After arriving into Bogotá, you will be met by a Hillstar Nature representative and transferred to our nearby hotel. We will enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel meeting in the restaurant at 630pm, and as we eat we’ll prepare for the flight tomorrow to Inírida. Night in Bogota.

After about a 2-hour flight, we’ll land in Inírida. We then check in and get settled at our hotel, our home for the next 6 nights. After some lunch we head out into the field. Nearby hotspots could hold Black Manakin or Spotted Puffbird, while roadside can offer Swallow-winged Puffbirds and Brown Jacamars. Night in Inírida.

Working the white sand forests here, amongst the common birds such as Scaled Pigeons and Orange-winged Parrots, we’ll seek out birds such as Russet-browed Crake, Green-backed Trogon, Black Manakin, Bronzy Jacamar, and Yellow-crowned Manakin.

An indigenous community nestled into another patch of white sand forest, here we have a chance to really put together a robust list of birds. A full morning with some time in the afternoon can easily result in a 100+ species list. For birders there are a number of high quality targets including Capuchinbird, Pale-bellied Mourner, Yellow-green Grosbeak, and Yapacana Antbird, among more common species such as White-throated Toucan, Paradise Tanager, and Swallow-winged Puffbirds.

The Inírida River is the largest tributary of the Guaviare River. The two intersect north of town, and then another 12 miles to the north, the Guaviare empties into the massive 1300+ mile long Orinoco River. The third largest river in the world (by volume of water discharged), the drainage spans nearly all of eastern Colombia. The skimmer-like Large-billed Tern moves up and down the river in some numbers here. We’ll have at least one day by boat exploring the rivers, seeking species like River Tyrannulet, Sand-colored Nighthawks, or even the mythical Rio Orinoco Spinetail. Of course as we travel we’ll keep eyes peeled for the dolphins and otters.

Working a combo of várzea forest with some white sand patches, today we seek some forest birds as our targets including the sneaky but smart Rose-breasted Chat, and specials such as Blackish-gray Antshrike, Black Bushbird, Varzea Schiffornis, and Orinoco Softtail. More common but still pleasing species here can include Gilded Barbet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Pygmy Antwren and others.

Heading south by boat, we’ll have a longer travel day all by boat, to the magnificent Cerros de Mavecure. In 2016 these weathered old tepuis (flat-topped mountains) were featured in the Oscar-nominated film, “El Abrazo de la Serpiente” (‘The Embrace of the Serpent’). Still revered as sacred by the Amerindians living in the area, they are startlingly beautiful. We should see a few new species, including Black-collared Swallows, and enjoy spectacular scenery at the Cerros, which lie about about 30 miles south of Inírida.

Maybe after a quick look at the endemic “Flower of Inirida” (pictured above), we’ll bid this outpost town a fond farewell, and fly back to Bogota. The tour ends upon arrival back in the Bogota airport.