| Status | Starts | Group size | Leader | Duration/price Inc. flights from/to UK | Duration/price Exc. international flights | Single supp. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available | Max. 6 |
Rob Smith
|
11 days: £4,895 pp. | 9 days: £3,895 pp. | £245 | |||
| Available | Max. 6 |
Rob Smith
|
11 days: £4,895 pp. | 9 days: £4,195 pp. | £250 | |||
This exciting tour seeks the world’s most powerful bird of prey, the awe-inspiring harpy eagle at two active nest sites amongst beautiful mature forest and rolling hills. We have timed our visit for when the adult eagles will still be feeding their growing chick, hopefully providing us with some unforgettable sightings of this magnificent raptor. There are also plenty of other avian and mammalian highlights including Guianan cock-of-the-rock, tanagers, giant anteater and ornate titi.
-
Day 1 Depart UK
-
- After arriving in Bogotá, we enjoy our first birdwatching excursion of the trip, visiting a wetland site on the outskirts of the city.
- We check in to our hotel and have the choice of relaxing in our rooms or visiting a nearby hummingbird garden, where blue-throated starfrontlet, sword-billed hummingbird, Longuemare’s sunangel, both black-tailed and green-tailed trainbearer and white-bellied woodstar are all likely visitors.
- Accommodation: BS Rosales Hotel, 1-night
-
- We have breakfast and take a scenic transfer to San Juan de Aramá. We break up the journey with birding stops before arriving at our simple but well-appointed guest house for lunch.
- In the afternoon, we can enjoy introductory birding in the gardens and surrounding area.
- Accommodation: Local Guest House, 4-nights
-
- Today we take another scenic drive, this time in rugged 4x4 vehicles to the trailhead, where we start a walk of 1.5 hours to the harpy eagle nesting site.
- Horses will assist with our gear, so we can walk unhindered, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in this beautiful wildlife rich forest. We make regular stops for refreshments and birdwatching along our walk. Once we've reached the site, we hope to enjoy a sighting of both the chick and an adult, which at the time of our visit will hopefully be regularly visiting.
-
- We spend the next two days visiting the harpy eagle, and may even visit a second nest that's also in the area. We also plan to visit a Guianan cock-of-the-rock lek in another truly inspiring location.
- Other birdlife we may be also be able to see includes military and chestnut-fronted macaws, white-bearded, blue-capped, striolated and golden-headed manakins, paradise and swallow tanagers, white-throated toucan and Amazonian motmot, and we'll keep an eye out for mammals and reptiles too.
-
- Today we can either rest or enjoy some relaxed birdwatching around our guest house's gardens.
- Later we transfer to our next lodge where we settle in and enjoy more relaxed birding, this time in the lodge's small private reserve.
- At nearby wetlands, scarlet ibis, roseate spoonbill and black-crowned night herons may be seen in the late afternoon.
- In the evening, we can watch as endemic Brumback's night monkeys leave their roosts.
- Accommodation: Rancho Camana, 3-nights
-
- This morning we go birding in a nearby reserve where several regionally important species can be found in addition to some beauties such as many-banded aracari, white-chinned jacama, gilded barbet and cobalt-winged parakeet. We then spend the late morning and early afternoon relaxing around the lodge.
- In the late afternoon we set our attentions on the wonderfully bizarre giant anteater and southern tamandua.
-
- Today we visit a private reserve which is home to various primates, including ornate titi and Colombian squirrel monkey – both unique to Colombia.
- Later we enjoy a birding walk in a beautiful area of open pasture with fringing palm forests with a bird highlights including red-bellied macaw, red-breasted meadowlark and rufescent tiger heron.
- After lunch, we explore more local habitats in search of the region's famous birds and mammals.
-
- We have a relaxed morning and breakfast before our long travel day back to Bogotá, where we fly back to the UK overnight.
