Colombia Bird Photography Tour – 14-Day Andes Expedition
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Colombia Bird Photography Tour – 14-Day Andes Expedition
A photography-focused journey through Colombia's Andes, cloud forests, bird reserves and exceptional hummingbird habitats.
Discover Colombia's remarkable birdlife on a 14-day Colombia bird photography tour with Photo Tours Peru. Designed for wildlife photographers and passionate bird photographers, this expedition explores a variety of Andean habitats, from hummingbird gardens and cloud forests to high-elevation páramo landscapes and productive bird reserves.
Photograph colorful hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, toucanets, antpittas and other spectacular birds while developing your skills in wildlife composition, exposure, autofocus and natural-background selection.
The itinerary combines established bird photography locations with dedicated field sessions, allowing time to observe bird behavior, work with changing light and create a varied portfolio of bird portraits and environmental wildlife images.
With experienced photography-focused guiding, planned ground transportation, accommodation and meals, this Colombia bird photography expedition offers an immersive way to explore the country's extraordinary avian diversity.
Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
Destination: Colombia's Andes and selected bird photography locations
Tour style: Private departure for your party; group size and guiding arrangements confirmed before booking
Photography focus: Hummingbirds, tanagers, antpittas, toucans, endemic birds and Andean landscapes
Accommodation: Hotels and lodges, subject to final confirmation
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner according to the confirmed itinerary
Physical level: Easy to moderate, with early starts, uneven trails and high-elevation excursions
Why Choose Our Colombia Bird Photography Tour?
Photograph Colombia's Remarkable Bird Diversity
Colombia offers exceptional opportunities for bird photography across a wide range of elevations and habitats. This expedition focuses on productive gardens, forest reserves, cloud forest and high-Andean environments where a variety of photographic subjects may be encountered.
Dedicated Hummingbird Photography
Work in established hummingbird gardens and suitable feeding locations, where available, to photograph fast-moving birds, iridescent plumage and distinctive behaviors. Potential subjects include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-tailed Coronet, Tourmaline Sunangel and other species found along the route.
Photograph Colorful Tanagers and Forest Birds
Visit selected bird reserves and gardens to search for colorful tanagers, barbets, toucanets, honeycreepers and other forest species. Where conditions allow, photography sessions will prioritize attractive perches, clean backgrounds and natural-looking compositions.
Explore the Andes and Cloud Forest
The itinerary includes high-elevation environments near Nevado del Ruiz as well as cloud forest and lower-elevation bird habitats. These contrasting environments provide opportunities to build a diverse bird photography portfolio.
A Photography-First Travel Experience
Our approach considers light, bird behavior, backgrounds, camera settings and composition. Your guide can offer practical field guidance appropriate to the confirmed guiding service and your photography experience.
Wildlife sightings depend on season, weather, access and bird activity. No particular species or photographic encounter can be guaranteed.
14-Day Colombia Bird Photography Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bogotá
Arrive at Bogotá's international airport, where your scheduled transfer will take you to the Hilton Garden Inn or the confirmed equivalent accommodation.
Use the remainder of the day to rest after your international journey, check your camera equipment and prepare for the expedition. A short briefing will cover the route, photography priorities and practical arrangements for the coming days.
Photography focus: Equipment preparation and optional photography around Bogotá, depending on arrival time.
Meals: Dinner, subject to the confirmed arrival arrangement.
Overnight: Hilton Garden Inn Bogotá or confirmed equivalent.
Day 2: Enchanted Garden – Medellín – Jardín
After breakfast, travel to the Enchanted Garden in the rural municipality of San Francisco de Sales. This established hummingbird photography location offers opportunities to work with fast-moving birds around its gardens and feeders.
Potential subjects include White-necked Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Gorgeted Woodstar, Red-billed Emerald, Crowned Woodnymph, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird and other hummingbirds recorded in the area.
After the photography session, continue to Bogotá Airport for the scheduled domestic flight to Medellín. From there, travel by road to Jardín and check in at Hacienda Balandú or the confirmed equivalent accommodation.
The final schedule must be coordinated with flight times and the garden's opening hours.
Photography focus: Hummingbird portraits, iridescent plumage, flight behavior and clean backgrounds.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, according to the confirmed travel arrangements.
