COLOMBIA: CENTRAL AND WESTERN ANDES
COLOMBIA
Central & Western Andes
A Bird Photography Tour focused on some of the most iconic birds of Colombia.
Colombia holds nearly a fifth of the world's bird species. A large part of that diversity is concentrated in the Andes, where three separate mountain ranges create endless variations of altitude, climate and habitat within short distances of each other. This tour follows two of them — the Western and Central Andes — climbing steadily from warm lowland forest through cloud forest to open páramo, with the peaks of the Cordillera Central often visible in the distance. Few places pack this much change into so short a distance and it’s this variation, more than any single site, that makes the Andes one of the richest regions in the world for bird photography.
Trip Overview
Colombia is home to more bird species than any other country on Earth and holds one of the richest concentrations of endemic and near-endemic birds in the world. Many of these species are restricted to a single mountain range, valley or forest, making every stage of the route different from the last.
Travelling in a group of no more than 6 participants, led by our two specialist guides: Rafael Armada & Néstor Zapata, allows time to photograph each location properly, adapting to weather, light and bird activity.
From cloud forests to páramos above 4,000 metres, the route crosses an extraordinary range of habitats. Each landscape offers its own photographic opportunities and a distinctive selection of Colombia's most iconic bird species.
Where and when?
The tour begins in Cali and ends near Medellín, crossing the Western and Central Andes over thirteen days.
The route climbs steadily from the forested slopes above Cali into the high country of the Central Andes, spending several days around the páramo and cloud forest surrounding Manizales before dropping down into the coffee-growing region of Antioquia. The final days move east of Medellín, through a very different mix of mid-elevation forest, before the tour ends near the city.
February is an excellent month for this route. Conditions across the Central Andes are stable, and the cloud forest sites along the way are productive throughout the season.
For whom is this tour?
This tour is designed for Bird Photographers who want to work seriously in the field. Photographers who understand that the best images come from time, patience and being in the right place with the right conditions.
You do not need to be an expert birder or photographer. But you do need to be comfortable with full days outdoors.
If you have photographed birds before and want to push further, with better light, more complex subjects, wilder places, this is the right trip for you.
Photographic highlights
Prices and options
Trip price:
From 4.200 € per person
Single supplement: 350€
Deposit: 900 €
*Prices shown include applicable taxes
Group size: Maximum 7 participants
Tour Leaders: Rafael Armada & Néstor Zapata
Dates: February 8 - 20 | 2027
What’s included
Accommodation during the itinerary
All ground transport during the tour
Cali airport/hotel pick-up on Day 1
Medellín airport drop-off on Day 13
All meals throughout the programme
13 days of guiding with Rafael Armada & Néstor Zapata + local guides
All entrance fees and reserve access included in the itinerary
On-location photographic guidance throughout the tour
What’s not included
International flights to/from Medellín
Domestic flights
Hotel upgrades when available
Alcoholic drinks
Travel and cancellation insurance
Personal expenses
Anything not specified above
Tour Itinerary
-
The group meets in Cali in the afternoon or evening, either at the airport or at the hotel, depending on your arrival time.
Overnight in Cali.
-
Transfer from Cali to Km 18, on the western slope of the Andes above the city, for a full day at Doña Dora — a site known for its close-range access to canopy species in the Anchicayá River Canyon. In the evening, we return to Cali.
Overnight in Cali.
-
A full day at Bosque La Florida, a private reserve within Km 18 with feeders and photography hides set up specifically for close observation. In the evening, we return to Cali.
Overnight in Cali.
-
A final morning session at La Florida before the drive toward Manizales.
Overnight in Manizales.
-
A morning drive up to Estación Brisas, in Los Nevados National Park, in search of the endemic Buffy Helmetcrest. On the way down, we stop at Termales del Ruiz, where feeders attract hummingbirds in good light for photography.
Overnight in Manizales.
Optional upgrade: overnight at Termales del Ruiz Hotel — see supplement in the rates section. -
A full day at Hacienda El Bosque, a cloud forest lodge on the road to Los Nevados. The reserve is known for its feeding stations, offering close-range views of the Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan and Sword-billed Hummingbird, along with resident antpittas.
Overnight in Manizales.
-
A full day at Río Blanco Nature Reserve, the reserve that pioneered antpitta feeding stations in Colombia. Several species are possible in a single morning, along with hummingbirds at the feeders near the lodge.
Overnight in Manizales.
-
A morning drive to Jardín, in the coffee-growing region of Antioquia, followed by a late afternoon session at the Cock-of-the-Rock lek just outside town, where males display at close range.
Overnight in Jardín.
-
A full day at Mirador El Roble, along the Ventanas road. The site is run by a local family who have been feeding antpittas here for years, drawing in species that are otherwise very hard to see well. We spend the rest of the day working the road itself, one of the richest birding corridors in the area.
Overnight in Jardín.
-
A full day that starts at Reserva Los Guácharos, followed by birding along the surrounding road. Depending on what the group still wants, we may finish with a second visit to the Cock-of-the-Rock reserve.
Overnight in Jardín.
-
A final morning in Jardín, with an afternoon transfer to San Rafael.
Overnight in San Rafael.
-
Two full days visiting several birding lodges around San Rafael, each with specialised feeders set up for bird photography.
Overnight in San Rafael.
-
A final morning visiting one more birding lodge in San Rafael, before the transfer down to Rionegro Airport (MDE), where the tour ends.
Interested in this tour?
Fill in the form below to request your spot, or write to us at warblertours@gmail.com
This itinerary is also available as a private departure. Contact us to request availability and rates.
