Southern Colombia Specialties

FLIGHT TO PUERTO ASÍS

This morning we will travel to Puerto Asís, which is located in the southwest Amazon region of Colombia. That afternoon we will visit the outskirts of Puerto Asís where we will look for Masked Tanager, Hoatzin, Many-banded Aracari, Lafresnaye´s Piculet, Lettered Aracari, and for an endearing mammal – the Pygmy Marmoset.

BIRDING PUERTO ASÍS

After breakfast we will look for Plum-throated Cotinga, Hoatzin, Ecuadorian Cacique, Lesson’s Seedeater, Caqueta Seedeater, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Masked Crimson Tanager, Riparian Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Long-tailed Woodcreeper, Red-bellied Macaw plus many others.

EL ESCONDITE NATURAL RESERVE DRIVE TO MOCOA

In the early morning we will depart Puerto Asís and head to El Escondite Reserve, a remarkable conservation project dedicated to preserving and restoring the Amazon rain forest. This is home for numerous species of Amazonian birds such as Ivory-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 will make our way to Mocoa where we will spend the next few nights. Mocoa is the political capital of the Putumayo department and is located at the base of the Amazon foothill forest at an elevation of 2000 feet.

UPPER TRAMPOLINE

From Mocoa we will drive one of the most famous roads in Colombia known as the “trampoline” because of its topography and rugged road conditions. Nowadays, with road improvements, it is a birding hotspot in southern Colombia. As we climb to 6000 feet, we will look for many 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. On the way down we are likely to spot Mountain Cacique, Long-tailed Tapaculo, Short-billed Chlorospingus, Gorgeted Woodstar, Brown-capped Vireo, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager plus many others.

LOWER TRAMPOLINE

DRIVE TO EL ENCANTO AND BIRDING KM 51 & VERDEYACO

An early start is necessary to get to El Encanto. Our first stop of the day is Verdeyaco where it is possible to find many eastern Andes foothills specialties, including Magpie Tanager, Blue-crowned Trogon, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Epaulet Oriole, Orange-eared Tanager and the stunning Paradise Tanager. This top birding site encompasses both the Amazon Lowlands and the Amazon Andean Foothills ecosystems. We will see this while driving up the mountain and watching the transition between Amazon and Andean forests. 

At the end of the day, we will be staying at El Encanto, a birding hot spot.

EL ENCANTO NATURE RESERVE – LA DRYMOPHLA RESERVE

In the early morning, we will 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 we’ll have the chance to encounter many bird species. Among the highlights are the resplendent Flame-faced Tanager and the endemics Red-bellied Grackle, Dusky-headed Brushfinch, Tolima Blossomcrown and the Chestnut Wood-Quail. Additionally, we may see 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 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 shy White-bellied Antpitta, and the exceedingly rare Schwartz’s Antthrush. We head back to El Encanto for lunch and spend the afternoon searching for birds around the garden. El Encanto is home to birds that we can find both in the field and at the feeders. Some of which include the endemics Dusky-headed Brushfinch, Tolima Dove, Apical Flycatcher, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, and Colombian Chachalaca. Other specialty birds to watch for are 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, and Pale-bellied Hermit.