Highlights of Central Andes: A Birdwatcher’s Paradise
COLOMBIA
September 14 – 23, 2025
Embark on a unforgettable birding journey through Colombia’s Central Andes and Coffee Region
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore Bogotá’s top birding sites, including the vibrant Tabacal Lagoon and the Hummingbird Observatory, home to species like the velvet-fronted euphonia and blue-throated starfrontlet.
- Discover the Otún Quimbaya Sanctuary and Río Blanco Reserve in the Central Andes, renowned for endemic species such as the brown-banded antpitta and the lush cloud forests.
- Bird Tinamú Reserve in the Coffee Region, where trails through secondary humid forests offer opportunities to spot the golden-collared manakin and Andean motmot.
- Visit Los Nevados National Park, a high-altitude wonder, to search for the rare buffy helmetcrest among the elfin forests and páramo ecosystems.
Make the most of your journey with a Pre-Trip Night in Bogota to discover the city’s cultural highlights
- Itinerary Summary
- Arrival in Bogotá, 3 nights
Fly to Pereira, 1 night
Manizales, 3 nights
Los Nevados Natl Park, 1 night
Pereira, 1 night
Fly to Bogotá El Dorado International Airport (BOG) for departure - Optional Additions to This Trip
- One Night Bogotá Extension
Arrival in Bogotá: September 13
September 14: Enjoy a full day exploring Bogotá’s most iconic landmarks. Begin at Plaza de Bolívar, the historic heart of the city, and explore the colonial charm of La Candelaria neighborhood. Visit the Gold Museum, home to an extensive collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts, and the Botero Museum, showcasing the works of famed Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Take a scenic ride to Monserrate Hill, offering panoramic views of Bogotá
Includes English-speaking guide, entrance fees, lunch and private transportation.
$320 per person sharing a double room
$389 single room - What to Expect
- What to Expect on this Journey
Colombia’s Eastern Andes (Bogotá), Central Andes, and Coffee Region (Manizales, Pereira) boast remarkable geographic, floral, and faunal diversity in a compact area. Though distances may seem short on a map, actual travel times can be longer due to traffic, rural roads, and elevation changes. We travel by minibus on highways and well-paved roads between towns, though some birding areas require driving on rougher roads.
Expect early morning departures to maximize birding opportunities before activity wanes. Most days begin at 5–5:30 a.m., with one 4:30 a.m. departure in Bogotá. We typically return by lunchtime or early afternoon, allowing time to relax or bird around our accommodations.
Meals are a mix of field breakfasts and lunches or sit-down meals at local restaurants en route. Dinners vary by location and may be at the hotel, lodge, or a nearby restaurant. Purified or bottled water is available throughout the trip.
At 8,530 feet, Bogotá is one of South America’s highest capitals, home to 7.3 million people and covering 613 square miles. An independent Capital District and capital of Cundinamarca, it provides access to diverse birding—from Andean cloud forests to high-altitude páramo ecosystems.
In the Coffee Region, we stay at eco-lodges with prime access to diverse bird habitats. These accommodations blend comfort, conservation, and scenic surroundings, with excellent birding opportunities right on-site. - Per Person Double Price
- $5,994
- Single Price
- $6,494
- Deposit
- $900 due by April 27, 2025
- Final Payment Due Date
- May 17, 2025
- Inclusions
- - Arrival transfer in Bogotá; departure transfer to Pereira Airport
- Conservancy Travel Expert Birding Guide from arrival to departure
- Accommodations for 9 nights
- Meals as described in the itinerary: BLD (9 Breakfasts; 8 Lunches; 7 Dinners)
- Private transportation throughout the journey
- Two domestic flights: Roundtrip Bogotá - Pereira
- Permits, national park fees, entrance fees
- Tips for included meals, local drivers, additional site staff
- Local Emergency Medical Insurance - Exclusions
- International Airfare & baggage fees; Excess baggage fees; Passport fees; Alcohol and any additional beverages; Early check-in / late check out; Gratuity to Conservancy Travel Birding Guide, suggested at $15-25 per person, per day; Travel Insurance (Trip Cancellation, Interruption, COFAR medical)
- Travel Insurance
- https://my.travelinsure.com/conservancytravel/?p=50047
- Cancellation Schedule
- Up to 120 days prior to tour start date: $900.00
119 to 70 days prior to tour start date: 50% of order total
Less than 69 days prior to tour start date: 100 % of order total
Cancellation is effective upon receipt of written notification. Please note that registrations are on a per person basis and substitutions may not be possible. - Terms and Conditions
- https://conservancytravel.org/terms-and-conditions/
Make the most of your journey with a Pre-Trip Night in Bogota to discover the city’s cultural highlights
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Scot Duncan, PhD
Executive Director
scot@alaudubon.org