Unique Cultural Tours
Unique Cultural Tours
October 30-November 7, 2025*
November 7-15, 2026*
Cost: $4,395 (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.
*Denotes that Jenny, Vive Más owner, will accompany this tour.
Expert bilingual Colombian Guide, local birding guides in each location
8 nights in comfortable, hand-picked hotels that reflect local culture
Breakfast every day
1 in-country flight 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
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, carefully planned during the migration season!
Quindio-home of the coffee growing region “Eje Cafetero”
Salento- Santa Rita waterfall, Cocora Valley
Armenia-Finca Mi Monaco, main plaza
Cultural activities- tejo, cooking lesson
Minca-in the Sierra Nevada mountains above Santa Marta
Minca- “Ecological Capital of Colombia”
Finca La Victoria
Cartagena
See shorebirds en route from Minca to Cartagena
Get a taste of vibrant Colombian culture in this historic port 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 10,000 feet.
Early mornings - This itinerary is designed to maximize your birdwatching opportunities. You can opt-out and sleep in on some days.
Flights - Plan to book the flight into Armenia, Colombia, with the group. The tour ends in Cartagena.
Experience the Birds of Colombia:
Your safe and easy way to see hundreds of species of birds in this outstanding country.
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 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 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
