Birding on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast

Day 1: Arrival in Valledupar
Day 2: Los Besotes Reserve & Transfer to Perijá Nature Reserve
Day 3: High-Andean Birding in Perijá Nature Reserve
Day 4: Perijá Nature Reserve
Day 5: Morning Birding & Transfer to Riohacha
Day 6: Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
Day 7: Tayrona National Park & Transfer to El Dorado Reserve
Day 8: San Lorenzo Ridge & El Dorado Reserve
Day 9: El Dorado Reserve
Day 10: Departure from Santa Marta

Day 1: Arrival in Valledupar

Bienvenidos a Colombia – Welcome to Colombia!

Upon arrival at Valledupar Airport, you will be greeted by your English-speaking guide, who will transfer you to your hotel. After settling in, enjoy a delicious dinner, offering a preview of the experiences to come on this journey.

Valledupar, located at 180 meters above sea level, lies between the stunning Serranía del Perijá and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. With year-round temperatures averaging 32ºC, it is a warm and inviting city, widely known as the home of Vallenato music, celebrated for its distinctive accordion sounds and lively melodies.

If you have any questions about your itinerary, feel free to ask your guide.

Accommodation: Hotel Arawak-Upar
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Los Besotes Reserve & Transfer to Perijá Nature Reserve

The day begins with a 35-minute transfer to Los Besotes Reserve, Colombia’s first Important Bird Area (IBA). This region is home to an exciting variety of species, including the endemic and critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow, Collared Forest-Falcon, Red-legged Tinamou, Shining-green Hummingbird, Keel-billed Toucan, and Rufous Nightjar. Other species adapted to this arid environment include Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, White-whiskered Spinetail, Black-backed Antshrike, Sooty-capped Hermit, Military Macaw, and Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant.

After a productive morning of birding, the journey continues toward Perijá, with a mid-morning stop at a local reserve where the Lance-tailed Manakin is commonly observed. The drive to the Perijá Mountains takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, with a field lunch along the way, allowing time to bird the road leading to the reserve. Species to watch for include the Moustached Puffbird, Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Rufous-breasted Wren, and Spectacled Owl.

Accommodation: Perijá Nature Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3: High-Andean Birding in Perijá Nature Reserve

Today will be dedicated to exploring the upper elevations of the Perijá Mountains, a hotspot for many local rarities and high-Andean specialists. Key targets include the endemic or near-endemic Perijá Thistletail (EN), Perijá Metaltail (EN), Perijá Brush-Finch, Perijá Tapaculo, and Phelp’s Brush-Finch. Other high-altitude species to look for include Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Red-crested Cotinga, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Fulvous-headed Tanager, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (near-endemic), Mountain Wren, Black-crested Warbler, Rufous Spinetail, and Orange-throated Sunangel.

Additional highlights may include the Crested Quetzal, Glowing Puffleg, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Plushcap, Rufous-shafted Woodstar, and Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush. With its unique high-Andean habitat and rich avifauna, Perijá promises an unforgettable day of birdwatching.

Accommodation: Perijá Nature Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4: Perijá Nature Reserve

After breakfast, the day will be spent exploring the lower to mid-altitude elevations around the lodge, searching for species that may have been missed the previous day. The varied forested landscapes offer excellent opportunities to observe additional birdlife and further immerse in the unique biodiversity of the Perijá Mountains.

Accommodation: Perijá Nature Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5: Morning Birding & Transfer to Riohacha

The morning will begin with birding below the lodge, offering a final chance to spot elusive species before departing for Riohacha. The long transfer (approximately 6-7 hours) will include a lunch stop along the way, as arrival in Riohacha is expected in the evening. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel and enjoy a relaxing dinner to conclude the day.

Accommodation: Hotel Gimaura
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6: Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary

Today, you will spend a full day birding at Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, a unique desert ecosystem home to several local specialties. Among the target species are Bare-eyed Pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird, Chestnut Piculet (near-endemic), White-whiskered Spinetail (near-endemic), Slender-billed Tyrannulet (near-endemic), Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Orinocan Saltator, Vermilion Cardinal, Glaucous Tanager, Tocuyo Sparrow (near-endemic), and Pileated Finch.

The sanctuary is named after the American Flamingos, which are abundant during certain times of the year. Other remarkable sightings may include the Scarlet Ibis, Crested Bobwhite, Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Dwarf Cuckoo, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Two-banded Puffbird, Hooded Warbler, and Pale-legged Hornero, among many others.

Lunch will be enjoyed back in Riohacha, followed by an optional afternoon visit to Los Flamencos to focus on species that may have been missed in the morning.

