Colombia is undoubtedly the most diverse and exciting country 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 that it holds. Our Mega tour spends a month traversing all three Andean Chains and exploinge the depths of the Magdalena and Cauca Valleys. From the white sand and terra firme forests of Inírida, to the humid Choco, we will sample the richest rainforests in the country. Finally, from the dry Caribbean coast, up lush slopes to the San Lorenzo Ridge, we will enjoy the best of the legendary, endemic-rich, Santa Marta Mountains. This tour is hands down the single most comprehensive offer to experience the most biodiverse nation in the world, and we welcome you to join us on this amazing challenge!
Flights to Inírida are operated by a single airline, with a variable schedule. It is highly likely that the tour logistics will require adjustments closer to departure once the flight schedules are confirmed.
Bogota Rail; Cauca Guan; Chestnut-winged & Colombian Chachalacas; Chestnut Wood Quail; Red-fan, Yellow-eared & Rusty-faced Parrots; Golden-plumed, Rufous-fronted, Barred, Cobalt-winged & Santa Marta Parakeets; Santa Marta Screech Owl; White-tipped Quetzal; Pompadour & Purple-breasted Cotingas; Capuchinbird; Red-ruffed Fruitcrow; Red-bellied Grackle; Black-collared Jay; Beautiful Woodpecker; Orinoco & Chestnut Piculets; White-mantled Barbet; Crescent-faced, Cundinimarca, Brown-banded, Slaty-crowned, Muisca & Bicolored Antpittas; Grey-cheeked Nunlet; Brown-banded Puffbird; Antioquia Bristle Tyrant; Pale-bellied, Narino, Magdalena, Stiles’s & Tatama Tapaculos; Golden-breasted & Orange-breasted Fruiteaters; Silvery-throated & White-whiskered Spinetails; Recurve-billed & Black Bushbirds; Bar-crested & Klage's Antshrikes; Turquoise Dacnis; Bronze-tailed & Rainbow-bearded Thornbills; Sapphire-bellied, Indigo-capped, Chestnut-bellied & 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, Golden-collared, Black, Lance-tailed & Yellow-headed Manakins; Rose-breasted Chat, Yapacana, Chestnut-crested & Magdalena Antbirds; Choco Vireo; Bicolored Antvireo; Ruddy Foliage-gleaner; Amazonian Umbrellabird; Orinoco Softtail; Chestnut-capped & Olivaceous Pihas; Apolinar’s, White-headed, Chestnut-breasted, Niveforo's & Sooty-headed Wrens; Munchique Wood Wren; Rufous-rumped Antwren; Indigo & Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercers; 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, Multicolored & White-capped Tanagers; Black-chinned Mountain Tanager; Antioquia, Choco, Santa Marta, Ochre-breasted, Sierra Nevada, Pale-naped, Moustached & Black-headed Brushfinches; Colombian Mountain Grackle.
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 (Los Nevados, Santa Marta), hot and humid in the lowlands (Rio Claro, Inírida). Rain is likely on some days.
6 with 1 Local Leader
Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
basic to comfortable
moderate with some challenging species
900+
Spectacular scenery in Los Nevados and Santa Marta Mountains, rarely seen mammals.
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.
No one beats Rockjumper and Forrest Rowland for running wonderful trips. The logistics are incredible and involving so many Colombians to get us places and up steep trails were amazing. Thanks to all involved at Rockjumper for making this trip possible.
This was an excellent opportunity to see a part of Colombia that I hadnt visited. It was a vigorous schedule, as predicted; fortunately, participants could opt out of activities if they preferred. Our guides were both top rate, with complementary strengths. The result was a lot of birds, particularly endemics, seen. Accommodations were appropriate to each area. The van and driver were superb.
Forrest was absolutely fantastic. The best birder/guide that we have ever had the pleasure of travelling with. His enthusiasm and passion for his work were exceptional and made for an awesome birding trip.
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 * GBP9,624 * EUR11,204 * AUD18,445
Single Supplement: USD810 * GBP650 * EUR757 * AUD1,246
Flight costs: USD710 * GBP570 * EUR663 * AUD1,092
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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