Nature Explorer Colombia

Arrive in Bogota and on to the Coffee Zone

Early morning arrive in Bogota and fly on on a short domestic flight to Armenia in Colombia's traditional cultural coffee growing region. Here the rich volcanic soils, steep slopes and subtropical climate provide ideal conditions for growing coffee. So much so that this North West rural region of the nation has UNESCO world Heritage site recognition as the "Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia" (CCLC). You will be met on arrival in Armenia by your regional local guide who will privately transfer you to the delightful Casa Rivera del Cacao chocolate farm in Quindio province where you stay for 3 nights on a full-board basis. Here the owners are actively engaged in the pursuit of producing the best chocolate in the world and as foodies themselves they are also passionate about serving for their guests dishes which reflect the best of Colombian home cooking.

Free day to unwind

A free day to unwind after your long journey - perhaps relax by the lodge's pool or take a walk to explore the cacao plantation.

Authentic Wax Palms visit

FD combine a visit to private wax palm forest & 1-2h hike to Waterfall to see Guacheros birds * (not forest bathing, not Willys jeep) *Dee, the bird guide who accompanied us on the Pijaou garden tour told us about this location. Guacheros are very special birds so well worth a visit.

Salento and on to Hacienda Venecia p.m coffee tour

Today you will taken to visit the picturesque colonial town of Salento (approx 1hr drive), famous for its historic houses with brightly painted balconies overhanging cobbled streets to visit the main square and Cocora viewpoint before continuing on to Hacienda Venecia (approx 2hrs drive), a working coffee farm located just outside of Manizales in the northern part of the Coffee Zone where you stay for the next 3 nights. In the afternoon enjoy a shared onsite guided coffee tour where you will learn about the history of coffee and the processes involved in turning it from bean to cup.

Paramos and hotsprings

With an early start you head to the Black Lagoon on the paramos in Los Nevados National Park. Here, after a traditional breakfast, you set off hiking above the treeline, through a paramo of frailejones towards Cerro de las Aguilas (Eagles peak). From the top there are fabulous views on a clear day of snow-capped volcanic peaks and across to the city of Manizales. With a little luck you might see the endangered Black-and-chestnut Eagle soaring above, below and beside you. Descend for lunch in a local restaurant. Then take some well-deserved me time to relax at an open air thermal hotsprings and swimming pool, before you return to your hotel.

Free day at Hacienda Venecia

Free day at Hacienda Venecia to relax and enjoy the grounds or for optional onsite activities available at additional cost e.g birdwatching, hiking, rum making. Offsite tours possible from the hacienda include birdwatching at the Tinamu Reserve, a 15 hectare property where more than 260 species of birds have been seen including numerous hummingbirds, tanagers and warblers or birding at the Rio Blanco Nature Reserve set between 1,300m-2,300m which is particularly productive for antpittas.

Finca Romelia orchids, to Jardin

Today you will depart the Manizales area to visit Finca Romelia, an orchid farm and nature reserve which has passed through several generations of the Arango family. Take a guided walk along the nature trails and visit the orchid nurseries (home to over 850 different species of orchids) and bonsai garden with chances to spot birds too - over 216 different species have been spotted here. Then continue on to Jardin (approx 3.5hrs), one of Colombia's 17 'pueblos patrimonios', famous for their colonial architecture and living traditions, a charming colourful colonial town located in the department of Antioquia, nestled in verdant countryside mid-way between the northern Coffee Zone and Medellin, where you stay for 2 nights at a restored colonial property in the heart of town, a short walk from the central Plaza del Libertador (also known as the 'Parque Principal') main square. A real highlight here is the 'Reserva Natural Jardin de Rocas', a small garden reserve created by a local biologist located a few minutes walk away from central Jardin where there is an Andean cock of the rock lek. N.B with the Coffee Zone Jardin can get very busy on a weekend with locals making daytrips from Medellin.

Exploring the Jardin area: waterfalls, honey and Andean cock of the rock

The beautiful mountain scenery surrounding Jardin is home to waterfalls, caves and coffee plantations where visitors can enjoy birdwatching, horse-riding and hiking. Today you will be taken to explore the local area with a guide, first enjoying a a hike through the countryside to visit a waterfall with chances to see local flora and fauna along the way, followed by a visit to a local honey producer where you can learn about bees, their habitat and beekeeping with opportunities to sample honey. In the late afternoon you will be taken to visit the Reserva Natural Jardin de Rocas, just outside of town where you can see the striking 'South American Bird of Paradise', the Andean cock of the rock in their natural habitat. Additionally, more than 40 species of bird can be seen here including 3 endemics - the crested ant tanager, red-bellied grackle and the Colombia chachalaca

