Day 1: Arrival in Cali

Arrive to Cali and you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Night in Cali.

Day 2: Drive & Birding from Cali to KM18

After breakfast we will visit hummingbird feeders and patches of forest in the region of the famed “El 18” highway from Cali to Finca La Florida specially for Chestnut Wood Quail and we will look in particular for the endemic Multicolored Tanager, which could be part of mixed tanager flocks that include many other fabulous tanagers and many other species. We will spend the whole day birding. Night at Finca La Florida.

Day 3: Birding to Atuncela Dry Forest

This morning we will watch the moth feeders before heading out to Atuncela, birding all morning for bird specialties along the dry forest. After lunch drive directly to the town of Buga. Depending on time, we will visit a dry woodland site (El Vinculo) near Buga, in search for two Colombian endemics, Grayish Piculet and Apical Flycatcher. Night in Buga.

Day 4: Birding Laguna de Sonso to Cerro Montezuma

Today we will search at Laguna de Sonso for many widespread species of heron, duck, and shorebird occur. Then we will head to north and west to Pueblo Rico, and at then Montezuma Rainforest Lodge, which will be our base at Cerro Montezuma and Tatama National Park. We will arrive in time to amaze the hummingbirds at the lodge feeders, including Empress Brilliant and Rufous-gaped Hillstar. Night at Cerro Montezuma (Montezuma Rainforest Lodge).

Day 5: Birding Cerro Montezuma

We will bird all day to spend on this forested mountain, and we will go as high as possible for target species and after full day birding, we will back late afternoon to our lodge. Night at Cerro Montezuma (Montezuma Rainforest Lodge).

Day 6: Birding Cerro Montezuma

Today we will concentrate on the lower slopes and a somewhat different suite of birds, again hoping to encounter as many mixed flocks as possible, as well as searching for skulkers. Night at Cerro Montezuma (Montezuma Rainforest Lodge).

Day 7: Birding Cerro Montezuma to Otun-Quimbaya.

We will have another morning on Cerro Montezuma. After lunch, we will return to Pueblo Rico and continue by our small bus north and east across the Cauca Valley to the town of Pereira and drive up the Rio Otun. Night in La Florida.

Day 8: Birding Otun-Quimbaya to Manizales.

This morning we will search for Cauca Guan, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Crested Ant-Tanager, and Multicolored Tanager and many other species. Then we will back to our lodge for lunch then we will drive north to Manizales with a stop at Embalse Cameguadua en route for shorebirds and waterfowl. Night in Manizales.

Day 9: Birding Rio Blanco Surrounds

We will have a full day at the wonderful Rio Blanco reserve in the Central Andes above Manizales, for antpittas being fed, the hummingbird feeders and garden, and birding the small roads for mixed flocks along the montane forest. Night in Manizales.

Day 10: Birding Los Nevados National Park.

Early birding the highway out of Manizales and branch off into an edge of the vast Los Nevados National Park searching along the treeline forest and scrub, and then wonderful Espeletia paramo, with tanagers and hummingbirds and the special Buffy Helmetcrest. We will stop at Hacienda El Bosque for antpittas and mountain-toucans. After a full day birding, we will back late afternoon to Manizales. Night in Manizales

Day 11: Birding & Tinamu Lodge

Birding Manizales and then Tinamu Lodge, where we will have a chance for Blue-lored Antbird, White-crowned Tapaculo, Black-tailed Flycatcher, Golden-collared Manakin, and Speckle-breasted (Colombian) Wren, among others that we may have missed during the tour, like Grayish Piculet, Parkers Antbird, Dwarf Cuckoo, and Great Antshrike. Night in Tinamou Lodge

Day 12: Birding Lodge surround – Pereira Airport

Morning Birding for missing species and after lunch we will head to Pereira airport for our flight to Bogota and international connections. End