Are you ready to explore the best birding hotspots Colombia’s Western and Central Andes has to offer? During our 12-day tour, we’ll search for some of Colombia’s unique and most-wanted endemic species while visiting a diverse array of ecosystems like the Choco Lowland Rainforest, Pacific Dry Forest, Andean Cloud Forest, and Páramo.
Unparalleled in its diversity, Colombia is home to nearly 2,000 species of birds.
During our time together, we will seek out some of the 80+ endemics, including Yellow-eared Parrot, Multicolored Tanger, Buffy Helmetcrest, Black-and-Gold Tanager, Cauca Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Grayish Piculet, Crested Ant-Tanager, Brown-banded Antpitta, Apical Flycatcher, Yellow-headed Brushfinch, Hermit Wood-Wren, Gold-ringed Tanager, Munchique Wood-Wren, Red-bellied Grackle, and Antioquia Wren.
Other epic targets include, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Scaled Fruiteater, Olive Finch, White-faced Nunbird, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Chestnut-naped, Scaled, and Crescent-faced Antpitta.
From our start at La Florida’s beautiful feeders looking for Multicolored Tanagers, to Hacienda Del Bosque’s Mountain Toucan feeders to our end at a breathtaking Cock-of-the-Rock lek, this tour is packed with birds! So what are you waiting for? Sign up today for a trip of a lifetime!
Scroll down to check out the whole itinerary!
Western & Central Andes Tour Map
Departures:
21 Jan – Feb 1, 2026
*Price: $5,450 per person/double occupancy
Single supplement: $500
*Based on double occupancy at lodgings with a minimum group size of 4 and a max of 10.
Some lodges may only have double occupancy.
Note if you have requested a roommate we will try to find you one, but this is not a guarantee, if none is available you will be charged the single supplement fee.
Type: Bird watching and Wildlife Viewing
Length: 12 days
Starting city: Medellin, Colombia
Ending city: Cali, Colombia
Pace: moderate
Physical difficulty: easy to moderate
Focus: Bird Watching and Wildlife viewing
Max group size: 10 + 1 leader + local guide(s)
Join us for an incredible 12-day birding tour exploring the best of Colombia’s Western and Central Andes.
Unparalleled in its diversity, Colombia is home to nearly 2,000 species of birds. During our time together, we will seek out some of the 80 endemics and wade through gorgeous tanagers, stunning hummingbirds, illusive Tapaculos, agreeable antpittas, trained toucans, crazy cotingas, and so much more!
Sign up today and load up your life list on a trip of a lifetime!
Flights Arrive & Official Tour Start @ 2:00 PM.
Depending on personal travel*, flights arrive today in Medellin at Rio Negro International Airport. We’ll pick you up and transfer you to our hotel, where you’ll get settled in before our city tour starting at 2:00 PM
*If you choose to arrive the night before, please let us know to assist with the transfer to Medellin.
D & ON Medellin (Hotel Mi Sandiego or similar)
Following our time in the dry forest, we’ll begin our drive toward Las Tangaras Reserve. This epic eBird hotspot boasts 570 species, with over 20 hummingbird species detected. Their feeders buzz with a stunning assemblage of North Andean gems, including the mind-melting Violet-tailed Sylph, Velvet-purple Coronet, White-booted Racket-tail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and Empress Brillian.
Other stars include Tawny-bellied Hermit, Brown Violetear, Greenish Puffleg, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Rufous-gaped Hilstar, Andean Emerald, and Green-fronted Lancebill can be spotted too!
Following our late afternoon arrival, we’ll stay close to the lodge and explore the feeders, enjoy a delicious dinner, dive into checklists and go over the plan for tomorrow!
The Chocó bioregion, located in the Pacific lowlands of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, is one of the world’s most biodiverse areas. Its tropical rainforests are teeming with life, and the region boasts an exceptionally high level of endemism, with many species found nowhere else. At the heart of this extraordinary ecosystem is Las Tangaras Reserve, a key sanctuary for wildlife and a critical part of the region’s biodiversity corridor.
Start your day in the breathtaking Western Andes, where you’ll enjoy breakfast at the lodge before setting out for a morning of birdwatching in the reserve. This unique habitat is home to a wide variety of species, many of which are found only in this region.
