Birding the Southern Colombia
Birding the Southern Colombia
Colombia with its rugged topography, remains a relatively undiscovered country. That’s precisely why we bring you this itinerary to explore one of the remote regions of Colombia. Puerto Asis in the south west amazon of Colombia will be the first birding location of the trip, this place is not more than 750 ft in elevation, over the next days we will be moving higher over sea level specifically when we do the trampoline road, then to La Drymophila, in this rout we do the Amazon forest, the amazon foothills, the eastern Andes and a bit to the Magdalena Valley region.
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Available all year
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Set departures
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2024-Nov-01
2025-Feb-15
2025-Nov-22
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Region
Amazon
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Birdwatching Tours and Experiences
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All about
Birding the Southern Colombia
Amazon
Colombia with its rugged topography, remains a relatively undiscovered country. That’s precisely why we bring you this itinerary to explore one of the remote regions of Colombia. Puerto Asis in the south west amazon of Colombia will be the first birding location of the trip, this place is not more than 750 ft in elevation, over the next days we will be moving higher over sea level specifically when we do the trampoline road, then to La Drymophila, in this rout we do the Amazon forest, the amazon foothills, the eastern Andes and a bit to the Magdalena Valley region.
Schedule
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Arrival to Bogota international Airport El Dorado BOG
Arrival to Bogota international Airport El Dorado BOG.
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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.
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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.
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Upper Trampoline
Upper Trampoline. In our first day 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.
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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.
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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 lots of amazon bird species are possible to watch, 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.
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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.
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El Encanto Nature Reserve – La Drymophila Reserve – Afternoon drive to San Agustin.
El Encanto Nature Reserve – La Drymophila Reserve – Afternoon drive to San Agustin. With its unique blend of accessible birding opportunities and the possibility of encountering these enigmatic avian treasures, La Drymophila and El Encanto reserve promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Colombia's Eastern Andes. During our second day we have the possibility to go back to La Drymophila in order to seek for missing species and more treasures, come back to El Encanto for lunch and move to San Agustin in the Afternoon.
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San Agustin Arqueological site
San Agustin Arqueological site. San Agustin Arqueological park is perhaps the most significant pre-Colombian archaeological site located to the Eastern Andes mountains of southern Colombia, specifically in the Huila Department. This site is renowned for its vast collection of stone statues, tombs, and other ancient artefacts. During our day in this representative place to the Colombian culture we will have a local guide from this region that is going to lead us during our walk to the park, in the way we will see all the artefacts that are showed and heard about what is known of this disappeared culture, some birds are also likely to see in this park, some of the goodies here include Western Fire-eye, White-crowned Tapaculo, Dusky-headed Brushfinch, Green Jay, Whiskered Wren and more, our focus is going to be in the Arqueological site. NOTE: In 1995, the San Agustín Archaeological Park, along with the nearby archaeological sites of Tierradentro, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.
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Flights to Bogota and Departures on the nest day
Flights to Bogota and Departures on the nest day.
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Departure from Bogota international Airport El Dorado BOG
Departure from Bogota international Airport El Dorado BOG.
Birdwatching Tours and Experiences
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