Unique Cultural Tours
Unique Cultural Tours
November 2-10, 2024
Cost: $4,195 (market value $6,995).
A $500 deposit secures your space.
Get the Early Bird savings of $200 off when you register 6+ months before departure! Single rooms are available for $500.
Expert bilingual Colombian Guide, local birding guides in each location
8 nights in comfortable, hand-picked hotels that reflect local culture
Breakfast every day
2 in-country flights during the program (on large, commercial airlines)
Private, air-conditioned ground transportation in each city
All activities mentioned on this itinerary
Airfare to/from the US
Trip Insurance
9 meals, alcohol, tips
“Choose-your-own-excursion” in Cartagena
Join us in two of Colombia’s premier destinations for birdwatching enthusiasts, in the regions around Salento (Quindío department) and Minca (Magdalena department).
Salento is nestled in the heart of the famous Arabica coffee region, in central southern Colombia. It is surrounded by lush, verdant landscapes and cloud forests of the lower Andes that are home to colorful species like the Andean Motmot and the Yellow-eared Parrot. We will also venture to 11,000’ to the Los Nevados volcanic region.
Minca in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, boasts a rich ecosystem where rare birds such as the Santa Marta Parakeet and the endemic Sierra Nevada Brushfinch can be observed. Both regions provide a serene backdrop ideal for birdwatching alongside local English-speaking guides who can show you where the target birds nest and hunt.
Don’t miss this incredible tour which is carefully planned during the migration season and offered only one time a year.
Quindio-home of the coffee growing region “Eje Cafetero”
Salento- Santa Rita Natural Reserve, Cocora Valley
Ruz Hot Springs & Parque Laguna Negra
Villamaria Birding EcoLodge
Minca-in the Sierra Nevada mountains above Santa Marta
Minca- small village surrounded by incredible birds
Finca La Victoria
Cartagena
Get a taste of vibrant Colombian culture in this historic city!
Yellow Fever vaccine NOT required with these destinations, although your doctor may recommend it for the Minca region. Check with your doctor for your personal needs, but there are no vaccine requirements for this itinerary.
Activity Level - Walking up to three miles in a day, often on dirt paths, cobblestones, or other uneven terrain. Elevations up to 11,000 feet.
Early mornings - This itinerary is designed to maximize your birdwatching opportunities. You can opt-out and sleep in on some days.
Flights - The group will take the same flight direct from Miami to Pereira. The tour ends in Cartagena.
**Jenny and Steve do not attend every tour, and sadly cannot attend this one. Our team, including Luis and Carlos, will ensure you have a fantastic experience.
Experience the Birds of Colombia:
Distinctive climates, your safe and easy way to see hundreds of species of birds in this outstanding country.
Day 1: Welcome to Colombia!
Arrive in Periera, drive to Salento.
Day 2: Around Salento
Birdwatching in Santa Rita Natural Reserve, less than 30 minutes from Salento. Quiet farms and waterfalls.
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 we can rest from the travels and do evening birdwatching near this small town.
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.
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 only 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 next hotel at the Ruz Hot Springs. This is a much cooler climate at 11,000 feet. We’ll enjoy the birding around the remote hotel in the evening, and of course, the hot springs! This area is famous for hummingbirds that will land on your hand to eat from sugar-water discs in your palm.
Day 4: Los Nevados
Today we’ll explore the nearby Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados. Snow-capped peaks of nearby volcanoes give it the name, and it is high-elevation arid terrain. This national park is one of the gems of the central Andes of Colombia.
Likely to see: Plumbeous Sierra-Finches, Pale-naped Brushfinches, Sedge Wren, and hopefully a White-chinned Thistletail.
In the afternoon, we’ll go to Villamaria to spend the night at the Lodge Paradise Verde. This 17-acre property is at 6,300’ in a humid premontane forest.
Day 5: Villamaria
Wake up in eco-hotel that specializes in bird watching, with a bird census of 202 species. The bird walk happens right outside your room at this lodge.
Likely to see: Sickle-winged Guan, Ecuadorian Piedtail, White-mantled Barbet, the Green Jay (pictured with yellow and blue), the Chestnut-capped Brush Finch, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
In the late morning, we head to the airport at Pereira, for lunch and our flight to Santa Marta. We’ll spend the night in the coastal city of Santa Marta.
Day 6: Minca
Welcome to the Sierra Nevada mountains in northwestern Colombia! When the clouds part, you can see the snow-covered peaks rising above 18,000, making this is haven for migratory birds because there are so many ecosystems in a short distance.
We will start our day with a drive up to Minca, where we will have two full days of birdwatching.
Likely to see: Keel-billed Toucan, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, White-bearded Manakin, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, Social Flycatcher, Black-chested Jay, White-necked Jacobin, and the Red-billed Emerald.
In the afternoon we’ll go to Finca La Victoria, a tropical coffee plantation founded in 1892, which also has a craft beer brewery.
Day 7: Cartagena
Wake up in Minca and hope to see many of the 23 endemic species found only in this region. This included the Santa Marta Mountain Tanager, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Santa Marta Warbler, and the Indigo-capped Hummingbird.
This is our final morning of birdwatching.
In the late morning, we’ll drive down to the Santa Marta and take a flight to the colonial port city of Cartagena.
Day 8: Cartagena
This morning we’ll get a tour of the key places in the city, the San Felipe de Barajas fortress, the modern (Miami-like) neighborhoods, the historical center, and our neighborhood of Getsemani.
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 with live music at Candé Restaurant.
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!
