Bogotá Endemic Bird Tour
Embark on a week-long birdwatching adventure in and around Bogotá! Seek out the best Endemic bird species on this tour.
Colombia’s capital city is the gateway to an extraordinary range of ecosystems and diverse birdlife. From the breathtaking Andean highlands to lush cloud forests and enchanted lakes, Bogotá and its surroundings are the perfect base to seek out unique bird species. We invite both seasoned birdwatchers and enthusiastic novices to explore some of the world’s most renowned birdwatching destinations.
Colombia currently boasts the highest number of bird species in the world, with around 1,953 species, approximately 83 of which are endemic. Our expert guides will take you to the prime birdwatching hotspots in the region, sharing their extensive knowledge and helping you find species like the Bogotá rail, Green-bearded helmetcrest, and Brown-breasted parakeet.
Airport or hotel pick up and transfer to your hotel. Once you’re settled in we’ll meet for dinner where you can get to know your tour leader. They’ll welcome you to Bogotá and provide a detailed description of the tour along with some general information about Colombia.
The tour begins with a visit to the wetlands in the west of Bogotá at Humedal La Florida, one of the most notable hotspots in the capital. The main goal of this visit is to observe the endemic Bogotá Rail which hides among the long grasses in the marsh or at the edge of the lakes. This species is restricted to high-elevation marshes in the Colombian Andes and is threatened by habitat loss as these wetlands are reduced in the country. In La Florida, we’ll also have the opportunity to see other species like Silvery-throated Spinetail, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, and more.
We continue the day at Laguna del Tabacal, at a much lower altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. It’s the perfect habitat for our next endemic target, the Velvet-fronted Euphonia, and other interesting birds such as Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Rosy-thrush Tanager, Olivaceous Piculet, Spectacled Parrotlet, and Speckle-breasted Wren, among others.
Finally, we’ll visit the hummingbird observatory ‘Jardín Encantado,’ the perfect spot for our endemic target species, the Indigo-capped Hummingbird, and other interesting species like Black-throated Mango, White-bellied Woodstar, Gorgeted Woodstar, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, and White-vented Plumeleteer.
We’ll visit one of the roads leading to the Chingaza National Park in search of our target endemic species: Brown-breasted Parakeet, Muisca Antpitta, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, and other species of interest such as Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Torrent Duck, White-capped Tanager, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Black-capped Hemispingus, and Golden-fronted Redstart. Chingaza is a huge park high in the mountains above the city, and the roads around it are excellent for seeking out these high-Andean endemic birds.
Next, we’ll visit the Bosque Guajira Nature Reserve, where we’ll spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the feeders that attract target species like Blue-throated Spinetail, Great Sapphirewing, Mountain Velvetbreast, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose-mountain Tanager, and others.
On day four, we’ll focus on one of Colombia’s most important ecosystems: the Páramo in search of various endemic species such as Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Apolinar’s Wren, Boyacá Antpitta, Bogotá Rail, and other target species like Red-rumped Flycatcher, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Noble Snipe (NE), Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Andean Duck, Andean Teal, and Andean Tit-Spinetail.
Colombia hosts 50% of the world’s páramos, vital ecosystems that provide water to 80% of its population, with altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 meters above sea level. These ecosystems act as natural sponges, capturing and regulating rainwater. This storage and gradual release of water feeds rivers and streams that sustain entire communities, agriculture, and lowland ecosystems. Additionally, páramos are crucial in mitigating climate change by storing large amounts of carbon in their soil and vegetation.
After spending the morning and afternoon in the páramo, we will head towards the municipality of Guayabetal.
Sendero La Herrería is the perfect place to observe one of the country’s rarest endemic species: the Cundinamarca Antpitta. This species was discovered in 1989 by birdwatcher Peter Kaestner, who recently broke the bird-watching record by observing 10,000 species in the wild. There is now a higher chance of seeing the species thanks to the efforts of the Herrería family, and the Cundinamarca Antpitta now come to feed at one of the reserve’s feeders.
There are also several trails at Sendero La Herrería where we’ll have the opportunity to observe target species like Long-tailed Tapaculo, Muisca Antpitta, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Metallic-green Tanager, among others.
After spending the morning and afternoon in the reserve, we will return to Bogotá to explore our next location.
Chicaque Natural Park is a beautiful nature reserve, located just 45 minutes from Bogotá and covers an area of 300 hectares. It’s one of the closest hotspots to Bogotá, with around 450 recorded species. It is the perfect place for target species like Moustached Brushfinch, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Brown-billed Scythebill, Beryl-spangled Tanager, and Golden Tanager, among others.
Additionally, we’ll visit Campo Tangara, a place designed for observing hummingbirds with around 8 species, including one of the country’s most beautiful and rare species, the Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (Coeligena bonapartei).
On the last day of the Bogotá Endemic Bird Tour, we will visit the Paramuno Trail located at 3,100 meters above sea level on Monserrate. On this trail, feeders attract target species like Shining Sunbeam, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, and Silvery-throated Spinetail, among others.
There’s also an option to take a city tour of the historic centre of the city before leaving for the airport.
What’s included:
- Expert guide (English or Spanish speaking)
- Hotel accommodation from day one
- Private transport (4×4 when required)
- Entrance fees to parks and nature reserves
- 3 meals a day, water and snacks
- Basic local insurance
What’s not included:
- International flights/connecting flights to the start point and from the endpoint
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry, room service and/or minibar expenses
- Tips
What to Expect:
Bogotá’s weather is generally cool with regular rainfall, it can be changeable however and the sun is strong when the skies are clear. During the tour, we’ll visit locations at a range of 1,200 – 3,600 metres above sea level. At lower elevations, the weather is generally warm and when we visit higher areas we will experience some cold weather.
The Bogotá Endemic Bird Tour is a private tour and can be tailored to your tastes. If you prefer a little more downtime your guide can show you more of the local culture and scenery. Or, if you prefer to focus only on birding we can add extra activities and hotspots to make the most of every minute.
Accommodation will be comfortable and close to or within the areas of interest. There is no single room fee, the accommodation is included in the price.
- Start point: Bogotá DC
- Endpoint: Bogotá DC
- Average number of species: 150-250
- Physical Demand: Low - Medium
- Types of Ecosystem: Cloud Forest, Andean Forest, Páramo, and wetlands
-
*The Bogotá Endemic Bird Tour is designed to be flexible to your wants and needs therefore the number of bird species, physical demand and general itinerary will vary.
Questions, Doubts or Enquiries?
Speak to a member of our team directly via WhatsApp +57 3223818777 or email andeanbirdwatching@gmail.com
We’re a small company and we carefully review all booking requests to provide the best possible service.
Please contact us by phone or WhatsApp (+57 3223818777) or fill out the form below and we’ll respond within 24 hours.
Group Size | Price per person | Total Price |
1 | $3500 USD | $3500 USD |
2 | $2500 USD | $5000 USD |
3 | $2200 USD | $6600 USD |
4 | $2000 USD | $8000 USD |
5-8 | $1900 per birder* |
*For groups of 5-8 people the price is $1900 USD per birder. |