Visited a number of sites and spent long days walking on trails and roads. The tour was very successful in terms of our goal, which was finding a wide variety of Colombian birds - and in spending time in a variety of tropical mountain environments, particularly tropical rainforests. Our guide, Juan Manuel Cardona, was really excellent: he was very skilled at locating local species of birds and (importantly) making sure everyone saw every bird. He was also quite knowledgeable about the other flora and fauna. Accommodations were very good, as was food. I think at the end we were all quite pleased with the trip. My partner and I were both really glad that we took this tour. From start to finish, very helpful. The tour was well planned. My partner and I were particularly impressed by the help we received from Naturetrek in dealing with a specific difficult situation that we encountered: it turned out that our travel insurance did not cover one part of the trip itinerary; the company made alternative and very satisfactory arrangements for us. We will likely use this Naturetrek again.
A.J. British Colombia, Canada, Dec 23
Tour Itinerary and Reports
- Itinerary
- Tour report - February 2024
- Tour report - December 2023
- Tour report - January 2023
- Tour report - October 2022
- Tour report - January 2019
- Tour report - November 2018
- Tour report - February 2018
- Tour report - February 2018
- Tour report - November 2017
- Tour report - February 2017
- Tour report - January 2017
- Tour report - October 2016
Click to see moreClick to see less
Can I help you?
Colombia - Multicoloured Tanager Tour
Tour Code: COL02An 11-day tour exploring the exceptional birdlife of Colombia's central and western Andes and Cauca Valley.
£4,395 (Inc flights)
£3,395
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
Quick Enquiry
Summary
This 12-day birding tour, which can be easily combined with our Santa Marta Endemics tour, begins with an exploration of Otún Quimbaya, noted for Torrent Duck, Cauca Guan and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. Manizales is our next base, from where we enjoy the energetic flocks and antpitta feeding stations of the Rio Blanco Reserve. Nearby is the up and coming Hacienda el Bosque, home to Crescent-faced Antipitta and Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, amongst many others. Also from Manizales we ascend the slopes of the 5,429-metre-high Nevado del Ruiz for the stunning endemic Buffy Helmetcrest and the splendid hummingbirds of the volcano's thermal springs. We next travel west to Montezuma to some of the most beautiful cloudforest in Colombia. A suite of endemics is present here, including Munchique Wood-wren, Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, Gold-ringed Tanager and Black-and-gold Tanager. Other tanagers keep us royally entertained during a 3-night stay, including jaw-droppers such as Purplish-mantled, Glistening-green, and Grass-green. The tour ends with some birding around Cali for Cauca Valley specialities, before driving up to the fabled ‘KM18’ for Multicoloured Tanager plus a host of colourful Tangara tanagers.
- Red-ruffed Fruitcrow & Cauca Guan at Otún Quimbaya
- Antpitta feedings stations at Rio Blanco – photograph Slate-crowned amongst others
- Crescent-faced Antipitta and Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan at Hacienda el Bosque
- Stunning endemic Buffy Helmetcrest on high slopes of Nevado del Ruiz
- Wonderful Montezuma cloudforest & mind-blowing birding
- Gold-ringed & Black and Gold Tanager amongst many target endemics
- Cauca Valley specials in Cali, including Greyish Piculet & Bar-crested Antshrike
- Excellent food & hospitality at Araucana on the Buenaventura Rd, plus Multicoloured Tanager nearby!
- Direct flights from Heathrow to Bogota with Avianca
Grading
Dedicated birding tour with plenty of time spent on foot off the beaten track. Early starts.Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: A mixture of birding lodges and small hotels.
- Food: All meals are included.
Reviews
-
-
Naturetrek have wealth of experience organising wildlife holidays overseas. The arrangements for this trip were faultless. I have travelled with Naturetrek many times; this holiday was well up to their usual standards.
R.C. Bedfordshire, Feb 19 -
It was truly excellent! Everything was well organised and all the logistics and accommodation worked like a dream. The tour organisers and bird guides were all first rate and the tour leader, Andrea Beltran, was a really gifted 'people person' who combined birding ID skills and tour leadership with the ability to infuse the whole group with enthusiasm and a confidence that any challenges would be immediately addressed.
N.B. Suffolk -
Very recently back from a most enjoyable trip... to Colombia. Everything about the tour ran smoothly, our guide and driver were helpful, polite, presentable and knowledgeable, and the accommodation was fine. A little basic sometimes, but clean, very well located and we always felt safe. We got to see some great birds, and Alejandro was very good at getting everyone on the birds quickly. lastly, we found Colombia a most efficient and pleasant country to visit and - as always with a Naturetrek tour - we felt well looked after. We have made almost twenty trips with Naturetrek - I believe that speaks for itself!!
