Birds That You Can Observe

Minca

We will depart from Santa Marta at 5 a.m. towards Minca, 600 m.a.s.l. where we will start the trip through the road during a 3 km footpath observing a large amount of rare species including The Golden-winged sparrow (Arremon schlegeli) Around 9:30 a.m. we will reach a natural overview where we will taste a regional dish and enjoy a wonderful view.

From there you can appreciate the magnificent Santa Marta bay, El Morro in the middle of the bay, and El Rodadero as well as dozens of bird species fluttering along the path. Then, we will go to La Victoria, a coffee farm where we will have a small break and a conversation about the coffee influence in the region. From there, we will descend to the road to Minca where we will have lunch.

After lunch we will depart to Arimaka waterfall a 3 kms walk. During the hike you can see cosmopolitan species bewteen 600 and 1000 m.a.s.l. like the Black Hawk-Eagle, Crested Bobwhite, Military Macaw, Scarlet-fronted and Orange-chinned Parakeet, Red-billed Parrot, White-tipped Dove, Lined Quail-Dove (voice), White-collared and Chestnut-collared swift, Green Violetear, Brown Violetear, Coppery Emerald, White-vented Plumeleteer, Santa Marta Blossomcrown (endemic), Steely-vented Hummingbird, Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, Golden-olive, Lineated and Crimson-crested woodpecker, Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner (endemic), Black-backed Antshrike, Greenish and Forest Elaenia, Yellow-olive and Yellow-breasted flycatcher, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Social and Piratic flycatcher, Cinereous, Cinnamon and White-winged becard, Masked Tityra, Rufous-breasted y Rufous-and-white wren, Yellow-legged and Pale-breasted thrush, Black-chested Jay, Golden-fronted Greenlet and Brown-capped Vireo

The Plan Includes

  Local Guide
  Meals (with Vegetarian Option)
  Transport By 4X4 with A/C
 Trip Insurance and Taxes

The Plan Does Not Inclued

  Tips
  Airline Tickets
  Alcoholic Beverages

The Plan Price

Departures every day, book 48 hours in advance.
Price person:
US$150 departures 2 pax.
US$127 departures 3 pax.
US$122 departures 4 pax.
US$115 departures 5 and 6 pax.

Birds That You Can Observe

Isla de Salamanca Parkway

We depart from Santa Marta at 5:30am taking the route Santa Marta-Cienaga to get to the Toribio and Córdoba Rivers´ valley. In this Gallery Forest we will see the endemic Chesnut Chachalaca (Ortalis Garula) among other cosmopolitan species.

We will keep driving to the Isla de Salamanca Parkway, birdwatching surrounded by amazing Estuarine Lagoons. On this bird international flyway, boreal migratory birds can be observed between September and May. The rest of the year we have the great opportunity to observe austral migratory birds on their annual visit.

We will go through a Dry Spiny Tropical Forest on the way to the ¨Los Cocos¨ station, located 8km from the Magdalena River. There, we will find an interpretative walk path that goes through the mangrove. Here we should find the endemic Sapphire-bellied hummingbird (Lepidopyga lilliae) (blue and violet color), and the Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus armenti).

Francisco "Pacho Aves" Troncoso, BWE's expert ornithologist, explains that "the Bronzed Cowbird was previosly considered as a subespecies of M. aeneus. They separated it because the birds pocess various characteristics that do not coincide. For that reason, they retuned the Bronzed Cowbird to the category of Endemic, and in critical danger".

Other species that can be observed include the Mangrove Tanager, Woodpeckers, the Brown-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula pertinax), Green-and-rufous Kingfisher (Chloroceryle inda), Yellow-chinned Spinetail (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus), Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus), White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis), Bicolored Conebill (Conirostrum bicolor).

After a few hours birding on this unique National Parkway we will return towards town for a delicious lunch. We will review our check list and celebrate lifers. We will drive back to Santa Marta around 4:00pm with sunset watching optional.

The Plan Includes

  Local Guide
  Meals (with Vegetarian Option)
  Transport By 4X4 with A/C
 Trip Insurance and Taxes

The Plan Does Not Inclued

  Tips
  Airline Tickets
  Alcoholic Beverages

The Plan Price

Departures every day, book 48 hours in advance.
Price person:
US$189 departures 4 pax.
US$175 departures 5 and 6 pax.

Birds That You Can Observe

Taironaka

Our trip starts in Santa Marta at 5:30 a.m. After 1.5 hours on the Pan-american Highway towards Riohacha we will arrive to the Don Diego river around 7:00 a.m. We will have the choice of getting from the road to Tayronaka by boat or by hiking on a moderate path for half an hour approximately. The boat ride takes about 10 minutes. On the way to Taironaka we will enjoy hiking through a magnificent Tropical Forest at the Don Diego River´s edge. The archeological site at Taironaka is an example of how the ancient Tayrona might have built their houses and tamed their habitat. There we can learn about the connection between regional birds and native tribes who have inhabited that area for centuries.

After a short rest and a snack, we will walk around the facilities which include a mini museum that houses the items found on site while reconstructing the terraces. We will find traditional buildings, terraces, and possibly indigenous people who often visit the area. We can also do some birding on premises and take a swim in the river before lunch.

We will have a variety of choices for lunch around noon. After lunch, you can take a nap and get ready for the descent. Again, we have the choice of descending by boat. Then, once back at the bridge we will continue by boat to the sea to observe aquatic species, also howler monkeys and caymans among other animals. Some of the bird species you can observe include the Black-crowned antshrike, Lance-tailed manakin, Red-eyed Vireo, Southern Lapwing, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Orange-crowned oriole, Red-legged honeycreeper, White-fringed Antwren, Gray-capped Cuckoo, Blue-billed Curassow, Lesser Nighthawk, American Redstart, Brown-chested Martin, Streaked Flycatcher, Ixobrychus exilis, Crested Guan, White-tipped Dove, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Green Violetear, White-chinned Sapphire, Tropical Screech-Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Whooping Motmot, Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned Parrot, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, White-bearded Manakin, Stripe-backed Wren, and Tropical Parula.

After a relaxing afternoon and walk on the beach, we will start our return to Santa Marta around 4:00p.m.

The Plan Includes

  Local Guide
  Meals (with Vegetarian Option)
  Transport By 4X4 with A/C
 Trip Insurance and Taxes

The Plan Does Not Inclued

  Tips
  Airline Tickets
  Alcoholic Beverages

The Plan Price

Departures every day, book 48 hours in advance.
Price person:
US$198 departures 4 pax.
US$168 departures 5 and 6 pax.