Colombia | Birding the Central Andes

Arrive in Pereira and get settled into your hotel. Attend an orientation with your guide, either this evening or tomorrow morning, depending on flight schedules. Check-in starts at 3 pm. Elevation at Pereira: 4,629 ft.

After breakfast, check out and travel to Otún Quimbaya. Located on the western slope of the central mountain range, Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary protects the middle basin of the Otún River and the Andean and high Andean forests surrounding it. The site has been reforested for more than 40 years, creating connectivity with the well-preserved forests of the upper part of Los Nevados National Natural Park and resulting in a biological corridor of great importance in the Central Andes. It is managed by the Yarumo Blanco Foundation, a national example of community and bird-based tourism. All members of the foundation are local farmers who have made an unparalleled effort to make Otún one of the best sanctuaries in the country. This afternoon, search for birds on a less-traveled road or on the paths inside the forest. Look for Cauca Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Torrent Duck, Colombian Screech-Owl, Southern Emerald-Toucanet, Hooded Antpitta, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Flame-rumped Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Multicolored Tanager, Crested Ant-Tanager, and White-capped Tanager - just a few of the 400 species that have been recorded here. It is also possible to see large Andean mammals, such as mountain tapir and sometimes spectacled bear. Please note: Wi-Fi is not available at the lodge. Elevation at Otún Quimbaya National Park/Central Andes: 5,250 - 5,900 ft. Temperature: 59-64 °F.

Spend a full day birding in the Otún Quimbaya reserve, departing early to spend some time owling in the morning.

Continue birding in the Otún Quimbaya reserve and around the Otún River this morning, then visit the lowland wetlands of Cameguadua Reservoir to see aquatic species such as Bare-faced Ibis, Wattled Jacana, and flocks of wintering Blue-winged Teal. This afternoon, drive to Santa Rosa de Cabal and have dinner at the beautiful Hacienda Santa Clara. Elevation at Santa Rosa de Cabal: 5,581 ft.

Visit the cloud forest at La Finca El Cortaderal near Santa Rosa de Cabal municipality. This is a relatively new location for birding in the Central Andes. Over the course of centuries, Colombia's Cordillera Central has been drastically transformed due to agriculture and livestock farming, leading many species to the edge of extinction. The remains of high Andean forests have become the last refuge for species such as the Indigo-winged (Fuertes's) Parrot, which was rediscovered in 2002 after 90 years of absence, and whose population today is critically endangered. Other key species include the Gray-breasted and Black-billed Mountain-Toucans, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Mountain Avocetbill, Black-thighed Puffleg, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Andean Condor, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Powerful Woodpecker, Purple-backed Thornbill, Speckle-faced Parrot, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Ocellated Tapaculo, Flammulated Treehunter, Agile Tit-Tyrant, and Barred Fruiteater. The afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore the Andean cloud forest of the lodge's trail system.

Travel to Los Nevados area and bird the páramo, making stops along the way at various elevations. En route, visit La Romelia Reserve, considered a top spot by birders who also are looking for different cultural experiences. You will be able to visit various trails in the orange groves and forest edge, while a spectacular breakfast awaits you in the middle of your trip through the grove! Birding guides, also knowledgeable in orchids, are ready to show you the various spots on the trail best for viewing. There have been 188 species recorded here, including hummingbird gems such as White-necked Jacobin, Green Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Western Emerald, and Steely-vented and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds. Among the orange trees, you may find the Ultramarine Grosbeak and the Orange-bellied Euphonia. In the Guadua (bamboo) thickets, it is possible to locate the Speckle-breasted Wren and the Jet Antbird. Once you arrive at the hotel, enjoy the hot springs at Termales del Ruiz before dinner.

Today search for birds in Los Nevados National Park and explore the higher elevations, up to 13,000 feet. Some of today's specialties include Buffy Helmetcrest, Many-striped Canastero, White-chinned Thistletail, Tawny Antpitta, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Andean Lapwing, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. Greater Sapphirewing, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, and Black-thighed Puffleg. The park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the country; the landscape is framed by snow-capped peaks that include three active volcanoes: El Ruíz, Santa Isabel, and Tolima. In addition to great birding, the flora is another draw, featuring an immensity of rare and unique species.

This morning, depart for Hacienda El Bosque. The reserve is characterized by large patches of high Andean cloud forest mixed with livestock paddocks and potato fields. This area has recently become even more popular due to the incredible feeders made for antpittas, tanagers, and hummingbirds, and also because many species of mountain-tanagers and mountain-toucans tend to come to the surroundings of the main house. It currently boasts a bird list of over 120 species, including Purple-backed Thornbill, Crescent-faced Antpitta, Gray-bellied Mountain-Toucan, Golden-breasted Puffleg, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Ocellated Tapaculo, Black-collared Jay, Rufous Wren, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Plushcap, and Capped Conebill. Elevation is 9,187 to 9,843 feet with unpaved roads and trails inside the reserve. Continue to Tinamú Reserve, where the Audubon International Alliances Program hosted a guide-training program to prepare local guides for bird-based tourism. A community member will share this story in Spanish, with translation provided by your guide. After checking in, go hiking on the lodge trails. Elevation at Manizales: 6,913 ft.

Wake up very early to travel with a boxed breakfast and lunch to spend most of today birding in Río Blanco Natural Reserve, taking in the mixed flocks of birds utilizing the antpitta feeders in this humid tropical forest of the Magdalena Valley. The Río Blanco Reserve is an International Bird Area (IBA) in a cloud forest that belongs to the city of Manizales, protected for years to conserve the water resources that supply the city. No fewer than 450 bird species have been recorded here, many of them endemic and with ranges of restricted distribution. You may see Brown-banded Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, Agile Tit-Tyrant, Rusty-faced Parrot, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Undulated Antpitta, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Dusky Piha, and other species. In the afternoon, return to Tinamú. Elevation at Río Blanco: 7,217 - 8,530 ft.

In the morning, spend time at the feeders and on the trails at Tinamú. The Tinamú Nature Reserve is a mosaic of coffee with shade, secondary growth, and patches of native forest, and has feeders installed for different species. Inside the reserve, there is a network of trails with a medium level of difficulty that offers great opportunities to see birds not seen on the feeders. Some important species in Tinamú include Guira Tanager, Moustached Puffbird, Common Potoo, Golden-collared Manakin, Andean Motmot, Jet Antbird, Great Antshrike, Bay-headed Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Gray-fronted Dove, Scaled Antpitta, Spectacled Parrotlet, Red-headed Barbet, and Colombian Chachalaca. Group transfer to Pereira for your afternoon flight home.