Tour Leader: Carlos Bocos
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD8,600 * GBP6,844 * EUR8,245 * AUD13,758
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 new 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 Antpitta, recently described Perija Tapaculo, Turquoise Dacnis, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Multicolored Tanager, White-mantled Barbet, Gorgeted Wood Quail, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Antioquia Bristle Tyrant, Yellow-green Bush Tanager (Yellow-green Chlorospingus), Indigo-crowned and Lined Quail-Doves, Niceforo’s Wren, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, Esmeraldas and Magdalena Antbirds, Choco Tapaculo, Choco Brushfinch, Perija Metaltail, Perija Thistletail and Perija Brushfinch.
Chances for Harpy Eagle, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Orange-breasted Falcon, Wattled, Baudo & Band-tailed Guan, Colombian Chachalaca, Choco Tinamou, Tawny-faced Quail, Chestnut Wood Quail, Horned Screamer, Brown Wood Rail, Indigo-crowned & Lined Quail-Dove, Colombian Screech Owl, Rusty-faced & Rose-faced Parrot, Flame-winged Parakeet, Choco, Cinnamon & Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, Greyish Piculet, Spot-crowned Barbet, Crested & Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Red-bellied Grackle, Baudo Oropendola, Mountain Cacique, Amazonian Motmot, White-chinned Jacamar, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Black-breasted Puffbird, Barred, Golden-breasted & Scaled Fruiteater, Green, Yellow-headed & Golden-headed Manakin, Bicolored, Thicket, Hooded, White-bellied & Streak-chested Antpitta, Black Antshrike, Spot-crowned Antvireo, Stub-tailed, Zeledon’s, Klage’s & Esmeraldas Antbird, Northern Barred & Black-striped Woodcreeper, Streak-capped Treehunter, White-browed & Rufous Spinetail, Perija Thistletail, Choco, Paramillo, Stiles’s, Pale-bellied & the yet-to-be-described Perija Tapaculo, Recurve-billed Bushbird, chances for Sapayoa, Perija Metaltail, Purple-chested, Tooth-billed & Green-bellied Hummingbird, Grey-chinned & Bronzy Hermit, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Blue Cotinga, Rufous Piha, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Antioquia, Sooty-headed & Chestnut-breasted Wren, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Apical Flycatcher, Choco & Grey-throated Warbler, Plushcap, 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 Tanager, Yellow-green Bush Tanager (Yellow-green Chlorospingus), Perija Brush Finch, Paramo Seedeater
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
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.
basic to comfortable
moderate with some challenging species
600+
often spectacular endemic reptiles and amphibians, stunning scenery, little-explored pristine forests
good
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.
Thank you so much for a wonderful experience on my Remote Colombia Tour. Forrest remains among one of the best guides I have ever travelled with. His knowledge of the areas within Colombia is astounding, he clearly knows his birds and their respective calls, he knows the off-track spots to seek out the more difficult species and the local people he interacts with clearly respect and value their relationship with him. Witnessing the interaction of these relationships makes for such a more enjoyable overall experience. Forrest as a guide brings a strong combination of spotting birds, knowing the bird calls and getting people on the bird. Equally important, he interacts with each and everyone of his participants and just displays such a passion for birds, wildlife and the local culture.
Forrest Rowland is an incredible guide.
I was extremely pleased with Rob and his ability to locate birds and get all members of the group on them for viewing. This was no small task given the reclusive nature of many of the species and the size of our group. In addition to Robs valuable birding skills are his management skills in planning and timing and surmounting both the usual and the unexpected difficulties associated with delays and circumstances. Rob is extremely knowledgeable and has excellent communication skills. His stories are informative and most often entertaining. He was a fun guide and I give him a 5 star plus rating.
Dusan is an excellent guide (best ears in the business!) as well as a wonderful person to share this long of an adventure. He’s very concerned for everyone’s health, safety and enjoyment of the birding.
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