Kaiyote Tours

Amazon Birding Colombia

The Amazing, Amazing Amazon

Colombia is fascinating. From the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea to the Andean mountain peaks rising to 18,700 feet and back down to the Amazon Basin; Colombia is stunning and a true adventure to explore. This trip focuses on birds and wildlife. There are about 1,850 species of birds that travel through Colombia and 73 endemics.

Printable Bird List
(This is a checklist of the birds that we have seen on this trip)

Travel Dates: December 1 – 10, every other year
Group Size: 6 Travelers plus guides, spaces left for 2020 = 6
Trip Length: 10 days
Rates: Rate per person = $3,650 (based on double occupancy)
Rates include: Domestic transfers, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, entrance fees and Allianz travel medical insurance.
Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.

Basic Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Bogotá
Upon arrival at the El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, you will be met at the airport and it is about a 45-minute drive to the hotel located in the historic district of La Candelaria in downtown Bogota.

Day 2: Bogotá
Today will be a chance to get to know the city of Bogotá. There will be a historical walking tour of La Candelaria and the local neighborhood. Bogotá is at an elevation of 8,300 feet and atop the mountain overlooking the city is the Monserrate church and mountain park at a summit of over 10,300 feet. There is both a funicular and tramway that goes to the top, as well as a hiking trail. Not only are views of the city fantastic from this location, but is also a great birding area for hummingbirds, raptors and mountains birds. The weather can vary magically from sunny to rainy many times a day and is not a surprise to see the fog coming down the mountain as well. Night at hotel in La Candelaria.

Day 3: Leticia
This day will begin our Amazonian leg of the trip. We will fly (2 hours approx) to Leticia, Colombia, which is a small town on the Amazon River where the borders of Colombia, Brazil and Peru meet. We will spend the day in the Leticia area for birding and the night’s lodging. Birds: Zimmer's Woodcreeper, Castelnau's Antshrike, Horned Screamers, Spangled Cotingas, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Amazonian Umbrella birds, Hauxwell's Thrushes, Solitary Black Caciques, Gray-winged Trumpeter,

Day 4: Puerto Nariño
From Leticia it is a short boat ride up the Amazon to the village of Puerto Nariño, which will be our base for exploring the Amazon for the next 3-days. The village has about 6,000 residents and no motorized vehicles are allowed. This is a remote and tranquil area, full of birds and natural wildlife. Harpy Eagles nest in this area, while the pink dolphin surface in the river and yes, there are Piranhas here. Birds we are likely to see are Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Common Pauraque, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Scarlet-crowned, Gilded, Lemon-throated Barbets, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Lawrence's Thrush and Yellow-bellied Dacnis, just to name a few.

Day 5: Puerto Nariño
Puerto Nariño is located at the edge Amacayacu Natural National Park. The consists of 1,620 square miles (which is over 1-million acres). The park is home to nearly half the bird species found in Colombia. Amacayacu has 150 species of mammals, including pink dolphins, tapirs, jaguars, manatees and otters. Numerous primate species reside in the park including the very special Golden Lion Tamarin, the smallest in the world. Reptiles include Jabuti Tortoise, which is the largest fresh water tortoise in the world and Black Alligators. There are boa constrictors and anacondas. Among the fish are the parcucú and the piranhas.

Day 6: Puerto Nariño
Today we will take a journey to nearby Lake Tarapoto, which is known for pink dolphins. Here there will be opportunities to see dolphins, monkeys and a lot of birds. Possible birds for the day: Canary-winged Parakeets, Orange-cheeked Parakeets, Maroon-tailed Parakeets, Short-tailed Parrots, Orange-headed Tanager, Band-tailed, Casqued Oropendolas, White-plumed Antbird, Fiery Topaz, Pearly Antshrike, Yellow-browed Antbird, White-eyed Tody-Tyrant, Plum-throated Cotinga, Rufous-bellied Euphonia, Tropical Screech-Owl, Crested, Black-banded Owls,

Day 7: Puerto Nariño
Besides the wonderful birds and wildlife that reside in the Puerto Nariño area, the plant life is unique and beautiful. The area is famous for Lotus Flowers and Victoria Amazonica which is a lily species and the largest species in the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies. The lily pads can be up to 10 feet in diameter. The flora and fauna of the Amazon are stunning and a must see for everyone.

Day 8: Leticia
After some morning birding along the river and reserve, we will begin our travels back to Bogota. From Leticia it is 2-hour flight back to Bogotá in the afternoon. Night at a hotel in the Candelaria.

Day 9: Bogotá
Located near the airport is Florida Park. This small natural area is a perfect spot to find the endemic Bogota Rail. Other interesting species to be found include endemic Apolinar's Wren, a fairly common bird of tall cattails. The endemic subspecies of the Yellow-hooded Blackbirds are normally present and conspicuous, but Noble Snipe and Subtropical Doradito are rather rare and more difficult to see. Small numbers of Spot-flanked Gallinule are usually present in open water and also to be seen is the Silvery-throated Spinetail and Rufous-browed Conebill, Band-tailed Seedeater, Lesser Scaup, Andean Siskin, Andean Teal, Black Flowerpiercer, as well as many other birds. We will spend the morning at this park and in the afternoon starting heading up the mountains to the town of La Vega. It is a 1.5-hour drive to the municipality of San Francisco where the Enchanted Garden is located. The Enchanted Garden is a private residence located at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Some 300 hummingbirds can be seen at any moment coming to the 40 plus feeders present in the garden. 27 different hummingbird species have been recorded here including the unique and highly regarded Indigo-capped Hummingbird and both Red-billed and Short-tailed Emeralds. Travel back to Bogotá in the late afternoon.

Day 10: Fly home
Today is "fly-day" and you will be shuttled back to the Bogota airport for your flight home.

Please note: The lodging and itinerary described is always our first choice based on availability. If we must book with our second choice, the lodging type and itinerary is comparable.