Birding in Colombia’s Coffee Region & Cali

Day 1: Arrival to Cali
Day 2: Cali, San Antonio Cloud Forest - Kilometro 18 
Day 3: Cali, San Antonio Cloud Forest - El Queremal
Day 4: Araucana Lodge and transfer to Manizales
Day 5: Rio Blanco Reserve
Day 6: Otún Quimbaya Reserve - Tatamá National Park
Day 7: Termales del Ruiz
Day 8: Tinamú Birding Reserve 
Day 9: Tinamú and transfer to Pereira 
Day 10: The Trail of the Tapir
Day 11: Departure

Day 1: Arrival to Cali
Bienvenidos a Colombia - Welcome to Colombia! You will be picked up by your English-speaking guide at the Cali Airport in Cali and transferred (approximately 1.5 hours) to the Araucana Lodge, one of the best birding lodges in Valle del Cauca. There are over 186 species of birds that have been registered in Araucana, including 4 endemics: Parkers Antbird, Colombian Chachalac, Gratish Piculet, and Apical Flycatcher. You may also be lucky enough to spot the Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacles Parrotlet, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Blue-headed Saphire. The forests are also home to 17 species of hummingbirds, attracted with drinkers and bananas. Here you will enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner (depending on arrival time).

There will be time to ask your guide any questions regarding your upcoming itinerary.

Accommodation: Araucana Lodge 
Meals: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Cali, San Antonio Cloud Forest - Kilometro 18 
An early start today where you will transfer from Cali to the San Antonio Cloud Forest (30 minutes / 12 km), also known as sector "kilomtro 18 IBA Reserve". You will arrive at Finca Alejandria. On a farm where feeders attract a massive amount of local hummers, it is possible to sight the Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Blue-headed Sapphire, Bronzy Inca, Andean Emerald, Buff-tailed Coronet, Purple-throated Woodstar (near-endemic), Long-tailed Sylph, Brown Violetear, and the Booted Racket-tail. The main attraction is the sheer abundance of tanagers, with the Multicolored Tanager (endemic) being the most prized. Flocks of Beryl-spangled, Golden-naped, Saffron-crowned, Golden, Metallic-green, and Bay-headed Tanagers regularly visit along with the Hollywood pair of female and male Red-headed Barbets, Colombian Chachalacas (endemic), and the occasional coati. 

Within the well-preserved cloud forest, you can expect to see an exciting variety of hummingbirds such as the Purple-throated Woodstar (near-endemic), Western and Andean Emeralds, Booted Racket-tail, Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, Bronzy Inca, White-necked Jacobin, and Buff-tailed Coronet. You may be very lucky to see the Velvet-purple Coronet (near-endemic) which has also begun to visit. Special care should be taken to watch out for the Crested Quetzal and difficult Scaled Fruiteater, both of which are local to this forest. Other cloud forest specialties include the Collared Trogon, Andean Solitaire, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Sickle-winged Guan, and more. Tonight, you will enjoy dinner at Araucana Lodge.

Accommodation: Araucana Lodge 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Entrance fee: Finca Alejandria 

Day 3: Cali, San Antonio Cloud Forest - El Queremal

At 5:30 am you will transfer to El Querema (40 minutes / 25 km), in the famous Alto-Anchicaya basin, teeming with stunning birds like Toucan Barbet (near-endemic), Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager (near-endemic), Red-faced Spinetail, uncommon and local Green Thorntail, Empress Brilliant, Glistening-green Tanager, Yellow-throated Tanager and Crested Ant Tanager (endemic). You can also look out for White-whiskered Hermit, nesting Chestnut-headed Oropendola, and many, many other species. Descending further down into the valley, you may sight birds such as the Ornate Flycatcher, Bright-rumped Attila, Long-tailed Tyrant, Cinnamon Becard, uncommon Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, and others.

Spend the morning birding along the road where the birds abound. 

Accommodation: Araucana Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 4: Araucana Lodge and transfer to Manizales
Today, the entire morning will be dedicated to discovering more species at the lodge, such as the 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 bird species recorded, including 4 endemics: Parkers Antbird, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet, and Apical Flycatcher.

Also, sightings of Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacled Parrotlet, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Blue-headed Sapphire are possible; 17 species of hummingbirds also frequent the feeders, along with drinkers and bananas for fruit-eating species. You will enjoy an early lunch before being transferred to Manizaless (5 hours / 290 km).

