COLOMBIA BIRD PHOTO TOUR
- Photo Tour
- April 2-16, 2025
This photo tour focuses on photographing the amazing birds of Colombia. Colombia has more species of birds than any other country on the planet and many of them are easy to photograph due to numerous lodges and feeding stations. This tour is particularly rich in Hummingbirds, Tanagers and Antpittas but we will photograph many other birds as well. The spectacular and endangered Yellow-eared Parrot and the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock are 2 specialty species. We will do multi-flash hummingbird photography at 4 different locations and stay at 7 different lodges.
Number of Participants: Maximum of 6 photographers with a maximum of 10 total participants (including nonphotographer spouses and companions).
Cost and Logistics
$6,950 per photographer, $5,900 per nonphotographer spouse/companion, $800 single supplement includes all meals, lodging, drinking water, transportation within Colombia, guiding, instruction, park fees. It does not include airfare to get to and from Colombia, drinks other than water, tips and items of a personal nature such as phone calls or laundry. Deposit to reserve your spot is $1,800.
Itinerary
April 2nd: Arrival to Cali, Colombia. Transfer to the Hampton Hilton Hotel. Evening presentation on bird photography by the tour leaders. Hotel: 4 Points by Sheraton
April 3rd: We will visit a farm near Cali which has both hummingbird and fruit feeders. The feeders attract many tanagers and also 2 endemic ground birds, the Colombian Chachalaca and the Chestnut Wood-Quail. In the afternoon we will transfer to our next lodge: La Araucana
April 4th: In the morning we will visit some feeding stations which attract the amazing Multicolored Tanager, Little Tinamou and other species then we transfer to Araucana Lodge. We will have an afternoon of multi-flash hummingbird photography as well as photographing at the fruit feeders at this cloud forest lodge. 17 species of hummingbirds occur here including spectacular species such as Long-tailed Sylph and Booted Rackettail. An amazing 30 species in the tanager family can be seen at this lodge including the beautiful Multicolored Tanager. Overnight: Araucana Lodge
April 5th – Morning photography at Araucana, some of the other hummingbirds here include Blue-headed Sapphire and Versicolored Emerald. Then we transfer to La Union where we will photograph the amazing Ruby Topaz in the afternoon. Hotel: Los Vinedos.
April 6th – We will visit a local park which is one of the best locations in the world to photograph the gorgeous Ruby Topaz hummingbird, then we visit a location to photograph the highly endangered Yellow-eared Parrots at their roost sites. Lodge: Urapanes del Bosque
April 7th – We spend the morning photographing Yellow-eared Parrots at their roost sites and photograph other birds then we have a three hour transfer to Tinamu Lodge in the afternoon.
April 8th – We will have a full day of multi-flash and fruit feeder photography here at Tinamu Lodge. The hummers include Green Hermit, Long-billed Starthroat and Black-throated Mango. Andean Motmot and many others come to the fruit feeders. Overnight: Tinamu Lodge.
April 9th – Morning photography at Tinamu Lodge, there is a Golden-collared Manakin lek here as well. Then we have a three hour transfer to our next lodge in Manizales Overnight: Hotel Kuo
April 10th – Today we will do multi-flash photography with Long-tailed Sylphs and White-bellied Woodstar among the hummers as well as photograph interesting birds such as the Southern Emerald Toucanet at the fruit feeders. Overnight: Hotel Kuo
April 11th – Today we will visit a nearby reserve that has feeders which reliably attract the amazing Black-billed Mountain Toucan and Emerald Toucan, they also feed antpittas at this location, then in the afternoon we return to our lodge: Hotel Kuo
April 12th – This morning we visit a small feeding station where the highlights include Crescent–faced and Rufous Antpittas as well as Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan. Then we transfer to our next lodge, Termales del Ruiz, which in addition to a lot of great birds has wonderful hot springs. Overnight: Termalis del Ruiz
April 13th – Full day doing multi-flash photography. The hummingbird feeders at this highland location are fantastic for multi-flash photography. Species include the amazing Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Black-thighed and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Great Sapphirewing and Shining Sunbeam among others. Overnight: Termalis del Ruiz
April 14th – This morning we will search the paramo for the amazing Buffy Helmetcrest then check out and transfer to our next destination, Jardin Overnight: Hacienda Balandu.
April 15th – This morning we visit a fantastic Andean Cock-of-the Rock lek, with the possibility even of close ups. We then search for other birds in the area, check out and travel to our departure city, Medellin. Overnight: Hotel Santiago de Armas
April 16th – Transfer to the airport for your return trip home.
Charles Gangas
Charles Gangas is a full time nature photographer residing in Stowe, Vermont where he is a staff photographer for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Chuck’s images have been used in the popular IBird applications. He was an award winner in the 2019 NANPA photo contest. Chuck has traveled and photographed extensively throughout Asia and Latin America. Chuck uses Nikon.
Javier Zurita
Javier Zurita is a full time nature photographer and tour leader from Quito, Ecuador. Javier has been leading tours in Ecuador and Colombia the past several years. He built the excellent photo blinds at Sachatamia Lodge in Ecuador. He is an excellent photographer who is using flash in innovative ways.
