Colombia is simply vast. With arguably the most diverse avifauna of any single country on Earth, there are far too many special and important habitats to visit in anything less than several months’ time. As part of our continuing effort to do this magnificent country justice, our Remote Colombia birding tour takes us into some seldom-explored areas in search of a whole host of rare, special and localised species. Targets are too many to mention but include such gems as Baudo Guan, Fuertes’s Parrot, Baudo Oropendola, Bicolored, Thicket, Hooded, White-bellied and Streak-chested Antpittas, recently described Perija Tapaculo, Turquoise Dacnis, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Multicolored Tanager, White-mantled Barbet, Gorgeted Wood Quail, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Indigo-crowned and Lined Quail-Doves, Niceforo’s Wren, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, Esmeraldas and Magdalena Antbirds, Choco Brushfinch, Perija Metaltail, Perija Thistletail and Perija Brushfinch.
Chances for Harpy Eagle, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Orange-breasted Falcon, Wattled, Baudo & Band-tailed Guan, Colombian Chachalaca, Choco Tinamou, Tawny-faced Quail, Chestnut Wood Quail, Horned Screamer, Brown Wood Rail, Indigo-crowned & Lined Quail-Dove, Colombian Screech Owl, Rusty-faced & Rose-faced Parrot, Flame-winged Parakeet, Choco, Cinnamon & Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, Greyish Piculet, Spot-crowned Barbet, Crested & Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Red-bellied Grackle, Baudo Oropendola, Mountain Cacique, Amazonian Motmot, White-chinned Jacamar, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Black-breasted Puffbird, Barred, Golden-breasted & Scaled Fruiteater, Green, Yellow-headed & Golden-headed Manakin, Bicolored, Thicket, Hooded, White-bellied & Streak-chested Antpitta, Black Antshrike, Spot-crowned Antvireo, Stub-tailed, Zeledon’s, Klage’s & Esmeraldas Antbird, Northern Barred & Black-striped Woodcreeper, Streak-capped Treehunter, White-browed & Rufous Spinetail, Perija Thistletail, Choco, Paramillo, Stiles’s, Pale-bellied & the yet-to-be-described Perija Tapaculo, Recurve-billed Bushbird, chances for Sapayoa, Perija Metaltail, Purple-chested, Tooth-billed & Green-bellied Hummingbird, Grey-chinned & Bronzy Hermit, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Blue Cotinga, Rufous Piha, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Antioquia, Sooty-headed & Chestnut-breasted Wren, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Apical Flycatcher, Choco & Grey-throated Warbler, Plushcap, Purplish-mantled, Multicolored, Moss-backed, Glistening-green, Golden-chested, Crested Ant, Tawny-crested, Grey-and-gold, Golden-hooded, Rufous-winged, Emerald, Blue-whiskered, Scarlet-and-white & Lemon-spectacled Tanager, Yellow-green Bush Tanager (Yellow-green Chlorospingus), Perija Brush Finch, Paramo Seedeater
cloud forest, temperate cloud forest, humid foothill forest, lowland & foothill Choco forest, secondary forest, wetlands, mangroves, rivers, meadows, creeks, Oak forest, subparamo scrub, paramo grassland, fincas
temperate to cold in highlands; hot and very humid in the lowlands. Rain is likely on some days.
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader and 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
600+
often spectacular endemic reptiles and amphibians, stunning scenery, little-explored pristine forests
good
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!!!!
Forrest Rowland is an incredible guide.
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.
"Tuomas was excellent. He made extreme efforts to make sure everyone saw the birds. Great itinerary. Covid testing was easy and smooth. Local guides were wonderful. Special dietary needs were met. Thanks again!!"
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.
Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz
Tour price (Per person): USD8,295 * GBP6,576 * EUR7,690 * AUD12,735
Single Supplement: USD910 * GBP721 * EUR844 * AUD1,397
Flight costs: USD440 * GBP349 * EUR408 * AUD676
Can be linked with: Colombia - Mitu Extension 2024
Tour Leader: Lev Frid
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD9,000 * GBP7,135 * EUR8,343 * AUD13,818
Can be linked with: Colombia - Mitu Extension 2025
Colombia - Highlights (ECU replacement) 2024 - January 2024
Colombia - Northern Andes: Central Andes 2023 - October 2023
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