Designed as a compact birding experience into the extraordinary biodiversity of Colombia’s Western Andes and Pacific lowlands, combining cloud forests, Chocó rainforest, and tropical wetlands within a compact yet highly rewarding birding route. From the famous Km 18 and La Florida reserves near Cali to the humid forests of Doña Dora and San Cipriano, participants will search for some of the region’s most iconic Chocó and Andean specialties, including Multicolored Tanager, Toucan Barbet, Blue Cotinga, Black-tipped Cotinga, Chestnut Wood-Quail, and numerous tanagers, antbirds, and hummingbirds. The journey concludes at the rich wetlands of Sonso Lagoon, adding aquatic and endemic species to an unforgettable exploration of one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
Duration: 7 Days - 6 Nights.
Group Size: 4 - 8 Participants.
Tour Start: Cali - Valle (CLO)
Tour End: Cali - Valle (CLO)
Airport Info:
Cali - Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO).
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ITINERARY - WESTERN ANDES & PACIFIC LOWLANDS COLOMBIA
Day 1.
Welcome to Cali! Upon your arrival, you’ll be escorted to the elegant Dann Carlton Hotel. Take the evening to unwind—relax, settle in, and begin dreaming of the incredible birding adventures ahead.
Day 2.
Early morning, we’ll journey ~45 minutes to Km 18, walking through pristine cloud forest to find mixed tanager flocks—look for Colombian Chachalaca, Metallic‑green Tanager, Golden‑naped Tanager, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Golden-naped Tanager, Black-winged Saltator. Then, we’ll visit La Florida, a private reserve with hummingbird feeders to observe endemics like the dazzling Multicolored Tanager and Chestnut Wood‑Quail.
Day 3.
We’ll spend our morning at Doña Dora, a family-run birding sanctuary located on the western slope of the Western Andes—right at the doorway to Colombia’s biogeographic Chocó, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. This region hosts high levels of endemism and is crucial for the conservation of cloud forest species threatened. Here, we’ll scan for dazzling birds such as Rufous-throated Tanager, Tricolored Brushfinch, Glistening-green Tanager, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Orange-bellied Euphonia, White-wiskered Hermit, Violet-tailed Sylph, Green Thorntail, Toucan Barbet, Silver-throated Tanager, among others.
Day 4.
After breakfast, we’ll return to Araucana Lodge for a focused morning session. The lodge hosts over 186 bird species, including four local endemics—Parker’s Antbird, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet, and Apical Flycatcher—plus hummingbirds such as Purple‑throated Woodstar and Blue‑headed Sapphire, drawn to its feeders and gardens.The flowering gardens and fruit feeders offer excellent photo opportunities with tanagers, woodstars, and hummingbirds . After lunch, we’ll once again board the enchanting brujita route to San Cipriano, enjoying the ride through tunnels, wooden bridges, and rivers—an immersive connection with the Pacific lowland rainforest.
Day 5.
Today is dedicated to exploring the vibrant tropical rainforest of San Cipriano. With well-maintained trails along the river, we’ll search for Choco specialists such as Some of our main targets are Blue Cotinga, Black-crowned Tityra, Russet-winged Schiffornis, Black-breasted Puffbird, Black-crowned Antshrike, Pacific Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Zeledon's Antbird, Black-tipped Cotinga, Black-chested Jay, Sooty-headed Wren, Bay Wren, Orange-crowned Euphonia, Orange-billed Sparrow, Russet-backed and Crested Oropendola, Dusky-faced Tanager, Tawny-crested Tanager, Gray-and-gold Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Rufous-winged Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Scarlet-browed Tanager, Scarlet-and-white Tanager and various antbirds—including Ocellated Antbird—plus lush understory and canopy dwellers. With luck, we peer into hidden pools and waterfalls for both birds and wildlife.
Day 6.
We’ll enjoy an early morning birding session in San Cipriano, again targeting hummingbirds and tanagers before 10 AM. Afterward, we’ll transfer to Buga and visit the important Sonso Lagoon, one of Colombia’s key wetlands. Here you'll have the chance to observe waterfowl, rails, jacanas, and sandpipers, and this will be another opportunity to see the endemic Apical Flycatcher and Grayish Piculet.
Day 7.
After breakfast, we’ll drive you to the Airport for your departure flight. Safe travels until next time!
Our tours include all of the meals beginning with breakfast on day 2 until lunch on the last day in Colombia. They also include lodging from the night before the start of the tour until the last night of the selected tour, as well as land transportation, a local guide, water and snacks.
The tour does not include: flights (except for those mentioned in the itinerary), alcoholic beverages, tips, phone calls, sim-cards for phones, extra baggage payment, laundry service, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
Note: It is possible that due to unforeseen circumstances or forces of nature, we may be forced to modify the itinerary or change the local guide without informing you previously. However, we will do everything in our power to ensure that the tour stays as close as possible to your initial itinerary.
Registration
Before enrolling, we recommend contacting a Birding & Herping consultant to answer any questions or concerns. It is necessary to register through the website. After registering, you will receive a form via e-mail, which must be completed in full, signed and sent back via email. Likewise, you must make a down payment of $ 150 USD per person, which will be discounted from the total value of the tour once the minimum number of participants has been reached. The minimum quota of a tour is two people up to a maximum capacity of 8 people. If the minimum quota has not been reached by the registering deadline down payment will be reimbursed minus a minimum percentage for bank charges.
Registration for the tour becomes effective once you have met these two requirements: The registration form and down payment
Note: Please refrain from purchasing airline tickets without verifying that the minimum quota has been completed and you have been notified by the Birding & Herping team.
