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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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