D. & D.L. West Sussex -
Exciting!? And so it was! From the snow-capped mountains with wispy volcanic plumes to Finca Lolita - a marvellous abode overlooking Cali. The owners so welcoming. Absolutely loads of birds. Enjoyed the "road trip" feel of this tour.
J. & J.C. Nottinghamshire -
The group which I was a part of was very good. All made sure we saw all the birds together. The leader was superb. His knowledge was excellent in finding birds.
T.G. Cardiff -
This, our latest trip with Naturetrek was, I felt, perfectly balanced between trail birding and photographing birds round the various feeding stations. Alejandro was a brilliant leader with a wide range of knowledge who looked after us perfectly.
D.S. Worcestershire -
Alejandro was a first rate leader who was very knowledgeable about the birds, plants and cultural aspects of Colombia. It was wonderful to see the various species of Antpittas so closely and the array of feeders at Alejandria was amazing.
M.W. Worcestershire -
The guide was excellent and his conscientiousness and knowledge were exemplary. Certainly we saw a wide variety of birds which were a delight to behold in their display of stunning colours. Once again, the guide was excellent here in trying to ensure that each member of the party was able to enjoy as many of the birds which we saw, as possible. It was he who made the holiday for me, the success which it was.
E.S. Derbyshire -
A very enjoyable tour with superb birds, a good itinerary which worked well with no real problems, good guides, and excellent company in the participants. The group gelled well, very important to making a successful and enjoyable trip. Scenery was fantastic, especially the trip up to Nevado del Ruiz.
J.W. Aberdeenshire -
Everything went to plan. All was exactly as Andy (Tucker) described it. Colombia is beautiful, friendly, hospitable and untouched by foreign tourists.
J.G. Hampshire -
The tour leaders were very helpful and the tanagers were fantastic. I had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday with lots of new birds. I can't think of anything that would improve it.
M.W. Essex -
Andrea was an exemplary trip leader. Highly organised and attentive; a very good birder; and with excellent skills in dealing with people. It was a great tour and a good group: everyone keen, engaged and working hard to find stuff.
N.B. Suffolk -
Ferney and Andrea were outstanding bird guides and made a fantastic team. No efforts were spared to find birds for us. Well planned tour with good choice of diverse habitats.
J.L. Oxfordshire
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
Array ( [174] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 174 [parent_id] => 165 [level] => 2 [path] => tour-focus/bargain-birdwatching [title] => Bargain birdwatching [alias] => bargain-birdwatching [description] =>Bargain Birdwatching Holidays
Our bargain birdwatching tours suit keen birders who want an active, fast-paced birding holiday with a dedicated focus on searching for birds rather than on looking at the area’s other wildlife or cultural highlights.
We offer a wide selection of long-haul holidays to many destinations in South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
What can I expect?
- An expert English-speaking local ornithologist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk birding with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable bird lists
- Focused searches for endemics and regional specialities
Who are these tours best suited to?
- Keen & active birders – whether expert or making their first visit to a country or continent
- People looking for an action-packed bird-focused tour
Where can I go?
Naturetrek's selection of birdwatching holidays includes many South and Central American countries including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Panama.
In Africa our selection includes Malawi, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in India and Nepal we offer a choice of 17 bargain birdwatching tours! Here are a few more choices:
- Endemics of Western Australia
- Argentina's Mar Chiquita
- Birds of Brazils Atlantic rainforest
- Colombia – home to the world’s richest avifauna
- Sri Lanka’s endemic birds
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
All Bargain birdwatching Tours
[params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/RlWlvE3qiKAS/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg [image_alt] => Bird Watching ) [metakey] => Bargain birdwatching [note] => 17 [parent] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 165 [parent_id] => 1 [level] => 1 [path] => tour-focus [title] => Tour Focus [alias] => tour-focus [description] => [params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => [image_alt] => ) [metakey] => [note] => ) ) [180] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 180 [parent_id] => 165 [level] => 2 [path] => tour-focus/birds [title] => Birdwatching [alias] => birds [description] =>Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
[params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/RlWlvE3qiKAS/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg [image_alt] => Bird Watching ) [metakey] => Birds [note] => 02 [parent] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 165 [parent_id] => 1 [level] => 1 [path] => tour-focus [title] => Tour Focus [alias] => tour-focus [description] => [params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => [image_alt] => ) [metakey] => [note] => ) ) )
Tour Reports
- Tour report - February 2024
- Tour report - December 2023
- Tour report - January 2023
- Tour report - October 2022
- Tour report - January 2019
- Tour report - November 2018
- Tour report - February 2018
- Tour report - February 2018
- Tour report - November 2017
- Tour report - February 2017
- Tour report - January 2017
- Tour report - October 2016
CLICK TO SEE MOREClick to see less
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
Video