This short, sweet tour based in the scenic mountains around Manizales offers comfortable lodging, a relaxed pace, a cool crisp climate, good photo opportunities, thermal hot springs, options for trail hikes, with short drives between birding sites and accommodations.
A view of Manizales nestled into the Central Andes, taken from Rio Blanco.
Sporting three Andean mountain ranges, Colombia is a birder’s paradise, with ~20% of all bird species located here. This week we focus on the Cordillera Central, the Central Andes, birding from an elevation of above 13000 feet down to 4000 feet. Based around Manizales, the capital of Caldas Department, it serves as the main hub of coffee production in Colombia’s famous “Coffee Triangle” and is also proximate to many birding hotspots. Visiting some of the nation’s best birding sites such as Rio Blanco, the Tinamú Birding Reserve, and the National Natural Park of Los Nevados, we see the volcano area, wander the Andean forest, scan the páramo for hummingbirds, seek antpittas, and sip quality “tinto” (coffee), while we snap photos of amazing birds.
Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrival into & night in Pereira.
Day 2: Birding Otun Quimbaya, transfer to & night at Tinamu Lodge.
Day 3: Birding Tinamu Nature Reserve, and night at Tinamu Lodge.
Day 4: Day at Rio Blanco, and night at Tinamu Lodge.
Day 5: Birding Hacienda del Bosque, transfer & night at Termales del Ruiz.
Day 6: High elevation birding at Nevados del Ruiz,night at Termales del Ruiz.
Day 7: Birding around lodge at Termales del Ruiz and ,night at Termales del Ruiz.
Day 8: Transfer to Periera airport (PEI) for flights (at 11am or later).
Trip Features
Relaxed pace, great photo opps, with extended stays at nice lodges.
See “The Coffee Triangle”.
Just 3 hotels: Manizales for 1 night, 3 nights at Tinamu & 3 at Termales del Ruiz.
Termales del Ruiz features hot springs on site for warming up & chilling out.
Short travel times between sites make for bird-rich days.
Iconic/endemic birds, incl: Buffy Helmetcrest, Cauca Guan, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Black-thighed and Golden-breasted pufflegs, & chances to see 5+ antpittas.
The Birding Sites
In approximate order visited
Otun-Quimbaya Sanctuary
A little over 90-minutes drive from Pereira is this fabulous eBird hotspot that’s had about 540 species detected here over the years. We will seek Cauca Guan and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, while also keeping our eyes peeled for Crested Ant-tanager, Stiles's Tapaculo, Multicolored Tanager
Grayish Piculet, Moustached Antpitta, and the uber-rare Hooded Antpitta (seldom-seen). A watchful eye on the Otun river is a good idea too as at times Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dippers are seen here.
Tinamu Nature Reserve
The lowest area in elevation we’ll visit during our tour, and being a middle-low, secondary foothill forest, it’s a spot that has a very high diversity of birds. About 450 species have been tallied on this 40 acre reserve, and we’ll have three nights here to try and connect with as many as we can. The charming and comfortable Tinamu Lodge and its surrounding trails, offer chances for endemics such as Grayish Piculet, Colombian Chachalaca and Parker's Antbird, and other specialties such as Bar-crested Antshrike, Mustached Puffbird, Andean Motmot, Scaled Antpitta, Blue-lored Antbird, Guira Tanager and Golden-collared Manakin. Photo opps at the feeders are good, and subjects there may include the near-endemics Western Emerald and Scrub Tanager, alongside Steely-vented Hummingbird and more common and widespread species like Green Honeycreeper, Blue-necked Tanager, Long-billed Starthroat, Green Hermit, and Lesser and Sparkling Violetears.
Rio Blanco Ecological Reserve
Among the nation’s best known birding hotspots, Rio Blanco is famous for its diversity with over 570 species detected (4th best hotspot by species for the country), but also for the antpittas and hummingbirds seen here. A patch of Cloud Forest (2150-3700m high) just outside of Manizales, the area protects a number of endangered species, and we’ll have chances to see Brown-banded Antpitta, and the near-endemic Bicolored Antpitta. We’ll keep an eye and ear out for the Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and its “compra pan” song, and hope also for the diminutive Slate-crowned Antpitta too. The hummingbird feeders often provide species such as Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, Bronzy Inca, Buff-tailed Coronet and perhaps Fawn-breasted Brilliant. Keep an eye out for the near-endemic White-throated Daggerbill too. Other species could include Pearled Treerunner, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispingus, Streak-headed Antbird, Lacrimose Mountain Tanager (named for the teardrop below its eye), the stunning Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, and other jaw-droppers like Andean Motmot, Grass-green Tanager, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Green-and-black Fruiteater, and Gray-browed Brushfinch. Further searching could reveal a Masked Saltator, the dapper Plushcap, a Yellow-billed Cacique, Ash-colored Tapaculo, or others.