Here we stand to see quite a diversity of birds! Some of our main targets include Gold-ringed Tanger (E), and Black-and-gold Tanager (E), plus Crested Ant Tanager (E), Munchique Wood-Wren (E), Tatama Tapaculo (E), Purplish-mantled, Glistening-green Tanager, Lemon-spectacled, Rufus-throated, Metallic-green Tanager , Flame-faced Tanager. Black Solitaire, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl, Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, and Toucan Barbet.
As we bird along the road and trails we’ll keep a lookout for Andean Motmot, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Laughing Falcon, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Uniform Antshrike, Yellow-breasted Antwerp, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Narino Tapaculo, , Pacific Tuftedcheek, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Golden-winged Manakin, Green-and-Black Fruiteater, White-winged Becard, Bronze-olive Pygmy Tyrant, Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Smoke-colored Pewee, Choco Vireo, Beautiful Jay, Green Jay, Sooty-headed Wren, Northern Chestnut-breasted Wren, Andean Solitaire, Black-headed Brushfinch, Choco Brushfinch, White-naped Brushfinch.
We’ll wind down after a full day of birding, with dinner, checklists, and get ready to do it all over the next day!
B, L, D & ON Las Tangaras Reserve
Today we’ll enjoy breakfast, load up the van, and drive a few hours to the Jardín area in the Antioquia Department. Jardín is nestled in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle and features stunning mountainous vistas, a quaint town center, breathtaking views, over 350 bird species, and the welcoming atmosphere of a town where nature and tradition beautifully collide.
Our first scheduled birding adventure features a visit to a relatively new bird-watching site, home to an exceptional Oilbird roost. Visible during the light of day, we’ll be here by late morning to take in the best of these rare viewing conditions. Along the rushing water in the canyon, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for White-capped Dipper and Torrent Duck.
Back in town, we’ll have time for a delicious local meal, learn about Colombian coffee practices, and taste some expertly brewed Colombian coffee.
After our mid-day activities, we’ll head over to check out a bright orange cotinga that performs in groups, hoping to attract females. That’s right, we are heading to an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek, a great chance to try your hand at photography and experience these unique birds up close and personal!
Red-bellied Grackle and Green Jay (Inca) can also be seen making brief visits to the feeders here.
We’ll enjoy this special spot until sunset, and then make our way back to the lodge for dinner and checklists.
B Jardín L Jardín D & ON Cabana de Turpial
First stop of the day features a visit to the Antpitta feeders at Reserva Mirador El Roble. If we’re lucky, we could get a chance to see Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Chami Antpitta, and the spectacular Chestnut-naped Antpitta.
Other specialties we’ll be on the lookout for include the critically endangered Yellow-eared Parrot (E). Other prized species here include Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Munchique Wood Wren (E), Red-bellied Grackle (E), Tanager Finch, White-capped, Red-hooded, Golden-crowned, Saffron-crowned Tanagers, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-fronted Whitestart, Barred Fruiteater, Citrine Warbler, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Grey-hooded Bush Tanager, Mountain Cacique, and Golden-rumped Euphonia.
After mid-day, we’ll load into the vehicles for a few hours’ drive towards Manizales, back in the Central Andes where we will do dinner, checklists and get ready for the next day!
B, L Mirador El Roble, D & ON Hotel Carretero, Manizales
Today we’ll visit Rio Blanco Ecological Reserve. This hotspot has 507 species reported and our visit will include Antpitta feeding stations, wonderful forest birding, and tons of birding potential.
Some of our top targets include Brown-banded, Bicolored, Slate-crowned, Chestnut-crowned, and Chestnut-naped Antpittas. Plus Green-and-black Fruiteater, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Rusty-faced Parrot, and the rare and illusive Masked Saltator.
