Birding in Colombia has been in the news a lot recently because of its incredible bird diversity–it is the birdiest country in the world with just under 2,000 species representing almost 20% of all bird species on Earth! The department of Valle del Cauca (Cauca Valley) contains high-altitude Andes habitat trailing down the Pacific slope to the ocean. This diversity of habitat makes Valle del Cauca one of the best places to go birding in Colombia. This is also a coffee-producing area boasting many coffee farms and delicious coffee! We will be dazzled with the colorful brilliance of dozens of species of hummingbirds, tanagers, and motmots, as well as puffbirds, antbirds, and more. And this trip is the only one dedicated to playing Wingspan with designer, Elizabeth Hargrave! Get ready to play!
Motmot & hummingbirds photo credit, Kerry Snyder
Manakin photo credit, Daniel Mérida
Day 1: Arrive in Cali, Colombia; transportation to lodge outside of Cali. Orientation. (Participants will be given instructions for arrival upon registering.)
Day 2: Morning bird walk up mountain, seeking tanagers, toucanets, barbets, and more. Tea tasting and breakfast, birding along edge of tea farm. Lunch with local family. Late afternoon and evening free for Wingspan and/or bird walks around lodge.
Day 3: Early departure for coffee farm. Birding at farm and tour of farm, including how coffee is grown, produced, and a cupping demonstration and tasting. Breakfast and lunch on site at coffee farm. Late afternoon return to lodge for rest, Wingspan, birding around lodge.
Day 4: Early departure for Laguna Sonso and Río Cauca where target birds include aquatic birds and raptors. Afternoon return to lodge for rest, Wingspan, and birding around lodge.
Day 5: Morning birding with local youth bird club. Lunch and afternoon in Cali for culture and urban birding! Late afternoon return to lodge for Wingspan and rest. (Optional night of salsa dancing in Cali at the Calle del Sabor!)
Day 6: Early morning departure for nearby private reserve for viewing at hummingbird garden, feeding stations for barbets, tanagers, and more. Also seeking chestnut wood quail. Breakfast and lunch at lodge. Late afternoon departure for return to lodge. Rest of day free for Wingspan and/or birding around lodge.
Day 7: Very early morning departure for Andes-Pacific transition zone birding, including visit to Andean cock-of-the-rock lek and another hummingbird garden. Breakfast and lunch at site. Late afternoon return to lodge for rest, playing Wingspan, birding around lodge.
Day 8: Early morning departure for San Cipriano Community Nature Reserve. Here we will bird near the crystaline waters of San Cipriano River with community members and hope see numerous wading birds, antbirds, tanagers, and more. Late afternoon return to lodge for Wingspan, birding, and rest. (Optional night hike to see Colombian night monkeys!)
Day 9: Morning birding around lodge, with late-morning departure for Cali for birding in urban parks and visits to cultural areas. Lunch in Cali and an afternoon of Wingspan at a game store in town. Overnight in Cali.
Day 10: Departure to Cali airport
*Please note, due to unexpected changes in local weather or other events out of our control the itinerary could change slightly. Good Birders will be informed of changes as soon as possible.
Date: January 11-20, 2027
Cost: $3,795 per person double occupancy; $600 single occupancy supplement (international flights, some meals, and required traveler health insurance are not included–see registration for details)
Registration: Registration closes October 11th.
$1,200 deposit due by October 15, 2026. Remainder due by November 11, 2026.
(Please note, payments by Zelle, check, or wire transfer will have no additional fee. A payment through Venmo will incur a 2% fee. These are currently the only ways to pay. Thank you for understanding.)
Difficulty level: Medium-High
We will be walking up and down steep hills on uneven, possibly muddy, terrain. Some days, we will walk up to 3 miles. Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods of time. Must be able to step down into and up out of boats.
Capacity: 8-12 people*
*PLEASE NOTE. This is an exceptional trip and Good Bird will have more registrants than normal. For certain viewings (e.g., hummingbird gardens, cock-of-the-rock lek) the group will be divided into two smaller groups to better manage the viewings. Due to this, Good Birders may see different birds.