Colombia’s Santa Martas: The Caribbean Coast & Megadiverse Mountains

February 9 - 16, 2026

Leader: Joshua Covill

A trip on every birder’s bucket list, this one-week tour hits all the best birding hotspots in and around the incomparable, megadiverse Santa Martas, from the mountains to the Caribbean coast.

We have a chance at three antpitta species on this tour, including this one, the Santa Marta Antpitta. (Photo by George Armistead)

  • Among greatest biodiversity hotspots on Earth

  • Great round-up of endemic birds at world’s highest coastal mountain range

  • Moderate paced tour with good food and accommodations (~3 or 4 stars)

  • Some rough roads accessed via 4x4s & 1 very early morning

  • Altitudes from sea level to 9000 feet. Latter made less challenging by acclimatization as we go

  • Opps to sample coffee & learn about the Wayúu and other indigenous ethnic groups

Daily Overview

  • Day 1: Arrival into Barranquilla

    Colombia’s fourth largest city, Barranquilla lies right astride the mouth of the mighty Magdalena River. With its headwaters at the junction of the Western and Central Andes ranges, it then flows almost 1000 miles on down into the Caribbean here. Along the way its drainage serves about 2/3 of the nation’s populace.

    There are direct flights from Miami to Barranquilla. Another option is to fly into Bogota and then catch a short flight to Barranquilla from there. We will arrange transport to our hotel, where we will enjoy a welcome dinner together here on our first night of the tour. Meet in the hotel lobby area at 630pm for dinner. Night in Barranquilla.

  • Day 2: Caribbean Coast & on to Minca

    Right out of the gate we’ll hit some spots right around town searching in particular for the endemic Chestnut-winged Chachalaca, while keeping any eye for birds like Shining-green Hummingbird and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Then we’ll head on, doing a little mangrove birding where we could see the enigmatic Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, and Prothonotary Warblers winter commonly. Then we’ll work our way along the coast, driving a couple hours until we turn up into the mountains, arriving at the lovely little mountain villa of Minca.

    Nestled into the foothills of the Santa Martas at 2000 feet above sea level, Minca attracts tourists for its waterfalls, coffee and cocoa farms, its pleasant climate, and for bird-watchers as it is a great jumping off point for the Santa Martas. Night in Minca.

  • Day 3: Minca to Santa Martas

    We’ll get out early in order to begin our journey up into the lower slopes of the Santa Martas. There are certain birds more easily found here than higher up. With a combination of effort and luck we could see birds like Santa Marta Antbird, Santa Marta Blossomcrown, Golden-winged Sparrow, amongst a multitude of more common species. We’ll aim to arrive to our lodge for lunch such that we can continue to bird the grounds of our lodge. There we could encounter specials like Lazuline Sabrewing, White- tailed Starfrontlet, White-tipped Quetzal, Santa Marta Screech-Owl, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Santa Marta Brushfinch and more. Night in the Santa Martas.

  • Day 4: The San Lorenzo Ridge

    Rising very early, well before dawn, we will make our way up the rough mountain road, to ascend to 9000 feet and reach the San Lorenzo Ridge by dawn. This is one the most special places in Colombia, with a number of special birds possible that will be our quarry. Primary among them are the Santa Marta Parakeets. Here there remain some wax palms, and these trees are endemic, endangered, and also the tallest palm tree species in the world. These are also the preferred nesting trees of the parakeets. As we watch them and await the parakeets, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for endemics like Black-cheeked Mountain-Tanager and Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, and specials like Flammulated Treehunter, and more. By mid- morning we’ll begin our descent to hit some other birding areas, seeking Santa Marta Antpitta, before arriving back at the lodge in early or mid-afternoon, for some R & R or birding around the lodge grounds. Night in the Santa Martas.

  • Day 5: Santa Martas down to the Caribbean

    Today we will take stock of what birds of the mountains we might still be in search of. After looking for a few birds up higher around the lodge, we’ll begin to work our way down the mountain, birding as we go. We’ll work our way around the coast and find a spot or two to bird. The area hosts a good variety of birds including Lance-tailed Manakin, Shining-green Hummingbird, Whooping Motmot, White-bellied Antbird, and more. Night on the Caribbean Coast.

