Tour Leader: Carlos Bocos
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD8,600 * GBP6,964 * EUR8,257 * AUD13,689
Can be linked with: Colombia - Mitu Extension 2026
Colombia is simply vast. With arguably the most diverse avifauna of any single country on Earth, there are far too many special and important habitats to visit in anything less than several months’ time. As part of our continuing effort to do this magnificent country justice, our Remote Colombia birding tour takes us into some seldom-explored areas in search of a whole host of rare, special and localised species. Targets are too many to mention but include such gems as Baudo Guan, Fuertes’s Parrot, Baudo Oropendola, Bicolored, Thicket, Hooded, White-bellied and Streak-chested Antpittas, recently described Perija Tapaculo, Turquoise Dacnis, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Multicolored Tanager, White-mantled Barbet, Gorgeted Wood Quail, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Indigo-crowned and Lined Quail-Doves, Niceforo’s Wren, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, Esmeraldas and Magdalena Antbirds, Choco Brushfinch, Perija Metaltail, Perija Thistletail and Perija Brushfinch.
Recurve-billed Bushbird; Baudo & Wattled Guans; Colombian Chachalaca; Choco Tinamou; Chestnut Wood Quail; Horned Screamer; Indigo-crowned & Lined Quail-Dove; Rusty-faced & Rose-faced Parrots; Flame-winged Parakeet; Choco, Cinnamon & Crimson-bellied Woodpeckers; Greyish Piculet; Spot-crowned Barbet; Crested & Golden-headed Quetzals; Red-bellied Grackle; Baudo Oropendola; White-chinned Jacamar; Barred, Golden-breasted & Scaled Fruiteaters; Striolated, Yellow-headed & Golden-headed Manakins; Bicolored, Thicket, Hooded, White-bellied & Streak-chested Antpittas; Black Antshrike; Stub-tailed, Zeledon’s, Klage’s & Esmeraldas Antbirds; Rufous Spinetail; Perija Thistletail; Choco, Paramillo, Stiles’s, Pale-bellied & Perija Tapaculos; Perija Metaltail, Purple-chested, Chestnut-bellied, Tooth-billed & Green-bellied Hummingbirds; Purplish-mantled, Multicolored, Moss-backed, Glistening-green, Golden-chested, Crested Ant, Tawny-crested, Grey-and-gold, Golden-hooded, Rufous-winged, Emerald, Blue-whiskered, Scarlet-and-white & Lemon-spectacled Tanagers; Antioquia, Sooty-headed, Munchique Wood, Niceforo’s & Chestnut-breasted Wrens; Apical Flycatcher; Choco & Grey-throated Warblers; Turquoise Dacnis; White-mantled Barbet; Perija & Choco Brushfinches. Chances for Harpy Eagle & Sapayoa.
cloud forest, temperate cloud forest, humid foothill forest, lowland & foothill Choco forest, secondary forest, wetlands, mangroves, rivers, meadows, creeks, Oak forest, subparamo scrub, paramo grassland, fincas
temperate to cold in highlands; hot and very humid in the lowlands. Rain is likely on some days.
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader and 1 local leader
DIFFICULT: This is a high-intensity “mega” tour designed for passionate listers and serious birders who enjoy a fast-paced schedule. Due to its demanding nature, it’s not recommended for avid photographers, inexperienced birders, or anyone with mobility or health limitations.
Moderate to difficult. Endemic and target focused trip. Not suitable for dedicated photographers; inexperienced birders; or anyone with mobility or health challenges. Tour pace is fast. Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
Comfortable, some lodgings are simple/basic.
Challenging. Several skulkers and low-density targets that require repeated efforts. Many species that require patience, persistence & repeat attempts (ie: Antpittas & Tapaculos).
600+
often spectacular endemic reptiles and amphibians, stunning scenery, little-explored pristine forests
Reasonable to good. Typical forest lighting difficulties. Several feeders.
This was an excellent opportunity to see a part of Colombia that I hadnt visited. It was a vigorous schedule, as predicted; fortunately, participants could opt out of activities if they preferred. Our guides were both top rate, with complementary strengths. The result was a lot of birds, particularly endemics, seen. Accommodations were appropriate to each area. The van and driver were superb.
Forrest Rowland was superb as usual. Both his birding skills and people skills are extraordinary.
Dušan was an amazing guide. His acute hearing and anticipation of where the birds would be was extraordinary. He had a well balanced sensibility in regards to our limits and possibilities and was always exercising his desire that everyone in the group was able to see each bird we encountered as best as the circumstances permitted. His passion for birding was very apparent and sincere. Dušan's communication and updates as things changed benefited the whole group.
Stephan Lorenz is an outstanding guide – extremely knowledgeable, extremely diligent in getting target birds, and is full of enthusiasm every day. A real pleasure.
First of all, Forrest Rowland's profound knowledge of the full range of bird identification traits, songs and calls, habitat preferences and behavioural detail was indispensable to our ability to view, hear, and understand what we were looking for/at. Even more so, his knowledge and ability to effectively convey such information in a timely and readily comprehensible manner was an essential component of our ability to get on birds effectively. Plus his expertise and experience did not stop with the bird life. Secondly, he was an amazing leader in keeping a diverse group of participants focused on tasks at hand and committed to an inclusive "team" dynamic, not an easy feat! His very personable and easy going style kept everyone engaged and appreciating contributions from the whole group... and no one ever appeared isolated. Lastly, and also crucial to an effective journey of this type, Forrest was always on top of tour logistics and management, which are extremely complex and sometimes change with little notice (e.g. flights being cancelled). ln part this was due to his own experience travelling within Colombia, building upon the wonderful network of supporting "staff/contributors", and he was always able to easily provide next step details, rationales, and alternatives to the group.
Colombia - Mitu Extension 2024 - November 2024
Colombia - Remote 2024 - October 2024
Colombia - Perijá & Santa Marta Endemics - Tailormade 2024 - September 2024
Colombia - Highlights 2024 - July 2024
Colombia - Highlights (ECU replacement) 2024 - January 2024
Colombia - Northern Andes: Central Andes 2023 - October 2023
Colombia - Northern Andes: Medellin & surrounds 2023 - October 2023
Colombia - Northern Andes: Bogota & surrounds 2023 - October 2023
Colombia - Northern Andes: Santa Marta 2023 - September 2023
Colombia - Santa Marta Extension I 2023 - August 2023
Colombia - Highlights 2023 - August 2023
Colombia - Santa Marta Extension II 2022 - December 2022
Colombia - Northern Andes: Western & Central Andes 2022 - November 2022
Colombia - Northern Andes: Medellin & Magdalena Valley 2022 - November 2022
Colombia - Northern Andes: Bogota & surrounds 2022 - November 2022
Colombia - Highlights 2022 - September 2022
Colombia - Mega Birding Tour II 2021 - November 2021
Colombia - Mega Birding Tour I 2020 - January 2020