BOGOTA

Located at 8,530 ft above sea level and surrounded to the east with its imposing Cerros Orientales (eastern hills) we find the capital and largest city of Colombia, Bogotá. With average temperatures of 62ºF throughout the year, Bogotá leans towards being a cool weather city for its 8 million or so inhabitants; a population that brings together people from all over the country, making Bogotá a multicultural city with a good representation of each region of Colombia. Bogotá offers visitors a vast variety of options for all kinds of activities related with culture, nature, history and nightlife. It boasts Colombia’s best museums, among them the world-renowned Gold Museum and an excellent gastronomic scene that is developing into an unmissable attraction. Having been the most important city since the Spanish colonial times, Bogotá is full of history and tales, where many of the most important moments of Colombia’s recent history have occurred. Also, the night life of Bogotá is amazing, its wide variety of bars and restaurants makes Bogotá a place to live and enjoy, and staying more than 3 nights, you’ll start to ‘get’ Bogota’s local vibe.

LA FLORIDA WETLAND

After an early breakfast you will be transferred for about 1 hour to La Florida Wetland the first birdwatch morning in Colombia. Main targets here will be Eastern Andes endemics such as the shy Bogota Rail, Silvery-throated Spinetail and Apolinar’s Wren if we’re fortunate. After the wetland we will be transferred to Bogotá again for an afternoon city tour to get to know Bogotá.

BOGOTA CITY TOUR

After a birding morning you will have a tour through Bogota's colonial neighbourhood, La Candelaria, the capital’s heart and soul. With its colourful houses, pretty balconies and village-y vibe, it's the city's cultural heart, too, with plenty of museums, the city's main library and a picturesque church on every second street corner. Home to artisans and musicians, it has plenty of bohemian cafes and restaurants, making it ideal for strolling and exploring its streets. Visit the capital’s main square, the imposing Plaza Bolívar, with its magnificent Colonial and Republican style buildings, including the stately Palace of Justice, Colombia’s Congress and Bogota’s Primary cathedral. Enjoy the architectural mix of old adobe houses, churches, and buildings of the Spanish Colonial period, alongside Baroque and art deco styles. Visit the Botero Museum, showcasing the 'oversized' artwork of Fernando Botero, one of Colombia’s best-known artists.

GOLD MUSEUM

The Gold Museum boasts the largest collection of pre-Columbian gold in the world, with tens of thousands of gold pieces displayed from all of Colombia’s major pre-Hispanic cultures. Colombia is the birthplace of El Dorado, a mythical city the Spanish conquistadores believed was home to untold riches of gold and jewels. Colombia’s pre-Hispanic cultures and their incredible mastery of gold is displayed here in spectacular fashion - you’ll gasp at the advanced techniques that were used and the incredible craftsmanship required to produce these intricate and elaborate pieces that were typically made for tribal chieftains.

EASTERN ANDES HIGHLANDS

Today we will visit the predominant ecosystems of Chingaza National Park and its buffer zones, the high-Andean forest, sub-páramo and páramo, certainly one of the most beautiful neotropical landscapes and home of the Andean Bear, the only bear in South America. We'll be moving between different altitudes between 2,700 – 3,100 masl / 8,800 – 10,200 ft. At this colder, high altitude climate we will have the chance to spot the stunning Blue-throated Starfrontlet (near-endemic) and the Amethyst-throated Sunangel hummingbirds, the raucous Brown-breasted Parakeet (endemic), diminutive Rufous-browed Conebill (near-endemic), the Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, shy Rufous Antpitta, Green-and-black Fruiteater and many more birds that are typical of the high-Andean ecosystems of Colombia.