Payment and cancellation policy
Once the registration process has been confirmed by the Birding & Herping team, you must pay the entire amount within a maximum period of 90 days before the start date of the tour. You can make the payment by bank transfer or through a PSE payment link.
If you request to cancel the tour less than 90 days prior to the departure date, a 20% charge will apply. If the cancellation is made less than 30 days from the departure date, a 30% charge will apply as well as any bank fees.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is essential in case of accidents or illnesses that may occur during the tour. Check with several companies that can provide you with travel policies and choose the one with the most coverage possible, including common illnesses such as colds or stomach problems.
Local flights
Local flights to destinations such as the Colombian Pacific, the eastern plains or southern Colombia may be delayed due to weather conditions or as a result of delays relating other flights at major airports in cities such as Bogotá, Medellín or Cali. Due to these types of circumstances, we have planned the itinerary, so that they do not coincide with the last day of the tour, which will avoid complications for flights returning home.
A tour in Colombia that exceeds all your expectations requires planning. The following recommendations have been designed in order to instruct you to make your trip in Colombia as safe, comfortable and pleasant as possible.
1. It is commonly known that our country has history of violent struggle; However, a peace process has opened a world of opportunities for local communities, many of them victims of armed conflict, to seek alternatives such as ecotourism to improve their living conditions and to enhance their culture and love for their territory. All the places proposed in each of our tours guarantee the safety and integrity of the people who are partnering with us.
2. Climate: you must be prepared for several possible weather conditions during a tour in Colombia: humid forests (between 0 and 1000 meters above sea level), dry forests (between 500 and 1000 meters above sea level), Andean forests, high Andean and páramos (between 1400 and 4000 msnm / XX feet). Include in your luggage comfortable clothing, waterproof clothing, long-sleeved shirts that protect from sun and mosquitoes, jackets for colder weather and waterproof boots.
3. Physical demand: each tour has its own physical demands. There will be routes that require long walks on trails with different types of inclines and/or unpaved roads. In the itinerary you will find out more specific details concerning the routes and the level of difficulty. We recommend you inform the team (Staff) of any physical or medical condition before the tour.
4. Health precautions and medicine: Before taking your trip, visit your trusted doctor, so they can recommend the most appropriate medicines and vaccines to take in case of acquiring any disease during your trip.
a) Vaccines against yellow fever, hepatitis and tetanus are recommended before traveling to Colombia, especially if you visit humid areas such as the Pacific or the Amazon.
b) Medicines: Remember to bring medicine (if possible in their original packaging), that you may require for any previously existing medical condition as well as common medicines that can help with headaches, flu and upset stomach.
c) Prevention: Use insect repellent at all times and wear long-sleeved clothing, thereby avoiding acquiring diseases such as dengue or related diseases transmitted through insects.
d) Always use sunscreen and a hat; stay hydrated during the walks on the tour in order to prevent problems caused by heat stroke.
5. Food and hydration: Inform the team about dietary restrictions and allergies. During your stay in Colombia, we recommend eating as much well-cooked food as possible, including vegetables; drink water only and exclusively from a bottle, avoid drinking water from the tap even if the staff tell you that it is safe (filters or purifying tablets can be used in an emergency). The guide will watch over your well-being and inform you of safe places to eat.
6. Necessary documentation: In Colombia, only a passport is required to enter the country; Verify that the expiration date is not before the end of the tour and always carry it in your carry-on baggage.
7. Money and ATMs: The Colombian currency is the Colombian PESO (COP). We recommend withdrawing enough money to cover expenses of a personal nature or those that are not stipulated within the Tour. In Colombia, there are several places including towns, terminals, shopping centers, gas stations that have ATMs readily available. If you are in need of one, do not hesitate to ask your guide, or the driver to make a stop.
8. Internet: Some of the places described in the tour, especially hotels, have Internet access; others have little or no coverage and are restricted to social areas, but not in each room. Request detailed information about the places within the itinerary where you can access the internet if you require it.
9. Equipment: Because Colombia is a Neotropical country, electronic equipment may be at risk due to humidity. We recommend bringing dry bags, a humidifier, cleaning equipment and other items that guarantee that your equipment does not suffer from humidity.
a) Insure your equipment during your trip: consult with a company that guarantees the protection of your equipment in case of damage, moisture problems, loss or theft; While the places we are visiting are guaranteed to be safe, it is better to be sure. Birding & Herping is not responsible for the loss, damage or theft of your equipment.
b) If for some reason your equipment suffers some unforeseen setback, we can provide some equipment such as cameras, lenses and binoculars (depending on the references) with a rental cost.
10. Tips: Tips are voluntary; you are not obliged to give them. However, if you consider that the people serving you have offered a good service you are at liberty to do so.
11. Follow the instructions: It is very important that you follow the recommendations or instructions of the guide. He is the person in charge of your safety and well-being, he knows every detail of the itinerary and the limits that apply to certain species of fauna or flora. He can be flexible with some things as long as they do not affect the welfare of the group and the fauna.
12. Fauna and flora: Our team is trained and know the places to visit; however, nature is unpredictable and the success of an observation depends on certain factors, many of which may be beyond our reach. We recommend consulting the team as to the most appropriate seasons to observe certain species in Colombia, this will make your stay and observation much more successful.
13. The Extraction of fauna, flora, genetic material, as well as the cultural heritage of Colombia is illegal and is penalized by the authorities (law 599 of 2000 and Decree 1608 of 1978, law 397 of 1997).
14. The sexual exploitation of children, sex tourism and other forms of abuse against minors (law 1336 of 2009), or child labor exploitation is completely prohibited and is also penalized by the Colombian authorities (Law 1098 of 2006 ).
15. Birding & Herping defends equality of race or gender (law 1482 of 2011, modified by law 1752 of 2015).
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