Colombia has more bird species than any other country in the world and on this specially designed tour we will enjoy numerous photographic opportunities to capture some of the country’s stunning birds.
With more than 1,900 species recorded, Colombia is the most bird-rich country on Earth and the finest destination for a birding photography tour. Our tour begins just outside Bogotá with a visit to a hummingbird garden where the remarkable sword-billed hummingbird will be among the species we hope to photograph.
From here we travel to Jardín where we're rewarded with a dazzling variety of photogenic tanagers, barbets and hummingbirds, including a number of endemics and restricted species. In the surrounding forest a range of quetzals, woodpeckers and motmots will be among our photographic targets. One of the undoubted highlights will also be a visit to one of South America’s busiest cock-of-the-rock leks located on the edge of town, where we can be treated to the spectacle of more than 20 of the vivid males all displaying in front of us.
In the remarkable Rio Blanco Reserve, special feeding stations give us the chance to photograph no fewer than five species of antpittas, some of them once considered so elusive as to be near-mythical. Countless other gorgeous birds are to be found, and photographed, here too, including charming white-capped dippers on the river and exquisite crimson-mantled and powerful woodpeckers in the mature forest. At another nearby reserve habituated black-billed mountain toucans and rare ocellated tapaculos will give us plenty of photography opportunities.
In Nevado del Ruiz, we venture above the treeline to the dramatic vistas of the paramo. Here our main aim is to photograph the rare, endemic buffy helmetcrest, though the landscape itself is breathtaking. Finally, we enjoy a stay at the wonderful San Felipe Lodge. This is a bird photography paradise just outside Cali and surrounded by pristine Andean forest and excellent feeders.
Accompanied by Colombian bird expert and photographer Hernan Arias, and visiting some of the finest sites for bird photography in the world's finest country for birds, our unique tour gives you the chance to create an incredible portfolio which will include some of South America's most spectacular and sought-after birds.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Today we depart the UK on our overnight international flight to Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia.
Day2: Arrive Bogotá
In the morning, after arriving into Bogotá, we transfer to a lush garden on the outskirts of the city such as the Observatorio de Colibríes for our first experience of Colombian birdlife. Even here the diversity of hummingbird species can be incredible with the remarkable sword-billed hummingbird, a regular visitor.
Accommodation: BS Rosales Hotel, 1-night
Day3: Transfer to Jardin
This morning, we transfer to the airport in Bogotá for our onward flight to Medellín. We then transfer to the vibrant city of Jardin, stopping at a hummingbird feeding garden along the way.
Accommodation: Valdivia Plaza Hotel, 2-nights
Day4: Bird photography at Las Ventanas
Making an early start this morning, we use 4x4 vehicles to make our way up a bumpy track towards a special reserve that lies high above town. The aptly named Las Ventanas (the windows) protects a population of endangered yellow-eared parrots, a species whose range once covered northern Ecuador and much of Colombia’s Andes, but is now only known from a few isolated populations in Colombia. We hope to enjoy flyover views of these special birds as they leave their overnight roosts and disperse in noisy feeding parties.
We visit another small private reserve to try our luck with the handsome chestnut-naped antpitta and Chamí antpitta, as well as trying to tempt the beautifully marked ocellated tapaculo into view. There are also some excellent hummingbird feeders in the area with long-tailed sylph, collared inca and white-bellied woodstar. Later we visit one of the most active lekking sites of Andean cock-of-the-rock on the continent, located just outside town. Often 20 raucous males are in attendance, vying for the attentions of any females that might be in the vicinity.
Day5: Bird photography around Jardin
A special breakfast is planned this morning – a breakfast with birds in a private garden, a short drive outside town. Beauties such as red-headed barbet, inca jay, green honeycreeper, russet-backed oropendola and a fantastic variety of tanagers including crimson-backed and blue-necked all feed in front of our verandah.
We then continue our journey, slowly winding up into Colombia’s central Andean range, to Manizales arriving at our accommodation in time for lunch. We enjoy a relaxed afternoon of bird photography in the lodge grounds, home to a variety of tanagers, hummingbirds and flycatchers. The time here is more relaxed, so if you prefer, you can also enjoy some time at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel Recinto de Pensamiento, 3-nights
Day6: Explore Rio Blanco Forest Reserve
Today we explore the Rio Blanco Forest Reserve in search of its bird species and photographic opportunities, with a particular focus on antpittas. Rio Blanco has several feeding stations for the elusive antpittas, and we have the opportunity to photograph as many as five species. The elegant chestnut-crowned and endemic brown-banded antpittas are usually relatively bold (for antpittas at least!), whereas bicoloured and slate-crowned tend to be a little more shy. Recently the rare undulated antpitta has also been making an appearance, so we’ll be hoping to see this tricky species as well.
Species commonly encountered on the trails in Rio Blanco include stunners such as white-capped tanager, crimson-mantled and powerful woodpeckers, green-and-black fruiteater, pearled treerunner, golden-plumed parakeet, emerald toucanet and black-billed mountain-toucan. There will also be time for hummingbird photography around the lodge with species such as long-tailed sylph, tourmaline sunangel, both collared and bronzy incas and Andean emerald.