HUMMINGBIRD OBSERVATORY

After lunch, we will visit a beautiful hummingbird observatory. This 'Hummingbird Observatory', high up in the mountains of La Calera, is a flower-filled sanctuary for these winged messengers, as they are known by indigenous cultures. Colombia is home to over 160 hummingbird species and here you can observe as many as 18 species, including the Coppery-bellied Puffleg (near-endemic), the Blue-throated Starfrontlet (near-endemic), the Glowing Puffleg, the Great Sapphirewing, the unbelievable Sword-billed Hummingbird, delicate Black- tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearer among many others. If you're lucky, you may spot the Silvery-throated Spinetail (endemic) and Red-crested Cotinga.

Today you will catch an early flight to Cali. Onces there you will be transferred to Araucana Lodge, one of the best birding lodges in Valle del Cauca. 186 Species of birds have been registered in Araucana, including 4 endemics: Parkers Antbird, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet and Apical Flycatcher. Including Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacled Parrotlet, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Blue-headed Saphire. Our forests host 17 species of hummingbirds that also visit our two areas with feeders with drinkers and bananas for fruit species.

Today we will have a very early start from your hotel to KM 18 IBA Reserve, which forms part of the renowned San Antonio cloud forest. Arrive at Finca Alejandria. Enjoy hummingbird feeders, looking for targets such as Bronzy Inca, Blue-headed Sapphire, Purple-throated Hummingbird and the endemic (and very special) Multi Colored Tanager amongst many others.

5:30 am transfer to Queremal area in the famed Alto-Anchicaya basin, teeming with Choco endemics and rarities, such as Toucan Barbet, Green Thorntail, Empress Brilliant, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Yellow-throated Tanager, endemic Crested Ant-Tanager and many many more. Spend all morning birding along the road where the birds abound.

Today all morning to find more species at the lodge such as Grayish Piculet, Colombian Chachalaca, Parker’s Antbird, Apical Flycatcher, Blue-headed Sapphire, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Long-billed Starthroat, Purple-throated Woodstar, Flame-rumped Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Scrub Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Yellow-backed Oriole, Spectacled Parrotlet, Scaled Antpitta, Black-winged Saltator and many of the 186 species of birds registered, including 4 endemics: Parkers Antbird, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet and Apical Flycatcher. Also Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacled Parrotlet, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Blue-headed Sapphire; 17 species of hummingbirds that also visit the feeders with drinkers and bananas for fruit species. You will have an early lunch and then transferred to Manizaes.

Spend a day exploring Tinamu reserve where over 230 species of bird have been reported. Species at the feeders offering excellent photographic opportunities are: Steely-vented Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Brown Violetear, Long-billed Starthroat, Grey-headed Tanager, White-shouldered Tanager, Scrub Tanager (near-endemic), Guira and Bay-headed Tanagers, Green Honeycreeper, Red-crowned Woodpecker, stunning Andean or Blue-crowned Motmot, Thick-billed Euphonia among many others. On trial there is chance to see Golden-Crowned Warbler, Cocoa Woodcreeper and Grey-headed Ground-Dove, Little Tinamous (after which the reserve is named), Spectacled Owl, Scaled Antpitta (difficult), Speckle-breasted Wren, Moustached Puffbird and many, many flycatchers.

An hour and 20 min drive from the hotel will take us to one of the world’s best birding sites – not only because of its 4,343ha size or wonderfully conserved Andean forests, or 380 or so recorded species, but because for the past number of years, the local guides of this reserve been feeding and coaxing out some of the world’s most difficult bird genus to see – Antpittas. These skulking birds that look like balls on two sticks are terrestrial forest birds, normally making good sightings a rarity as opposed to a commonality. As you approach with your guide, you’ll see these beautiful little creatures silently hop out of the undergrowth as soon as they hear his footsteps. During this morning we’ll be visiting the various Antpitta feeders and with a little patience we may be able to see the vulnerable and endemic Brown-banded Antpitta, elusive and difficult Bi-coloured Antpitta, small and quick Slate-crowned Antpitta, the more common and bold Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and less common Chestnut-naped Antpitta. In total there are 7 species of Antpitta found in the reserve, an astounding number and testament to what a special place this is.