Sierra Nevada foothills - Minca

Today you will be privately transferred to Medellin airport (approx 3.5hrs) to catch a short flight to the Caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta, capital of Magdalena department and the first Spanish settlement in Colombia Fly Medellin/Santa Marta You are met on arrival at Santa Marta airport and transferred by road up to the small village of Minca (approx 1hr drive) nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range at 650m. With its fresh climate, lush verdant landscapes of coffee plantations and waterfalls, it stands in contrast to the tropical forests and beaches of the nearby Caribbean coast. It is a productive location for birdwatching, with over 365 species of bird spotted in the Minca area including hummingbirds, toucans, oropendulas and more. Stay for the night at a small hotel next to the Minca river.

Birding Minca, ending at El Dorado Reserve

Early this morning you will be collected by a local guide and driver with 4x4 and taken birding along the road winding uphill beyond Minca towards El Dorado reserve, set over altitudes ranging from 950m to 2830m and one of the most important centres of continental endemism in the world. Here 420 species of bird have been recorded including 22 endemic and 12 near endemic species such as the Santa Marta parakeet, the sabre-winged hummingbird and the Santa Marta Flytrap. As well as other flora and fauna including the Santa Marta wax palm (where the endangered/endemic Santa Marta parakeet builds its nests), orchids and several species of amphibians and reptiles. Access is by 4x4 vehicle from Minca (an approx one hour drive with the last 35mins along a very bumpy unpaved road). The reserve's main building which houses the reception/restaurant and bar dining/lounge area is in a breathtaking location perched on the mountain top with stunning panoramic views out towards the snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Caribbean coast (clouds allowing!). Here you will stay for 2 nights on a full board basis in one of the reserve's stand-alone 'Koguihabs' which are set a short but steep walk above or below the main lodge building and are inspired by the traditional architecture of the Kogui people, with adobe walls and circular thatch roofs.

Free day based up at El Dorado. Surrounding the main lodge building there are various hummingbird and fruit feeders attracting local bird species. There are 7 onsite trails of varying lengths, as well as activities available at additional cost with resident guides who speak varying levels on English including birding, night walks, visits to the Laguna Sagrada (where many of the rarer birds can be seen), guided hiking to Cerro Kennedy mountain

Tayrona National Park

Today you will be transferred down from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the beautiful Tayrona National Park area (approx 2hrs), one of Colombia's most visited National Parks comprising 37,000 acres of stunning rainforest backed yellow and white sand beaches, coral reefs and ancient ruins that are accessed by hiking or boat. Stay for the next 3 nights at Ecohabs, the best lodging option within the park with rustic thatched hillside cabins set upon a bluff above the beautiful but wild Cañaveral beach. This lodge is an excellent base for those who want to be active and explore the park and its beaches particularly as staying here means you can commence hiking in the park in the early morning to beat the crowds of day visitors. However, if you would prefer a more relaxing base with a swimming pool then we can suggest some lovely options just outside of the park. Note: the Tayrona National Park closes for the first two weeks of Feb, the first two weeks of June and for two weeks from the end of October into early November to allow the local indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to perform cleansing rituals and minimise impact on the park ecosystem.

Free day to relax and unwind and enjoy the lodge's privileged location within the National Park and overlooking Cañaveral beach or for optional excursions available at additional cost. It is a 45min scenic undulating hike from Cañaveral beach to Arrecife beach along trails and boardwalks through humid tropical forest and around giant boulders with chances to see a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles along the way. From here it is a further half an hour or so walk along the coast to calm water La Piscina beach where you have the chance to swim or snorkel.

Free day to relax and unwind and enjoy the lodge's privileged location within the National Park and overlooking Cañaveral beach or for optional excursions available at additional cost. Perhaps arrange a visit to a local indigenous community descended from the ancient Tayrona people, a remarkable pre-Colombian civilisation that once thrived in the dense jungles and coastal plains of the Tayrona/Sierra Nevada area. Here indigenous Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo peoples continue to live in harmony with the land, maintaining their ancestral traditions and deep spiritual connection to the natural world. These communities have long been custodians of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a sacred mountain range they consider the center of the world. Visitors to the region are invited to learn from their wisdom, experience their vibrant culture, and witness the profound respect they have for nature, all while exploring the breathtaking landscapes of the Tayrona area.

Depart Colombia

Today you will be privately transferred to Santa Marta airport (approx 1hr) in time to catch your onwards flight in Colombia or back to the UK