Exclusive Araucana Colombia Birding Lodge Tour - 8 Days

We stand out from the rest because, as locals, we can provide better value - our familiarity with Colombia, its avian diversity, customs, culture and gastronomy is unsurpassed. We support the local communities we visit and it is our privileged local access that will make your experience exclusive and unforgettable. We are an efficient and reliable company, offering the highest level of detail and service from start to finish.

This tour is based at the stylish, world-class Araucana Colombia Birding Lodge (www.araucanalodge.com), which we own and operate. The lodge offers farm-to-table meals and was designed specifically to meet the needs of nature travellers, with all the comforts you can imagine. It's a place where you are treated like family. Most of the tour will be done in either a seven pax Hyundai van or a 17 pax Volkswagen or Mercedes van, depending on the number of tour participants. Some sites require use of 4x4 vehicles, in which case we use a Renault Duster or Toyota Land Cruiser, or sometimes Jeep Willys are used.

This tour only involves ground transportation, be it in a van or a smaller 4X4 vehicle. In the San Cipriano Nature Reserve, riding on train rails on a motorcycle-powered cart called a “bruijta” makes for an exhilarating experience!

This tour is run as a private tour and pricing is based on the number of people on the tour.

Yes, all airport transfers are included.

We rarely have to change the tour leader, but sometimes unforeseeable things happen. If we do, we will give you as much notice as we can.

Yes, the single supplement for this tour is $300. We can most definitely cover a third person/family member and can offer a discount for triple occupancy.

Yes, all meals from dinner on day one to breakfast on day eight are included. We also include snacks and bottled water throughout the trip.

This tour is great all year round. It can rain at any time in the Colombian Andes (somewhat heavier in April/May and Sept to early Nov), so participants should expect some rain, regardless of the time of the trip. However, this generally does not impact the quality of the birding.

We expect our travellers to be able to walk one to three miles daily. For this tour we do most of our birding on lightly travelled roads with support vehicles nearby. The exception is in the San Cipriano locality, and there is one hike to the Andean-cock-of-the-rock lek that takes about 20 minutes each way, with steep terrain.

Yes, in many cases we can offer a different option to the San Cipriano and Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek locations for a person with limited mobility.

There is WiFi in all our hotels and lodges except for Otun Quimbaya. Please keep in mind that WiFi is only available in common areas in some places and that in more rural areas the connection is not always 100% reliable.

Colombia Birdwatch supports the local communities we visit in many ways. Firstly, it is our policy to always hire local guides when available and to make use of the services provided by the locals (meals, transportation, feeder sites, etc). Secondly, we support various programmes and work closely with partners (Audubon Society, Procolombia, Chamber of Commerce, Cali Valle Bureau) in the areas we visit to promote bird tourism and to provide outreach and training for local communities. We also work closely with Fundacion Ecotonos to promote the conservation of the Bosque de San Antonio in the vicinity of the Araucana Lodge.

Yes, we can.

A deposit of $1,000 USD (non-refundable) per person is due to confirm the trip on booking, and full payment is due 60 days prior to the start date of the tour. You can pay by wire transfer to our bank in the United States or by Credit Card (3% fee).

The tour can be rescheduled within one year (no additional fees).

If you cancel before final payment is due a cancellation fee of your deposit will be charged. If you cancel after final payment is due there is no refund but you can reschedule the tour within a year.

Packing List: Please note that this is a general packing list and is not all-inclusive. REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE Documents and Money: • Passport • Cash and credit cards • Airline tickets or E-ticket confirmation Clothing: • Waterproof rain jacket • Sweater or medium weight jacket • Three pairs of pants/trousers, at least one lightweight, plus cool long pants and shorts • Four long-sleeved shirts • Four T-shirts • Ten pairs of underwear • Ten pair of socks • Pajamas • 1 pair of waterproof boots and 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes. • Shade hat and 1 bandanna • Bathing suit Toiletries: • Toiletries and washcloth • Personal first aid kit • Prescription drugs • Lip balm with sunscreen • Sunscreen • Soap for hand washing and universal sink stopper • Insect repellent (Chiggers, no-seeums and mosquitoes) and anti-itch ointment Gear: • Pack/rucksack - for rain gear and water on walks • Plastic bags to put wet gear in, in case of rain • Sunglasses and extra prescription glasses • Water bottle - to refill throughout the trip • Camera • Binoculars • Alarm clock • Flashlight and extra batteries Optional: • Sandals • Field guides • Map • Spanish dictionary • Writing materials, paper, and pens • Laundry bag and a few clothes pegs

Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia by Miles Mcmullan. R + N Editors, 2018. Birds of Colombia by Fernando Ayerbe Quinones. WCS, 2019.