Trip Report: Colombia: Santa Marta & Caribbean - 2025
Day 1 (Aug 24 Tour Start)
Our Colombian adventure began right outside the hotel with a Cattle Tyrant greeting us at dawn. Roadside birding quickly yielded a suite of specialties — booming Northern Screamers, Snail Kite cruising the marshes, groups of Turquoise-winged Parrotlets, migrant Gray Kingbirds perched along the wires, and Wattled Jacanas down by the water.
At Salamanca National Park the diversity was awesome, with 58 species tallied, including the endangered and endemic Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird. Other standouts included Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Russet-throated Puffbird, Golden-green Woodpecker, Black-crested Antshrike, Northern Scrub Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Bicolored Conebill, and more.
Continuing across the north coast by bus, we added Wilson’s Plover, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Tern, and Black-necked Stilt along the tidal flats. By afternoon, we climbed into the Sierra Nevada mountains, where we got looks at Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Coppery Emerald, Swallow Tanager, and a flyby flock of Scarlet-fronted Parakeets.
We wrapped up the day at our lodge nestled in the stunning Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 6,000’ enjoying a vibrant feeder show with Santa Marta Blossomcrown, Lazuline Sabrewing, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, and Sparkling Violetear — all under an epic Caribbean sunset to close out Day 1.
Day 2 – Aug 25 – Sunrise at Cuchilla de San Lorenzo & High-Mountain Endemics
We departed early for Cuchilla de San Lorenzo to catch an epic sunrise over this knife-edge ridge, the upper reaches of the mountain, where a lion’s share of Santa Marta endemics are found. The sunrise provided a perfect backdrop for looks at White-tailed Starfrontlet, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Black-cheeked Mountain Tanager, and Yellow-crowned Redstart. A Hermit Wood-Wren added a charming touch to the high-altitude chorus. Thanks to the local NGO, we visited an antpitta feeding station nestled in bamboo, where a striking Santa Marta Antpitta posed for worms in the early morning light. Furnarids were on display as well, including endemics Streak-capped Spinetail and Rusty-headed Spinetail.
Descending the ridge, we enjoyed the rare Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager (Carriker’s subspecies) and glimpsed a calling White-tipped Quetzal along the road. A highlight of the morning was a group of Barred Parakeets feeding overhead — an extraordinary sight, as perched views of this species are exceptionally rare. Lunch featured perfectly cooked fish and double-smashed patacones, the perfect fuel for our afternoon.
We continued birding into the sunset, picking up Gray-throated Leaftosser, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Sierra Nevada Brushfinch, and the serenade of Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush mingling with the distant coo of White-tipped Dove. As darkness fell, we located two Santa Marta Screech-Owls, the final highland targets for the day. Along our evening walk, we even spotted the endemic Santa Marta Ground Snake (Atractus sanctaemartae). Back at the lodge, we enjoyed dinner and checklists, reflecting on a day packed with endemic treasures.
Day 3 – Aug 26 – Lower Elevation Birding & Forest Specialties
We started at 6:00 a.m. with coffee and fresh fruit at the lodge, soaking in the dawn chorus. Feeders were alive with Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Pale-breasted Thrush, and Rusty-margined Flycatcher. Black-chested Jay and Red-billed Parrot were calling nearby, and a local guide led us to three Groove-billed Toucanets feeding in the canopy — our first views of these green Santa Marta endemics, easily distinguished from the southern Emerald Toucanet by their slightly longer, downward-curving bills.
During our descent to lower elevations, we glimpsed the tiny Santa Marta Woodstar, reminiscent in size to Cuba’s Bee Hummingbird, and later enjoyed fantastic looks at a pair perched atop a turnoff to the lodge. Thermals brought a majestic Black-and-Chestnut Eagle soaring overhead — a true highlight of the morning. On the forest floor, we scored prolonged views of the secretive Santa Marta Tapaculo, and also enjoyed Gray-breasted Woodwren (bangsi subspecies), Rusty-breasted Antpitta, and Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner.