  • Day 6: The Dry Forest of the Guajira

    Departing Tayrona, we’ll work our way towards the coast and visit one or two birding sites there including Los Flamencos. Named for the American Flamingo flock that is variable in its evidence, there are a great bunch of birds to pursue here even when the flamingos aren’t around. These include specials and endemics like Bare- eyed Pigeon, White-whiskered Spinetail, Chestnut Piculet, and Vermilion Cardinal. The mud flats can host shorebirds, gulls, and herons, including Scarlet Ibis. Night in Riohacha.

  • Day 7: Dry Forest & the Caribbean Coast

    Rising early to beat the heat of the Caribbean lowlands, we’ll take a shot this final morning of birding to clean up any birds we’ve not yet seen in the dry forest here. The xeric scrub desert-like forest here is seriously threatened by degradation and development, and so too are the birds. We’ll seek to find Tocuyo Sparrow, Slender-billed Tyrannulet, Russet-throated Puffbird, Orinoco Saltator, Pale-legged Hornero and others. Night in Barranquilla.

  • Day 8: Flights Home/Onward

    This morning we’ll bid each other a fond farewell before departing for points home or onward in Colombia.

PRICE & BOOKING INFO

Tour Price/person*: $TBA (2025 price: $3290)
Deposit: $1000
Single supplement: $TBA
Final Payment Due: September 12, 2025

*Based on double occupancy at lodgings, with a group size of 6 to 9 registrants. Maximum groups size is 9 registrants, plus guide(s) and driver(s). If less than 6 registrants, trip may be cancelled or re-negotiated. Note that if you want a roommate we can try to find you one, but we cannot guarantee anyone a roommate, and if none is available, you will be charged the single supplement.

The tour price (fee) includes services from upon arrival on Day 1 into Barranquilla (BAQ) until our return to BAQ Airport on Day 8, including:

·      All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 8.

·      All accommodations from Day 1 through until Day 8.

·     All transport from arrival into the Barranquilla Airport (BAQ) on Day 1 through to Day 8 until guests are transported back to BAQ mid-day.

·      All guiding services, access permits and entrance fees to birding areas.

·      Tips for drivers and staff at hotels and restaurants.

Excluded from your tour fee are:

·      Any flights. We can advise you on best times for your flights, but we do not book international flights. On some tours that feature internal flights as part of the tour’s itinerary and represent travel within that country, we may include the flights as part of the tour price and make those arrangements.

·      Cocktails, laundry services, charges for phone calls, and any other items of a personal nature.

·      Visa fees, airport taxes, airline baggage fees, etc.

Cancellation Policy

We strongly recommend all guests purchase travel insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation services and trip curtailment, in advance of this tour. It is important to protect against financial losses in the event that registrant becomes unable to participate in the tour. Note that such coverage is often non-refundable so please check with the Hillstar Nature team before purchasing it, to confirm the tour is to proceed as planned.

If cancellation is received:

·      120 days or more prior to the start of the tour, a full refund minus a $500/person processing fee is issued to registrant(s).

·      Between 119 and 90 days prior to the start of the tour, half of the tour fee will be returned to registrant.

·      89 days or less prior to departure, no refund of payments or deposits are issued.

The team at Hillstar Nature reserves the right to refuse service to any registrant/participant who acts disruptive or in a manner inconsistent with the goals of the tour. All guests are expected to comply with the rules and agenda set forth by the guide(s) of the tour, and to behave in a way that is considerate and conducive to a quality group experience.

Please contact us if you have any questions about if a tour is a good fit for your goals and/or level of fitness.

Pace, Rigor, Climate & Pests

·         Moderate pace. Early mornings and a couple drives of up to 2 hours. Good photo opps.

·       Very comfortable accommodations, most with good grounds for birding. One lodge lacks hot water but weather is warm/hot there on the Caribbean coast.

