Join us for an exclusive journey through Colombia’s lush and diverse landscapes, where the vibrant world of poison frogs awaits. This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the habitats of more than 10 species of these colorful, mysterious amphibians, each with its own distinctive markings, behaviors, and ecological importance. From the coastal rainforests of Bahía Solano to the dense jungles of Santa Cecilia, San Cipriano, and Anchicayá, you’ll experience the true essence of Colombia’s biodiversity.
The tour begins in the heart of the Chocó Biogeographic region, renowned for being one of the world’s most biodiverse hotspots, particularly for amphibians. This region’s high humidity and intricate ecosystems provide the ideal environment for poison frogs to flourish. As you traverse these extraordinary landscapes, you’ll witness the brilliant colors and patterns of these frogs in their natural habitats, learning about their roles in maintaining ecological balance and contributing to the health of the rainforest.
Perfect for herpetology enthusiasts, nature photographers, and anyone captivated by wildlife, this tour combines exploration and education. Guided by experienced biologists and conservation experts, you’ll not only observe these amphibians up close but also gain insight into the ecological significance of each species and the delicate balance of their ecosystems. This immersive experience will reveal the fascinating adaptations and survival strategies of Colombia’s poison frogs, which are crucial to sustaining the country’s biodiversity.
More than just a photography tour, this journey offers a rare opportunity to connect with nature in one of the world’s most critical biodiversity corridors. Through our guided walks, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for Colombia’s natural treasures and the conservation efforts aimed at protecting these extraordinary amphibians and their habitats. Join us on this unforgettable adventure and contribute to the preservation of Colombia’s ecological heritage.
Macro Lens (90mm – 105mm). A high-quality macro lens is essential for capturing intricate details of small subjects, like the vibrant patterns of poison frogs. This lens allows you to get close enough to fill the frame with your subject, preserving clarity and sharpness in every detail.
Wide-Angle Lens (15mm). A 15mm wide-angle lens is perfect for creating environmental shots that include both the subject and its natural habitat. This lens allows you to showcase the unique surroundings of your subjects, adding depth and context to each photo.
External Flash Units. Portable, off-camera flash units are ideal for providing controlled lighting in low-light rainforest settings. They help bring out the vibrant colors of amphibians without disturbing their natural behavior, making each shot more visually striking.
Wireless Flash Transmitters. Wireless transmitters enable you to use flash units off-camera, giving you more creative control over lighting angles and intensity. This is especially useful in uneven lighting conditions and dense forest canopies.
Flash Diffusers. Essential for softening harsh light and reducing reflections on amphibians’ moist skin. Diffusers ensure even, natural-looking illumination, bringing out the fine details without overwhelming the subject.
Ring Flash or Macro Twin Flash. A ring flash or twin flash setup is excellent for achieving even lighting in close-up shots, reducing shadows around your subject. These specialized flashes are particularly effective for macro photography, enhancing clarity and detail.
Portable Reflectors. Small, foldable reflectors can help bounce light onto your subject, providing additional fill light in shaded or low-light environments. This helps highlight the details and colors of your subject without needing extra flash.
Sturdy Tripod with Ball Head. A compact, lightweight tripod provides stability for close-up shots, especially in uneven forest terrain. A ball head allows for quick adjustments, ensuring you can position your camera precisely for each macro shot.
Lens Extension Tubes. Extension tubes increase the magnification of your lenses, allowing for even closer focus on small details. They’re an affordable way to expand your macro capabilities without investing in additional lenses.
Weather-Sealed Camera Body. A weather-sealed camera is crucial for macro photography in rainforest environments where humidity and rain are common. This protection helps maintain camera functionality and longevity in harsh outdoor conditions.
Camera Backpack with Rain Cover. A durable, waterproof camera backpack with organized compartments ensures your equipment is safe, easily accessible, and protected from moisture, making it convenient to carry everything you need through dense, rugged terrain.
Note. Highlighted in green are some of the potential poison frog species on this tour.
One of the best amphibian, reptile and wildlife photographers in Colombia. He leads workshops and photographic tours. He is a biologist and expert in macro-photography, full-time nature photographer and leading tour guide in Colombia.
