Female birders flocking to Colombia

The day begins with birding at Isla Salamanca National Park and exploring the Barranquilla area. We'll pause at the city limits to spot the endemic Chestnut-winged Chachalaca and other species like the Mouse-colored Tyrannulet and Northern Scrub Flycatcher. The morning unfolds in the vast wetlands and mangroves of Salamanca National Park, offering a chance to glimpse the endangered Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird and other fascinating birds. As we drive east through the park, we'll make stops to observe waders and terns in roadside pools. Finally, we'll ascend into the Santa Marta Mountains to the charming town of Minca, where the day's adventure concludes.

Ciénaga de la Virgen is a swamp nestled in La Boquilla, a quaint fishing village with a rich African heritage. For over two centuries, this community has valiantly safeguarded its ancestral customs, with drumming taking center stage in their cultural expression. The itinerary offers a glimpse into this unique world, starting with birding at the swamp, where the American Pygmy Kingfisher is a sought-after sight. The journey continues with visits to local conservation initiatives, such as DAMARTES, a women-led association that crafts jewelry and accessories from coconuts, and BATAMBORA, a youth-led project dedicated to preserving African traditions through drumming. This immersive experience culminates with a transfer to Barranquilla, where the rhythm of the day meets the vibrant city life.

We will land in the international airport of Cartagena, in the Caribbean coast. Cartagena is a city founded as a major port in 1533, located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region. It was strategically located between the Magdalena and Sinú rivers and became the main port for trade between Spain and its overseas empire, establishing its importance by the early 1540s. During the colonial era it was a key port for the export of Peruvian silver to Spain and for the import of African slaves. In order to defend it against pirate attacks in the Caribbean, great castles and walls were built throughout the city. Cartagena's colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will spend the afternoon visiting most of those buildings and learning about its fantastic history.

In the way towards Isla Salamanca National Park we will stop on the Barranquilla city limits and visit some dry scrub forest where our main target will be the endemic Chestnut-winged Chachalaca. Most of the morning will be spent in the extensive wetlands and Mangroves of the Salamanca National Park east of Baranquilla. The Salamanca National Park is adjacent to the Ciénaga Grande, right in the middle of the Barranquilla- Santa Marta highway. Offers good chances for the endemic and Critically Endangered Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, like another interesting birds as the Bicolored Conebill, Black-crested Antshrike, Golden-green and Red-rumped Woodpeckers, Dwarf Cucko,  Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Bronzed Cowbird and Striped-backed Wren.

Minca is a little village located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the birding from the dry scrub below Minca up to the shade-coffee plantations area, encompasses lots of different habitats that yield a large number of birds, including near-endemics Golden-winged Sparrow, Scaled Piculet and Red-billed Emerald, besides Keel-billed Toucan, Pale-eyed Pygmy-tyrant, Rufous-and-white Wren and Black-headed Tanager. The restaurant bird feeders attract White-vented Plumeleteer, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Steely-vented Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin, Black-throated Mango and Whooping Motmot all of them can be photographed easily. 

In the way up, we will make one stop at one of the oldest coffee farms in Colombia founded in 1892, called Hacienda La Victoria, there you will learn about how the best coffee in the world is planted, harvested, processed and sold.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a UNESCO- declared Biosphere Reserve, and a well-known Pleistocene refuge, is an isolated mountain, set apart from the Andes. Reaching an altitude of 5775 meters (18942 feet) above sea level, the Sierra Nevada is the world´s highest costal peak that holds the highest degree of endemism in the world per area unity. Now days, there are about 24 Santa Marta endemic birds recognized, species you cannot see anywhere else on earth.

We will leave very early morning and spend much of the day at the highest elevations that hold most of the endemic bird species of Sierra Nevada, the critically endangered Santa Marta Parakeet, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Santa-marta (Black-cheeked) Mountain-tanager, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Antpitta and a likely to be split race of Rufous Antpitta can be found at San Lorenzo Ridge. Heading back to the lodge one can find White-tailed Starfrontlet and Streak-capped Spinetail. Around the lodge are Colombian Brushfinch, Santa Marta Brush-Finch and lots of endemic subspecies including Cinnamon Flycatcher, Black-hooded Thrush, Blue-capped Tanager, and Black-throated Tody-Tyrant.

We´ll try as much as possible to clean up all the Sierra Nevada specialties, so in day 6 we may either go back to San Lorenzo Ridge or to lower elevation towards Minca if we missed any target the days before.

In the late afternoon we will descend to a Hotel on the coast where we may squeeze in a little birding before dusk.

In between the Camarones village and the Tapias River is Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, western edge of the Guajira desert.The whole area is occupied by the Wayuu people, a matriarchal community where the childrens inherit mother´s names and not men´s. Here, women are the ones who, since ancient times, have taken control of their culture.

The surrounding xerophytic scrub habitat is the natural habitat of very attractive regional specialties as the amazing Vermillion Cardinal, Orinocan Saltator, Buffy Hummingbird, Russet-throated Puffbird, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Chestnut Piculet, Slender-billed Inezia, White-whiskered Spinetail, Pileated Finch, Tocuyo Sparrow and the Rufous-vented Chachalaca. Also, Black-crested Antshrike, Crested Bobwhite, White-fringed Antwren, Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Brown-throated Parakeet and Green-rumped Parrotlet are likely to be seen.