BIRDING FOR PEACE WITH CARL SAFINA
PANCE RIVER - PURACE NP - LA COCHA - BORDONCILLO - TRAMPOLINE OF DIVERSITY - RUMIYACO - SAN JOAQUIN - KM 18 - ANCHICAYA - SAN CIPRIANO
Colombia has been undergoing a very positive trans¬formation in the past decade, and with the recent signing of a historic peace treaty with the FARC insurgent group, the country is now regarded as one of the safest countries for tourists in Latin America. For many years Colombia has remained a mystery for travelers and Nature enthusiasts from around the globe, but Colombians are now welcom¬ing visitors from around the planet with open arms.
This tour celebrates the signing of the peace agree¬ment with an itinerary that focuses on sites that were once FARC strongholds and have since become eco-tour¬ism destinations for birders from all over the world. This is important, as the locals that once lived in a war zone are now benefiting from tourism and in turn are becoming stewards of the natural ecosystem that attract birders to the country.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bird the trampoline of diversity road for 2 days, enjoying an elevation gradient of 1,800 m (6,000 ft).
- See Andean Condors up close in the paramo of Purace National Park.
- Bird the Anchicaya Watershed, an area that inspired the first Bird ID guide for South America.
- Enjoy the feeders at KM 18, where more than 22 species of hummingbirds have been recorded.
- Visit an active Andean Cock-of-the-rock Lek that is only a 20 minute hike.
- Take an exhilarating rail ride in the Pacific Lowlands where you will bird close to sea level in search of lowland species.
- Visit the surreal Paramo Ecosystem where you will bird above 3,500 meters in search of the rae Chestnut-bellied
- Cotinga and Masked Mountain-tanager.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in Cali
Day 2: Cali – Pance River - Popayan
Day 3: Purace National Park
Day 4: Patia Valley and Besuaco Road
Day 5: Bordoncillo Paramo
Day 6 - 7: Trampoline of Diversity
Day 8: Rumiyaco
Day 9: Mocoa and flight to Cali
Day 10: Km 18
Day 11: Upper Anchicaya
Day 12: San Cipriano
Day 13: Depart Cali