Amazon & Llanos
The east of Colombia is a vast, wild territory. Leaving behind the eastern Andes, the huge plain stretches out to the horizon, towards the borders with Venezuela, towards the Orinoco River to the East, and Peru and Brazil to the South and the South East. This plain is barely interrupted to the south, just on rare occasions by steep elevations or mountain ranges associated with Guyana rock formations, while to the north the immense savannas and floodplains are interrupted by gallery and riparian forests that run along the watercourses.
Orinoquia and Amazonia are also home to an incredible number of birds, including colorful Tanagers, mysterious antbirds, iridescent hummingbirds, silent flycatchers and incredible singing wrens, all of which may be seen during this trip. The Orinoquia region is dominated by ecosystems of savannas, flooded savannas, riparian and gallery forests, and is home to at least 600 species of birds. Here the main feature will be the large flocks of herons, egrets, Jabirus and Ibis that congregate in huge groups while foraging for their food, creating a colorful and surreal image. In Inírida, we will have the opportunity to explore the Orinoco-Amazon transition, with trails in firm-ground forests and gallery forests associated with black-water rivers, which create an excellent combination resulting in an incredible diversity. In Mitú, we will be immersed in megadiverse and little-known Amazon rainforest, where there is an almost uninterrupted green mantle that will enable us to explore the forests associated with the Guyana Shield, white sand forests, varzea forests and the mainland.
Each visit to these places gives us new and unexpected records and even new species of birds are being discovered and described, attesting that these new destinations’ promise to be a favorite for any birder. Here we will be amazed by the singing of the capuchin bird, colorful manakins and a large number of antbirds, antwrens and antshrikes. The green color of the jungle is broken up by the colorful Cotingas, tityras, toucans and aracaris, while the puffbirds and jacamar hunt silently in the forest. Many trails are possible here and all are full of birds. The Orinoquia and the Colombian Amazon promise to be an unforgettable experience!
Key Species
Amazonia Umbrellabird |
Amazonian Black-Tyrant |
Azure-naped Jay |
Bar-bellied Woodcreeper |
Bare-necked Fruitcrow |
Bicoloured Antbird |
Black Bushbird |
Black-bellied Cuckoo |
Black-bellied Thorntail |
Black-headed Parrot |
Blackish Nightjar |
Blackish-gray Antshrike |
Blackish-grey Antshrike |
Black-throated Antbird |
Blue-crowned Trogon |
Blue-throated Piping-Guan |
Bronzy Jacamar |
Brown-banded Puffbird |
Brown-headed Greenlet |
Capuchinbird |
Cherrie’s Antwren |
Chestnut Woodpecker |
Chestnut-crested Antbird |
Cithron-throated Attila |
Cliff Flycatcher |
Collared Puffbird |
Dot-backed Antbird |
Fiery Topaz |
Flame-crested Tanager |
Golden-green Woodpecker |
Gould´s Jewelfront |
Green and Gold Tanager |
Green Manakin |
Green-tailed Jacamar |
Grey-bellied Antbird |
Grey-legged Tinamou |
Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock |
Guianan Gnatcatcher |
Imeri Warbling-Antbird |
Lafresnaye´s Piculet |
Lemon-chested Greenlet |
Lemon-throated Barbet |
Orange-cheeked Parrot |
Orinoco Goose |
Orinoco Piculet |
Pale-headed Jacamar |
Paradise Jacamar |
Pavonine Quetzal |
Pearly Antshirke |
Pink-throated Becard |
Plumbeous Euphonia |
Point-tailed Palmcreeper |
Pompadour Cotinga |
Purple-breasted Cotinga |
Red-fan Parrot |
Ringed Antpipit |
Ringed Woodpecker |
Rose-breasted Chat |
Rufous-capped Antthrush |
Rufous-crowned Elaenia |
Rufous-tailed Flatbill |
Rufous-tailed Xenops |
Rusty-breasted Nunlet |
Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin |
Scale-breasted Woodpecker |
Scarlet Ibis |
Slaty Grosbeak |
Spangled Cotinga |
Spot-backed Antwren |
Spotted Puffbird |
Sungrebe |
Tawny-tufted Toucanet |
Varzea Schiffornis |
Velvet-fronted Grackle |
White-bearded Flycatcher |
White-chinned Sapphire |
White-eyed Tody-Tyrant |
White-naped Seedeater |
White-plumed Antbird |
Wing-barred Piprites |
Wire-tailed Manakin |
Yapacana Antbird |
Yellow-bellied Jacamar |
Yellow-crowned Manakin |
Yellow-throated Antwren |
Highlights
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We will observe birds in the indigenous Tukano communities.
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We will visit the Mavacure hills, a sacred place for the Amazonian indigenous communities around Inírida.
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We will observe the pink dolphins (Boto) in the Guainía, Guaviare and Inírida rivers.
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We will be in contact with the plains culture of eastern Colombia in Hato La Aurora and its beautiful sunsets.
- Destination
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Departure
Bogota DC IATA: BOG / Bogota DC IATA: BOG
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Dress Code
This is a fairly standard birding tour with early morning starts and evening finishes to each day. One some days we may take picnic lunches in order to no waste time during the middle of the day or having to leave site. The weather can be unpredictable with rain and sunshine both likely. At higher altitudes it can be chilly. We have an amazing photo opportunity for many species of hummingbirds and other species coming to feeders, we will also be looking for a good number of species that are very rare and seldom seen, but we will be going to areas that hold these sought-after species.
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Included
Accomodation in Double RoomAll 4x4 vehicules or boatsAll domestic flightsAll ground private transportationAll meals B-L-DEntrances to all natural reservesHot drinksPrivate transfer Airport - hotel - aiportProfessional Private Birding GuideProfessional Private DriverSingle room - adicional paySnaks and waterSoda or juice with each mealVegan and Vegetarian menus
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Not Included
Activities not included in the itineraryAlcoholic drinksColombian Event InsuranceExtensions of a trip due to circumstances beyond our controlInternational flights and taxesInternational phone callsLaundry serviceMedical expenses (not covered for evet insurance)Room serviceTips or gratuityToiletries
Day 1. Arrival to Bogota EL Dorado International Airport / Bogota
Day 2. Flight to Mitú (Amazon Forest), Bocatoma White Sand Forest / Brasilia
Day 3. Santa Cruz and MCH Path, Cock of the Rock / Brasilia
Day 4. Pueblo Nuevo Terra Firme Forest / Brasilia
Day 5. Bocatoma Terra Firme Forest / Brasilia
Day 6. Mitu-Cachivera Forest / Brasilia
Day 7. Urania Secondary Forest, flight from Mitú to Bogota,
Day 8. Flight to Inírida, Caño Culebra Path / Fuentes del Guainia
Day 9. Caño Carbon & Sabanitas Trail / Fuentes del Guainia
Day 10. Matraca Trail & Laguna Negra / Fuentes del Guainia
Day 11. Paujil Trail & Caño Cunuben / Fuentes del Guainia
Day 12. Cerros de Mavecure & El Remanso Community / Fuentes del Guainia
Day 13. Caño Vitina, fly to Villavicencio / Hacienda Camana
Day 14. Bavaria Forest & Hacienda Camana / Hacienda Camana
Day 15. Camino Monfortiano, transfer to Yopal / Yopal
Day 16. Transfer to Hato La Aurora Nature reserve, birding on the road
Day 17-18. Birding in Hato La Aurora Reserve (Eastern Plains) / Juan Solito
Day 19. Flight to Bogota from Yopal / Bogota
Day 20. International flight from Bogota