Either before or after the Antpitta-fest you’ll dedicate time to the very rare and very local Masked Saltator which fortunately, makes a frequent habit of perching above the house, making Rio Blanco arguably the best place in the world to see this stunning bird. Above our heads we’ll be listening for the characteristic calls and chatter of groups of Golden-Plumed Parakeet, the uncommon and unpredictable White-capped Tanager and uncommon Barred Fruiteater. Some of the most colorful mixed flocks will be dominated by the larger and red-eyed Hooded, Lachrymose and Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers along with the more uncommon and solitary Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager.

You’ll spend the morning birding the various gravel roads, with occasional stops to look for more skulking species such as the various ‘Tapaculos’ that inhabit these forests, among them the very shy but astoundingly beautiful Ocellated Tapaculo – a bird definitely worth spending some time on just to catch a glimpse. We’ll also be looking for the large Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Crimson-mantled and Powerful Woodpeckers and common but very pretty Cinnamon Flycatcher, sallying for insects above the road. Various species of the Tangara genus will be passing by in mixed flocks but special attention will be paid to the uncommon and local Red-Hooded Tanager, the lush Grass-green Tanager and emblematic Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher. Flying above we’ll be watching out for the local and uncommon Scaly-naped Parrot and strikingly coloured Rusty-faced Parrot – a wonderful bird to add to the list if seen.

At the reserve feeders you’ll be able to sight many hummers and flowerpiercers such the stunning Long-tailed Sylph, beautifully marked Collared Inca, territorial Buff-tailed Coronet, along with Andean Emerald and Speckled Hummingbird. A massive list is possible at Rio Blanco and few birders leave disappointed. You will have lunch at the reserve and then be transferred to Hacienda El Bosque to spend the night.

A morning visit to Hacienda El Bosque near the CHEC forest reserve is a perfect spot to see the local and scarce Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Barred Fruiteater and one of the most photogenic antpitta around – Crescent-faced Antpitta which has been visiting feeders with some regularity. You will be transferred to Termales del Ruiz in the afternoon to spend the night.

Today will be gem of a day birding, spotting all the high-Andean specialities and endemics which can be found in the hotel’s gardens and feeders located strategically along the old Manizales road, as well as at the entrance to the magical National Park of snow-capped peaks, Los Nevados. Targets include: Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Buffy Helmetcrest, Tawny Antpitta, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Black-thighed Puffleg, Rainbow-bearded Helmetcrest, Crested Cotinga, Sapphire-winged Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Buff-winged Starfontlet and various mountain tanagers. Breakfast will be taken either before leaving or on the trail, depending on the group's preferences. Time will also be spent visiting local areas of páramo, an otherworldly, high-altitude tundra ecosystem only found in five countries in the world. Colombia holds the lion’s share of this precious ecosystem, with 60% of the world’s total. The páramo is an ecosystem like no other; an essential producer and regulator of fresh water, home to specially adapted plant species and recently described as the fastest-evolving ecosystem on Earth.

We will spend the day in El Color de Mis Reves, a beautiful mountain glampling, located in a beautiful spot in the mountains to look for Black-thighed Puffleg, American Kestrel, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Barred Becard, Mountain, Black-eared Hemispingus, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Smooth-billed Ani, Speckled Hummingbird, Southern Lapwing, Bare-faced Ibis, Andean Motmot. After lunch, you will be transferred to Pereira.

Today, before we leave the coffee region to head to the north coast, we will drive out looking for species we missed on the way into El Cedral. Once in Santa Marta, you will be transferred to Minca area to spend the night.

Minca is a haven for birders and you'll be staying in one of the birder hotspots in this region, at the ProAves Bird Reserve, El Dorado. Birding around this beautiful lodge is a delight, as you'll search for local targets such as White-tailed Starfrontlet, Sierra Brush-Finch, Black-fronted Wood-Quail, sub-specie of Blue-naped Chlorophonia, and many others.

End of Expedition.