-
Day 11 Arrive UK
All prices are per person and include:
- Services of the naturalist leader
- Accommodation
- Most meals
- Transfers
- Guided activities
Accommodation
We stay at a simple but clean, comfortable and welcoming guest house in San Juan de Aramá. There is a pool and well stocked fridge to enjoy returning to after a day in the field.
In Villavicencio, we stay at Rancho Camana, a charming rural lodge located on its own reserve with a fantastic variety of birdlife on the doorstep, with plenty of activity at the garden feeders.
Meals
All meals are included.
Breakfasts and dinners are usually taken in the hotel. Lunches may be a mix of picnics and simple sit-down meals at typical country restaurants.
Birds
Colombia has more bird species than any other country in the world – currently 1,920 and still counting! We will see a wide range of species each day, many localised to certain regions or habitats and some endemics too. We will enjoy all the birds we come across, but will focus on some of the more eye catching species in each area we visit. Highlights include numerous hummingbirds in Bogotá with the sword-billed and two species of trainbearer, paradise, black-faced and burnished-buff tanagers, white-bearded, blue-capped, striolated and golden-headed manakins, lettered, many-banded and chestnut-eared aracaris, white-throated toucan, scarlet ibis, miliary, red-belled and chestnut-fronted macaws and Gianan cock-of-the rock to name just a few.
- Harpy eagle
- Guianan cock-of-the rock
- Sword-billed hummingbird
- Scarlet ibis
Mammals
Although birdlife will undoubtedly be most conspicuous on this tour and what we see most, we will also dedicate time to finding some fantastic mammals at Villavicencio. Here we hope to find giant anteaters and their smaller relative the southern tamandua feasting on a termite or ant colony on the open grasslands. While in the patches of forest we hope to see Brumback’s night monkey, ornate titi and Colombian squirrel monkey.
Tayra, opossums and armadillos are always a possibility, and there is even a very small outside chance of enchanting an ocelot after dark perhaps - although we would have to be very lucky indeed!
- Giant anteater
- Southern tamandua
- Ornate titi monkey
- Brumback’s night monkey
Scenery
In addition to the remarkable birds and mammals, we will also pass through some beautiful mountain scenery, lush tropical forest, and vast rolling grasslands along with many attractive colonial towns – giving us a great overview of the country.
Photography
Photographic opportunities on this trip are mostly excellent, with exceptionally rich avifauna and diverse scenery. Many birds visit feeders providing close views and clear backgrounds and we hope to be within reasonable distance of many species when out on trails. Please note that in order to avoid disturbance we remain at some distance from the harpy eagles. Our view to the nest site is eye level though and there is open flight path to watch them within. A 400-500mm lens with a 1.x4 converter or digi-scoping will produce the best results. Macro photographers will appreciate the variety of insect and plant life.
Walking
In order to reach the harpy eagle nest sites, we need to walk for around 1.5 hours each way along a forest path. The walk will be taken at a steady pace and horses will help to carry all our equipment. There will be a small and shallow stream to cross and a few inclines, so although the walk is not demanding, a moderate level of fitness is required. On another day we will walk to the lek of the Guianan cock-of-the-rock which is of a similar distance and terrain, and we will again use horses to help with equipment. On our other days, we will take shorter walks through forest and grassland habitats and spend time bird and wildlife watching in and near our lodges. We will not be walking at altitude, but the temperatures will be in the high twenties Celsius.
Flights
Price includes return scheduled flights London-Bogota-London.
Ground transport
Ground transport is by small bus and 4x4 vehicles, with driver.
Altitude
On this tour we will exceed 2,500 metres above sea level only when in Bogota.
Climate
The climate at San Juan de Aramá and Villavicencio is generally warm and humid, and temperatures are often in the high twenties, up to 30 degrees Celsius in the middle of the day, but cooler early and late. Although there is no marked dry season, there is usually less rain between December and March, but showers can occur throughout the year. In Bogotá, it is cooler and warm layers are required early and late in the day. There is no significant altitude in San Juan de Aramá or Villavicencio, but when in Bogotá we will be at around 2,650 meters above sea level and will need to take the pace slower to adjust to the altitude.