Later, while searching for Rosy-throated Tanager, we encountered Santa Marta Antbird, another look at Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, and the cryptic Russet-winged Schiffornis skulking in the shadows. A pair of Golden-winged Sparrows delighted the group, and thanks to local guides, we glimpsed a snoozing Black-and-White Owl. Four Swallow Tanagers added bright splashes of blue to the day.
Lunch in Minca included the refreshing local specialty, Limonada de Coco, alongside feeders buzzing with White-necked Jacobin, White-vented Plumeleteer, Steely-vented Hummingbird, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. Afternoon lower-elevation birding brought Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Black-backed Antshrike, and three Rufous-tailed Jacamars. The day concluded at our beachfront hotel along the Caribbean Sea, a perfect spot to recharge before tomorrow’s adventure to Tayrona National Park.
Day 4 – Aug 27 – Tayrona National Park & Coastal Endemics
Coffee, fruit, and pastries awaited us for breakfast before heading into Tayrona National Park. Early in the morning, we were treated to views of Cotton-top Tamarins, tiny primates endemic to this region and famous for their brilliant white crests, energetic foraging, and playful social behavior. A truly magical wildlife encounter that set the tone for the day.
Soon after, our birding mission picked up. We found Lesser Swallow-tailed Swifts, Pale-bellied Hermit, and the epic surprise of a Blue-billed Curassow, a notoriously elusive species present in a small, geographically isolated population here.
Continuing through the park, we enjoyed lekking White-bearded Manakins and observed: Buff-breasted Wren, Orange-crowned Oriole, Trinidad Euphonia, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Crested Oropendola, Gray-headed Tanager, with ~30 Gray Kingbirds migrating overhead. Our morning park total reached 50 species.
Later, we drove to SFF Los Flamencos and transitioned to La Guajira. After checking into our unique coastal lodging, we ventured back out around 4:00 PM. Over two hours, we detected 59 species with highlights including Crested Bobwhite, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Scaled Dove, Roseate Spoonbill, Ruby-Topaz Hummingbird, Glaucous Tanager, and Yellow Oriole.
Dinner and checklists overlooking the Caribbean Sea from La Guajira made for a very special evening.
Day 5 – Aug 28 – La Guajira Wetlands & Mangrove Explorations
Our first morning in La Guajira focused on hypersaline lagoon and mangrove birding. Pole-driven boats skimmed across the water, revealing over 150 American Flamingos, Black Skimmers, Gull-billed Terns, Yellow-billed Terns, Anhingas, Wood Storks, White Ibis, and the spectacular Scarlet Ibis. Mangrove patience rewarded us with Mangrove Rail, and the White morph of Reddish Egret provided a fun comparison to Snowy Egret and Great Egret nearby.
Lunch was followed by productive feeder sessions at the lodge, featuring both male and female Vermilion Cardinals, Orinocan Saltator, and Pileated Finch. From the van, we spotted a dozen shorebird species, including our main target, Double-striped Thick-knee, along with Collared Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Stilt, White-rumped Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper. A distant Savanna Hawk perched along the wet roadside meadow added to the checklist.
Our final stop delivered the first Boat-billed Flycatcher, Shining-green Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Parakeet, and Rufous-vented Chachalaca. Dinner back at Cabanas Mar y Azul ended the day perfectly.
Day 6 – Aug 29 – Final La Guajira Birding & Departure
On our final morning, we explored Centenario de las Flora y Fauna Los Flamencos, a xeric scrub reserve. Despite the heat, nearly 40 species were detected, including Pearl Kite, Harris’s Hawk, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, White-whiskered Spinetail, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, and the rare Tocuyo Sparrow, which obliged with rewarding views. Black-faced Grassquit and Olive-gray Saltator were quickly upstaged by the singing male Vermilion Cardinal, set against the lush scrubland rejuvenated by seasonal rains. With checklists complete, we transferred to Riohacha airport, concluding our Santa Marta & La Guajira adventure.
In total, we observed 270 species all of which are includedin the eBird Trip Report.
