Surrounded by world-class birding destinations, the vibrant capital of Colombia, Bogota, sits at 8600 feet in the easternmost of Colombia's three Andean ranges. Based for four nights there and four nights in outlying small cities, we'll bird some of Colombia's most breathtaking landscapes--among them the fabulous elfin forests of Chingaza National Park, east of the city, and the world's largest paramo, studded with strangely beautiful Espletia, of stark Sumapaz National Park, south of the city.
Between just these two sites, we will seek out endemics and special birds such as Noble Snipe, Bogota Rail, Apolinar's Wren, Brown-breasted (Flame-winged) Parakeet, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Amethyst-throated (Longuemare's) Sunangel, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Rufous-browed Conebill, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, White-chinned Thistletail, and a few handsome flowerpiercers, spinetails, and canasteros, too. And we won't miss the incredible hummingbird show at a special private garden, where Glowing and Coppery-bellied pufflegs, Great Sapphirewing, Green-tailed and Black-tailed trainbearers, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and the truly stunning Blue-throated Starfrontlet usually visit.
West of the city, based at La Mesa, we'll explore the plateau lakes and montane forests of the Eastern Cordillera's western slope, at sites such as Laguna Pedro Palo, Chicaque Natural Park, Tabacal, and the well-named Jardin Encantado, where gems like Turquoise Dacnis, Black Inca, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, White-bellied and Gorgeted woodstars, Golden-fronted Whitestart, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Flame-faced Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus, and Moustached, Pale-naped, and Slaty brushfinches await, along with a nice mix of manakins, antbirds, furnariids, and wrens.
Southeast of the city, we'll travel through the dry Rio Negro Valley to the town of Villavincencio, our base for exploring two premier forested sites of the eastern slopes: the foothills near Monterredondo and the lower elevations at Bosque Bavaria, where rare and range-restricted species such as Green-bellied Hummingbird, Green Manakin, Cundinamarca Antpitta (very difficult), and Ochre-breasted Brushfinch begin to mix with Amazonian species like White-chinned Jacamar, Yellow-billed Nunbird, and Amazonian Umbrellabird. In this unpredictable area, we'll hope for a few wild cards--perhaps Blue-fronted Lancebill, Highland Tinamou, Crested Spinetail, or Orange-breasted Falcon?
This will be an invigorating long week-plus in some remarkable places for Andean birding!
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Combo Tours
If you would like a longer birding holiday, some departures of this tour may be combined with:
COLOMBIA'S SANTA MARTA MOUNTAINS & CARIBBEAN COAST
COLOMBIA'S MARVELOUS MAGDALENA VALLEY
ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS
ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.
DEPARTURES • We have 2 departures currently scheduled through 2027, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.
2026
Jan 13-21, 2026
Guided by: Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Manager: Christine Boilard
Tour Limit: 7
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available - This tour is full, and all those booked have made deposits. Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour.
Tour Fee: $4995
Single Supplement: $450
Deposit: $500
REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO
2027
Jan 15-23, 2027
Guide: TBA
Tour Manager: Christine Boilard
Tour Limit: 7
Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space.
Tour Fee: To be determined / 2026=$4995
Single Supplement: To be determined / 2026=$450
REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
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