Embark on a captivating 6-day bird photography expedition through the diverse ecosystems surrounding Manizales, Colombia. This tour is meticulously designed for bird enthusiasts and photographers aiming to capture the region’s most elusive and charismatic species, particularly the enigmatic antpittas.
Our journey commences at Refugio La Esmeralda, a sanctuary preserving remnants of dry forest along the Cauca River, offering a unique habitat for a variety of bird species. We then ascend to Hacienda El Bosque, renowned for its specialized feeders attracting the Crescent-faced and Equatorial Antpittas, as well as the striking Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan.
At Río Blanco Reserve, considered one of Colombia’s premier birding sites, we’ll have the opportunity to observe up to five antpitta species, including the Chestnut-crowned and Bicolored Antpittas, in their natural settings. El Color de Mis Rêves provides a high-altitude cloud forest experience, where feeders attract species like the Black-billed Mountain-Toucan and the rare Bicolored Antpitta.
Our adventure continues to the páramo ecosystem at Termales del Ruiz, situated at 3,500 meters above sea level, where we’ll seek high-altitude specialties such as the Buffy Helmetcrest and the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. The tour culminates at Tinamú Reserve, a lush tropical forest teeming with over 260 bird species, including a plethora of hummingbirds and tanagers, perfect for refining your photography skills.
Throughout the tour, you’ll be guided by experienced birding professionals, ensuring optimal opportunities for observation and photography. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a passionate photographer, this expedition offers an unparalleled experience in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.
Embark on an immersive 6-day bird photography expedition through the Central Andes of Colombia, a region renowned for its unparalleled avian diversity. This tour offers a unique opportunity to capture images of some of the most elusive and charismatic bird species, including multiple antpitta species, in their natural habitats.
Key Highlights:
Exceptional Biodiversity: Explore a variety of ecosystems, from cloud forests to páramo landscapes, each hosting a rich array of bird species.
Targeted Species Encounters: Visit renowned reserves like Río Blanco and Hacienda El Bosque, where feeders and expert guides increase your chances of photographing species such as the Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, and the rare Crescent-faced Antpitta.
Professional Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of seasoned birding guides and photographers who will assist you in locating and capturing stunning images of your target species.
Comfortable Accommodations: Stay in well-appointed lodges strategically located near prime birding sites, ensuring minimal travel time and maximum field experience.
Conservation Support: Your participation contributes to local conservation efforts, supporting communities and initiatives dedicated to preserving Colombia’s rich birdlife.
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer seeking to add rare species to your portfolio or a passionate birder eager to experience Colombia’s avian wonders, this tour offers an unparalleled adventure into the heart of the Andes.
Our tour is designed to provide comprehensive support to bird photographers of all levels, ensuring you capture stunning images of Colombia’s avian treasures.
Our goal is to ensure that you leave the tour with not only memorable experiences but also a portfolio of exceptional bird photographs that reflect the rich biodiversity of the Andean region.
Telephoto Lens (400 mm – 600 mm): Essential for bird photography, especially when capturing species from a distance. This lens allows you to achieve detailed shots without getting too close—ideal for photographing birds in flight or in their natural behavior with minimal disturbance.
Teleconverter: For those looking to extend the reach of their telephoto lens, a high-quality teleconverter offers valuable extra zoom without significantly compromising sharpness. It’s a practical tool for photographing distant birds or hard-to-reach scenes with added flexibility.
Sturdy Tripod with Ball Head: A stable, portable tripod is crucial when using long lenses, particularly during extended observation or in low-light conditions. The ball head allows for fast and accurate adjustments, ensuring perfect framing for every shot.
Day 1 | Refugio La Esmeralda
Our journey begins at Refugio La Esmeralda, located in the La Esmeralda village of Chinchiná. This 140-hectare reserve, owned by CHEC, is one of the last remnants of tropical dry forest along the Cauca River. With over 210 bird species recorded, it’s a haven for birdwatchers.
We’ll explore the San Francisco trail, seeking species like the Golden-headed Manakin (Ceratopipra erythrocephala) and other lowland forest birds.
Day 2 | Hacienda El Bosque
Next, we visit Hacienda El Bosque, a cattle ranch near Manizales that has dedicated a significant portion of its land to high Andean forest conservation.
Here, we’ll photograph species such as the Crescent-faced Antpitta (Grallaricula lineifrons), Equatorial Antpitta (Grallaria rufula), and the Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca).
Day 3 | Río Blanco Natural Reserve
We proceed to the Río Blanco Natural Reserve, just 3 km from Manizales. This 4,932-hectare reserve is renowned for its bird diversity, with nearly 400 species recorded.
Our focus will be on photographing various Antpitta species, including the Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla) and the Bicolored Antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea), which are accustomed to feeders in the reserve.
Day 4 | El Color de Mis Rêves
Our destination is El Color de Mis Rêves, situated in the cloud forests of Villamaría at an elevation of 2,850 meters. This glamping site offers panoramic views and rich birdlife.
We’ll photograph species like the Black-billed Mountain-Toucan (Andigena nigrirostris), Bicolored Antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea), and various hummingbirds frequenting the feeders.
Day 5 | Termales del Ruiz and Páramo
We ascend to Termales del Ruiz, located at 3,500 meters in the buffer zone of Los Nevados National Natural Park. This area is known for its high-altitude hummingbirds and stunning páramo landscapes.
Birds to photograph include the Great Sapphirewing (Pterophanes cyanopterus), Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), and Golden-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera).
Day 6 | Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve
Our final day takes us to Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve in San Peregrino, 15 km from Manizales. This 11-hectare reserve boasts over 270 bird species within its tropical rainforest.
We’ll focus on photographing species such as the Highland Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis), various tanagers, and hummingbirds along the reserve’s trails and feeders.
OUR WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
OUR WORKSHOP DOES NOT INCLUDE:
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.
keeeping is passion for nature, love for photography.
Accommodation
Complete Feeding
Photographic Assistance
Local Guides
Hydration
Snacks
Souvenir
Health Insurance
Ground Transport
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.
Each adventure is unique and so is its level of difficulty. Visit our blog to learn how we classify the physical intensity of our tours and find the one that’s right for you.
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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