Hacienda del Bosque
A traditional hacienda located just 45-minute drive outside Manizales, with habitats ranging from 2,800 to 3,900m altitude (9500 - 12800 feet) this private farm contains several ecosystems, including pastures for livestock and dairy production, but also good chunks of high Andean forest and paramo. It has been looked after by the same family for decades and they are working towards making it more and more attractive to birders and nature enthusiasts. Today they manage sections of it for birders, and the feeding stations attract lots of hummingbirds and tanagers. A constellation are possible such as, Collared Inca, White-bellied Woodstar, Mountain Velvetbreast, Sparkling Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Tourmaline Sunangel, Tyrian Metaltail, and Buff-winged Starfrontlet. The sought-after and gaudy Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan is an attraction here too, as is the chance for Crescent-faced Antpitta, Equatorial Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, and much more.
Los Nevados National Natural Park
Nevado Del Ruiz is a volcanic mountain situated in Los Nevados National Natural Park resting between 2800m and 4000 meter above sea-level (9180 - 13120 feet). It is a combination of paddocks, elfin forest, patches of bamboo, páramo habitat, and then there is the active volcano itself. The main target of this stunning mountain is the Buffy Helmetcrest. We will look for this amazing bird in flowering bushes of Espeletia (locally known as 'frailejones', as in the misty they somewhat recall a friar or monk), a unique type of shrub in the sunflower family. These are only in high elevation páramo ecosystems. The Helmetcrest’s entire range is confined to this mountain.
Termales del Ruiz
Up near 4000 meters (13,000 feet above sea level) the grounds of our hotel has hosted over 200 species of birds. Hummingbirds are a big part of the experience. Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Golden-breasted Puffleg, and Shining Sunbeam are often here, and we’ll keep eyes peeled too for the near-endemic Black-thighed Puffleg. The elfin forest and páramo also are home to endemic species including the rare and local Rufous-fronted Parakeet and we will look for these along with the near-endemic Black-backed Bush Tanager, and Páramo Tapaculo, as we check for roving flocks that may hold Hooded Mountain Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager, Tawny Antpitta, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Tit-spinetail, Crowned Chat-tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-tyrant, Andean Tit-spinetail or White-chinned Thistletail.
Rigor, Pace & Pests:
Days 5-7 at high elevation (above ~11,000 ft).
Rough road required to access a few birding sites.
Most mornings feature dawn birding and so early rise times. Some days (3,4,6,7) option for siesta.
All lodges are very comfortable.
Possibility of encountering some biting insects (mosquitos) at lower elevations.
Most days feature a combo of hanging by feeding stations & walking roads/trails for specialty species.
PRICE & BOOKING INFO
Tour Price/person*: $3950
Deposit: $1000
Single supplement: $325
Final Payment Due: September 20, 2025, or at registration if after.
Group size: 5 to 9 guests
*Based on double occupancy at lodgings, with a group size of 5 to 9 registrants. Maximum groups size is 9 registrants, plus guide(s) and driver(s). If less than 5 registrants, trip may be cancelled or re-negotiated. Note that if you want a roommate we can try to find you one, but we cannot guarantee anyone a roommate, and if none is available, you will be charged the single supplement.
The tour price (fee) includes services from upon arrival on Day 1 into Pereira (PEI) until our return to PEI on Day 7, including:
· All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 7.
· All accommodations from Day 1 through until Day 7.
· All transport from arrival into the Pereira Airport (PEI) on Day 1 through to Day 7 until guests are transported back to PEI mid-day.
· All guiding services, access permits and entrance fees to birding areas.
· Tips for drivers and staff at hotels and restaurants.
Excluded from your tour fee are:
· Any flights. We can advise you on best times for your flights, but we do not book flights or arrange air travel at this time. On some tours that feature internal flights as part of the tour’s itinerary and represent travel within that country, we may include the flights as part of the tour price and make those arrangements.
· Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, charges for phone calls, and any other items of a personal nature.
· Visa fees, airport taxes, airline baggage fees, etc.
· Tips for local Colombian guide.
Documents
All travelers must have a current passport, valid for six months beyond the end date of this tour, with at least 1 blank page for stamps. No visa is required of US citizens entering Colombia.
ALL GUESTS/REGISTRANTS MUST:
· Review Travel Documents. For international travel, guests must have a current passport valid for six months beyond the end date of this tour, with at least 1 blank page for stamps.
· Review COVID-19 and other health requirements required to travel into or around the destination.
· Review Hillstar Nature’s Code of Conduct.