Overnight: Hacienda Balandú, Jardín, or confirmed equivalent.
Day 3: Finca Bambusa – Jardín
Visit Finca Bambusa, a family-owned farm in Colombia's coffee region. Its gardens and cultivated areas attract a variety of birds and offer opportunities to photograph species around established feeding areas and vegetation.
Potential subjects include Green Jay, Black-collared Jay, Red-headed Barbet, Colombian Chachalaca, Flame-rumped Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Acorn Woodpecker, Bronze-winged Parrot and hummingbirds.
Work on bird portraits, natural perches and compositions that show the relationship between birds and their environment.
Photography focus: Tanagers, jays, barbets, woodpeckers and hummingbirds.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Hacienda Balandú, Jardín, or confirmed equivalent.
Day 4: Lucia Feeders – Jardín de Rocas Reserve – Manizales
Travel to Lucia Feeders in the Alto Ventanas area, where surrounding Andean forest and established bird photography locations provide opportunities to search for distinctive cloud forest species.
Potential subjects include Chami Antpitta, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Ocellated Tapaculo, Tourmaline Sunangel, Collared Inca, Buff-tailed Coronet and Black-billed Mountain-Toucan. Yellow-eared Parrot may also be a target where conditions and access permit.
In the afternoon, visit Jardín de Rocas Natural Reserve to photograph the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock at its established viewing area. After the session, transfer to Manizales.
Photography focus: Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, antpittas, hummingbirds and cloud forest birds.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Estelar Recinto del Pensamiento Hotel, Manizales, or confirmed equivalent.
Day 5: Río Blanco Natural Reserve – Manizales
Spend the day at Río Blanco Natural Reserve, known for its cloud forest habitats and opportunities to observe antpittas and other forest birds.
Photography opportunities may include Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Brown-banded Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, Golden-headed Quetzal, Dusky Piha, Emerald Toucanet, Green-and-black Fruiteater and several hummingbirds.
Allow time to work carefully on backgrounds, exposure and composition. Photography at established feeding locations will follow the reserve's rules and wildlife-friendly practices.
Photography focus: Antpittas, hummingbirds, quetzals, toucanets and forest species.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Estelar Recinto del Pensamiento Hotel, Manizales, or confirmed equivalent.
Day 6: El Color de Mis Reves – Manizales
Visit El Color de Mis Reves, a cloud forest photography location offering opportunities to look for the Black-billed Mountain-Toucan and a variety of other Andean forest birds.
Potential subjects include Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Shining Sunbeam, Tourmaline Sunangel, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Sickle-winged Guan, Mountain Velvetbreast, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Ocellated Tapaculo and Bicolored Antpitta.
Use the day to develop a varied collection of bird portraits and environmental photographs.
Photography focus: Mountain-toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds and cloud forest species.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Estelar Recinto del Pensamiento Hotel, Manizales, or confirmed equivalent.
Day 7: Hacienda El Bosque – Termales del Ruiz
Travel to Hacienda El Bosque Reserve, a high-Andean environment known for opportunities to photograph Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan and other forest birds.
Depending on conditions, target species may include Equatorial Antpitta, Crescent-chested Antpitta, Andean Guan, White-throated Quail-Dove, Masked Flowerpiercer and several hummingbirds.
In the afternoon, continue to Hotel Termales del Ruiz. The hotel and surrounding high-elevation habitats provide a base for exploring the birdlife of the Nevado del Ruiz region.
Photography focus: Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, hummingbirds, antpittas and high-Andean forest species.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Hotel Termales del Ruiz or confirmed equivalent.
Day 8: Nevado del Ruiz – Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve
Begin with a photography session around the Termales del Ruiz area and the appropriate accessible locations near Los Nevados National Natural Park.
Potential subjects include Buffy Helmetcrest, Shining Sunbeam, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Great Sapphirewing, Mountain Velvetbreast, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Many-striped Canastero and other high-elevation species. Sightings depend on weather, access and bird activity.
Later, descend toward Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve. The change in elevation creates a different photographic environment, offering opportunities for additional bird species.
Photography focus: High-Andean hummingbirds, páramo birds and changing Andean habitats.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve or confirmed equivalent.