Accommodation: Recinto del Pensamiento
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner 

Day 5: Rio Blanco Reserve
A 45-minute (15 km) drive from the hotel will take you to one of the world's best riding sites - Rio Blanco Reserve. It has wonderfully conserved Andean forests and approximately 380 recorded bird species. The local guides have for years, been feeding one of the most elusive bird genus around - Antpittas. These terrestrial forest birds, which hop out of the undergrowth as soon as they hear footsteps, make frequent appearances. 

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.

After the Antpitta-fest, time will be dedicated to observing the rare Masked Saltator, often seen perching above the house, making Rio Blanco one of the best spots globally for this bird. We'll listen for the calls of Golden-Plumed Parakeets and look for uncommon species like White-capped Tanager and Barred Fruiteater. Colorful flocks will include Hooded, Lachrymose, and Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers, along with the rarer Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager. The morning will involve birdwatching along gravel roads, with stops to find elusive species like 'Tapaculos,' including the stunning Ocellated Tapaculo. Look out for the Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Crimson-mantled, and Powerful Woodpeckers, as well as the lovely Cinnamon Flycatcher hunting 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 the emblematic Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher. Flying above we’ll be watching out for the local and uncommon Scaly-naped Parrot and strikingly colored 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 as 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.

Accommodation: Hacienda El Bosque
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Entrance fees: Rio Blanco Reserve 

Day 6: Otún Quimbaya Reserve - Tatamá National Park
A morning visit to Hacienda El Bosque near the CHEC forest reserve offers a great opportunity to spot the rare Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Barred Fruiteater, and the photogenic Crescent-faced Antpitta, which frequents feeders regularly. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Termales del Ruiz to spend the night (42 minutes drive / +-22 km).

Accommodation: Termales del Ruiz
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Entrance fees: CHEC Forest Reserve 

Day 7: Termales del Ruiz
Today will be a gem of a day birding, spotting all the high-Andean specialties 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.

Transfer to Tinamú Birding Reserve in the afternoon (2 hours drive / 47 km)

Accommodation: Tinamú Birding Reserve 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 8: Tinamú Birding Reserve 
Spend a day exploring Tinamu reserve where over 230 species of bird have been reported. Species at the feeders offering excellent photographic opportunities are the 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.

There is also a chance to see Golden-Crowned Warbler, Cocoa Woodcreeper 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.

Accommodation: Tinamú Birding Reserve 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 9: Tinamú and transfer to Pereira 
Morning birding in Tinamú and transfer to Pereira (1 hour drive approx. / 46 km).

Accommodation: Movich Pereira 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 10: The Trail of the Tapir
We will start the day very early to be transferred for 1.5 hours / 24 km to one of the most biodiverse areas of the Central Andes, Ucumari Natural Regional Park, in the foothills of Los Nevados National Natural Park. Ucumarí offers a wide diversity of flora and fauna in its ecosystem of Andean humid forest, one of the best spots to see the Andean tapir or Danta. El Cedral is also an excellent site to view some of the rare birds. Here, we'll be looking out for the Cauca Guan - endemic, Chestnut Wood-Quail - endemic, by the river Otun we'll be searching for the elusive Torrent Duck and Colombian Screech-Owl - near-endemic, Emerald Toucanet, the rare and difficult Hooded Antpitta - near-endemic, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher - near-endemic, Multicolored Tanager - endemic, difficult, seasonal but very beautiful White-capped Tanager, small Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, fairly common White-capped Dipper, enigmatic Wattled Guan, near-endemic Bar-crested Antshrike, Bronze-winged Parrot and flocks of vulnerable Golden-plumed Parakeet.

You'll return to the lodge for a hearty lunch before heading out on the trails around the sanctuary looking for the inconspicuous Mustached Puffbird, endemic and sometimes very noisy Crested Ant-Tanager, skulking Stiles' Tapaculo, seasonal Andean Cock-of-the-rock and many more. After a beautiful morning birding, we will keep looking for monkeys such as the Red Howler-Monkey and of course our main target for today, the Danta or Andean Tapir.

Accommodation: Hotel Tinamú
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Entrance fee: Ucumari National Regional Park

Day 11: Departure 
Today it is time to say goodbye to this beautiful country. Your guide will accompany you to the airport in Pereira (1.5 hours / 30 km).

We hope that you will take home many great memories and perhaps you even come back to see more beautiful hidden corners of the country. And maybe you will also convince your friends and family that Colombia is a wonderful country with beautiful landscapes and warm inhabitants, which they should visit one day.

Meals: Breakfast 

Be sure to check out our other birdwatching tours, hiking and walking tours, and bike tours!

The accommodations used on this tour include a mix of elegant hotels and unique and beautiful eco-lodges. In the itinerary, you will find the name of the hotel usually reserved on the tour. If the hotel listed is not available, a hotel of an equal standard will be offered.