He has published 14 scientific articles contributing to the knowledge and conservation of various species in Colombia. His photographic work has taken him to explore every corner of the country. His photos have been featured in magazines such as Enfoque Visual, RowZine, and the Catalog of Amphibians and Reptiles of Colombia, among others. He won the environmental advocacy category in the Agenda del Mar photography competition (2022). He uses photography and biology as tools to promote conservation through various initiatives, contributing to a deeper understanding of species’ behaviors and their interactions with ecosystems. These two passions have allowed him to offer a unique perspective on the hidden and unknown world beneath the mysterious landscapes of Colombia’s mountains and plains, aiming to create a bridge between memory and nature.
Day 1 | August 22 | Chocó | Bahía Solano | Welcome to the Pacific
As the dawn begins to crackle over Medellín, we gather like characters stepping into a grand adventure, bound for Bahía Solano’s mythical shores. At Olaya Herrera Airport, time feels stretched as laughter and anticipation intermingle. By noon, the airplane dips toward the emerald forest that cradles José Celestino Mutis Airport, a portal into a land forgotten by time. We’re ferried through tangled green veins toward El Valle, where the air hums with mystery and life, a breath of pure wilderness. After a hearty lunch, we embark on a walk through the jungle, our senses finely tuned to each rustle and shimmer. As night drapes the land, we venture forth again, flashlights casting pools of light in the darkness as secrets of the night unfold—a world where the familiar becomes foreign and the creatures of the earth reveal themselves only to those who look closely.
Day 2 | August 23 | Chocó | Bahía Solano
The morning arrives with a soft, misty light. Today, we are pilgrims in search of the vibrant, deadly, and mesmerizing—the poison frogs that lie hidden among the verdant ferns. Each step through the dense forest brings us closer to creatures adorned in colors stolen from dreams. Lunch is served in the heart of the forest, our conversations punctuated by bird calls and the hum of insects. As evening falls, we take once more to the night, a reverent silence binding us as we glimpse into a world woven from shadows and gleams, of creatures rarely seen and barely understood.
Day 3 | August 24 | Chocó | Bahía Solano
With the sun kissing the treetops, we set out in search of elusive birds and tiny lifeforms too small to command notice yet teeming with life. Cameras at the ready, we capture the forest breathing, shifting, and revealing itself one frame at a time. By afternoon, the jungle calls us again to its verdant depths. We wade through foliage, each step sinking us deeper into its mysteries. Night draws us back once more; we become shadows among the shadows, awaiting the moment a flash illuminates scales and eyes glowing like embers in the black.
Day 4 | August 25 | Risaralda | Pereira
The day unfolds in a medley of travel, the jungle releasing us from its embrace as we journey by air to the Andean heartland. By late afternoon, the familiar, haunting sights of Medellín recede as we venture on to Pereira, where lush coffee-scented landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see. Dinner is filled with laughter and anticipation, memories of the jungle dancing in our minds like echoes.
Day 5 | August 26 | Risaralda | Santa Cecilia
Our journey leads to Santa Cecilia, a quiet town on the threshold of another paradise—its forests brimming with life and mystery. By afternoon, we are greeted by the wild chorus of Santa Cecilia’s rainforest. As night falls, we step into an almost mythical reality, where amphibians sing their ancient songs and the air hangs thick with stories waiting to be told. The forest stretches out before us, and for a few enchanted hours, it feels as though we belong to it.
Day 6 | August 27 | Quindío | Kiraikai
After a morning walk, we set off towards Filandia’s hidden sanctuary—Kiraikai, where nature has been left to whisper its secrets undisturbed. By dusk, the lodge glows like a beacon under the encroaching darkness, and we step out to explore. The night’s air is thick with possibilities, the calls of nocturnal creatures echoing like drums in the distance. Our cameras and eyes become instruments, capturing fleeting instants of existence in a forest bound by ancient rhythms.
Day 7 | August 28 | Valle del Cauca | San Cipriano
After an early walk, we depart for San Cipriano, a place so close to myth that reaching it requires a ride on a “brujita”—a contraption of wood and metal, riding the rails like a spell-bound chariot. As we reach the reserve, night descends. By lantern light, we step into the depths of the forest, where the creatures of dusk and shadow emerge. Tonight, the forest and all its mysteries feel ours alone.
