Bogota Endemics

Day 1. After early-morning flights arrival to Bogotá birding transfer to Rogitama visiting Fuquene Lake in the way. Night in Villa de Leiva.
Upon arrival in Bogotá we will board into our transport to head to the Northeast of Bogota to continue with our trip. Depending on the time of arrival we will stop in some of the marshy habitat on the outskirts of Bogotá including the Fuquene Lake in the way to Rogitama where we will be looking for Spot-flanked Gallinule, Least Bittern and the endemic Apolinar´s Wren. It is a long journey but quite rewarding since the drive will take us to the charming Villa de Leyva for the night. Villa de Leyva is an interesting old town with cobbled streets and bursting with history. It is a place worthy of exploration for it is one of the most charming towns in Colombia. The town is only a mere hour drive away from Rogitama, our next birding destination.

Day 2. Early morning drive to Rogitama and late morning drive to Soatá. Night in Soatá.
Rogitama is an environment friendly, farm which is the home of many notable species including Noble Snipe, the endemic Black Inca, the uncommon Lazuline Sabrewing, Green and Sparkling Violet-ear, the nearly endemic Short-tailed Emerald, the rare and local Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltail, Yellow-breasted Brush Finch, the endemic Matorral (Pale-bellied) Tapaculo, Grassland Yellow-finch, Yellow-backed Oriole and Andean Siskin; at times and very sporadically the Mountain Grackle might also show up here. After a rewarding birding in Rogitama we will have a long drive to the town of Soatá for the night.

Day 3. Early morning drive above Soatá to visit vast expands of Oak forest and afternoon return to Soatá to explore the dry habitat near the town.
Today we will start very early in the morning to drive to big remnant patches of Oak forest above the town of Soatá; explore the forested hills above the village to look for the endemic Mountain Grackle, along with several other species, such as Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Rusty-faced Parrot, Rufous-browed Conebill, Moustached Brush-Finch and Golden-fronted Whitestart. Later on the day we will descend one more time to Soatá to explore the outskirts and look for the endemic species Chestnut-bellied, Apical Flycatcher and Niceforo's Wren. Night in Soatá.

Day 4. Early morning birding near Soatá and mid-morning transfer to Zipaquirá.
During the early morning we will explore the dry scrub habitat near Soatá in search for any species that might have eluded us the previous day and we will start our long journey back to small town of Zipaquirá.

Day 5. Early morning drive to Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza for the day and drive return to Zipaquirá for the night.
Today we will be exploring the Mundo Nuevo private reserve near Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza to look for the endemic Flame-winged Parakeet along with Blue-fronted Starfrontlet, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Black- billed Mountain-Toucan, White-chinned Thistletail, Rufous Antpitta, the endemic Matorral (Pale-bellied) Tapaculo, Slaty Brush-Finch, White-capped Tanager and Rufous-browed Conebill. During the late afternoon we will return back to Zipaquirá for the night.

Day 6. Early morning birding La Florida Marshes and afternoon visit to "Jardín Encantado" hummingbird garden near San Francisco. Night La Vega.
A short drive to any of the marshy habitats of La Florida will give us a great opportunity to look for Noble Snipe, the endemics Bogota Rail and Silvery-throated Spinetail, the weird looking flycatcher Subtropical Doradito and the nearly endemic Rufous-browed Conebill. Later in the day we will head towards the small town of La Vega not before stopping in the "Jardín Encantado" hummingbird garden at the small town of San Francisco for the afternoon. The Enchanted garden boasts over 30 hummingbird feeders with a hummingbird list surpassing 18 species. Here the endemic Indigo‐capped hummingbird is one of the most common hummingbirds at the feeders. We will also have the opportunity to have close up views of Black‐throated Mango, White‐vented Plumeleteer, Booted racket‐tail, Purple‐crowned Fairy and Gorgeted Woodstar. Night in La Vega.

Day 7. Early birding in La Vega and transfer to Victoria.
A morning exploring various areas in the La Vega valley will give us the opportunity to look for species such Short-tailed Emerald, Red-billed Scythebill, Bar-crested Antshrike, the very local and rare rara race of the Rusty-brested Antpitta, the endemic Apical Flycatcher, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, the local and rare Gray-throated Warbler, Plain-colored Tanager and Black-headed Brush-Finch; later on the day we will head farther down and cross the Magdalena Valley towards the small town of Victoria stopping in the way for Pearl Kite, White-tailed kite, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Spectacled Parrotlet, Dwarf Cuckoo, Spot-breated Woodpecker, Barred Antshrike, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Pale-breasted Thrush and Black-faced Tanager. Night in Victoria, Caldas.

Day 8. Full day birding in Bellavista Reserve. Night in Victoria.
Here we will search for Blue-ground Dove, the endemic Tolima Dove, Black-throated Mango, Shining-green Hummingbird, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, White-vented Plumetear, Northern Violaceous Trogon, Tody Motmot, Rufous,tailed Jacamar, Barred Puffbird, the endemic White-mantled Barbet, Collared Aracari, Citron-throated Toucan, Olivaceous Piculet, Bar-crested Antshrike, Western-slaty Antshrike, Northern White-fringed Antwren, the endemic Antioquia Bristle-tyrant, Golden-headed, White-bearded Manakin and the endemic White-bibbed Mankin, Black-bellied Wren, Yellow.backed Tananer, the endemic Sooty Ant-Tanager, Crimson-rumped Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Black-striped Sparrow, Rufous-capped Warbler, the endemic Velvet-fronted Euphonia, Thick-billed and Orange-billed Euphonia. Night in Victoria, Caldas.

Day 9. Early morning Bellavista and afternoon return to Bogotá.
Today we will start our return to Bogotá and pay a last morning visit to the astonishing Bellavista reserve where we will be looking for any species that might have eluded us. We will arrive in Bogotá at a convenient hour so we can get organized before our international flights returning home tomorrow.

Day 10. Morning transfer for international flights back home.
Early morning transfer to Bogotá international airport after a wonderful trip.