The Best Bird Watching Sites in Colombia

Destinations in Colombia for Birdwatching

Valle del Cauca is the number one destination for ornithologists, nature photographers, birdwatchers and tourists in general, it is a mandatory stop to enjoy in Colombia. But I will not distract you more, below are the best bird watching sites in the Cauca Valley and Colombia!

Camarones- La Guajira

Camarones is the tourist destination where you will find the Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna "Los Flamencos", which is under the protection of the System of National Natural Parks of Colombia.

The first place you should visit is the Broken Ship, whose name is a symbol of respect for nature. This is due to the fact that, in La Guajira, at the time of the Spanish conquest, a ship reached the coast that was stranded and the inhabitants left it as it was until nature erased all traces of it.

This bird watching is well known for the pink flamingos that gather in the area, you only have to travel twenty minutes from Riohacha. This species arises from the presence of brine shrimp, the food that gives them the pink color.

 Minca- Sierra Nevada

Paragraph In the Sierra Nevada, you can't stop seeing the toucans! These birds are sheltered in the El Dorado Nature Reserve, about two hours from Mica. The common species is the Caribbean Toucan, you will also observe orioles and hummingbirds. Here you can walk the fruit paths and the ecological path, where you will not only get to know the bird species, but also the native flora of these forests.

In this place, "The Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia" was elaborated, by the author Miles Mc Mullem, which contains 365 birds that inhabit Minca. Fans, experts and tourists are scheduled to visit the cloud forests of the Sierra Nevada where they can also enjoy the “Pozo Azul”, a natural formation that creates a pool of quite cold water, the perfect place to cool off!

The Chocó Valley

Paragraph This locality extends from Darién to Nariño and through the Andean Cordillera. There is the sighting of Corbatudos, the roadrunners and the multicolored tangaritas.

The Chocó, also known as Biogeographic Chocó, contains a variety of 420 species of birds, both endemic (native to the place) and migratory (from other locations). In this region there is constant humidity, as it is an area of ​​high rainfall, which benefits plants and fauna.

Yotoco Reserve

The Bosque Yotoco National Forest Reserve is 18 km from the city of Buga, along the Madroñal Buenaventura highway. Here we observe the Pava Caucana (Penelope Perspicax), a species from the region that is on the way to extinction. It is a galliform bird that has gray feathers on its head, neck and upper back, its back is brown and its legs are red, it is a very exotic bird.

The reserve is open to the public. You have the opportunity to hike the trails and walk through the bird sightings, it is a fairly visited ecological tourist site in Yotoco. Consider that in all these places there will be restrictions due to the Covid 19 pandemic, so you must adjust to their schedules and dates of availability.

Refugio Corazones Verdes Nature Reserve

This natural reserve focuses its tourist attraction on conservation and environmental education. They are precursors in the integral management as well as the rescue of indigenous values ​​and wisdom. To get to this bird watching you must go to Alto Dapa (Dapa-Yumbo) in Valle del Cauca.

The schedule to visit the bird watching starts at 5:30 am, so stop early! this with the aim of seeing as many birds as possible. I recommend you bring the appropriate equipment and clothing, there you will see the bluebird, the barranquero, the laughter, the white and smoky woodpecker, the green hermit hummingbird and the blue emerald hummingbird, the owls and the chamons.

These birds take advantage of the Green Hearts forests to feed on fruits, insects and larvae. It is a biogeochemical cycle where birds live in balance with other species, are part of the landscape and give life to the Valle del Cauca.

Bird watching route "Between songs and colors"

This route in the Valle del Cauca covers the rural area of ​​the village in Tenerife, specifically in the municipality of El Cerrito. Here the birds are in a protected area or DRMI of the Páramo Los Domínguez, Valle Bonito and Bread of sugar.

Bird watching in Tenerife has been a leader thanks to its route "Between Songs and Colors", giving visitors different options for sighting, the forests are between 1200 to 3900 masl (meters above sea level).

On this route are many of the best bird watching sites in Valle del Cauca

Bridge of the Eagles

This is one of the sightings at kilometer 24 of the village of Tenerife. Multiple birds arrive at the bridge, tourists take advantage of the view to take photos with friends and family. In addition to bird watching, bungee jumping is practiced here (bungee jumping, an activity where participants jump from a great height tied to an elastic rope), would you dare to jump into bungee jumping?

Acapulco Botanical Garden

This Botanical Garden is on the premises of the Loyola del Pacifico University. It is an area dedicated to environmental education, the area extends over 6 hectares where birds migrate in search of food. There are several species such as the common buzzard, the road eagle, the ground cuckoo, the pijuy tick, the cinnamon and broad-billed hummingbird, the red-hooded piranga, to name a few.

Mountain Tourist Corridor - Palma Cera Forests

This is a reserve with high mountain rural accommodation where there are numerous palms and you can easily see the birds. From eagles to toucans come through these areas. There is a hamlet where you can stay, even the glamping type because you will not have to give up the comforts when camping. This sighting is wide and clear of trees, if you have a good camera you can photograph different species.

The Valleys and the inter-Andean slopes

The surroundings of the Magdalena, Cauca, Patía and Chicamocha rivers are ideal to contemplate birds such as the paujil, the torcaza, the Tolima, the bull and the dacnis. These humid forests create a suitable environment for birdwatching because species are found that are difficult to see in other countries, for example, the muleteer or the cucarachero and the blackbird.

The Claro River, Bolombolo, Anorí and Amalfi, the Combeima canyon, the Pedro Palo and Tabacal Lagunas, La Tatacoa, the Quinchas mountain range and San Vicente de Chucurí share the number of exotic species that meet in these areas.

Puracé National Natural Park (Cauca)

This national park stands out from the others because it is a protected reserve where you can admire the condor bird in its habitat, which is in danger of extinction. Since 1979 it was declared a "Biosphere Reserve" by UNESCO. There is a volcanic chain called Coconucos that has 15 volcanic craters, the best known are Pan de Azúcar and Puracé, hence the name of the park. Because it is a volcanic area, another tourist attraction is formed: the hot springs of San Juan. There are approximately 52 outcrops that remind you of prehistory. These volcanic craters can rise up to 5000 meters above sea level.

Anchicayá

Anchicayá is a very visited place for bird watching, it is a meeting point for bird watchers. According to the eBird list for the region, there are 444 species of birds, of which 13 are native to the area.

The Doña Dora birdwatching is located in Alto Anchicayá km 55 and is an area that awaits birds such as the compass, toucan, barbet, the red-breasted fruit bowl, the solitary black, the Pacific clarin and the emerald chlorochysa. It is the second destination with the largest species in the entire Valle del Cauca.

Birds are animals that awaken in tourists a unique desire for preservation and empathy towards the environment. Tourism policy focuses largely on bird sightings, from the Shrimp in La Guajira and its famous flamingos, to enjoying the toucans in Minca - Sierra Nevada and seeing the birds in the Aves de Campo Guide. Colombia by Mc Mullem.

Life is a gift and nature is part of life, visiting these landscapes with their magnificent birds is something you will never forget. If you dedicate yourself to seeing and photographing birds, contact us. We will be a guide for you on your trip.Don't miss seeing everything that Valle del Cauca in Colombia has for you!