Accommodation: Hotel Gimaura
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7: Tayrona National Park & Transfer to El Dorado Reserve

The day begins with an early morning transfer (approx. 2 hours 15 minutes) to Tayrona National Park, a coastal paradise known for its rich biodiversity. Upon arrival, you will bird along the entrance road, searching for targets such as Jet Antbird, Black-crowned Antshrike, Golden-winged Sparrow (near-endemic), Scrub Greenlet, White-bearded Manakin, Lance-tailed Manakin, Long-billed Gnatwren, Northern Royal Flycatcher, White-bellied Antbird, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Rufous-and-white Wren, and the critically endangered, endemic Blue-billed Curassow. Other possible sightings include Yellow-breasted Flycatcher and many more.

By mid-morning, you will head to Minca, a scenic foothill town surrounded by dry, premontane, and montane forests, making it an excellent birdwatching location. The remainder of the morning will be spent along the road between Minca and El Dorado Lodge, searching for species such as Shining-green Hummingbird, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Swallow Tanager, Bicolored Wren, Rosy-thrush Tanager, Keel-billed Toucan, Rufous-capped Warbler, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Black-chested Jay, Pale-breasted and Yellow-legged Thrush, Gartered Streaked Saltator, Bay-headed Tanager, and Masked Tityra. Lunch will be enjoyed in the field or in Minca, depending on time.

The day concludes at El Dorado Reserve, where you can take in a stunning view of the Sierra Nevada highlands while watching for specialties at the lodge’s feeders.

Accommodation: El Dorado Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8: San Lorenzo Ridge & El Dorado Reserve

Today will focus on the endemic bird species of Santa Marta. Before dawn, you will take a drive up to San Lorenzo Ridge, where breakfast will be served in the field. This area is home to several Santa Marta endemics, including Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta Blossomcrown, White-tailed Starfrontlet, Santa Marta Woodstar, Santa Marta Sabrewing, Santa Marta Foliage-Gleaner, Santa Marta Antbird, Santa Marta Antpitta, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager, Santa Marta Brush-Finch, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Wood-Wren, White-lored Warbler, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, and Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch. Other possible sightings include the White-tipped Quetzal (near-endemic) and various high-Andean species.

As you descend from San Lorenzo Ridge, time will be spent observing raptors circling above, as well as hummingbirds visiting the lodge feeders. A highlight of the afternoon will be searching for the Black-fronted Wood-Quail, which often visits the feeders and is always a treat to see.

After dinner, there will be an optional night walk, where you may have the chance to spot the Santa Marta Screech Owl, as well as nocturnal mammals such as local Kinkajous and Grey-bellied Night Monkeys that inhabit the forest around the lodge.

Accommodation: El Dorado Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 9: El Dorado Reserve

Depending on your sightings from the previous days, today’s activities will be adjusted to focus on specific targets that may have been missed. You may revisit the trails above or below the lodge, or continue exploring the diverse habitats within El Dorado Reserve, searching for elusive species and taking in the last moments of birding in this incredible location.

Accommodation: El Dorado Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 10: Departure from Santa Marta

After an unforgettable journey through Colombia’s birding hotspots, it is time to say goodbye to this beautiful country. Your guide will accompany you to Santa Marta Airport, where you will take a flight to Bogotá to connect with your international departure.

We hope you leave with many wonderful memories and perhaps even a desire to return and explore more of Colombia’s hidden natural gems. And who knows? Maybe you’ll inspire your friends and family to visit this incredible country, known for its breathtaking landscapes and warm, welcoming people.

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.

Hotel Arawak Upar (1 night) – This is a spacious hotel with large and comfortable rooms located near the historical sector of Valledupar, close to the main plazas, shopping centers, colorful parks, and historical monuments.

Perijá Nature Reserve (3 nights) – The cabins of this lodge are basic, but clean, ample, and comfortable, with private bathrooms and hot running water. A new generator provides electricity. It has a small, quaint restaurant.

Hotel Gimaura (2 nights ) – A colorful beach-front hotel located just outside the main cluster of streets in Riohacha, providing a quiet location for a couple of days exploring La Guajira. All rooms are large, comfortable, and have A/C – very much needed in La Guajira. The hotel has a nice restaurant by the beach, and a beautiful pool surrounded by lush gardens and typical kiosks with hammocks and lounge chairs to relax after a long day.

El Dorado Lodge (3 nights) – This is easily Colombia’s most beautifully designed ecolodge. Rooms are in a wood-cabin-type building with amazing views over the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Caribbean Sea can be seen on a clear day. The Kogihabs are new constructions with morning panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada itself. Beds are clean and comfortable and the rooms are cool, given the lodge’s altitude. Here you’ll be exposed to the various endemics that make the Sierra so special and you’ll understand why it is the world’s best place to bird. There are no other lodging options in the area – we highly recommend staying at the reserve given its distance in by car to Santa Marta (3hrs).