Colombian Endemics Birding Tour

Western And Central Andes

10 days

The hottest birding destinations

This tour focuses on Colombian endemics and other specialities, visiting some of the hottest birding destinations. Enjoy 10 days in central Colombia with us. 450-500 species are possible to see on this tour, including around 35 endemics, 62 specialities and 12 Antpitta species!!! This is a special tour made for birders who want to see the highest number of quality species possible in Colombia. ​Our efficient itinerary involves safe and easy access areas and easy to moderate birding. The tour necessarily operates on a tight schedule and includes some fairly long drives between different IBAs ​in order to find as many specialties as possible.

Red head Barbet female
Torrent Duck
Purplish mantled Tanager
Crescent faced Antpitta

Itinerary

Medellin to Jardin

After pick you up at the Medellin hotel we will drive to the nice coffee culture town. Jardin. It takes 3 h drive, but it will be some good birding stops on the way to look for birds like Antioquia Wren, Grayish Piculet, Apical Flycatcher, Colombian Chachalaca, Spectacled Parrotlet, Yellow-back Oriole, Scrub Tanager, Crimsom-backed Tanager and lots more. Once close to Jardin town we will visit feeders in a coffee farm. Lunch –check at hotel and we’ll finish the day at a nice Cock of the Rock Lek (maybe the best one of the world as you can see easily more than 10 males display at just 2-3 m from you). At this place there is a good chance to see the endemics Red-bellied Grackle, Crested Ant Tanager. Night in picturesque Jardin town. Balandu lodge.

Jardin. Yellow-Eared Parrot Reserve

Jardín is one of the one of most beautiful towns of Colombia. We’ll enjoy superb birding between 1900-3000 m asl, where we have a good chance to find one of the area’s most special birds, the critically endangered Yellow-eared Parrot (E). Other prized species here include Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Red-bellied Grackle, Tanager Finch, White-capped, Red-hooded, Golden-crown, and Saffron-crowned Tanagers, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-fronted Whitestart, Barred Fruiteater, Citrine Warbler, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Black and Chestnut Eagle, White-capped Tanager, Golden-headed Quetzal, White-capped Dipper, Grey-hooded Bush Tanager, Mountain Cacique and Golden-rumped Euphonia; Red-crested Cotinga, Lacrimose-mountain Tanager, Slaty Brush Finch and more. Night in Jardin. Todaywewill todayanicefeedersandhiresetbylocalfarmer where we will look for Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rufus Antpitta, Green and black Fruiteater, Grey-browed Brush Finch and sometimes Ocellated Tapaculo, Tawny Breasted Tapaculo, and Chestnut-Wood Quail plus some nice hummer like Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast. Night at Balandu lodge.

Jardin to Manizales with Birding stops

Birding again on the road Jardin to Río Sucio to try missing birds and try the endemic Yellow-headed Brush Finch, we expect to see today birds like Tanager Finch, Black-capped Hemispingus, Ocellated Tapaculo, White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-wood Quail, Red-hooded Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Black-collared Jay, Andean Pygmy Owl, Barred Fruiteater, Plushcap, Golden-crowned Tanager,Tawny-breasted Tinamou, Powerful Woodpecker and more. Night at Manizales or at Río Blanco reserve lodge (30 min drive from Manizales).

Río Blanco

This reserve, located on the western slope of the Central Andes, includes good cloud forest between 2100-2700 m. There are a number of great birds in Rio Blanco, including Masked Saltator, Rusty-faced Parrot, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Dusky Piha, Ash-colored and Ocellated Tapaculos, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Sharpe’s Wren, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, and Scaly-naped Parrots. The reserve also features the most amazing antpitta feeders anywhere, which attract 6 antpitta species: Brown-banded (E), Bicoloured, Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped, Undulated and Slate-crowned Antpittas, as well as other shy birds like Grey-browed Brush-Finch (split from Stripe-headed) and Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush.

We just spend the day working different trails and feeders. Night at Río Blanco reserve lodge.

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Need to Know Information For Your Birding Trip

All you need to now before travel 

Travel Tips

Hints, Tips, Suggestions and Need to Know Information For Your Birding Trip click here

Flights

We do not include the cost of international airfare in our prices do not cover the cost of any flight tickets.

Cancellations

Cancellation penalties and refunds are based on the following schedule click here

More places to explore

Martin Reid
Texas. USA. 
❝

Pablo has birded repeatedly at all the major birding locations in the country – and many of the minor ones also-. He speaks good English.  He has a great temperament for guiding, being polite and patient (with us), and also persistent (with the birds). He has all the key birds on his Ipod and is very knowledgeable about the vast majority of the birds, and especially about where to find them. Currently his prices are an incredible value, and our trip cost far less than any of my other guided trips in the Neotropics. I would place Pablo at the top of the ladder when it comes to organization and consideration for our well-being and safety – and that counts for a lot in this new birding frontier; I highly recommend him. I am already planning to go back to Colombia soon, and to hire him again – that demonstrates my faith in his ability to find great birds (and to provide a trouble-free experience in the process). www.martinreid.com

Sep.2009
Kim Garwood. 
Texas. USA .
❝

We had another great trip in Colombia, lots of new species photographed and lots of Colombia seen. It’s a wonderful country, I notice the improvements just in the last 3 years (2008-2010). More peaceful, less military, the hotels and food are getting better. All in all, what’s not to like? I’ll be back many more times.

I have been  traveling with Pablo 3 times in Colombia. He is a wonderful guide.I highly recommend him for birds and butterflies. He has tapes and knows most of the calls, He’s learning more and more about traveling around the country, is very patient w/our hunting for butterflies and his English is much improved. Plus he’s a really nice guy. www.neotropicalbutterflies.com

Oct 2010.
Mike Catsis,  Simon Allen , Chris Gooddie  and Nick Preston.
United Kingdom.
❝

Four of us joined Pablo on a 3.5 week tour. We were not disappointed.  A total of 50 endemics plus 13 antpittas seen and more lifers for all of us than we had expected.  The logistics were seamless, everything worked. Pablo has an outstanding knowledge of all the sites based on his own extensive experience of birding Colombia . He knows  where to find all the key species and his knowledge of calls in particular is excellent. He has excellent relationships with all the key people at all the sites which makes for a smooth, safe and pleasant experience for all. Moreover Pablo is a thoughtful  and sensitive person, a caring and attentive guide who made sure that everyone felt comfortable and able to enjoy the trip. We certainly did ….and for added measure the trip was very good value !

Aug 2011. 

Enjoy The Best Experience with Us

We operate some standard tours with set itineraries, but we will also be delighted to help you plan an individual tour to suit your own customized itinerary.Our team combines the best in local expertise and equipment to ensure very successful tours, allowing our customers to enjoy a safe,  comfortable and unique travel experience.