Unique Cultural Tours
Unique Cultural Tours
In Partnership with Front Range Birding & Optics
A $500 deposit secures your space. Single rooms are available for $500.
Expert bilingual Argentinian Guide, local birding guides in each location
8 nights in comfortable, hand-picked hotels that reflect local culture
13 meals (8 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners, local wines included)
1 in-country roundtrip flight during the program (on large, commercial airlines)
Private, air-conditioned ground transportation in each city
Visa for Brazil (needed for Iguazu Falls). Argentina does not require a visa for US passport holders.
All activities mentioned on this itinerary
Airfare to/from the US
Trip Insurance
9 meals, alcohol (aside from wine), tips
We take you to the best spots in Argentina for the ultimate southern hemisphere birdwatching experience.
Want to see 68 species in one morning? This is your incredible opportunity to grow your life list with birds from the southern hemisphere. You’ll also get a taste of the vibrant Argentinian culture.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to get the best birds and culture in the “Paris of the South”, as well as some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.
Your journey begins in Buenos Aires, a city that remarkably blends European elegance with premier urban birding. We start at the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a sprawling 860-acre wetland on the edge of the Rio de la Plata. Here, against the backdrop of the city skyline, you may spot over 300 species, including the Southern Screamer, Coscoroba Swan, and the vibrant Scarlet-headed Blackbird. Watch for the Rufous Hornero (the national bird), and its nest designed like a brick over. Ee will also visit the Ecoparque, a reclaimed urban oasis in Palermo perfect for close-up encounters with native waterfowl and expect to see flocks of Monk Parakeets.
A couple of hours outside the city, we’ll explore the legendary swamplands and marshes of the surrounding province (such as the Otamendi or Ceibas regions). These vast grasslands and river deltas are a birder's paradise, home to the Giant Wood Rail, Guira Cuckoo, and a spectacular array of flycatchers and raptors. As the autumn air thins the canopy, April provides exceptional visibility for spotting both resident specialists and late-season migrants across these diverse habitats.
In addition to growing your life list, there’s an incredible food scene to enjoy. Local chefs blend Argentinian produce with culinary influences from around the world. Are you ready for fresh Italian-style pasta? Steak, empanadas, and of course, local Malbec?
Next, we’ll take a two-hour flight to Puerto Iguazú, home to one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders. The Iguazú Falls consist of a chain of over 200 waterfalls cutting through a lush, subtropical rainforest filled with unique flora and fauna.
Our specialized birding guide will lead us on early morning excursions to catch the peak of avian activity. We will be on the lookout for vibrant regional specialties such as the Rufous-capped Motmot, White-eyed Parakeet, and the shimmering Violet-capped Wood-nymph. At sunset, keep your binoculars ready as Toco Toucans fly overhead to their roosting spots. We will cap off our adventure with a signature night walk, searching the darkness for the well-camouflaged Common Potoo and the haunting calls of the Tropical Screech-Owl.
The breathtaking beauty of this area will be hard to say goodbye to. We will gly back to Buenos Aires for our final day before our flight home.
Yellow Fever vaccine NOT required with these destinations, although your doctor may recommend it for the Iguazú region.
As with most birding trips, you’ll want to use mosquito repellent and wear long sleeves on some days to prevent bites.
Activity Level - Walking up to three miles in a day, often on dirt paths or other uneven terrain.
Some early mornings - This itinerary is designed to maximize your birdwatching opportunities. You can opt out and sleep in on some days.
Flights - The airport is 45 minutes outside the city center, so plan to book your roundtrip flight arriving and departing from Buenos Aires with the group (although you can arrange your own transportation with the hotel).
Experience the Birds of Argentina:
Your safe and easy way to see hundreds of species of birds in the southern hemisphere.
Day 1: Welcome to Colombia!
Arrive in Armenia, drive to Salento. We’ll do a little sunset birding in the Plaza, enjoy a delicious Colombian dinner and welcome meeting.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2: Around Salento
Birdwatching/walk to the Santa Rita Waterfalls, less than 30 minutes from Salento. Breakfast at the farm, traditional Colombian lunch.