Other birds we’ll look for include, White-throated Daggerbill, Tourmaline Sunangel, Collared Inca, Mountain Velvetbreast, Buff-tailed Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, Andean Emerald, Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Powerful Woodpecker, Scaly-naped Parrot, Streak-headed Antbird, Ocellated Tapaculo, Ash-colored Tapaculo, Spillmann’s Tapaculo, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Flammulated Treehunter, Pearled Treerunner, Dusky Piha, Barred Becard, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Mountain Elaenia, Flavescent Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied and Rufous-bellied Chat Tyrant, Brown-capped Vireo, Brown-bellied Swallow, Yellow-bellied Siskin, Gray-browed Brushfinch, Black-crested Warbler, White-capped Tanager, Black-capped, Oleaginous, Black-eared, and Superciliaried Hemispingus and so much more!
After our day in Rio Blanco, we’ll drive up slope and check in to our lodge for the night.
B Hotel Carretero L Rio Blanco D & ON Hacienda El Bosque
Hacienda El Bosque is a mix of regenerating cattle-farming habitat interspersed with intact forest patches. In the handful of years since its inception, Hacienda has quickly risen to fame for its incredible fruit feeders and commitment to avitourism and conservation.
Unique bird viewing setups on site include opportunities to photograph Gray-breasted, Yellow-bellied Chat Tyrant, White-browed Spinetail, Equatorial Antpitta, and Green-and-Black Fruiteater. We’ll also try for the highly sought-after Crescent-faced Antpitta.
This is also our best spot for Sword-billed Hummingbird and Paramo Seedeater.
Additional birds we’ll look for include White-throated Quail-Dove, Sparkling Violetear, Tourmaline Sunangel, Purple-backed Thornbill, Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvetbreast, Masked Trogon, Crested Caracara, Ash-colored Tapaculo, Blackish Tapaculo, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Barred Fruiteater, Red-crested Cotinga, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Mountain Wren, Grass Wren, Hooded Siskin, Gray-browed Brushfinch, Black-crested Warbler, Hooded, Lacrimose, Scarlet-bellied, and Buff-breasted-Mountain Tanagers and more.
After what is always a delightful time at Hacienda, we’ll head up the slope to explore the incredible Páramo habitat of Los Nevados National Park. On a clear day, the views of snow-covered volcanic peaks are some of the most stunning stretches of the Colombian Andes in this region.
We’ll make stops along the road. This area of paramo is a special site for several scarcer hummers, including the famous Buffy Helmetcrest (E), Black-thighed and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Mountain Avocetbill, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Purple-back Thornbill, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, and Buff-winged Starfrontlet. Other birds of note to be found here include the Rufous-fronted Parakeet (E), Scaly-naped parrot, Paramo Tapaculo, White-browed Spinetail, Viridian Metaltail, and Masked Flowerpiercer.
At night, we’ll have dinner and have the option to take a swim in the geothermal pools fed by mineral-rich water from the natural hot springs on the property.
B, L Hacienda El Bosque D & ON Termales El Ruiz
Today we’ll spend the whole day birding the Páramo of Los Nevados and the road behind our illustrious lodge, Termales del Ruiz. Along with searching for any of our primary targets that we didn’t get yesterday, they will be high on our list today. Other birds of interest today include Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Eared Dove, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Tawny Antpitta, Blue-backed Conebill, Black Flowerpiercer, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Great Sapphirewing, Purple-backed Thronbill, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, and others.
Back to our hotel in the afternoon for some time to enjoy the lodge and soak in the hot springs. Then we’ll meet for dinner checklists, and folks can even head back to soak should they desire!
B, L, D & ON Termales El Ruiz
In the morning, we’ll bird the Páramo one last time, searching for any targets that have eluded us. After lunch, we’ll depart the elfin forest and Parámo and embark on one of our longest drive days.
This commute from the highlands of the Central Andes to the lowlands of the Western Andes will take us down in elevation and across the mighty Rio Cauca, one of the country’s most important arteries. The day’s travel will put us just a hop-skip-and a jump away from tomorrow’s wetland birding extravaganza.
We’ll wind down with a delicious dinner and go over our day’s observations.
B L Termales el Ruiz D & ON Hotel Guadalajara or similar, Buga
After breakfast at our lodge, we’ll begin our birding adventure at Laguna Sonso. This unique habitat features a mosaic of wetlands, dry forest, and riparian habitat. Here we’ll be on the lookout for regional specialties like Spectacled Parrotlet, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Apical Flycatcher, Grayish Piculet, Dwarf Cuckoo, Bar-crested Antshrike, Jet Antbird, Horned Screamer, and the rare Comb Duck. Common Potoo and Tropical Screech-Owl are also possible here.
