You will have the opportunity to explore 3 beautiful nature reserves run by the local Proaves NGO and co-funded with support from the American Bird Conservancy for the preservation of habitat critical for the survival of unique and endangered bird species like Blue-billed Curassow, Chestnut-capped Piha, and Yellow-eared Parrot. This birding tour is somehow more remote and off-the-beaten-path than our Epic Andes Birding tour and yet it offers all the Colombian charm, safety, and comfort characteristic of our tours.

Highlights for the tour

• This tour supports American Bird Conservancy by visiting the natural reserves they co-funded to protect the habitats of two endemic and endangered bird species, the Chestnut-capped Piha and Blue-billed Curassow
• Nearby the private Río Claro Reserve in a humid tropical forest we will visit a cave where a colony of the noisy, bizarre, eye-catching, nocturnal Oilbird lives
• This birding tour will give you the opportunity to spend time in the wonderful Medellin city, one of the most interesting cities in Latin America
• We may go after the recently rediscovered Antioquia Brushfinch in a town not far from Medellin
• In the beautiful town of Jardin – “The Garden” we will visit the most active Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek in Colombia

 

Magdalena Valley of Magic Tour

Day 1 – Arrival at Bogota International Airport

Upon arrival in Bogota, we will pick you up at the airport and will drive to a nice hotel in a trendy area of the city to spend the first two nights. We will have a welcome dinner and will go through intros and logistics for our first day out birding.

 

Night at hotel Suites Calle 95

Day 2 – Chingaza National Park and Hummingbird Observatory

Chingaza National Park is located just outside of Bogotá (1.5 hours land trip), at 11,000 fasl altitude in High Andean forest, subparamo, and paramo ecosystems where the weather can vary magically from sunny to rainy and then foggy many times a day. Key bird specialties to find here include the uncommon (E) Brown-Breasted Parakeet, and (E) Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Rufous-browed Conebill, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, Agile Tit-Tyrant, and Rufous-browed Conebill

The Hummingbird Observatory is located only 11.1 miles from Bogota, at an altitude of 9,800 fasl in a high Andean forest. Up to 18 hummingbird species have been recorded here including the very interesting Sword-billed Hummingbird, (NE) Blue-throated Starfrontlet, and (NE) Coppery-bellied Puffleg

 

 

Night at Hotel Suites Calle 95

Day 3 – Tabacal lagoon and The Enchanted Garden

The beautiful Tabacal Lagoon located 30 miles from Bogota at an altitude of 4,100 fasl is the go-to hotspot to find Black-bellied Wren, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, and Red-billed Scythebill. Other main targets from the lower elevations include (E) Velvet-fronted Euphonia, White-throated Spadebill, White-bearded Manakin, Jet Antbird, and Stripe-breasted Spinetail. This site is a great introduction to the birds of the Magdalena Valley

In the late morning or early afternoon, we will visit the Enchanted Garden, a private residence located about 30 mins away from Tabacal at an altitude of 4,990 fasl. Some 300 hummingbirds can be seen at any moment coming to the 40 plus feeders present in the garden. 27 hummingbird species have been recorded here including the elegant (E) Indigo-capped Hummingbird and the (NE) Red-billed and Short-tailed Emeralds. Other highlights include Brown Violetear, Ruby-Topaz Hummingbird, White-bellied and Gorgeted Woodstars, and Black-throated Mango

Later in the afternoon, we will travel for another 1.5 hours to the heart of the Magdalena Valley to spend the night at the nice Hotel Boutique Posada Las Trampas a colonial-style hotel with a swimming pool

 

Day 4 – Guarinocito Wetland

After driving for just 30 mins we will find the Guarinocito wetland, a really productive hotspot to observe a number of specialties in a short period of time. Some of the main targets here include Russet-throated Puffbird, Savanna Hawk, Wattled Jacana, Large-billed Tern, Green Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Yellow-headed Caracara, Pied Water-Tyrant, Black-capped Donacobius, and Yellow-chinned Spinetail. Just after lunch, we will drive up the valley for 3.5 hours towards the very productive Blue-billed Curassow nature reserve

 

 

 

Day 5 – Blue-billed Curassow Reserve

The Blue-billed “Paujil” reserve was created in November 2003 with the support of ABC (American Bird Conservancy) and GCF (Global Conservation Fund), in order to preserve the enigmatic, endangered, and endemic Blue-billed Curassow (El Paujil). The Paujil reserve covers 8.448 acres and is located between 490 and 3,937 fasl. There are 396 bird species recorded on this location

Endemics like White-mantled Barbet, Antioquia Bristle-tyrant (rare), Colombian Chachalaca (common), Sooty Ant-Tanager, and Beautiful Woodpecker are possible to see on this reserve

Other birds of interest include Chestnut-backed Antbird, Yellow-backed Tanager, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, (NE) Black-billed Flycatcher, One-colored Becard, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Black-bellied Wren, and Shining-green Hummingbird

 

 

Night at Blue-billed Curassow reserve

Day 6 – ½ day at the Blue-billed Curassow Reserve and drive to Río Claro reserve

We will continue birding the reserve in the morning to complete the list of specialties, leaving in the early afternoon for a 3.5 hours drive towards the Río Claro Natural Reserve located in the other side of the Magdalena Valley, foothills of the Central Andes Cordillera. We will be birding this fabulous hotspot for the next two days.

