Mammal & Bird Watching in Colombia

Colombia is, pound for pound, arguably the most biodiverse country in the world. Doing justice to this incredible wildlife destination in one visit is simply impossible, however, we’ve developed a fantastic range of tours that showcase the country’s most spectacular wildlife. These include a ‘Colombia’s Birding Highlights’ tour that focuses on the very best birding to be found in the country, a dedicated ‘Colombia Bird Photography’ trip and a ‘Colombia’s Rare Mammals’ tour, with key targets including spectacled bear and mountain tapir.

However, here we highlight a new and unique tour ‘Wild Colombia’s Mammals and Birds'. The brief for the tour is simple - to cover a diverse range of habitats at a considerate pace while staying in the best lodges in each location, and of course, seeking out the unique range of mammals and birds as we go!

The tour commences in the tropical eastern Llanos plains, where we stay in a comfortable lodge with a welcoming swimming pool. Here we seek out endemic primates including ornate titi and Brumback’s night monkey, as well as giant anteater – arguably South America’s most iconic mammal. Spectacular birds will also be on show and might include scarlet ibis, lettered aracari, king vulture and great potoo.

From here we move into Colombia’s central Andean region, stopping along the way at a local coffee ‘Finca’ for a quick tasting session. The area is a hummingbird paradise, and we shall encounter a kaleidoscopic range including the rare and endemic buffy helmetcrest, sword-billed hummingbird, rainbow-bearded thornbill and shining sunbeam, to mention only a few. Other iconic wildlife here includes Andean condor and perhaps even an elusive mountain tapir or mountain coati. Our 3-night stay in these high climbs will be in a spectacularly located comfortable mountain lodge, featuring naturally occurring thermal hot-spring pools. We’re yet to find a better way to unwind after an exciting day’s wildlife watching than to step into one of these pools with a glass of wine, as hummingbirds whizz overhead!

From the mountains, we descend into the warm tropical Magdalena Valley, to a small lodge with an inviting swimming pool. Here we explore the Rio Claro Reserve, where we are on the lookout for more special mammals, including the endemic silvery-brown bare-faced tamarin and neotropical otter. The Magdalena Valley also holds a range of endemic birds including white-mantled barbet, beautiful woodpecker and sooty ant-tanager, and we shall make a special effort to find these avian delights.

From here, we relocate to Colombia’s most unique habitat – the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This isolated mountain range is distinct from the Andes and holds a very special range of wildlife, including a suite of birds found nowhere else on Earth. Such gems as Santa Marta mountain tanager, Santa Marta parakeet and Santa Marta woodstar will no doubt dazzle us as we explore the lush moss-clad cloud forests of the region. Here, we stay in the spectacular El Dorado Lodge that features hummingbird gardens and rooms with sweeping panoramic views – there really is nowhere quite like it.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta overlooks Colombia’s Caribbean coastline, and it’s here, in an exclusive beach lodge, that we spend the last days of the tour. In the nearby Tayrona National Park, we search out several species of primates, including Colombian red howler monkey and the endemic and charismatic cotton-top tamarin – arguably our top mammal target on the tour.

There will also be time to enjoy the beach, sample delicious seafood and perhaps a poolside cocktail or two as we no doubt recount the spectacular and diverse range of mammals and birds seen throughout the tour!

Find out more about our Wild Colombia's Mammals & Birds group tour, or contact our team to book your place.