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I was very pleased with our two Colombian leaders who almost universally kept tight control of the timing of our quite complicated itinerary. They looked after us well, provided excellent leadership on our birding stops and helped those (like me) who struggled to find birds in challenging conditions on jungle stops. They were also interesting to talk to about their country I was also very impressed by the quality of the local guides we used at some locations. The first morning and the trip to the Cali Country Club was a wonderful start to the trip after the overnight flight and brought home to me just what a very civilised South American country this was despite their awful troubles with the 50+ year Civil War. It was a very diverse itinerary and the birding environment was very impressive. I particularly liked the hummingbird gardens at Finca Alejandria, Cali, and Hotel Termales Del Ruiz, Manizales. The time in Manizlaes was the highlight of the tour and especially the day spent at the stunning Rio Blanco Reserve.
J.F. West Yorkshire
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Colombia - Santa Marta Endemics
Tour Code: COL01A 10-day birdwatching holiday in search of the endemic and other special birds of the Guajira Peninsula and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
£4,195 (Inc flights)
£3,195
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This 10-day birding tour, which can be easily combined with our Multicoloured Tanager Tour, focuses on the special birds of the Guajira Peninsula, including Tocuyo Sparrow, Orinoco Saltator, Chestnut Piculet, Vermillion Cardinal, Buffy Hummingbird and the stunning White-whiskered Spinetail. We also include a stay on the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta at Minca, and 3 nights higher up at the excellent Mountain House, during which we’ll be making a concerted effort to see all Santa Marta’s endemics and regional specialities. Birding the San Lorenzo ridge, with the sun rising over Colombia’s highest peaks and with Santa Marta Brushfinch taking crumbs from our breakfast table, is sure to live long in the memory!
- Guajira Peninsula birding with superb local guide (one day clean-up)
- 6 nights in the mountains, including 3 at Mountain House
- Target all endemics, including the screech-owl, mountain-tanager and others
- Fantastic flocks, views and hospitality
- Combine tour with Multicoloured Tanager Tour
- Direct flight to Colombia. Hassle-free internal flights
Grading
Dedicated birding tour with plenty of time spent on foot off the beaten track.Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: A mixture of small hotels and El Dorado Lodge
- Food: All meals are included.
Reviews
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Gabriel (guide) grew up on Santa Marta mountain, his skills at identifying bird calls were second to none. Both El Dorado and Minca were fabulous places to stay with magnificent views and walks from the door.
J. & J.C. Nottinghamshire -
Naturetrek's British guide Andy Smith was excellent, great birder, constantly trying to keep everyone interested even during some dull periods. Gabbo our Colombian guide was also excellent at finding the birds when they showed themselves. Scenery was fantastic up in the mountains, views I will take to my grave. The food and accommodation at el Dorado lodge could not be faulted and the scenery breathtaking.
P.J. Nottinghamshire -
The walks within the Camarones dry forest went very well. All the spots from Minca up to the highest part of El Dorado were excellent and all the hummingbirds at both lodges fantastic.
J.W. Aberdeenshire -
The environments visited were varied, allowing for a wide range of avain possibilities to be encountered. The vehicles chosen for the more mountainous areas were excellent, as were the drivers. The food throughout the tour was excellent, especially the fish. The restaurant in Finca used on the first two nights in the town was superb!
P.S. Suffolk -
A very interesting itinerary: we saw quite a lot of the country and visited some excellent birding spots. I particularly liked the stay around Manizales and the places we visited from there. I was very pleased with our two Colombian leaders who almost universally kept tight control of the timing of our quite complicated itinerary. They looked after us well, provided excellent leadership on our birding stops and helped those (like me) who struggled to find birds in challenging conditions on jungle stops. The time in Manizales was the highlight of the tour and especially the day spent at the stunning Rio Blanco Reserve.
J.F. West Yorkshire
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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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
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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
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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!
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