Join Greg Downing on this 10-day photographic tour of Colombia. Support local communities; each location we stay or visit is owned and run by locals and thus our time at each location supports them and the conservation of their land. We have many stories of how this symbiotic relationship between eco-tourists and the local people have changed lives for the local communities and encouraged everyone to conserve habitat and support their native species of flora and fauna.
Colombia is the birdiest country on earth, with more than 1,950 species (almost 20% of the world’s total) with new species still being discovered and new records being announced often. There are more species of birds in this country than on any other. It is easy to see why. Colombia is tropical, yet it also has ample elevation changes due to the Andes, furthermore it has both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Lots of different habitats ensure an abundance of bird species. Along with our highly skilled and experienced local bird guide, we will visit all the hotspots that are set up for bird watching and photographers, most with exclusive access.
The KM 18 and San Antonio Cloud Forest provide an excellent introduction to bird photography in the Colombian Andes. Some of the best bird feeder set ups in Colombia are found within one hour of the our lodge, each with very unique perches and variety of birds. In addition, for those who enjoy photographing in natural environments this portion of the western Andes offers some very well-preserved habitat. At feeder sites, this tour targets species such as the endemics Multicolored Tanager and Colombian Chachalaca and near endemics such as Scrub, Flame-rumped, Golden-naped, Saffron-crowned, and Rufous-throated tanagers. In terms of hummingbirds, more than 20 species occur at the feeders including Blue-headed Sapphire, Purple-throated Woodstar, Long-tailed Sylph, Black-throated Mango, Green Hermit, Booted Rackettail and many more! This photographic expedition then climbs to the central Andean range, near Manizales, where the stars of the show are Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan and Crescent-faced Antpitta. After more ascending, one can experience the surreal paramo ecosystem, while looking for species adapted to high elevations in Los Nevados National Park, the main target being Buffy Helemtcrest.
This tour also visits one of the newer sites in the area called El Color de Mis Reves. Most of our shooting will be done at set-ups and feeding stations. Each location is different and, other than one optional trek for cock-of-the rock, there will be no requirements for strenuous hiking. There are extensive hiking trails at some locations we visit. You may opt to explore these areas for more rarities, along with our guiding, if you so desire.
Guests will be picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel which is two hours away. A meet and greet dinner will be planned for this day. Those arriving late will get a briefing at breakfast the next morning before we head out to photograph.
Overnight at Eco Lodge outside Cali (D)
A day is spent at the lodge feeders, whose visitors include Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Black-winged Saltator, White-lined Tanager, Green Jay, Yellow-backed Oriole, and Lineated Woodpecker. The vast acreage of ornamental and vegetable gardens at the lodge also afford good habitat for hummingbirds such as Purple-throated Woodstar, Black-throated Mango, Andean Emerald and Steely-vented Hummingbird. The lighting and background at the feeder kiosk is well thought out, and they provide stands and perches and a variety of flowers to create amazing images.
Overnight at Eco Lodge outside Cali (B,L,D)
Today you spend the morning capturing images at 2,000 meters (6,000 feet) in elevation at the famed Km 18 area, along the road that connects Cali with the port city of Buenaventura. At Km 18, star of the show is the spectacular Multicolored Tanager, with other endemics like the elusive Chestnut Wood-quail and Colombian Chachalaca also making an appearance. Today we will visit two private residences. Each residence is unique and offers its own charm, and provide an amazing diversity of hummingbirds and tanagers. Chances are good of capturing Flame-rumped, Golden, Saffron-crowned, Golden-naped, Black-capped, and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanagers. More than sixteen species of hummingbirds can be photographed at feeders, including the beautifully ornate Long-tailed Sylph, Booted Rackettail, Blue-headed Sapphire, Saprkling Violetear, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin and Brown Violetear.