 

 

Night at Los Colores Ecopark

Day 7 – Río Claro Nature Reserve

The reserve is located at an elevation of 1,950 fasl and covers an area of 250 ha. A dirt road provides great birding opportunities, with chances for specialties such as the endemics White-mantled Barbet, (E) and range-restricted Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant and the motionless Barred Puffbird

Other birds of interest include (E) Beautiful Woodpecker, (E) Magdalena Antbird, (E) Sooty ant-tanager, (NE) Yellow-browed Shrike-vireo, (NE) Scarlet-browed Tanager, (NE) Saffron-headed Parrot, Antwren species such as Checker-throated, White-fringed, Moustached, Dot-winged, and Rufous-rumped, and Broad-billed Motmot among others. Over 490 bird species have been recorded on this Reserve

Later in the day, we will drive for 15 mins to visit La Cueva del Condor. Although No Condor inhabits the area, the cave is home to a very noisy, bizarre, eye-catching, nocturnal Oilbird colony. This very interesting night bird uses sonar to navigate, and it is a delight to see. The path to the cave follows a small creek through the forest, where large mixed flocks are common and many species are possible, among them Slaty-winged Foliage-Gleaner, Pacific Antwren, One-colored Becard, Trinidad Euphonia, Thrush-like Schiffornis, and the always spectacular Blue-crowned and White-bearded Manakins engaging in their curious displays

 

Night at Los Colores Ecopark

Day 8 – Morning birding towards the city of Medellin

This morning will be dedicated to complete the list of specialties from the Magdalena Valley and driving towards the marvelous Medellin City. In the afternoon and after checking-in at a nice colonial-style hotel, we will go on a city tour that can include birding time at the Botanical Garden, visiting the Botero Square, Pueblito Paisa, and riding the picturesque Metrocable up the mountains of Medellin.

 

 

Night at Hacienda Hotel la Extremadura in Medellin

Day 9 – Birding and driving towards Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve

From Medellin, we will drive our way to the fantastic Chestnut-capped Piha reserve making promising stops to continue to see a variety of birds from the Magdalena Valley. Actually, this route is very interesting because of its strategic location between the limits of the Magdalena Valley, the Central Andes Cordillera, and the Choco Bioregion, we get to see a nice mix of birds from all 3 ecosystems

After arriving at the municipality of Anori, we will have a late lunch and will continue birding around the lodge until late afternoon

 

Night at the Chestnut-capped Piha “Arrierito Antioqueno” Reserve

Day 10 – Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve

It wasn’t until the year 2001 that the elegant and endemic Chestnut-capped Piha was described in a tiny fragmented forest in the northeast extreme of the Central Andes. In 2006, the local NGO ProAves with support from ABC (American Bird Conservancy) acquired an area of approximately 3,271 acres to support the conservation of the Piha and established a network of trails to find this and other key species. The reserve is located in the El Roble, Anorí (Antioquia), with an altitude between 4,593 and 6,069 fasl, 479 bird species have been recorded on this location

Key species at the reserve include (E) Chestnut-capped Piha, (E) Black-and-gold Tanager, (E) White-mantled Barbet, (E) Chestnut Wood-quail, (E) Parker’s Antbird, (E) Red-bellied Grackle, (E) Multicolored Tanager, (NE) Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager, (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, Ochre-breasted Antpitta and (NE) Sooty-headed Wren among many others

 

 

Night at the Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve

Day 11 – Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve and back to Medellin

Birding in the morning we should have time to complete the list of bird specialties at the Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve before heading back to Medellin in the afternoon, birding and driving. We will finally, spend the night at a nice colonial-style hotel in Medellin before heading to the beautiful town of Jardin “The garden”

 

Night at Hacienda Hotel la Extremadura in Medellin

Day 12 – Birding la Romera and Jardin

La Romera eco-park is located just 30 minutes away from our hotel and one of the best birding sites in Colombia to see the highly restricted and endemic Red-bellied Grackle and the (E) Stiles’s Tapaculo. Besides, is one of the very few locations in Colombia to try and find the Near Endemic Yellow-headed Manakin

In the late morning, we will drive for about 3 hours to reach one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia, Jardin (The Garden)

 

 

Night at eco hotel La Divina Providencia in Jardin

Day 13 – Jardin and Yellow-eared Parrot reserve

Jardin is one of the best places in the country for birding as it caters to all levels of bird enthusiasm. On the edge of town is a display site of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, one of the most iconic and brightly colored species in South America. The Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve on a stunning road just above the town is also home to a strong population of Yellow-eared Parrots, which were formerly thought to be extinct and remain one of the rarest birds in the world. The list of specialties on this part of Colombia includes (E) Turquoise Dacnis, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Speckle-faced Parrots, Masked Flowerpiercer, White-capped Tanager, near-endemic Tanager Finch, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and endemic Dusky Starfrontlet

 

Night at eco hotel La Divina Providencia in Jardin

Day 14 – Birding Jardin and back to Medellin

On our last day of birding, we will take the higher parts of a road in the outskirts of Jardin. Birding at Dona Lucia place we will find an Antpitta paradise with species like Chestnut-naped & Slate-crowned Antpitta coming often to the feeders. Other birds of interest include Chestnut-collared Swift, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Green Jay, Citrine Warbler, and Scarlet-rumped Cacique

In the afternoon we will drive for 3 hours back to Medellin and will make sure you stay the night in a hotel nearby the airport for your next day flight connection

 

 

Day 15 – Flight to Bogota and end of the tour

Depending on what your plans are moving forward we include a flight back to Bogota for you to take your international connection back home. You may also want to spend some more days in Medellin for birding or leisure (highly recommended). Rest assured we will take care of you until the very end, just let us know how we can help

Photo day 14
Botero Square Medellin
Jardin Antioquia
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant
Jardin landscape