Colombia birding is undoubtedly the most diverse, exciting birding destination on Earth. With two coastlines, four cordilleras and a vast expanse of Amazonian rainforest habitats, one could spend years searching out all the natural wonders it holds. So, how many birds could one see in a month – 600 species? 800? On this intrepid tour, we expect 1 000 species of birds in less than a month – and we have already achieved this on four occasions!! In our quest to accomplish this incredible feat, we will traverse all three Andean Cordilleras and explore the depths of the Magdalena and Cauca Valleys. From the white sand and terra firme forests of Mitu, to the humid Choco, we will sample the richest rainforests in the country. Finally, from the dry Caribbean coast, up lush slopes to San Lorenzo Ridge, we will enjoy the best of the legendary, endemic-rich Santa Marta Mountains. This Colombia birding tour is the most comprehensive offer to experience the most biodiverse nation in the world!
Bogota Rail, Cauca Guan, Chestnut-winged & Colombian Chachalacas, Chestnut Wood Quail, Noble Snipe, Red-fan, Yellow-eared & Rusty-faced Parrots, Golden-plumed, Rufous-fronted, Barred, Santa Marta & Flame-winged Parakeets, Santa Marta Screech Owl, White-tipped Quetzal, Pompadour & Purple-breasted Cotingas, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Red-bellied Grackle, Black-collared Jay, Beautiful Woodpecker, Orinoco Piculet, White-mantled Barbet, Brown-banded, Slaty-crowned & Bicolored Antpittas, Grey-cheeked Nunlet, Brown-banded Puffbird, Antioquia Bristle Tyrant, Pale-bellied, Narino, Stiles’s & Alto Pisones Tapaculos, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Bar-crested Antshrike, Turquoise Dacnis, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Sapphire-bellied, Indigo-capped & Shining-green Hummingbirds, Santa Marta Blossomcrown, Black Inca, Empress Brilliant, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Buffy Helmetcrest, Black-thighed & Coppery-bellied Pufflegs, Pacific Tuftedcheek, White-tailed Hillstar, Fiery Topaz, White-bibbed Manakin, Chestnut-crested & Magdalena Antbirds, Choco Vireo, Bicolored Antvireo, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Chestnut-capped & Olivaceous Pihas, Apolinar’s, White-headed, Chestnut-breasted & Sooty-headed Wrens, Munchique Wood Wren, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Masked Saltator, Uniform Treehunter, Star-chested Treerunner, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Black Solitaire, Yellow-collared & Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonias, Crested & Sooty Ant Tanagers, Purplish-mantled, Glistening-green, Black-and-gold, Gold-ringed, Scarlet-and-white, Multicolored & White-capped Tanagers, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, Choco, Santa Marta, Sierra Nevada, Pale-naped, Moustached and Black-headed Brushfinches.
South American & Mountain Coatis, Crab-eating Fox, Pale-throated Three-toed, Brown-throated & Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloths, Black-eared Opossum, Colombian Red Howler Monkey, Variegated Spider Monkey, Silvery-brown & Mottle-cheeked Tamarins, Grey-handed Night Monkey, White-throated, Guianan Brown & White-fronted Capuchins, Tapeti, Central American Agouti, Santander Dwarf, Western Dwarf, Red-tailed, Northern Amazon Red & Andean Squirrels, Tayra, Ocelot, Jaguarundi, Long-tailed Weasel, Red Brocket and White-tailed Deer.
Amazonian terra firme and white sand forest, Paramo and Elfin Forest, montane lakes and xerophytic scrub, coastal lagoons, mangroves, grasslands & wetlands
Temperate to cold in highlands (Chingaza, Los Nevados, Santa Marta), hot and humid in the lowlands (Rio Claro, Mitu). Rain is likely on some days.
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Fast paced, with the intention to see as many birds in as short a time as possible
Basic to comfortable.
Moderate with some challenging species
1000+
Spectacular scenery in Los Nevados and Santa Marta Mountains, rarely seen mammals.
Good, but limited due to time constraints.
I have travelled with Forrest before, and still he manages to beat my expectations with his wonderful visual and auditory skills, hard work and preparation, and he is just fun to travel with. Special kudos on this trip for how he continued on despite being very unwell with fever and chills.
Thank you so much for a wonderful experience on my Remote Colombia Tour. Forrest remains among one of the best guides I have ever travelled with. His knowledge of the areas within Colombia is astounding, he clearly knows his birds and their respective calls, he knows the off-track spots to seek out the more difficult species and the local people he interacts with clearly respect and value their relationship with him. Witnessing the interaction of these relationships makes for such a more enjoyable overall experience. Forrest as a guide brings a strong combination of spotting birds, knowing the bird calls and getting people on the bird. Equally important, he interacts with each and everyone of his participants and just displays such a passion for birds, wildlife and the local culture.
Tuomas is a great guide and excellent with bird IDs and helping people see all of the birds as much as possible. He also managed to maintain group morale despite a very ambitious and exhausting itinerary.
The Santa Marta Mountains were truly a great place to bird with several endemics to be seen and spectacular mountains views. The lodge was a fantastic place to stay for three nights. Highly recommend this extension tour!!!!
Dušan was an amazing guide. His acute hearing and anticipation of where the birds would be was extraordinary. He had a well balanced sensibility in regards to our limits and possibilities and was always exercising his desire that everyone in the group was able to see each bird we encountered as best as the circumstances permitted. His passion for birding was very apparent and sincere. Dušan's communication and updates as things changed benefited the whole group.
15 Nov 2024 - 14 Dec 2024 (30 days)
USD11,995 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Carlos Bocos
Tour price (Per person): USD11,995 * GBP9,503 * EUR11,120 * AUD18,401
Single Supplement: USD810 * GBP642 * EUR751 * AUD1,243
Flight costs: USD710 * GBP563 * EUR658 * AUD1,089
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Colombia - Northern Andes: Medellin & surrounds 2023 - October 2023
Colombia - Northern Andes: Bogota & surrounds 2023 - October 2023
Colombia - Northern Andes: Santa Marta 2023 - September 2023
Colombia - Santa Marta Extension I 2023 - August 2023
Colombia - Highlights 2023 - August 2023
Colombia - Santa Marta Extension II 2022 - December 2022
Colombia - Northern Andes: Western & Central Andes 2022 - November 2022
Colombia - Northern Andes: Medellin & Magdalena Valley 2022 - November 2022
Colombia - Northern Andes: Bogota & surrounds 2022 - November 2022
Colombia - Highlights 2022 - September 2022
Colombia - Mega Birding Tour II 2021 - November 2021
Colombia - Mega Birding Tour I 2020 - January 2020
Colombia - Highlights 2019 - November 2019
Colombia - Santa Marta Extension 2019 - November 2019
Colombia - Perijá & Santa Marta Endemics (SGT) 2019 - October 2019
Colombia - Mega Birding Tour 2019 - February 2019