Overnight at Eco Lodge outside Cali (B,L,D)
San Felipe is another amazing property located in KM 18, where Scaled Antpitta comes to feeders with excellent light for photography. Here you will have another chance to photograph the endemic Chestnut Wood-quail, as well as an assortment of tanagers and hummingbirds that visit the feeders. An added bonus is the chance to photograph Ruddy Quail-dove and the elusive Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush.
Overnight at Eco Lodge outside Cali (B,L,D)
The Anchicaya watershed is located in the Farallones National Park, one of the most bio diverse parks on the planet. Only 50 minutes from the lodge, the photography begins with a stop at a roadside lamp which attracts a plethora of species that feed on moths that are attracted to the light. The feeding frenzy is fun to watch, and photographic targets include the endemic Crested Ant-tanager, Collared Trogon and several species of Woodcreepers. At Doña Dora’s place, where the three-story feeder set up allows provides subjects such as Toucan Barbet, Rufous-throated Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Empress Brilliant, Violet-tailed Sylph, Rufous-gaped Hillstar, and Green Thorntail.
Overnight at Eco Lodge outside Cali (B,L,D)
Today you travel form the western Andes to the central Andes, crossing the Cauca Valley and making a stop at an aloe plantation at the National Grape Park, in hopes of photographing the dazzling Ruby Topaz Hummingbird. Your first night in the central Andes is spent at our next eco lodge, which also has a nice feeder set up.
Overnight at private eco-lodge with individual cabins (B,L,D)
This day will be spent on this working cattle farm that still produces milk, whose owners have been protecting large swaths of forests and paramo ecosystems for decades. Some of our targets on this wonderful property are Crescent-faced Antpitta, Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan (comes to feeders to eat grapes), Collared Inca, Tourmaline Sunangel, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Purple-backed Thornbill, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and Hooded Mountain-tanager.
Overnight at private eco-lodge (B,L,D)
Guests will take a day trip in 4X4 vehicles, on a very rough road, to a 2 hectare reserve that will surely not disappoint. Here, your chances of photographing Ocellated Tapaculo, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Emerald Toucanet, Lachrimose Mountain-tanager, Slate-crowned Antpitta and many more high elevation specialties are pretty darn good!
Overnight at private eco-lodge (B,L,D)
From the lodge, you will wind through patches of forest that open up to paramo, an ecosystem of tropical grasslands above the treeline, toward the picturesque 5,300-meter (17,400-foot) volcano Nevado del Ruiz. The scenery in paramo is magical and surreal,with velvety Frailejon plants adding to this effect. Frailejon plants belong to the Espeletia genus and are endemic to Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. The goal this morning is to photograph several species adapted to high elevations at Los Nevados NP, including one of the most resilient hummingbirds on the planet: Buffy Helmetcrest. No feeders exist within the park, but open areas and a stunted elfin forest allow for good opportunities with species such as Tawny Antpitta, Stout-billed Cinclodes, the beautiful Golden-crowned Tanager, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant and White-chinned Thistletail. The afternoon is spent at the feeder stations in the spectacular grounds of Hotel Termales del Ruiz, with chances for Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shinning Sunbeam, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, and Great Sapphirewing. The gardens also attract photogenic species such as Masked Flower piercer and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager.
Overnight at private eco-lodge (B,L,D)
Our final morning in the central Andes will be spent with another chance for Crescent-faced Antpitta and other birds on the property before descending towards the Cauca Valley to prepare for flights home.
Overnight at 4-star hotel in Buga (close to Cali airport) (B,L,D)
Today we'll have private transfers back to the Cali airport for flights home. Breakfast will be provided for those departing late enough.
4-star hotel in Buga (close to Cali airport) (B)
Single supplement fees reflect our actual cost and are subject to availability. If you're a single traveler and we're unable to place you with a roommate, we will need to place you in a single room and charge a single supplement.
Greg has been traveling the world teaching professional and amateur photographers for more than 15 years hosting his instructional workshops and...Continue reading
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