Southern Colombia Specialties

Flight to Puerto Asis

In the morning we travel to Puerto Asis that is located to the south west Amazon region of Colombia. In the afternoon we will visit the surroundings at Puerto Asis, in the forest we will look for Masked Tanager, Hoatzin, Many-banded Aracari, Lafresnaye´s Piculet, Lettered Aracari, and for the cute mammal Pygmy Marmoset.

Birding Puerto Asis

Puerto Asis, After breakfast we move to look for different targets some of those the good birds we will look for include Plum-throated Cotinga, Hoatzin, Ecuadorian Cacique, Lesson’s Seedeater, Caqueta Seedeater, Point-tailed Palm-creeper, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Masked Crimson Tanager, Riparian Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Long-tailed Woodcreeper, Red-bellied Macaw plus many others.

El Escondite reserve drive to Mocoa

Early Mornig we will depart from Puerto Asis and head towards to El Escondite Reserve, a remarkable conservation proyect dedicated to preserving and restoring the amazon rain forest, this is home for numerous species of Amazonian birds, overe there we are likely to spot great birds such as Ivori-billed and Lettered Aracaris, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Green-backed Trogon, Amazonian Motmot, Black-fronted Nunbird, Dusky-headed Parakeet, the stunning Plum-throated Cotinga, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Orange-eyed Flatbill, Black-tailed Tityra, Black-capped Donacobius, Golden-bellied Euphonia, Solitary Black Cacique, Masked Crimson Tanager, Opal-rumped Tanager, Yellow-bellied Dacnis and more, in the afternoon we drive our way to Mocoa where we live the next nights, Mocoa is the political capital to the Putumayo department and it is located right to the base of the Amazon foothill forest at the elevation of 2000 ft.

Upper Trampoline

From Mocoa we will drive one of the most famous roads in Colombia that is known as the “trampoline”, this due to its topography and difficulty, nowadays with better conditions is one of the birding hotspots in the southern Colombia, getting at 6000 feet we start looking for incredible birds such as the Near-endemic White-rimmed Brushfinch, Dusky Piha, Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Grass-green Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Yellow-throated Tanager and more, in the way down we are likely to spot Mountain Caciques, Long-tailed Tapaculo, Short-billed Chlorospingus, Gorgeted Woodstar, Brown-capped Vireo, Hooded Mountain-tanager, Orange-eared Tanager plus many others.

Lower Trampoline

Lower Trampoline. Another day to the trampoline this time will be spent to the half and lower portion, this searching could provide great species as Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Red-bellied Grackle, Golden-eared Tanager, there is also chances for the pretty uncommon Blue-browed Tanager, Dark-billed Treehunter, Long-tailed Sylph, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Black-streaked Puffbird, White-crowned Tapaculo, Violaceous Jay, Paradise Tanager, Magpie Tanager, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Thrush, Little Woodpecker and Chestnut-eared Aracari.

Drive to El Encanto and Birding Km 51 & Verdeyaco

Drive to El Encanto and Birding Km 51 and Verdeyaco. Early start to get in the way to El Encanto, our first stop of the day is got to be at Verdeyaco where it is possible to find a lot of the eastern Andes foothills specialties, some of those include Magpie Tanager, Blue-crowned Trogon, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Epaulet Oriole, Orange-eared Tanager and the stunning Paradise Tanager this top birding site comprehends Amazon ecosystem and the Amazon Andean Foothills and we will see this in the way up the mountain when watching the transition between Amazon and Andean forest, by the end of the day we will be staying at El Encanto that is also a hot sport and departure place for our la Drymophila reserve our upcoming birding site.

El Encanto Nature Reserve – La Drymophila Reserve

El Encanto Nature Reserve – La Drymophila Reserve – In the early morning, we embark on a drive to La Drymophila Reserve, nestled approximately an hour and a half away from El Encanto Lodge. This site is perched at an elevation of 6000 feet, offering a captivating experience for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Upon arriving at La Drymophila Reserve, our adventure unfolds as we set foot on the trails that lead us through this natural haven. These trails wind their way to well-placed feeding stations and into the forest itself. The reserve takes its name from the East Andean Antbird, scientifically known as “Drymophila caudata” an endemic species to the Eastern Andes range of Colombia. While exploring you’ll have the chance to encounter bird species. Among the highlights are the resplendent Flame-faced Tanager, the endemics Red-bellied Grackle, Dusky-headed Brushfinch, Tolima Blossomcrown and the Chestnut Wood-quail. Additionally, you may get Russet-backed Oropendola, the iridescent Violet-fronted Brilliant, Greenish Puffleg, and the distinctive, White-booted Racket-tail, Andean Emerald, Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush, the striking Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, and the magpie-like Magpie Tanager.

Keep your senses attuned for the elusive Lined Quail-dove, which occasionally graces the feeding stations with its presence. But the true allure of La Drymophila Reserve lies in its capacity to reveal the secretive and uncommon inhabitants of this pristine ecosystem. Among the most challenging yet rewarding species to spot are the elusive Hooded Antpitta, the elusive White-bellied Antpitta, and the exceedingly rare Schwartz’s Antthrush. We head back to El Encanto for Lunch and spent the afternoon seeking for birds around the garden, El Encanto is home for several good species in the field but also to the feeders some of those include the endemics Dusky-headed Brushfinch, Tolima Dove, Apical Flycatcher, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Colombian Chachalaca, other great ones include the uncommon Ash-browed Spinetail, Golden-eared Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Pale-breasted Thrush, Gorgeted Woodstar, Guira Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager, Russet-crowned Warbler, Red-billed Emerald, Shining-green Hummingbird, Pale-bellied Hermit and many others that can be spotted just around the lodge gardens and feeders.