Our tour of northern Colombia covers most the important birding sites visited by typical birding tours to the region and allows for viewing of all the possible endemics except a few that are only in extremely remote places or are largely unknown and rarely recorded by anyone.

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL

Arrive in Barranquilla, typically via a connecting flight from Bogota or Panama City. Overnight at Washington Plaza Hotel or similar.

DAY 2 - BARRANQUILLA, ISLA SALAMANCA, & MINCA

Depart early for KM 4 Palermo Road, a dirt side road off the main highway outside Barranquilla. The road passes through open dry forest and agricultural areas and borders some wetlands. Possible highlights include Northern Screamer, Bare-faced Ibis, Russet-throated Puffbird, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Stripe-backed Wren, and Yellow Oriole. Continue to Isla Salamanca National Park, offering easy access to coastal mangroves on a boardwalk. Notable possibilities there include Chestnut Piculet, Golden-green Woodpecker, Black-crested Antshrike, and Yellow-hooded Blackbird. From there continue to the very touristy town of Minca, located in the foothills of the Santa Marta Mountains. Our hotel is away from the congested town center. Feeders attract an occasional Pale-bellied Hermit along with more common White-vented Plumeleteer and Steely-vented Hummingbird. Night at Sweet Harmony Hotel in Minca.

DAY 3 - MINCA & EL DORADO RESERVE

Morning bird the altitudinal transect from Minca to El Dorado Reserve.The road passes through middle elevation forest and offers Groove-billed Toucanet, Klages's Antbird, Santa Marta Antbird, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, Spectacled (Venezuelan) Tyrannulet, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Golden-fronted Greenlet, Black-chested Jay, Rufous-breasted Wren, Golden-winged Sparrow, Santa Marta Brushfinch, White-lored Warbler, Black-headed Tanager, and Rusty Flowerpiercer. Flowers around some cafes toward the upper end of the transect sometimes attract Santa Marta Blossomcrown and Coppery Emerald along with the much more common violetears. Arrive at El Dorado lodge for lunch. At the lodge hummingbird feeders attract many Brown Violetears, Lesser Violetears, Sparkling Violetears, and Crowned Woodnymphs. Of greater interest are occasional visits by White-tailed Starfrontlet. Birds possible around seed feeders and the compost pile include Band-tailed Guan, Black-fronted Wood-Quail, Lined Quail-Dove, Southern (Santa Marta) Emerald-Toucanet, Sierra Nevada Brushfinch, and Blue-naped Chlorophonia. After dark Santa Marta Screech-Owl can usually be found along the road near the lodge. Night at El Dorado Lodge.

DAY 4 - SAN LORENZO & EL DORADO RESERVE

Depart very early for Cuchilla de San Lorenzo at higher elevation above the lodge. This area is home to several endemics not found at lower elevation. The main target birds are Santa Marta Parakeet, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Flammulated Treehunter, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (a future split into Bank's Wood-Wren), Hermit Wood-Wren, Santa Marta Warbler, Yellow-crowned Redstart, and Black-cheeked (Santa Marta) Mountain-Tanager. Also possible are Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Solitary Eagle, White-rumped Hawk, Red-billed Parrot, and Scarlet-fronted Parakeet. Afternoon birding around El Dorado Lodge. Night at El Dorado Lodge.

DAY 5 - SANTA MARTA NATIONAL PARK & EL DORADO

Morning drive back upslope to Santa Marta National Park, primarily to view Santa Marta Antpitta that has been conditioned to appear in the open. Other likely birds include Mountain Velvetbreast, White-tipped Quetzal, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Golden Grosbeak, and Black Flowerpiercer. Afternoon transfer back to Minca, looking for any birds missed on the way up. Night at Sweet Harmony Hotel in Minca.

DAY 6 - TRANSFER & LOS FLAMENCOS NATIONAL PARK

Morning transfer to the lowlands and eventually Los Flamencos National Park near Riohacha with stops en route. First stop is Bonda Road, a dry forest area featuring Coppery Emerald, Black-backed Antshrike, Northern White-fringed Antwren, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Scrub Greenlet, Trinidad Euphonia, and other widely distributed species. Next stop is Gaviota Road through dry forest where a variety of widely distributed birds can be seen. After check-in at the hotel in Riohacha, visit Los Flamencos National Park in the afternoon. Depending on water levels, large numbers of American Flamingos can be present along with numerous other water birds. Night at Hotel Gimaura in Riohacha.

DAY 7 - CAMARONES & TRANSFER

Morning birding around Camarones and a private site nearby. The private site has feeders attracting Vermilion Cardinal, its star attraction. Also usually present there are Green-rumped Parrotlet and Orinocan Saltator. A major target bird around Camarones is the sparsely distributed Tocuyo Sparrow, an often difficult bird to find. Other interesting possibilities include Crested Bobwhite, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Double-striped Thick-knee, Scarlet Ibis, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Red-billed Emerald, White-whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Tyrannulet, Gray Kingbird, and Glaucous Tanager. Then transfer to Valledupar with birding stop at Los Besotes Natural Reserve. A difficult but possible bird there is Blue-billed Curassow. Night at Hotel Arawak Upar or comparable in Valledupar.

DAY 8 - PERIJA MOUNTAINS & RESERVE

Morning will be devoted to birding an altitudinal transect up the Perija and Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountains to the Pro Aves lodge. Target birds include Rufous-shafted Woodstar, Perija Tapaculo, Rufous Spinetail, Perija Brushfinch, and Yellow-breasted Brushfinch. Other possibilities are Yellow-throated Toucan, Red-crested Cotinga, Russet-backed Oropendola, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Swallow Tanager, and Beryl-spangled Tanager. Arrive at the lodge for lunch. Hummingbird feeders at the lodge attract Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Tyrian Metaltail, Mountain Velvetbreast. Afternoon will be spent birding the road around the lodge. Possibilities include Highland Tinamou, Rufous Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Slaty Brushfinch, Black-crested Warbler, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, and Blue-capped Tanager. Night at Pro Aves Lodge.

DAY 9 - SABANA RUBIA & LOCAL SITES

Early morning drive up the mountain to Sabana Rubia in the highlands. Key target species in the paramo are Perija Metaltail, Streak-backed Canastero, and Perija Thistletail. These species are very difficult after 7:00am so an early start is essential. Other possibilities below the paramo include Spectacled Tyrannulet, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Glossy-black Thrush, Paramo Seedeater, and other species mentioned above. Afternoon birding the road above and below the lodge. Night at Pro Aves Lodge.

DAY 9 - TRANSECT & END OF TOUR

Morning bird the altitudinal transect back down the mountain to Valledupar looking for any species missed on the way up. Arrive at the airport around mid-day for flights out of Valledupar to connect with international flights home. End of tour at the airport.

ADDITIONAL INFO
(Not on Menu Above)

• Tour Map
• Accommodations
• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES

• Chamicero del Perija
• El Dorado Reserve
• Los Flamencos National Park
• Minca Area
• Palermo Road - KM4
• Salamanca National Park
• Santa Marta National Park