·      Time spent at high elevation. No rigorous hiking, but some extended walks, at times on inclines at high altitude. Several afternoons at birding lodge grounds.

 ·         Few if any biting insects expected in the mountains, but chance of them in lowlands. Best bring repellant

Each morning we rise early, pre-dawn to be in position to take advantage of the best time of day, when birds are most active near daybreak and soon thereafter. Breakfast & lunches are either in the field (picnics) or restaurants or at lodging. Dinners are at/near our accommodations.

All birding is done along trails, roadsides, or around grounds of lodgings, and walking is at a slow pace, either due to elevation, or so as not to startle wildlife and see as much as possible.

Elevation is a consideration on this tour. Please consult your physician regarding travel to areas of high elevation. Elevations range from sea level during up to over 9000 feet in altitude. Especially when up high, but really throughout the tour, we will take our time, and keep a slow and relaxed pace while we seek and enjoy birds and other wildlife. Weather is variable, but generally we expect it to be pleasant or cool when in the mountains, and warm or hot in the lowlands. Occasionally it dips down into the 40s or even 30s F when we are up high, so having a light waterproof (or strongly water-resistant) layer to go over a fleece along with light rain pants that protect from wind and rain are recommended. A hat to warm your head, a pair of gloves, and a neck-warmer are good to have in case it gets cold up high.

Biting insects are usually not an issue, but still it may be wise to carry a small amount of insect repellant or to consider treating your clothing with repellant prior to departure.

Generally, nature enthusiasts visiting Colombia do not encounter diseases like Malaria, Yellow Fever, etc. but it is possible. We strongly urge guests to consult a doctor about vaccinations and medications prior to travel. Elevation sickness is possible given some of the areas we visit on this tour, so we urge guests to seek medical advice on spending time at high elevation as well.

Packing

Please limit yourself to one mid-size suitcase/duffel and another smaller bag for daily use on outings. Group travel dictates we consider our fellow traveler’s comfort, and this includes not over-packing. Laundry services are available at most hotels we visit but having lightweight clothes than can be hand-cleaned in rooms can be an advantage.

Lightweight clothing that is easy to layer is best for this variable climate that can be warm sometimes and chilly at others. Probably we will encounter some mist or rain. Lightweight raingear is recommended. Some folks bring umbrellas but if these are utilized they can obstruct viewing in certain situations. Neutral colors are best for our time in the field to limit our visibility to the birds and wildlife we seek. We could encounter some mud along trails and roadsides, so good trail shoes, hiking shoes or hiking boots are recommended for field outings, while a pair of slip-ons, flip flops, or comfortable walking shoes for around the hotels are good to have as well. We definitely recommend a thermal layer and a fleece/sweatshirt that can be layered under a raincoat to keep warm and dry.

A light pair of gloves and warm hat and a buff (lightweight neck-warmer) might be useful for when we’re up high in the mountains. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses are good for if we encounter bright, clear conditions, especially at elevation. A daypack (small backpack or the like) for your belongings for daily field outings is useful, and some folks find that having a walking stick for balance is nice or having a foldable stool/chair is nice for times when we sit and wait in an area for a bird(s) to show. Power outlets in Colombia are similar to those in the US/Canada (110v/60Hz). Cell service is good in most areas but can be spotty in the Andes or along curvy mountain roads, and Wi-Fi is offered at all hotels but subject to disruption at times. A small supply of insect repellant is advisable.

ALL GUESTS/REGISTRANTS MUST:

  • Review Travel Documents. For international travel, guests must have a current passport valid for six months beyond the end date of this tour, with at least 1 blank page for stamps.

  • Review COVID-19 and other health requirements required to travel into or around the destination.

  • Review Hillstar Nature’s Code of Conduct.

  • Consider obtaining travel and medical insurance to cover incidents over the duration of this tour.

  • Sign the Hillstar Nature Terms & Conditions, which includes the assumption of risk/liability waiver.

View Hillstar Nature’s Terms & Conditions of Booking