· Consider obtaining travel and medical insurance to cover incidents over the duration of this tour and in the event that you/the registrant becomes unable to participate in the tour.
· Sign the Hillstar Nature Terms & Conditions, which includes the assumption of risk/liability waiver.
Cancellation Policy
If a guest/participant cancels registration:
● 120 days or more prior to the start of the tour, a refund is issued minus a $500/person processing fee.
● Between 119 and 90 days prior to the start of the tour, half of the tour fee will be returned to the registrant.
● 89 days or less prior to departure, no refund of payments or deposits are issued.
Pace, Rigor, Climate & Pests
· Fairly relaxed pace. Significant time enjoying bird feeding stations. Great photo opps.
· Early mornings but early nights too. A couple drives of up to 2 hours; some driving along winding mountain roads.
· Very comfortable accommodations with good grounds for birds & photography.
· Time spent at high elevation. Not much rigorous hiking, but some walking on inclines at high altitude. Several afternoons at birding lodge grounds.
· Humid but cool or pleasant weather mostly, but a chance of cold and wet weather. Few if any biting insects expected.
Each morning we rise early, pre-dawn to be in position to take advantage of the best time of day, when birds are most active near daybreak and soon thereafter. About half the days we lunch at our lodging, with time for a mid-day break before we return to birding activities. Often, hanging around the lodge grounds offer us the best chances for the birds we are seeking, or for photos of them. Dinners are at/near our accommodations.
The general plan is to be out birding the first ½ of the day and to have the option to enjoy some relaxing afternoons, taking advantage of our comfortable lodgings, most of which sport feeding stations, good photo opportunities, and trails with specialty birds and more. All birding is done along trails, roadsides, or around grounds of lodgings, and walking is at a slow pace due to elevation, and so as not to startle wildlife and see as much as possible.
Elevation is a consideration on this tour. Please consult your physician regarding travel to areas of high elevation. Elevations range from 4000 to about 14000 feet (1200-4200m) above sea level during our 9 days together. Especially when up high, but really throughout the tour, we will take our time, and keep a slow and relaxed pace while we seek and enjoy birds and other wildlife. Weather is variable throughout the tour, but generally we expect it to be pleasant or cool, though it can be quite cold when up high. Occasionally it dips down into the 40s or even 30s F when we are up in the páramo, so having a light waterproof (or strongly water-resistant) layer to go over a fleece along with light rain pants that protect from wind and rain are recommended.
Biting insects are usually not an issue when in middle and upper elevations, but still it may be wise to carry a small amount of insect repellant or to consider treating your clothing with repellant prior to departure.
Generally, nature enthusiasts visiting Colombia do not encounter diseases like Malaria, Yellow Fever, etc. but it is possible. We strongly urge guests to consult a doctor about vaccinations and medications prior to travel. Elevation sickness is possible given some of the areas we visit on this tour, so we urge guests to seek medical advice on spending time at high elevation as well.
Packing
Please limit yourself to one mid-size suitcase/duffel and another smaller bag for daily use on outings. Group travel dictates we consider our fellow traveler’s comfort, and this includes not over-packing. Laundry services are available at most hotels we visit but having lightweight clothes than can be hand-cleaned in rooms can be an advantage.
Lightweight clothing that is easy to layer is best for this variable climate that can be warm sometimes and downright cold at others. Probably we will encounter some mist or rain, and perhaps wind as well. Lightweight raingear is recommended. Some folks bring umbrellas but if these are utilized they can obstruct viewing in certain situations. Neutral colors are best for our time in the field to limit our visibility to the birds and wildlife we seek. We could encounter some mud along trails and roadsides, so good trail shoes, hiking shoes or hiking boots are recommended for field outings, while a pair of slip-ons, flip flops, or comfortable walking shoes for around the hotels/lodges are good to have as well.
People can be surprised at traveling to a country along the equator, only to find themselves up in the mountains where temperatures may drop to near freezing. We definitely recommend a thermal layer and a fleece/sweatshirt that can be layered under a raincoat to keep warm and dry. A pair of gloves and warm hat are recommended, and a buff (lightweight neck-warmer) for use as breathing barrier or for warmth can be helpful too. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses are good for if we encounter bright, clear conditions, especially at elevation. A daypack (small backpack or the like) for your belongings for daily field outings is useful, and some folks find that having a walking stick for balance is nice or having a foldable stool/chair is nice for times when we sit and wait in an area for a bird(s) to show. Power outlets in Colombia are similar to those in the US/Canada (110v/60Hz). Cell service is good in most areas but can be spotty in the Andes or along curvy mountain roads, and Wi-Fi is offered at all hotels but subject to disruption at times. A small supply of insect repellant is advisable.