This pioneering birdwatching tour aims to offer spectacular views of the world’s most powerful bird of prey alongside a fabulous range of colourful birds and special mammals.
When it comes to the title of the most sought-after bird of prey, the harpy eagle is hard to beat. Even among all the great raptors of the world, this eagle is particularly special. With huge, curved talons the length of a grizzly bear’s claws, piercing eyes, striking colouration and immense size, these eagles are a spectacular sight to behold.
Finding these rare, forest dwelling eagles is no easy task, but we're pleased to have a tour that offers the chance to admire these majestic birds at their enormous nest site. With both parents involved in raising their chick over two years, we visit a location where two active nests are accessible, affording us fantastic opportunities for activity. These nests and the surrounding forests are protected by the local community, and through our visit we help ensure their protection.
In addition to enjoying the harpy eagles, our tour also takes us in search of many other iconic Colombian birds including the improbable looking Guianan cock-of-the-rock, the spectacular coloured paradise tanager and the vivid military macaw, scarlet ibis and king vulture. We also seek out some fantastic encounters with mammals too, including three species of endemic monkey, the peculiar giant anteater and its smaller relative, the southern tamandua.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Day2: Arrive Bogota & birdwatching
Our adventure begins upon arrival in Bogotá, where we enjoy light birding in a wetland site on the edge of the city. The afternoon can be spent resting in the hotel or, for those that wish, we can visit a hummingbird garden which attracts the likes of blue-throated starfrontlet, sword-billed hummingbird, Longuemare’s sunangel, both black-tailed and green-tailed trainbearer and white-bellied woodstar.
Accommodation: BS Rosales Hotel, 1-night
Day3: Transfer to San Juan de Aramá
After breakfast, we begin our transfer through stunning Andean scenery, perhaps making a few birding stops as we go to reach our destination, the small village of San Juan de Aramá. We arrive at our simple but well-appointed guest house for lunch, with time this afternoon to do some introductory birding in the gardens and surrounding area.
Accommodation: Local Guest House, 4-nights
Day4: Harpy eagles & birdwatching
Today we set off in rugged 4x4 vehicles, heading into spectacular foothill scenery before reaching the trailhead, from where we start the walk (1.5 hours) to the harpy eagle nest. Horses will assist with our gear, so we can walk unhindered, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in this beautiful wildlife rich forest. We make regular stops for drinks, snacks, and birdwatching along our walk. Upon reaching the nest site, we hope to enjoy a sighting of both the chick and an adult, which at the time of our visit will hopefully be visiting regularly.
Days5-6: Birdwatching in San Juan de Aramá
Over the course of the next two days, we again visit the harpy eagle, or potentially a second nest that's also in the area. On one of the days, we also plan another walking excursion to a Guianan cock-of-the-rock lek in another truly inspiring location. A spectacular range of other birdlife can be found in the area and during our walks we might see military and chestnut-fronted macaws, white-bearded, blue-capped, striolated and golden-headed manakins, paradise and swallow tanagers, white-throated toucan and Amazonian motmot. There are a variety of mammals and reptiles in the area too that we lookout for.
Day7: Relaxed birdwatching & primate watching in Villavicencio
Today we may choose to have a relaxed morning, after our adventures of the previous days, perhaps with some relaxed birding around the gardens of our guest house. Later on we transfer to our next lodge. After settling in we enjoy some relaxed birding around in the lodge's small private reserve and this evening watch as endemic Brumback's night monkeys leave their roosts.
At nearby wetlands, scarlet ibis, roseate spoonbill and black-crowned night herons may be seen in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Rancho Camana, 3 nights
Day8: Birdwatching & giant anteaters in Villavicencio
This morning we enjoy birdwatching in a nearby reserve where a range of regionally important species can be found in addition to some beauties such as many-banded aracari, white-chinned jacama, gilded barbet and cobalt-winged parakeet. We can enjoy spending the late morning and early afternoon relaxing around the lodge. Later this afternoon we set out in search of the wonderfully bizarre giant anteater and southern tamandua in the savannahs of the area.
Day9: Birdwatching & primates in Villavicencio
Today we visit a private reserve which holds a number of special primates including ornate titi and Colombian squirrel monkey – both unique to Colombia. Later we enjoy a bird walk in a beautiful area of open pasture with fringing palm forests with a great selection of birds such as red-bellied macaw, red-breasted meadowlark and rufescent tiger heron. After lunch, we can explore more local habitats in search of the wide range of birds and mammals found in this region.
Day10: Birdwatching & depart from Bogotá
Following a final relaxed morning and breakfast, we have a long travel day ahead of us, returning to Bogotá before catching our onward international flight back to the UK late this evening.
Day11: Arrive UK
Please note: This tour is only suitable for those with a good level of fitness, as we spend much of our time walking forest paths, some of which include some steep sections. To reach one of the harpy eagle nest sites, we may need to walk for around 45 minutes, while another site is likely to be around 1.5 hours walking each way along a forest path. The shorter walk involves some steep sections and although the pace will be slow and steady, the walk is only suitable for those with a good walking ability.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 11 daysfrom £5,180 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 9 daysfrom £3,895 pp
Rob has spent several years spent teaching English in Himalayan regions of both Nepal and India, and, at every available opportunity, searching out the region’s wildlife.
Since 2008 Rob has worked in wildlife tourism, both office-based and out leading tours. Highlights have included birding the vast Mongolian Steppe, cruising the Galapagos Islands, scuba diving Raja Ampat (while bagging the rare red bird-of-paradise!), birding and mammaling throughout Amazonia, rainforest expeditions in Sumatra, tracking African wild dogs in Botswana, snorkeling with basking sharks off Land’s End, and many others.
In 2017, Rob, along with his Colombian partner, Claudia, moved to Colombia, where he leads wildlife watching tours throughout the region. Together they have pioneered wildlife tours going in search of Colombia’s rare and endemic primates, as well as other elusive mammals including mountain tapir and spectacled bear. When not out leading Rob enjoys wildlife photography, visiting unexplored corners of Colombia (while adding new species to his impressive Colombia bird list), walking the dog and watching test match cricket.
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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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.
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Where: Meta department
Ideal for viewing: harpy eagle, Guianan cock-of-the-rock, military macaw, paradise tanager, king vulture
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.
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Where: Central Province
Ideal for viewing: giant anteater, ornate titi monkey, Colombian squirrel monkey, hoatzin, scarlet ibis
