DAY 1: BOGOTA – MEDELLÍN (ANTIOQUIA)

Depart on a flight from Bogota to Medellin (Antioquia departments’ Capital). Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel. Then, we will visit
the most attractive city landmarks.. . Today, we will visit the Botero Museum, the Barefooted Park, and the Nutibara Hill, among other attractive landmarks.

DAY 2: LORO OREJIAMARILLO NATURAL RESERVE (ANTIOQUIA)

Early in the morning we will depart to the Loro Orejiamarillo Reserve, near the Jardin Municipality. This new 130-hectare reserve is a critical habitat for the endangered Yellow-eared Parrot (Loro Orejiamarillo). Currently, this species is only found in of couple sites in the western and central Andes of Colombia. This reserve was acquired to protect some of the prime forest for the parrot where the main nesting tree for the parrots (the wax palm tree) is found.
Throughout the day we will explore the reserve, its fauna and flora and will be concentrated in bird watching.

DAY 3: MEDELLÍN - RÍO CLARO (ANTIOQUIA)

DAY 4: RÍO CLARO (ANTIOQUIA)

In the morning (?) we will depart to the Río Claro (Clear River) natural reserve,a unique place for bird watching. The clear waters of the Rio Claro are highlighted by its marble beds that produce amazing green and blue tones contrasting with the surrounding vegetation. In this reserve, we will be able to walk in the canyons and explore the region’s caves.

Upon arrival, we will walk along the reserve trail, to observe the diversity of birds and vegetation. Some of the most prominent plant families in this area include: Lauraceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Malvaceae and Araceae , in addition to the interesting Balanophoraceae.

After lunch and a short rest, we will visit the Cueva de los Guácharos (oilbirds) National Park.. This park was created in 1960 and it is the oldest of the 51 protected areas of Colombia. The park was named after the nocturnal Guácharo bird (Steatornis caripensis), which lives in caves in the park.

DAY 5: RIO CLARO (ANTIOQUIA)

Early in the morning and through mid-day, we will walk along the river’s canyon to admire its natural beauty.
You will have the afternoon to rest or to enjoy the park.

DAY 6: RIO CLARO (ANTIOQUIA) – SNOWED MOUNTAINS NATIONAL NATURAL PARK (QUINDIO)

Departing from Rio Claro we will be heading to the Parque de los Nevados (Snowed Mountains National Park) passing by La Dorada (420 ft above sea level - 82°F) Mariquita (1,624 ft above sea level 80 °F) and the Letras Pass (11,384 ft above sea level – 48.5 F) arriving to the Park. . We will spend the night in the park to start the altitudinal acclimatization process.

DAY 7: SNOWED MOUNTAINS NATIONAL NATURAL PARK (QUINDIO)

The Parque de los Nevados is located in the Cordillera Central and the Departments of Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda and Tolima share it. The Park was created in 1974 and its extension is approximately 58,000 hectares. The park is protected by the government and has the most important hydrographic basins for the central part of the country. The park has five important mountain peaks, three are still covered with snow: Nevados del Ruiz, Santa Isabel and Tolima.
Problems and importance:
Global warming is producing an accelerated decrease of glaciers around the planet. The Nevados are not the exception. It is calculated that los Nevados will continue to exist for few more years

DAY 8: RÍO BLANCO (CALDAS)

Today, we will be exploring one of the most important and spectacular reserves for bird watching: The Rio Blanco Reserve. This reserve is found in an Andean high cloud forest. The area has a bird list of nearly 300 species.

DAY 9: RÍO BLANCO (CALDAS)

Throughout the day, we will continue to explore the reserve and will observe birds from high mountain to mid-elevation habitats depending on the group interests.

DAY 10: RÍO BLANCO (CALDAS)– VALLE DE COCORA (QUINDIO) – ARMENIA (QUINDIO)

Early in the morning we will head to the Cocora Valley. Before arriving to the Valley will pass by several coffee plantations, where you will have the experience of learning about how one of the most recognized coffees in the world is cultivated and processed. We will then have lunch at the Cocora Valley. This valley is home of Colombia’s national tree, the Quindio Wax Palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), which can grow to 60 meters (196 ft) in height. The Palm provides habitat to the endangered Yellow-eared Parrot (Loro Orejiamarillo).

In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity of walking or horseback riding along the valley. In the afternoon, we will continue our trip to to Calarca, where we will sleep in a typical coffee plantation. This will be your first night in the Quindio Department. This Department is is located at the Central Cordillera. There are in this department about 1,845 km2 of mountain landscapes, with many Rainforests and Guadua bamboo forests. The soild in this department is enriched with ancient volcanic eruptions, rising its fertility, there are also many rivers and minor water streams, including the Quindío River and the Cocora valley located in this river origin.

DAY 11: EL MIRADOR (QUINDIO)

In the morning we will to the Genova Municipality and to the Mirador Birds Reserve where we will spend the night.
This reserve has 1,400 hectares

DAY 12: EL MIRADOR – CALARCÁ (QUINDIO)

Rise early and watch birds around the reserve. Later in the morning we will return to the coffee plantation in Calarca.

DAY 13: CALARCÁ - BOGOTÁ

Today we will have the option of either visiting the Tamari ranch for bird watching, visiting some attractive touristic location from the area or enjoying the coffee plantation where we spent the night.