Birding in Colombia - Guajira, Tayrona, and Minca

CAMARONES - MANAURE - BAHIA HONDA - PUNTA AGUJA

You will leave early in the morning (after a typical breakfast) to the heart of the Guajira desert. On the way we will pass through Manaure - a salt producing village - and Uribia - the indigenous capital of the region. Technical stop to put gasoline in the car and then we will enter an open road to Pusheo, the ranch that will receive us for lunch. In the afternoon we will reach Bahía Honda where a magnificent walk begins along the bay; where the golden colors of the desert and the blue of the sea mix. We will then take a motorized boat from the end of the bay to Punta Aguja where we will spend the night in hammocks surrounded by a unique environment. Beautiful sunset! Dinner is brought from the nearest rancheria for your comfort.

Walking time: 4h – Transport: 4 to 5h - Accommodation : Chinchorro Wayuu

NOTE : You will be able to take a shower every day but please note that lavatories are very rustic: shower is to be taken with a bucket and a cup.

Included:  Room , Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner , Transport , Driver

PUNTA AGUJA – PUNTAS GALLINAS

This morning we will walk along Hondita Bay to the lunch spot that has an incredible landscape! You will discover the local fauna and flora on the way. Lunch at a Wayuu rancheria - a well-known place in the region - before heading to the old lighthouse of Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point in South America. We will then head to another Wayuu rancheria where a family will host us for 2 nights. Exchange with family members, free time, dinner and night there.

Walking time: 3h from the Posada (with stops) + 1h30 in the afternoon for the round trip to the lighthouse - Accommodation : Chinchorro Wayuu

NOTE : You will be able to take a shower every day but please note that lavatories are very rustic: shower is to be taken with a bucket and a cup.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE – DUNAS DE TAROA

Cultural morning in the house of our hosts. Discover the local traditions with the women of the family! Learn backpack weaving, facial painting, beliefs, and dialect. If you want, you can also give a hand in the kitchen and help with the cooking. After lunch, walk to Taroa dunes. The temperature is hot and the sun hits hard in that area, but the trek is worth it. Without any doubt, the beauty of the dunes will be stuck in you head for a long time! You'll cross a sand wall and reach the intense blue sea. Walk by the dunes and free time on the beach before going back to the ranch by 4X4 to spend the night. Diner and rest.

Walking time: 3h30 – Transport : 1h (return journey) - Accommodation : Chinchorro Wayuu

NOTE : You will be able to take a shower every day but please note that lavatories are very rustic: shower is to be taken with a bucket and a cup.

This hike in Tayrona Park will take you to a magical place located between mountains, tropical forests, and the sea. You will discover the most beautiful white sand beaches of the country and ancestral volcanic rocks in the crystal clear water of the Caribbean Sea.

You start with a hike in the tropical jungle from Cañaveral. Then, you'll visit the exotic beaches of Arrecifes and stop at La Piscina, which is ideal for swimming and snorkeling (not included). Continue to reach Cabo San Juan del Guia (2h-2h30 hike from the park entrance), a wonderful, white sandy bay, surrounded by huge volcanic rocks. On the way, your guide will show you the local fauna and flora, followed by lunch (not included) on the beach. Head back to the park entrance along the same path (2h-2h30 hike), and bus ride back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Hike: 5h (jungle, beach, stairs). Duration: 7h.

OUR ADVICE:

During high season, we recommend you buy your entrance to the park in advance (applies if not included in your quote). You will meet your guide at the park entrance. Bring your passport (or a copy), sunscreen, mosquito repellent, walking shoes, swimsuit, towel, cash for lunch, and a waterproof cover to protect your belongings in case of rain.

Please note it is not allowed to enter the park with single-use plastic elements (plastic bottles, packaging, etc). Don't forget to bring your refillable bottle!

Free day at the Tayrona Park where you can go bathing, hiking on one of the many paths of the park, go horse riding or go snorkelling (activities not included)

Night at the Maloka Barlovento hotel in a Standard room.

BIRDWATCHING IN THE EL DORADO RESERVE NEAR MINCA

The El Dorado Nature Reserve, at 1,900m above sea level in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, near Minca, has the largest concentration of endemic species in Colombia, with 23 species found nowhere else.

Depart at 5:30 AM from Santa Marta to reach the El Dorado Reserve. Along the way, you will make several stops to observe (when they are out) several endemic species such as the Anthocephala floriceps (Santa Marta Blossomcrown), the Santa Marta Antbird, the Coppery Emerald, the Orange-chinned Parakeet and the Golden-olive Woodpecker. After arriving at the reserve, you'll settle in and enjoy lunch, then leave for a new birding session. During winter, it is possible to see migratory species from the North of the American continent, such as the Black-throated Green Warbler, the Summer Tanager, the Swainson's Thrush or the Cerulean warbler.

Accommodation: El Dorado Reserve - Transport: 2h30

CUCHILLA DE SAN LORENZO

In the morning, you will go to the Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, at 2,650m above sea level, one of the best places to see endemic species, including the White-tailed Starfrontlet, the Rusty-headed Spinetail, the Band-tailed Guan, the Groove-billed Toucanet, the Strong-billed Woodcreeper, the White-lored Warbler and many others. Return to the reserve at the end of the afternoon.

Accommodation: El Dorado Reserve