At this fantastic hotspot, we will also keep our eyes peeled for, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Pale-vented Pigeon, Greater Ani, Striped Cuckoo, Gray-cowled Wood-Rail, Limpkin, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Solitary Sandpiper, Anhinga, Striated Heron, Snail Kite, Ringed, and Amazon Kingfisher, Lineated, Spot-breasted, and Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Cinereous Becard, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Thick-billed Euphonia, Yellow Oriole, Oriole Blackbird, and much more!
After lunch, we’ll drive down to the Chocó lowlands where we will bird a bit before dinner and winding down. In the evening we’ll look for Chocó Poorwill and Chocó Screech-Owl.
B Hotel La Guadalajara L en Route D & ON San Cipriano Reserve
Today we immerse in the spectacular Chocó lowlands after traveling 20 minutes on the local transport called “brujita”. This unique habitat is home to unique targets like Sapayoa, Five-colored Barbet, Berlep´s Tinamou, Black-breasted Puffbird, Blue Cotinga, Black-tipped Cotingas, Uniform Crake, Solitaire Eagle, Lita Woodpecker, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Green Manakin, Blue-whiskered Tanager, Scarlet-and-White Tanager, Emerald, Gray-and-Gold Tanager, Rufous-naped Tanager, Stub-tailed Antbird, Esmeralda’s Antbird, Dull Mantled Antbirds, Spot-crowned and Five-coloured Barbets, Pacific Flatbill, Slaty-capped Shrike Vireo, Lanceolated Monklet, Black-breasted Puffbird, Lemon-Spectacled Tanager, Spot-crowned Antvireo, Yellow-green Bush Tanager, Chocó Trogon, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Dusky Pigeon, Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Plumbeous Forest Falcon, Slate-colored Seedeater.
Our visit here includes a small chance to observe Thicket and Plain-backed Antpittas and even the neotropical rainforest ghost, Banded-ground Cuckoo.
In the late afternoon, we will head from the lowlands back to the cloud forest for our final night in the Andes. Landing at La Florida Bosque de las Aves for dinner and checklists.
B L San Cipriano, D ON La Florida
Waking up in the cloud forest hotspot at this fantastic birding and photography hotspot, we will bird the feeders and forest for famous targets like the Multicolored Tanager, and the Chestnut Wood-Quail, plus we’ll keep our senses tuned for the spectacular Golden-headed Quetzal.
The hummingbird lineup up here includes species like Long-tailed Sylph, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Greenish Puffleg, White-booted Racket-tail, Little Tinamou, Purple-throated Woodstar, Green Hermit, and other stunners.
Among the fruit feeders here, we’ve got great chances to see a nice mix of tanagers like Scrub, Golden, Golden-naped, Flame-rumped, Saffron-crowned, and Black-capped Tanager.
Other possible birds here include, Colombian Chachalaca, Sickle-winged Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Andean Motmot, Red-headed Barbet, Acorn Woodpecker, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Nariño Tapaculo, Montane Woodcreeper, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Red-faced Spinetail, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Bright-rumped Attila, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Andean Solitaire, Black-billed Thrush, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, White-naped Brushfinch, and Black-winged Saltator
Afternoon transfer to Calí International Airport or a local hotel in Calí. If continuing onto Santa Marta & Caribbean Tour (Feb 1-7), continue on with guides to the airport.
Departing flights should be scheduled for after 6:00 PM or prepared.
B – Breakfast
L- Lunch
D – Dinner
BB/BL – Boxed Breakfast/Boxed Lunch
ON – Overnight lodging location
Trip Reports & Blog Posts
May 2023 – eBird Trip Report
August 2025 – Written Trip Report – eBird Trip Report
Closing Day Text
After picking up some more birds for our trip list, we will transfer to Medellin Airport for departures. Plan to book flights departing after 7 p.m. or stay the night at a hotel in Medellin and fly out the next day.
