Just beyond Bogotá lies an extraordinary network of páramos, montane forests, and urban wetlands that protect some of the most remarkable endemic bird species of Colombia’s Eastern Andes. Designed for travelers with limited time or those seeking a rewarding birding experience near the capital, this compact itinerary combines high-Andean landscapes, scenic reserves, and productive wetlands within a short yet highly diverse route. From the dramatic páramo ecosystems of Chingaza and Sumapaz National Natural Parks to the hummingbird gardens of La Calera and the wetlands of La Florida Park, participants will search for iconic regional specialties such as Bogotá Rail, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Black Inca, Apolinar’s Wren, Silvery-throated Spinetail, and Bearded Helmetcrest while experiencing the breathtaking scenery of Colombia’s Andean highlands.
Duration: 3 Days - 2 Nights.
Group Size: 4 - 8 Participants.
Tour Start: Bogotá DC - (BOG)
Tour End: Bogotá DC - (BOG)
Airport Info:
Bogotá - El Dorado International Airport (BOG).
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ITINERARY - BOGOTÁ ENDEMICS - BIRDING ESCAPE
Day 1.
We’ll begin our journey early in the morning, heading east of Bogotá toward Chingaza National Natural Park, one of the most important protected areas in the Colombian Andes. As we ascend through winding mountain roads, we’ll make strategic stops to enjoy breathtaking views and spot some of the day’s first bird species. Chingaza with Its dramatic landscapes, covered in frailejones and misty forests, are home to species such as the Brown-breasted Parakeet, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, and the elusive Coopery-bellied Puffleg. After a rewarding morning of birding and a hot local lunch, we’ll travel to Guasca This peaceful garden sanctuary features a series of feeders and native flowering plants that attract an astonishing variety of hummingbirds. It's the perfect place to enjoy close-up views of species like the Black-tailed Trainbearer, Sparkling Violetear, and the Glowing Puffleg, while relaxing in a tranquil natural setting.
Day 2.
Today we venture south of the city to explore the majestic Sumapaz National Natural Park, home to the largest páramo ecosystem on the planet. Spanning over 330,000 hectares, this high-altitude wilderness is a globally significant water source and one of Colombia’s most biodiverse Andean habitats. The páramo acts as a natural sponge, feeding rivers and reservoirs that supply millions of people with fresh water—including all of Bogotá. Sumapaz is a truly unique birding destination, hosting more than 200 bird species, including several Andean and páramo endemics. As we traverse its open grasslands, rocky outcrops, and shrub-studded hills, we’ll search for species such as the Apolinar's Wren, the Bogotá Rail, the Rufous-browed Conebill, and the Green-Bearded Helmetcrest, one of the páramo’s most iconic hummingbirds. Later in the day, we’ll visit the nearby Chiguaza Reserve, a private conservation area that complements our highland experience with feeding stations attracting a variety of tanagers, brush-finches, and hummingbirds. Here, we’ll enjoy a traditional Colombian lunch surrounded by native gardens and forest fragments alive with bird activity.
Day 3.
What better way to wrap up our birding adventure around Bogotá than with a visit to La Florida Park, one of the city's most important urban wetlands and a hotspot for aquatic and marshland bird species. Located just west of the capital, this reserve provides critical habitat for both resident and migratory birds, making it an ideal final stop to complement the highland and páramo species observed in the previous days. In the early morning light, we’ll explore boardwalks and trails that wind through reedbeds and open water. Here, we’ll search for wetland specialists such as the Bogotá Rail, Subtropical Doradito, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, and Andean Duck. With a bit of luck, this final session will help us complete our target list and add a few more species to your growing Colombian checklist. As the morning winds down, we’ll share a warm farewell and transfer to the airport or your next destination.
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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