Day7: Full day El Color de mis Reves
Today we visit the misty cloud forest reserve of El Color de mis Rêves. An excellent assemblage of gorgeous species, many of which are habituated, can be found and photographed here at specially designed feeding stations and within the forest. Among some of the highlights we hope to see, and photograph are fawn-breasted, hooded, scarlet-bellied and blue-winged and lacrimose mountain tanagers, green-and-black fruiteater, black-collared jay, black-billed mountain toucan, emerald toucanet, the striking ocellated tapaculo and numerous hummingbirds including the beautiful purple-backed thornbill.
Day8: Transfer to Hacienda del Bosque
Today we set off early for our drive to Hacienda del Bosque in the central Andes, arriving in time for lunch. The farm here has set aside some beautiful Andean forest and offers some outstanding photography with some rare and unique species. Antpittas are again very approachable here - the elegant rufous, Equatorial and the tiny crescent-faced antpitta. Other stunning targets include several habituated grey-breasted mountain-toucans and barred fruiteater as well as hooded mountain tanager, sword-billed hummingbird and the elusive flammulated treehunter. We then drive higher to our lodge at Nevado del Ruiz, stopping in the different habitats as we travel.
Day9: Bird photography in the paramo of Nevado del Ruiz
Today we head up to the páramo (a high altitude tropical montane habitat that lies above the treeline) where we look for one of the hummingbird highlights of the tour. Even among the 40 possible hummingbird species on our trip, the buffy helmetcrest is truly special – a range-restricted Colombian endemic with a distinct crest and purple beard that render it one of the most striking hummingbirds on the planet. Thankfully, we know a haunt of this little gem, and we’ll focus our efforts on getting us into position to capture images of it.
Buffy helmetcrest is far from the only special bird up here, and we are also on the lookout for a fly-by black-chested buzzard-eagle or perhaps even an Andean condor. Returning to the hotel in the late afternoon, we make several stops in the hauntingly beautiful páramo to look for beauties like many-striped canastero and Andean tit-spinetail. Time at the lodge feeders can also offer lacrimose mountain tanager, scarlet-bellied mountain tanager and perhaps a secretive golden-crowned tanager as well as the sensational rainbow-bearded thornbill.
Day10: Transfer to Cali through Valle del Cauca
Today we have a longer drive as we make our way down the mountainside and on through the fertile Valle del Cauca to stop at Laguna de Sonso. Here we can enjoy a different range of birdlife, including some wetland species and also some striking endemic and near-endemic species. We then continue the drive to the city of Cali and on to our final lodge, nestled in the lush cloud-forested slopes of Colombia’s western Andean range.
Accommodation: San Felipe Lodge, 3-nights
Day11: Bird photography in the Western Andes
A full day excursion is planned today, to the other side of the western Andean range, where a new suite of mouth-watering species is possible. Here we hope to encounter the wonderful toucan barbet – a uniquely coloured regional speciality. Another set of fruit feeders perched on the edge of the ridge offering an incredible vista is our first stop. These busy feeders will offer further avian treats such as silvery-throated and rufous-throated tanagers, while hummers here include empress brilliant, velvet-purple coronet and the tiny, hyperactive green thorntail. In the nearby forest, lyre-tailed nightjar, rose-faced parrot and Choco toucan are also possible.
Day12: Photography at La Florida Reserve
Following early morning coffee and hot chocolate, we enjoy further photography at La Florida Reserve. Here golden-headed quetzal, scaled antpitta and chestnut wood quail, Andean motmot, crimson-rumped toucanet and perhaps the most prized jewel of this wonderful reserve - the multicoloured tanager - are all likely photographic targets. Back at the lodge, the photography potential of this location will be immediately apparent – the garden is packed full of fruit feeders, which attract a dazzling array of striking species.
Day13: Departure
Today we have a final morning of photography in the lodge grounds. Golden, flame-rumped, golden-naped, saffron-crowned and black-capped tanagers and numerous hummingbirds will all add to our finale. We then transfer to Cali airport to check in for our flight to Bogotá and connecting onward flight home.
Day14: Arrive UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 14 daysfrom £5,795 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 12 daysfrom £5,095 pp
Hernan is a Colombian biologist with more than 12 years of experience as a researcher and consultant, working on various international and Colombian ornithological projects.
Over the last eight years he has also been leading and guiding birding tours to all corners of Colombia, and he has gained a reputation amongst his peers as one of the country’s most talented birders. When out on tour he loves nothing more than to show his clients the incredible avian diversity and other natural wonders found in his native Colombia, while also shining a light on the day-to-day scenes one inevitably comes across when birding throughout this fascinating country. In his spare time Hernan can be found photographing and sound recording the subjects that fascinate him the most – birds!
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.
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Where: Central Colombian Andes
Ideal for viewing: mountain tapir, western mountain coati, plushcap, undulated antpitta, buffy helmetcrest
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.
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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!
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Hotel Termales del Ruiz is 34 miles from Manizales. A stay here includes breakfast in the restaurant, and an array of activities can be enjoyed, including hiking, birdwatching and mountain biking. The views are fantastic, and surrounding birdlife includes six endemics or near-endemics.
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