Colombia's Endemic Rich Birding: Cauca and Magdalena Valleys
Trip Description
Brief Itinerary
The Cauca and Magdalena Valleys are ecoregions very important to Colombia. The flanks of both valleys, ranging from the cloud forests to the grassland páramos in the high Andes, harbor many range-restricted species. This trip will allow us to look for 20-24 Colombian endemics and a total of 370-420 species in just 16 days. It has a well-planned itinerary with top South American guides. Trip participants will see 40-50 tanagers, hummingbird feeders can provide up to 12 species at a single locality, and up to 45 hummingbird species can be seen on the trip, and many other excellent birds will be found.
Colombian birding can no longer be missed; even experienced South American birders can add up to 100 bird species to their life lists.
Day 1: Arrival in Bogotá
Day 2: Early morning flight to Cali. Birding the Casa Madhú, Cloud Forest at KM 18. Night at KM 18.
Day 3: More birding back at KM 18 Cloud Forest and afternoon birding Sonso Lake. Night in Buga.
Day 4: Early morning birding at Laguna de Sonso and afternoon transfer to Otún Quimbaya Reserve.
Day 5: Morning birding Otún Quimbaya, afternoon drive to Montezuma.
Day 6: Full-day birding in Montezuma (humid, moss-covered forest) for many west slope Chocó specialties.
Day 7: Full-day birding in Montezuma (humid, moss-covered forest) for many west slope Chocó specialties.
Day 8: Morning birding Montezuma, afternoon drive to Manizales and birding in Rio Blanco Reserve.
Day 9: Full-day birding at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Day 10: Full morning birding at Rio Blanco Reserve enjoying other forested areas at different elevations; afternoon drive to Hacienda El Bosque
Day 11: Early morning birding Hacienda El Bosque and after lunch transfer to near Nevados del Ruiz National Park.
Day 12: Early morning birding the highlands of Nevado del Ruiz National Park, afternoon birding the Bellavista Reserve.
Day 13: Full day birding Bellavista Reserve.
Day 14: Early morning birding Bellavista Reserve and the Victoria surroundings and birding at key spots on drive to La Vega in the afternoon
Day 15: Early morning birding in La Vega and late afternoon birding in San Francisco Hummingbird Garden, and drive to Bogotá
Day 16: Early morning birding in La Florida marshes near Bogotá (depending on flight times) and transfer to the airport for the international flights back home (main trip, afternoon) and/or on to Santa Marta for extension.​
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