Colombia Endemic Bird Photography Expedition 11 Days / 10 Nights

Day 3: Ciénagas del Canal del Dique | Wetland Photography & Transfer to Santa Marta

Photography Focus: Waterbirds, waders, wetland specialties, transfer landscapes

Morning: Ciénagas del Canal del Dique Wetland Complex

This extensive wetland system offers Colombia bird photography at its finest:

• Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)—pink against green wetlands

• Bare-faced Ibis, White Ibis, Scarlet Ibis

• Wood Stork, Magnificent Frigatebird

• Neotropic Cormorant, Anhinga ("snake bird")

• Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Striated Heron, Cocoi Heron

• Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)—specialized snail-eater

• Wattled Jacana with chicks—walking on lily pads

• Southern Lapwing, Collared Plover

Afternoon: Transfer to Santa Marta (4 hours) with roadside birding for White-throated Crake, Gray-necked Wood Rail, Purple Gallinule.

Accommodation: Hotel in Santa Marta
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Santa Marta to Casa Café | Mid-Elevation Cloud Forest Photography

Photography Focus: Santa Marta endemics, hummingbirds, tanagers, mixed flocks

Early Morning Departure (7:30 AM): Ascend into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta—the world's highest coastal mountain range and most endemic-rich area in the Americas.

Roadside Birding En Route:

• Santa Marta Parakeet (Pyrrhura viridicata)—endangered endemic, often in flight

• Santa Marta Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus lautus)—endemic

• Golden-breasted Fruiteater (Pipreola aureopectus)—endemic

• Lazuline Sabrewing, White-vented Plumeleteer

• Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans)—endemic hummingbird

Afternoon at Casa Café (1,300m elevation):

• White-lored Warbler (Myiothlypis conspicillata)—endemic

• Santa Marta Brush Finch (Atlapetes melanocephalus)—endemic

• Yellow-crowned Whitestart (Myioborus flavivertex)—endemic

• Black-cheeked Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus melanogenys)—endemic

Accommodation: Casa Café or similar lodge in Minca/Santa Marta foothills
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Photography Notes: This is Santa Marta endemic territory—400mm+ essential; flash with diffuser for forest understory

Day 5: Cuchilla de San Lorenzo | High Altitude Endemics & Paramo

Photography Focus: High-elevation endemics, paramo species, landscape photography

Pre-Dawn Departure (3:45 AM) with packed breakfast and hot drinks.

Cuchilla de San Lorenzo (2,800–3,200m)—the highest road accessible point in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta:

Primary Targets:

• Santa Marta Parakeet—at dawn, feeding on frailejón seeds

• Santa Marta Antpitta (Grallaria bangsi)—endemic, heard then seen

• Brown-rumped Tapaculo (Scytalopus latebricola)—endemic

• Santa Marta Tapaculo (Scytalopus sanctaemartae)—endemic

• Rusty-headed Spinetail (Synallaxis fuscorufa)—endemic

• Streak-capped Spinetail (Cranioleuca hellmayri)—endemic

• Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner (Clibanornis rufipectus)—endangered endemic

• Santa Marta Warbler (Myiothlypis basilica)—endemic

Paramo Photography:

• Andean Condor soaring over peaks

• Black-backed Thornbill at high-elevation flowers

• Bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon guerinii)—paramo hummingbird

• Tyrian Metaltail, White-tailed Starfrontlet (Coeligena phalerata)—endemic

Afternoon: Descend via Ruta de la Tagua if weather permits, photographing elevation transitions.

Accommodation: Casa Café
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Santa Marta to Cartagena | Final Coastal Birding

Photography Focus: Missed species, departure preparation

Morning: Final Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta bird photography session for any missed endemics.

Midday: Transfer to Cartagena (4 hours) for overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel in Cartagena
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Cartagena to Pereira | Central Andes Transition

Photography Focus: Travel day, arrival in coffee region

Morning Flight: Cartagena to Pereira (PEI)—gateway to the Central Andes.

Afternoon: Vehicle rental and transfer to Mistrató, a charming town in the Andean cloud forests of Risaralda.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mistrató
Meals: Dinner

Day 8: Hogar del Ave & Sendero Sutu | Cloud Forest Photography

Photography Focus: Hummingbirds, tanagers, antbirds, mixed flocks

Morning: Hogar del Ave—a private reserve with bird feeders and hummingbird gardens:

• Dacnis hartlaubi—rare, range-restricted tanager

• Velvet-purple Coronet, Brown Inca, White-necked Jacobin

• Green Honeycreeper, Golden-hooded Tanager

• Bay-headed Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager

• Crested Oropendola, Yellow-rumped Cacique

Afternoon: Sendero Sutu trail through primary cloud forest:

• Ruddy Woodcreeper, Plain-brown Woodcreeper

• Streaked Xenops, Plain Xenops

• Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Sepia-capped Flycatcher

• Golden-headed Manakin, Bearded Manakin

• Bay Wren, Rufous-breasted Wren

Evening: Return to Mistrató.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mistrató
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Ruta Costa Rica & La Línea | High-Andes Birding

Photography Focus: High-elevation species, mixed flocks, tanagers

Early Morning: Ruta Costa Rica—a birding route through coffee plantations and forest patches:

• Cinnamon Flycatcher, Mountain Tyrannulet

• Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

• White-throated Tyrannulet, Torrent Tyrannulet

• Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Black-throated Tody Tyrant

Late Morning: Transfer to La Línea area for high-elevation specialties.

Afternoon: Dacnis hartlaubi photography session—this rare species is a major target.

Evening: Transfer to Apía for overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel in Apía
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Páramo de Santa Isabel | Paramo Photography

Photography Focus: Paramo endemics, high-Andes landscapes, raptors

Pre-Dawn Departure: Ascend to Páramo de Santa Isabel (3,800m+ elevation).

Ruta Cortaderal Photography:

• Andean Condor—soaring over paramo

• Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Crested Caracara

• Many-striped Canastero, Streak-backed Canastero

• Andean Tit Spinetail, Andean Siskin

• Plumbeous Sierra Finch, Slaty Finch

• Rufous-collared Sparrow (paramo race)

Paramo Landscapes: Frailejón (Espeletia) fields against blue sky—iconic Colombia bird photography backdrops.

Afternoon: Descend to Pereira.

Accommodation: Hotel in Pereira
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11: Departure from Pereira

Photography Focus: Final morning optional, departure logistics

Optional Early Morning: Local Pereira birding for any missed Central Andes species.

Transfer to Pereira Airport (PEI) for flights to Bogotá and international connections.

Meals: Breakfast

PRICING & INCLUSIONS

Tour Price (Per Person)

Group Size Price (USD)

2 people$4,850

4 people$4,450

6 people$4,150

8 people$3,850

Price based on double occupancy; single supplement: $650

What's Included

✅ 10 nights accommodation (boutique hotels, eco-lodges, Casa Café)
✅ All meals from Day 1 dinner through Day 11 breakfast
✅ Professional bilingual bird photography guide throughout
✅ All ground transfers (Cartagena-Santa Marta, Santa Marta-Pereira, all local transport)
✅ Domestic flight Cartagena-Pereira
✅ Vehicle rental (Days 7–10) with driver
✅ All entrance fees and permits (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, private reserves)
✅ Bird checklist and species photo list

Not Included

❌ International flights to Cartagena / from Pereira
❌ Travel insurance (mandatory—proof required)
❌ Photography equipment (rental available)
❌ Alcoholic beverages
❌ Tips for guides and lodge staff