Colombian Pacific Coast & Cauca Valley
The Colombian Pacific was a relatively unexplored area until recently, but the opening up of the area has allowed us to discover its diversity, which is still largely unknown to science. This region is one of the rainiest in the world and it is precisely this high rainfall, its tropical conditions and its isolation (separated as it is from the Amazon and Andean basins) that make its wet and super humid rainforests some of the most diverse on the planet. This western fringe borders Ecuador to the south and meets the Caribbean Sea to the north, its rugged geography and breath-taking landscapes, area home to an incredible number of rare and beautiful endemic and almost endemic species.
Going in a short space of time from the very humid forest of the Pacific slope to the other slope of the western cordillera we can watch a wide variety of ecosystems, habitats and birds, this tour boasts a possible estimated number of 350 species to see in a few days and an incredible number of endemic, near endemic and restricted range species. And of course many good memories too!
Key Species
| Andean Cock-of-the-rock |
| Apical Flycatcher. |
| Bar-crested Antshrike |
| Barred Fruiteater |
| Bicolored Antvireo |
| Black-tipped Cotinga |
| Blue Cotinga |
| Broad-billed Motmot |
| Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant |
| Chestnut Wood-Quail |
| Chestnut-backed and Immaculate Antbird |
| Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia |
| Choco Syristes |
| Chocó Toucan |
| Chocó Trogon |
| Crested Quetzal |
| Dusky Chlorospingus |
| Fulvous-dotted Treerunner |
| Golden-rumped Euphonia |
| Green-fronted Lancebill |
| Grey-headed Chachalaca |
| Greyish Piculet |
| Humboldt´s Sapphire |
| Multicolored Tanager |
| Nariño Tapaculo |
| Ornate Hawk-Eagle |
| Pacific Flatbill |
| Pale-eyed Thrush |
| Purplish-mantled Tanager |
| Rufous-throated Tanager |
| Rusty-winged Barbtail |
| Sapayoa |
| Scarlet and White Tanager |
| Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper |
| Spot-crowned Barbet |
| Spot-crowned Barbet |
| Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher |
| Toucan Barbet |
| Uniform Antshrike |
| Uniform Treehunter |
| Wedge-billed Hummingbird |
| White-throated Quail-Dove |
| Yellow-breasted Antpitta |
| Yellow-collared Chlorophonia |
| Yellow-eared Toucanet |
Highlights
-
Visit the beaches of Guachalito.
-
Enjoy the gastronomy of the Pacific and its Afro influence.
-
Watch birds in the Mangrove of the protected area of Utria Cove.
-
Ride las brujitas (local name for: handcraft railroad cars) on the way to San Cipriano.
-
From the Andes to the Pacific along the Anchicayá highway surrounded by tropical rainforest.
-
Departure
Medellin International Airport / Cali International Airport
-
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.
-
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
-
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
From our gallery
Day 1. Arrival to Medellin / Medellin
Day 2. Fly to Bahia Solano, birding on the road to El Valle / Almejal
Day 3. El Valle – Utria Path / Almejal
Day 4. Transfer to Utria National Park, Cocalito Trail / Utria National Park
Day 5. Utria National Park Mangroves / Utria National Park
Day 6. Transfer to El Cantil Reserve, birding around the lodge / Cantil Reserve
Day 7. El Cantil Natural Reserve / Cantil Reserve
Day 8. Fly to Medellin from Nuqui and fly to Cali, transfer to Calima / Calima
Day 9. Birding in Yotoco & Laguna de Sonso / Calima
Day 10. Rio Bravo Natural Reserve / Calima
Day 11. Visit to Pance & Villa Cielo Feeders / Cali
Day 12. Alejandria Farm & Km 18 Reserve, transfer to Araucana Lodge
Day 13. La Minga & Bosques de San Antonio / Araucana
Day 14. Dora Feeders & Anchicaya Valley / Araucana
Day 15-16. Anchicaya Valley / Araucana
Day 17. Aguas Claras Forest, transfer to Buenaventura / Buenaventura
Day 18. San Cipriano & Rio Escalerete / Buenaventura
Day 19. Birding in the Malecon, transfer Cali / Cali
Day 20. Fly to home