Likely to see: Southern Emerald Toucanet, Bronze-winged Parrot, Yellow-headed Caracara, Canada Warbler, Saffron Finch, Golden Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Slate-throated Redstart, and the Bare-faced Ibis.
In the afternoon, you’ll have time to visit Carlos’ coffeehouse and shop in this small, picturesque town. Sunset birding nearby.
Up for a little cultural activity? We can walk up the street for dinner and play Tejo, an explosive Colombian game reminiscent of corn hole.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Cocora Valley
The Cocora Valley is quickly becoming one of the most famous spots in the region for visitors, as it has rolling hills of towering wax palm trees, some more than 150 years old. By mid-day there are many tourists, but we’ll get there as dawn breaks. In addition to the stunning views, we may see the Andean Condor, as there are a couple pairs that live in this area.
Also likely to see: Masked Trogon, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Acorn Woodpecker, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Azara’s Spinetail, Cinnamon Flycatcher, and the Green Jay.
In the afternoon we will drive 1 1/2 hours to our hacienda lodging, that is a popular spot for Southern Lapwings and Vermillion Flycatchers. Luis will provide a cooking class on how to make patacones and other specialty Colombian food. You may choose to get a massage before dinner, or lounge by the pool.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Fly to Santa Marta
After breakfast and birding at the hacienda, we will take our flight to Santa Marta.
We’ll drive directly up to the “Ecological Capital of Colombia”, Minca. This mountain town has one main street, and lots of exotic hummingbirds.
As the sun goes down, expect to see lots of parakeets flying overhead, announcing their presence.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Minca
Walking directly from town, we will explore the mountainside roads with our birding guide. Listen for the sound of frogs, because it is likely the Keel-Billed Toucan (pictured here).
Likely to see: Santa Marta Parakeet, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Antpitta, and Oropendulas.
In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to relax. We will do sunset birding around our eco-lodge and watch the sunset over Santa Marta in the distance.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6: Minca
Our birding journey will take us to Finca La Victoria, a tropical coffee plantation founded in 1892, which also has a craft beer brewery.
Likely to see: Keel-billed Toucan, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, White-bearded Manakin, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, Social Flycatcher, Black-chested Jay, Red-billed Emerald and the White-necked Jacobin (pictured here).
In the afternoon, you may choose some free time or walk up to Marinka Waterfalls and swim.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Cartagena
Wake up in Minca for our final morning of sunrise birdwatching. We’ll head down to Santa Marta to see the seashore and have lunch before the 4-hour roadtrip to Cartagena.
En route, we”ll stop to see the shorebirds.
Likely to see: Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-headed Marsh-tyrant, Limpkin, Striated Heron, Scaled Dove, Cattle Tyrant, Russet-throated Puffbird, Bicolored Wren, and the Snail Kite (pictured here).
We’ll arrive in Cartagena in time for dinner and leisurely exploring the city by foot at sunset.
Dinner will be at a lively restaurant with live music and dancers. Colombian festive culture at it’s finest!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Cartagena
This morning you can choose to go to the National Aviary to see rehabilitation efforts, go birding in the local jungle preserve with a guide, or explore the beautiful historic city on your own.
Following lunch, you could choose to retreat from the sun in your air-conditioned room, take a refreshing dip in the pool, or explore pirate artifacts at a nearby museum.
You can see our full recommendations for what to do here.
In the late afternoon, we’ll head out for a sunset boat tour of the bay before a delicious farewell dinner at a cozy gourmet restaurant in the muraled neighborhood. Want to stay out even later? Cafe Havana is just a couple blocks from our hotel and have bands playing our favorite Cuban salsa music (in Colombia…it’s just fun).
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Fly Home
Arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before your flight. We hope you saw many of the fascinating birds that call Colombia home, all while enjoying the structure and security of traveling in a small group on our exclusive tour. There are so many microclimates that birds call home in Colombia, we hope you will return!
Meals included: Breakfast