Day 9: Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve
Dedicate the day to Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve in Colombia's Coffee Triangle. Explore the reserve's gardens, trails and suitable photography locations.
Potential subjects include Blue-necked Tanager, Guira Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Colombian Chachalaca, Stripe-throated Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Steely-vented Hummingbird, Black-throated Mango, Andean Motmot and Red-crowned Woodpecker.
Allow time for repeated photography sessions where bird activity and conditions are favorable.
Photography focus: Tanagers, hummingbirds, forest-edge species and natural-perch photography.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve or confirmed equivalent.
Day 10: Tinamú – Parque Nacional de la Uva – Sonso Lake – Cali
After breakfast, depart Tinamú and travel toward Cali. En route, stop at Parque Nacional de la Uva for opportunities to photograph Ruby-topaz Hummingbird.
If time, access and local conditions permit, continue to Sonso Lake to search for aquatic and wetland birds. Potential subjects include Wattled Jacana, Horned Screamer, Comb Duck, Masked Duck, bitterns, ibises and rails.
Continue to Araucana Lodge in the Cali area. The lodge and its surroundings offer further opportunities to photograph hummingbirds, tanagers, orioles, toucanets, woodpeckers and honeycreepers.
Photography focus: Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, wetland birds and a variety of lowland and foothill species.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Araucana Lodge or confirmed equivalent.
Day 11: La Florida – El Bosque de las Aves
Visit La Florida and the bird-rich Km 18 area of the San Antonio Cloud Forest along the Cali–Buenaventura road.
Potential subjects include Splendid Tanager, Multicolored Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Acorn Woodpecker, Green Honeycreeper, Crimson-rumped Toucanet and other cloud forest birds.
The day will prioritize suitable photography locations and time to work with the available light.
Photography focus: Multicolored Tanager, other colorful tanagers, toucanets and cloud forest birds.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Overnight: Araucana Lodge or confirmed equivalent.
Day 12: Doña Dora Garden – Valle del Cauca
Travel early to Doña Dora Garden in Valle del Cauca, near El Queremal. The garden's established feeders and surrounding vegetation create opportunities to photograph a range of birds.
A principal photographic target is the Toucan Barbet. Other potential subjects include Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Emerald Toucanet, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Flame-rumped Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia and several hummingbirds.
Take advantage of the session to create bird portraits, behavioral images and compositions with attractive natural backgrounds.
Photography focus: Toucan Barbet, toucanets, tanagers and hummingbirds.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch at the garden, dinner at the confirmed accommodation.
Overnight: Araucana Lodge or confirmed equivalent.
Day 13: San Felipe Reserve – Cali – Bogotá
Spend the morning at San Felipe Reserve, preserving the final scheduled bird photography session before returning to Bogotá.
Potential subjects include Little Tinamou, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Scaled Antpitta, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Barred Becard, Flame-rumped Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet and Multicolored Tanager.
After the session and lunch, transfer to Cali Airport for the scheduled domestic flight to Bogotá.
Photography focus: Final opportunities for forest birds, tanagers and other regional specialties.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner according to flight schedules.
Overnight: Hilton Garden Inn Bogotá or confirmed equivalent.
Day 14: Departure from Bogotá
After breakfast, transfer to Bogotá's international airport for your onward flight.
Your Colombia bird photography expedition concludes after 14 days of exploring diverse Andean habitats and established bird photography locations.
Meals: Breakfast, subject to flight timing.
Accommodation: Not included after departure.
What Is Included in the Colombia Bird Photography Tour?
Included Services
Thirteen nights of accommodation in the hotels and lodges specified in the confirmed itinerary.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner according to the final meal plan.
Private ground transportation for the scheduled itinerary.
Domestic flight from Bogotá to Medellín.
Domestic flight from Cali to Bogotá.
Airport transfers associated with the scheduled itinerary.
Services of the professional photography guide described in your final quotation.
Local guiding services where required and confirmed.
Standard entrance fees for the reserves, gardens and parks explicitly listed in the confirmed itinerary.
Drinking water during scheduled ground transfers, subject to the final service arrangement.
Pre-tour planning assistance and a recommended bird photography checklist.
What Is Not Included?
International flights to Colombia and international departure taxes not included in the airfare.
Additional domestic flights or airline fees not specified in the confirmed itinerary.
