour takes us off the trodden path in search of this legendary raptor to active nest sites. We also seek out many other charismatic birds and mammals on this two-centre adventure. Find out more about Z) Colombia’s Harpy Eagle Adventure

  • Price (inc. flights): 11 days from £5,250
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • When to go:
    • J
    • F
    • M
    • S

When to go

Given its tremendous variety of altitude and landscape, and its proximity to the Equator, Colombia is outstanding for wildlife at any time of year.

Seasons

  • Dry season

    Nov to Mar: Dry season in much of Colombia, including Santa Marta and the Andes, visit the Llanos and Amazonia now.
  • Wet season

    Apr to Jun: Wetter in much of the country.
  • Dry season

    Jul to Sep: Best time to visit southern Amazonia.

Wildlife events

  • Jul to Sep: Humpback whales congregate off Colombia’s Pacific coast.