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Colombia - Central Andes (Relaxed)

© Gold-ringed Tanager by Dusan Brinkhuizen

Colombia needs no introduction in birding circles, home to over 1900 species, more than any other country. This huge diversity of species results from the equally diverse range of habitats: three Andean Cordilleras (Western, Central and Eastern Andes), two inter-Andean valleys (the Cauca and Magdalena Valleys), the lowland forests of the Amazon and Orinoco regions, the isolated snow-capped Santa Marta Mountains, the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, deserts and lakes, and the rich wet forests of the Chocó all help to make it one of the most exciting countries to bird on earth!

This relaxed tour focuses on the Pacific slope habitat of Las Tangaras, montane forests above Jardin, the famous antpittas of Rio Blanco and the high-altitude elfin forest and paramo of Los Nevados del Ruiz.

Top Birds

Red-bellied Grackle; Gold-ringed, Multicolored, Flame-rumped & Black-and-gold Tanagers; Chestnut-capped Piha; Yellow-headed Manikin; Velvet-purple Coronet; Empress Brilliant; White-throated Daggerbill; Crested Ant Tanager; Yellow-eared Parrot; Black-billed Mountain Toucan; Tourmaline Sunangel; Golden-headed Quetzal; Toucan Barbet; Yellow-breasted, Chestnut-crowned, Brown-banded, Slaty-crowned, Chestnut-naped & Bicolored Antpittas; Andean Cock-of-the-rock; Cauca Guan; Red-ruffed Fruitcrow; Golden-collared Manakin;

Top Mammals

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Habitats Covered

gallery forest, grasslands, humid forest, Choco forest, coffee plantations, scrub

Expected Climate

cool in highlands, mostly hot and humid in lowlands

Max Group Size

10 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Our Relaxed series of tours are designed to focus on having an enjoyable holiday with a bird and wildlife focus. Where possible; we have reduced or removed long drives, single night stays and poor/rustic accommodation. We have also sought to reduce or remove difficult hikes, narrow/muddy trails and otherwise oppressive environmental conditions. Early starts and night birding are mostly optional, and we will not spend much time searching for difficult and/or skulking species. These tours are not suitable for hardcore birders and listers, or dedicated photographers.

Accommodation

Comfortable, some lodgings are simple.

Ease of Birding

Moderate. Several low-density species. Typical forest birding difficulties of visibility & lighting.

Photographic Opportunities

Good. Typical forest lighting difficulties. Several feeders.

What our clients say about us

Robert Williams
IS, Colombia 2019

Rob's combination of bird finding skills and tour management expertise made for a great birding trip which was enjoyed by all.

Robert Williams
LW, Colombia 2021

"This was the fourth of four tours we did for Colombia 2021. This was a great experience. Such diversity of habitats and birds in this small area! Both our guides were excellent. Rob particularly went above and beyond all expectations helping participants with the logistics of getting Covid testing done under the severe time restrictions imposed by recent changes in US rules. We always feel secure traveling with Rockjumper because of the quality of the tour leaders!!"

Dušan Brinkhuizen
CH, Colombia 2021

Dusan is an outstanding guide. He consistently made sure that all of us saw each bird and knew its name. I have hearing and mild short-term memory problems and Dusan took specialefforts to be sure that these did not interfere with my birding success on the trip. Not only does Dusan know all of the Colombian birds by sight, but he knows all of their calls and is able to talk at length about their biology and behavior - that is, he is an excellent teacher, too. This is something that I appreciate greatly, as I am a retired college professor of biology and I recognize an excellent teacher when I see one in action. In addition to his skills as a guide, Dusan was tireless in making sure that the constantly-changing tour arrangements went smoothly from day to day. I am certain that we got every minute that was possible out in the field looking for new birds; this was the goal of the tour (1000 species seen in 30 days of birding). He has a very pleasant, enthusiastically-encouraging personality and is outstanding at promoting group coherence and morale in difficult and sometimes mildly-dangerous situations.

Forrest Rowland
JA - Colombia 2019

I was thrilled when Forrest Rowland agreed to run another Colombia Mega, as I really wanted to join a tour led by him – he has such extensive experience of this country and its birds. Even with that expectation, the trip exceeded my wildest dreams. Forrest’s grasp of Colombia’s birds, herps, plants, geography and history sets the scene for a magnificent experience. His humour and personality ensure one enjoys every minute.

Robert Williams
BA, Colombia 2017

Rob Williams and the Rockjumper folks were absolutely fantastic in helping me after I lost my passport. They made sure I got back to Bogota for the embassy appointments, changing plans on the fly. Very impressive dedication to help customers.

Colombia - Central Andes (Relaxed) 2025

01 Aug 2025 - 13 Aug 2025 (13 days)

USD6,195 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox

Tour price (Per person): USD6,195 * GBP4,955 * EUR5,752 * AUD9,380

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