Amazon Birding Colombia Tours Amacayacu Park Bogota

If you are interested in Amazon Birding Colombia Tours Amacayacu Park Bogota, come and join us at Kaiyote Tours!

The Amazing, Amazing Amazon

Colombia is fascinating.  From the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea to the Andean Mountains 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 nearly 2,000 species of birds that travel through Colombia and 73 endemics.

We expect to see 250 - 300 different species of birds.  

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

• Travel Dates: Tours by request
• Group Size: 6 travelers plus guides
• Trip Length: 9 days
• Rates: Rate per person = $4,150 ($900 charge for single occupancy)
• Rates include: Domestic transfers, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, park entrance fees and basic travel insurance.
• Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
• Adventure level:  Adventurous, please check the "Welcome" page for definition

Special Option:  If you would like a longer trip, you can sign up for multiple back-back Colombia trips and you will see 450 - 500 different species of birds. 

Special offer:  Included with your trip (one per room) is a copy of the field guide “An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia” by Fernando Ayerbe Quinones.  You will receive this when you reserve your trip so you will have time to study and know the beautiful birds of Colombia.

Map of the travel route here:  Colombia Amazon (opens new page, this map you can click on to enlarge)

Basic Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival in Bogotá 
Upon arrival at the El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá (BOG), you will be met at the airport, and it is about a 15-minute drive to the hotel, where we will spend 2-nights. 

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 8,600 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.  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. This a is a small, but beautiful park that contains a wide variety of birds.  

Day 3:  Leticia
This day will begin our Amazonian leg of the trip.  We will fly 2-hours to Leticia, Colombia, which is a small town on the Amazon River where the borders of Colombia, Brazil and Peru meet.  We will spend one night 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-nights. 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.  Puerto Nariño is located at the edge of Amacayacu Natural National Park, which contains 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 freshwater tortoise in the world and Black Alligators. There are boa constrictors and anacondas. Among the fish are the parcucú and the piranhas.

Day 5: 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.  Besides the wonderful birds and wildlife that reside in the Puerto Nariño area, the plant life is unique and beautiful.  

Day 6: Puerto Nariño
A second day to explore Amacayacu Natural National Park and the surrounding areas. 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 7:  Leticia
After morning birding along the riverfront and reserve, we will begin our travels back down the Amazon River to the port town of Leticia, where we will spend one night.

Day 8:  Bogotá 
The Leticia area has several small parks and the nature reserves for gore great birding.  We will be taking an afternoon, 2-hour flight back to Bogotá, where we will overnight at a hotel near the airport.  

Day 9:  Fly home
Today is "fly-day" and you will be shuttled back to the Bogota airport for your flight home.