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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.
£4,295
£3,395
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
Why Naturetrek?
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