Day 8 | August 29 | Valle del Cauca | San Cipriano
The day is an ode to amphibians and reptiles, as we delve further into their world. Beneath the canopy, our senses attune to the smallest hints of life, colors blending with shadows, all to the rhythm of an ancient pulse. In the stillness of twilight, we dine under the forest’s embrace. As darkness falls, we take to the trails once more, our final night in San Cipriano alive with discovery.
Day 9 | August 30 | Valle del Cauca | San Cipriano
Our last full day in San Cipriano begins with a silent homage to the rainforest. Each creature, each leaf, seems to resonate with the joy of existence. The day unfolds in a dance of light and shadow, of tiny scales and unseen eyes. Evening finds us deep within the forest, our cameras capturing the silent lives unfolding in each humid corner.
Day 10 | August 31 | Valle del Cauca | Anchicayá | Return and Farewell
Before dawn, we set off for Anchicayá, where the Oophaga frogs dwell, elusive, precious, as though the forest has held its breath in their honor. Along the brujita tracks, the forest stands solemn, majestic, and otherworldly. By mid-morning, we find ourselves face to face with Oophaga lehmanni, their vivid colors like a promise kept by the forest itself. With our hearts full, we make our way back to Cali, where the journey’s end feels like the closing of a cherished book. Dinner is tinged with bittersweet farewell, for the forest, in all its splendor, has left its mark on each of us, a story we will carry forever.
Note. The end time of the night tours may vary and if someone Wishes to continue the night hike after 23:00, They can do so with one of the guides. Flight schedules may vary, and we are not responsible for any delays that airlines may experience. The duration of ground transfers may also vary due to potential accidents on the road.
OUR PHOTO TOUR INCLUDES::
Flights:
Flight from Medellín to Bahía Solano.
Flight from Bahía Solano to Medellín.
Flight from Medellín to Pereira.
OUR PHOTO TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE::
Expenses not stipulated.
Transportation from place of origin to Medellín (Antioquia).
Transportation from Cali (Valle del Cauca) to place of origin.
Alcoholic drinks within the tour.
Tips for local guides and staff during the stay.
We will begin an immersive photographic adventure in nature where you will discover and tell your version of your story through your photographs. We have some recommendations that will be very useful when choosing your equipment depending on the approach you want to explore. We want to travel comfortably and protect our equipment. We’ll give you some tips on what to keep in mind.
Follow instructions: Above all others, the most important rule to live by while exploring is to observe and follow all oral instructions given by the tour leader, or lodge or station staff.
Protect yourself from the sun at all times: During the explorations we will be exposed to high, low temperatures or humid tropical climates, it is recommended to bring all the elements that protect from the sun such as hats or caps, collars, sunscreen and long sleeve shirts.
Basics: You should know and handle the basics of manual photography (aperture, speeds, ISO, focal range). If you do not know these concepts, we recommend you take our basic photography course where you will receive an Introduction to Photography before the photographic tour.
Protect your equipment from humidity: Reduce the impact of temperature changes, try to keep the battery out of the camera, this can reduce electronic damage and prolong your charge. Carry dry bags that allow you to keep your equipment isolated from the weather conditions. It is always advisable to carry silica gel, these absorb moisture. After working days you can put your equipment in the dry bag and add plenty of silica gel to absorb the moisture retained by your camera.
Take care of your belongings: All our favorite destinations are safe to travel to. You should always be vigilant and take care of your valuable items whenever you find yourself in crowded bus stations, busy city streets and bustling markets.
Internal transportation
Lodging and accommodations
Complete Feeding
Photographic Assistance
Observation Tours
Travel Insurance
$ 3.350
We will be happy to talk to you and clarify all your doubts about your next photographic experience, select one of our customer service lines, we will answer you as soon as possible.
Keeping Nature Tours is a tour operator that promotes photography, nature tourism, and wildlife observation with the goal of helping to conserve the most threatened ecosystems, which are affected by deforestation, lack of awareness about species, or cultural beliefs.
Through photography and nature tourism, we can showcase the most beautiful side of Colombia, creating new opportunities for the remote communities in our country.
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