Caribbean coast: Santa Marta mountains and La Guajira

​

This region of the country is really blessed by the universe: The Caribbean Sea, beaches, coastal lagoons, mangroves, desert, crystalline rivers, dry, humid and cloud forests and the tallest coastal mountain on earth : the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta.

Birding this land is dare to add new and long lines on your lifers’  notebook.

As a rich banquet: Many endemic birds are served in the mountains, while during your visit through the lowlands, regional endemics strut all around.

What else do you want? Yes, we know it: coming here!

Well known as the Northern  Colombia Birding Trail, birding here is an honor, a gift;

A dream made true.

​

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Where the Endemics rule the Mountains !

​

Thanks to its natural richness the Sierra Nevada is one of the Hotspots in the world, this unique place holds the tallest coastal mountain on the  earth; it is  idyllic for all those who seek high rates of avian endemism, since more than 20 endemic birds species are ruling on these mountains. 

​

​

El Dorado reserve and surroundings

Endemic and magic mornings is what you are going to undergo here, while the sun ups over the snowy peaks of La Sierra Nevada, an endemic flock of Santa Marta Parakeet give you the good morning, ¡ but the scene is just the beginning……. Almost each flock you find is loaded with any specialty of this mountain as: Santa Marta mountain Tanager, Yellow-crowned whitestart, Santa Marta Warbler. The Santa Marta Brush-Finch waits for your breakfast to take advantage of what remain on the ground. More endemics keep showing up: Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Bush Tyrant, Santa Marta Antpitta, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Santa Marta Foliage gleaner, Black-backed Thornbill, Santa Marta blossomcrown, Santa Marta Woodstar, Santa Marta Sabrewing, Santa Marta Antbird and Santa Marta Wood-Wren

Even around the lodge, some endemics enjoy the surroundings as: White-lored Warbler, Sierra Nevada Brush Finch, Santa Marta Screetch Owl, White-tailed Starfrontlet.

White tipped Quetzal, Streak-capped Spinetail, Black-fronted Wood-Quial, Band-tailed Guan are some near endemics here.

More specialties: Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Red-billed Parrot, Black-headed Tanager, Black chested Jay.

​

Minca

This warm village is located on the route to the high part of the San Lorenzo hill, it is surrounded by premontane forest, clear rivers, some coffee plantations, and ample array of birds; its inhabitants have a deep sense of respect for nature, as a result they call it as the Eco-capital in Colombia; it is an excellent birding warming up for that great experience waiting for you on the top of the mountains.

Let’s work on: Golden-winged Sparrow, Black-and-white Owl, Red-bellied Emerald, Keel-billed Toucan, Whooping Motmot, Collared Aracari, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Rufous-capped Warbler, Gray-headed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue-back Grosbeak plus many more…

 

Los Flamencos sanctuary of flora and fauna

Tucked between a native, dry and thorny desert forest, real restricted gems only to the Guajira region are found here, let’s  pay homage to King Guajiro: The vermilion cardinal, Tocuyo Sparrow, Chestnut Piculet, White-whiskered Spinetail, Orinocan Saltator, Buffy Hummingbird, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Slender-billed Tyranulet, Northern Scrub-Flycatcher; Glaucous Tanager, Pileated Finch… And many more.

​

You will get enchanted by the elegant movements of hundreds American Flamingos gathered along with other species on the coastal lagoon of the park as: Scarlet and White Ibis, Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron; Roseate Spoonbill and plus more attractive aquatic birds.

​

Vía Parque Salamanca National Park

​

Stated by UNESCO as a Reserve of the Biosphere, protecting an ample extension of different mangrove forest species, coastal lagoons and swamps, it is also an important area for birds conservation; the second home of many migrant species from North America.

​

Continuing along the park on the route to Santa Marta city, huge groups of shorebirds make us to stop for several times, you will feel the Caribbean Sea wind (la Brisa) rubbing your face while you add more species at your list while the sound sea make very pleasant the moment.

​