From USD 2,100 per person | 6 NIGHTS/ 7 DAYS
Colombia has the most bird species on earth: almost 2,000 in total. More than 70 endemics, over 200 migrants, at least 160 hummingbirds and the list is growing every year. We invite you to explore, discover, and go birding with us. For this, we’ve designed an 6 nights / 7 days trip. We will visit Medellin city and its surroundings, Jardín, a town in the coffee region where we will visit the Proaves bird reserve in the Alto de Ventanas. The Wax Palm (national tree of Colombia) can be easily seen and there is a possibility of observing the Spectacled Bear and finally, we will visit the orchid reserve of the Colombian Orchid Society, the national flower of the country. After Jardín we will go to the Colonial city of Santa Fe de Antioquia, established in 1541. Located near the Cauca River, the second longest river in the country, in its surroundings one can visit the remnants of tropical dry forest left in Colombia. At the end of our tour we will visit the natural refuge Cañón del Río Claro, one of the most beautiful rivers in the country, located in a karstic tropical rain forest and one of the pleistocene forest relicts.
Arrival at Airport José María Córdoba (MDE) and transfer to Hotel Acqua Express in Medellin city. Informative meeting to share general information and recommendations for the tour. Dinner at your expense.
Trip from the Hotel to the stream La Presidenta. (15-minute walk approximately). La Presidenta is an urban linear park (greenway) and a very important environmental axis of the city where more than 80 different species have been documented, among them: Scrub tanager (Tangara vitriolina), Bar-crested antshrike (Thamnophilus multistriatus) y Colombian chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana). Trip to the botanical garden Jardín Botánico de Medellín. Tour within the Garden, one of the city's green areas, where more than 130 different species have been documented among them: Scarlet macaw (Ara macao), Thick-billed euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris). At the botanical garden we will have a tour to identify and enjoy different species of trees, palms, orchids and tropical bush. Lunch in the botanical garden at its restaurant IN SITU. Trip to the municipality of Jardín. (130 km) Check in and dinner at hotel Balandú in Jardín.
Jardín is a town of coffee-growing culture roots, we will find there highly interesting species such as Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis), Dusky starfrontlet (Coeligena Orina), Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana). Trip to Alto de Ventanas (hill pass area), tour through the reserve Reserva Loro Orejiamarillo maintained by Foundation ProAves. Breakfast at Alto de Ventanas. (Colombian Fiambre- typical food of the region wrapped in plantain or plantain-like leaves which add flavor and preserve food). Visit to the reserve or the Orchidology Society – Reserva de la Sociedad de Orquideología. Tour through the native-orchid path where we’ll spend a couple of hours. Among others, we’ll visit the observatory where we’ll be able to find the Cock of the Rock leks (Rupicola Peruviana). Transfer back to the hotel. Lunch at Hotel Balandú and check out.
Transfer to the farm Finca Bambusa. This is a traditional coffee-growing farm where we will watch birds like: Squirrel cucko (Piaya cayana), Swallow tanager (Tersina viridis), Colombian chachalaca (Ortalis Columbiana), Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira). At Finca Bambusa we can feel and live the coffee-growing every-day life and buy some locally produced organic coffees. Trip to the municipality of Santa Fe de Antioquia. (140 km) Dinner and check in at hotel Mariscal Robledo.
Santa Fe de Antioquia is a town characterized by its ecosystem of dry tropical forests, one of most threatened ecosystems in the country. There we will observe species such as: Antioquia Wren (Thryophylus sernai), Apical flycatcher (Myiarchus apicalis), Olivaceus piculet (Picumnus olivaceus), Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Boat-billed heron (Choclearius chloclearius). Breakfast at the Hotel. Trip to the farm Finca Corrales and the wetland Humedal de La Bramadora to find the Antioquia Wren (Thryophilus sernai), a new endemic species, threatened, living in the dry tropical forest of the Rio Cauca Canyon. Transfer back to the Hotel. We suggest you enjoy a walk or short tour within Santa Fe de Antioquia and visit its museums and its goldsmithing workshops where you can buy some gold and/or silver local hand-crafted filigree jewels. Lunch at Hotel Mariscal Robledo. Trip to Medellín (57 Km)
Visit to Hotel El Tesoro to birdwatch at its garden and possibly take photos of the Sernai (Thryophilussernai). Check in at Hotel Acqua Express in Medellín. Dinner (at your expense).
Breakfast at Hotel Acqua Express. Check out. Trip to Rio Claro area. Southeast of Antioquia, region of the Magdalena Medio river (152 Km). On the way to Rio Claro we will visit the natural reserve Reserva Natural San Sebastián de la Castellana, a high Andean forest located in the municipality of El Retiro, we will have the opportunity to watch species like: Red-bellied grackle (Hypophyrrhus pyrohypogaster), Black-bellied mountain toucan (Andigena nigrirostris), Streak-headed antbird (Drymophila striaticeps), Chesnut wood quail (Odontophorus hyperythrus), among other species. Lunch at the Municipality of Cocorná. Tour around the area of the restaurant where we can observe species such as: White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus), White-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus), Golden-winged Manakin (Massius chrysopterus), among others. 2-hour walk tour up to the hydroelectric station Central Hidroeléctrica El Ocho. Trip to Rio Claro. Lodge at Hotel El Refugio. Snacks and refreshments.
Breakfast at the Hotel. In the morning we will visit a karst forest in the natural reserve Reserva Natural Cañon del Rio Claro we will go on a tour through the Sendero de la Mulata (pathway) to watch species such as: (Pionopsitta pyrilia) and the Antioquia bristle tyrant (Phyloscartres lanyoni). During the tour we will also watch monkey species such as the White fronted tamarin (Saguinus leucopus). Lunch at Hotel El Refugio and check out. Trip to the farm Finca Torre la Vega, a rehabilitation center where we will observe and know the stories of different species victims of illegal wildlife traffic that are under treatment and in their process to be returned to their native habitats. Transfer to Medellín. Check in at Hotel Acqua Express. dinner (at your expense).
Optional city tour or transfer to the airport.
In case you need, we can arrange an extra night in Medellin or any other extension.
From USD 800 per person | 5 Nights / 6 Days
Live an experience of nature and cultural tradition with this trip on horseback through the eastern Colombian plainlands (llanos). You'll ride for 5 days around a civil natural reserve that expands into 32,000 hectares. With some luck, you'll be able to watch capibaras, white-tailed deers, caimans, turtles, iguanas, howler monkeys, exotic birds such as the […]
From USD 650 per person | 4 Nights / 5 Days
Live an experience of nature and cultural tradition with this trip on horseback through the eastern Colombian plainlands (llanos). You'll ride for 4 days around a civil natural reserve that expands into 32,000 hectares. With some luck, you'll be able to watch capibaras, white-tailed deers, caimans, turtles, iguanas, howler monkeys, exotic birds such as the […]
From USD 830 per person | 6 NIGHTS/ 7 DAYS
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of scientist Alexander von Humboldt we are offering a trip where you’ll explore the Northern Orinoco region, which Humboldt visited during his first expedition in the XIX century. In the footsteps of his first expedition you will fly east to Puerto Inírida and discover the reainforest and the Cerros of Mavecure. […]
COLOMBIA OFFICE
Calle 57#19-10, 111311
Bogotá
SPAIN OFFICE
Calle Ponzano 8
Planta 3, Puerta A, 28010
Madrid