Travel insurance, including medical coverage and emergency evacuation.
Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, personal snacks and drinks outside the agreed meal plan.
Laundry, minibar purchases and personal expenses.
Tips for guides, drivers, lodge staff and other service providers.
Camera bodies, lenses, tripods, memory cards and other personal photography equipment.
Single-room supplement when a private room is requested.
Additional hotel nights before or after the tour.
Optional activities, private extensions or services not specified in the final quotation.
Additional costs arising from flight changes, road closures, weather disruptions or other unforeseen circumstances.
Colombia Bird Photography Tour Pricing
Recommended 2027 Private Departure Rates
Price Per Person:2027
2 travelersUSD 6,900
4 travelersUSD 5,350
6 travelersUSD 4,850
Proposed single-room supplement: USD 700 per person.
These are provisional commercial estimates, not confirmed supplier quotations. The final offer will specify the exact inclusions, payment schedule and room arrangements.
Contact Photo Tours Peru for confirmed dates, availability and a personalized quotation.
Tour Details
Duration: 14 days / 13 nights.
Maximum group size: Six participants, subject to confirmed guiding arrangements.
Tour style: Private departure or customized photography expedition.
Accommodation: Hotels and lodges with private bathrooms, subject to availability.
Transportation: Private vehicle and the two scheduled domestic flights.
Physical difficulty: Easy to moderate, with early starts, uneven trails and high-altitude excursions.
Climate: Conditions vary from cool high elevations to warmer foothills and cloud forest.
Altitude: The itinerary includes high-elevation environments. Exact elevations and access will depend on the confirmed route.
Recommended Camera Equipment
Camera and Lenses
DSLR or mirrorless camera with reliable autofocus.
Telephoto lens in the 300–600 mm range, depending on your camera system.
Wide-angle lens for landscapes and habitat photographs.
Teleconverter, if suitable for your lens and shooting conditions.
Tripod or monopod, where appropriate.
Spare batteries and multiple memory cards.
Rain cover and equipment-cleaning kit.
Binoculars, if desired.
Photography Skills
This expedition is suitable for photographers who want to improve their bird photography skills, including composition, exposure, autofocus tracking, behavior photography and background control.
Previous bird photography experience is useful but not essential. Tell us about your equipment and experience so that we can discuss whether the tour is suitable for your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What birds can I photograph on this Colombia bird photography tour?
Potential subjects include hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, toucanets, antpittas and other Andean and cloud forest birds. Species vary by location, season and wildlife activity, so sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Is this a private Colombia bird photography tour?
Private departures can be arranged for your party, subject to confirmed guiding and transportation arrangements. The final quotation will specify whether the departure is exclusively private or part of a scheduled small group.
Are meals and accommodation included?
The package includes the thirteen nights of accommodation and the meals specified in the confirmed itinerary. International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses and any unlisted services are excluded.
How physically demanding is the expedition?
The tour is generally easy to moderate, but it includes early starts, uneven trails, road transfers and high-elevation excursions. Participants should be comfortable with changing weather and the demands of wildlife photography.
What is the best time for bird photography in Colombia?
Seasonal conditions vary across the Andes and cloud forest. The best dates depend on your target species, the specific route and the operating schedules of the reserves. Contact us to discuss suitable dates before booking.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Yes. Private departures may be adjusted to your photography priorities and travel dates, provided the requested locations and services are available. Any changes to the published itinerary will be confirmed before booking.
How do I book this Colombia bird photography expedition?
Contact Photo Tours Peru with your preferred travel dates, number of travelers, room requirements and target species. We will provide a confirmed itinerary, final price and booking instructions.
Book Your Colombia Bird Photography Expedition
Join Photo Tours Peru for a 14-day bird photography tour through Colombia's Andes, cloud forests and selected bird reserves.
From hummingbirds and colorful tanagers to toucanets, antpittas and endemic species, this expedition is designed to help you develop a diverse wildlife photography portfolio while exploring Colombia's remarkable avian habitats.
Request your private Colombia bird photography tour quotation today. Tell us your travel dates, group size and photographic goals, and we will help you plan your expedition..
14-Day Colombia Bird Photography Expedition
Contact
Email: phototourperu@gmail.com
Phone: +51 940188346
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