Birds of the Great Snake: Amazon & ‘Llanos’ Birding Tour
The ‘Birds of the Great Snake’ itinerary takes its name from the snake shape route that is followed along the convergence of three great rivers: Orinoco, Inírida, and Guaviare rivers. The surrounding areas are dominated by White sand Amazon soils, erosional remnants of a once vast and more elevated area that geologists call the Guiana Shield. Join us as we delve into the rich avian tapestry of Amazonas foothills and the vast ‘Llanos’ or Savanna grasslands of Colombia beyond the Andes mountain range.
Tour Duration: 12 days
2025 Tour Dates: February 11-22 & March 3-14
Tour Price: $5,000 per birder in shared accommodation
Deposit: $800 *Balance to be paid in 2 interest-free installments!*
Single Occupancy Supplement: $500
Tour Goal: Over 350 bird species including many Amazon specialties
Tour Size: Limited to 6 participants
Tour Guide: Camilo Orjuela
Birds of the Great Snake Highlights:
• Let’s go birding some unique and interesting ecosystems that coexist here such as Floating forest, Varzea forest, Terra Firme forest, and Savanna of white sand.
• Birding is done mainly on well kept trails visiting highly organized indigenous communities.
• Our basecamp in the Amazon is one of Colombia’s best-kept birding secrets, the Inirida municipality.
• Despite its remote location accesible only by plane, Inirida gives us all the benefits of a well-organized town and the rare treat of coming back every night to the same nice hotel for 4-5 nights.
• All birding hotspots around Inirida are easily accessible by van or boat. Boat rides are relaxing and awe-inspiring.
• Amidst this fascinating mix of topography, birders will visit Cerros de Mavecure, a collection of three impressive monoliths along the Guainia River, a beautiful sight to behold.
• In the Colombian Savanna Go Birding to Hato Barley, a privately owned protected natural area with over 90 years of tradition, 9,000 ha of extension and over 205 registered bird species.
• Enjoy a traditional ‘Safari Llanero’ with more than 280 wildlife species that call this part of Colombia home.
• Hato Barley has three different ecosystems: overflowing alluvial plains, gallery forests, and native virgin forests in the savanna
Tour Map
Day 1 – Bogota – Inirida flight and birding Cano Culebra
This epic birdwatching journey begins with a morning flight to Inirida, the captivating capital city of the Guainia department. This hub will serve as your basecamp for the next five days of birding and nature adventures.
Upon arrival, you’ll check in at the comfortable and cozy Fuente del Guainía hotel and we’ll enjoy a tasty lunch. In the afternoon we’ll go birding in town to Cano Culebra for a first taste of magnificent Amazon birding.
Night at fuentes de Guainia Hotel
Day 2-6 – Birds of the Great Snake in Inirida
Inirida, the jewel of this expedition, offers a breathtaking blend of Amazonas foothills and Guayana shield ecosystems. Each day we will go exploring a rich tapestry of landscapes, along the ‘Birds of the Great Snake’ serpentine path carved by the convergence of three mighty rivers: Orinoco, Inírida, and Guaviare. And each day visiting well-organized indigenous communities we will be exposed to vastly diverse ecosystems including floating forests, Varzea forests, Terra Firme forests, and the magical Savanna of white sand.
Day 2 – Birding in Caño Carbón & Sabanitas
Day 3 – Birding in Matraca trail & Cunubén
Day 4 – Birding in El Paujíl & La Rompida
Day 5 – Birding in Mavecure
Day after day, your journey unfolds with thrilling birdwatching excursions to a variety of locations, each holding the promise of new avian treasures. One of the highlights awaits on Day 5 as you venture to the Cerros de Mavecure, a trio of imposing monoliths gracing the banks of the Guainia River. The sheer beauty of this is nothing short of awe-inspiring, a testament to the immensity of nature.
Birds of Interest in the Amazon
The very weird-looking and not well-known Capuchinbird; and the important and rare Yapacana Antbird are the two main targets. Others include Swallow-winged Puffbird, Paradise Jacamar, Amazonian Motmot, Gilded Barbet, Golden-spangled Piculet, Scale-Breasted Woodpecker, Black Caracara, Black-headed Parrot, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Amazonian Antshrike, Pearly Antshrike, Spot-backed Antwren, Cherrie´s Antwren, Imeri-warbling Antbird, Rose-Breasted Chat, Little Cuckoo, Blue-crowned Trogon, Collared Puffbird, Black-fronted Nunbird, Green-tailed Jacamar, Orinoco Softtail, Fasciated Antshrike, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Dot-winged Antshrike, Varzea Schiffornis and more.
Night at fuentes de Guainia Hotel
Day 6 – Early morning Birding around the lodge and 09:50 am flight to Villavicencio
Time in Inirida draws to a close. We will fly to Villavicencio at 9:50 am, where the adventure continues with a scenic drive to Rancho Camana, a picturesque birding reserve, where we will have lunch and some relaxing time birding around the lodge.
Night at Rancho Camana
Day 7 – Rancho Camana to Hato Barley
The morning begins with a delicious breakfast and some wonderful birdwatching right at the lodge’s feeders. Then, you’re off on a four-hour drive to Hato Barley, a hidden gem in the heart of Colombia’s ‘Llanos’ region. This privately-owned natural paradise showcases not only wildlife but also the traditional culture of the Colombian Plains.
At Hato Barley there are special designed paths to find a great deal of the 205 registered bird species. Take a look at the impressive eBird list for this location: ebird.org and their very well-done website.
Night at Hato Barley
Day 8 – Hato Barley
The adventure continues in Hato Barley, seeking out bird specialties like the enigmatic White-bearded Flycatcher, the majestic Crestless Curassow, the elegant Orinoco Goose, and more. Hato Barley promises surprises at every turn, from Sunbittern to White-tailed Goldenthroat, Wedge-tailed Grass-finch, Burrowing Owl, Scarlet Ibis, and the mythical Great Potoo.
Night at Hato Barley
Day 9 – Hato Barley to Rancho Camana
This morning at Hato Barley offer a final chance to complete your exploration and bird list of specialties. After a satisfying morning, you’ll make your way back to Rancho Camana, arriving just after lunch. The afternoon brings more thrilling birding opportunities around the lodge, where you’ll find hidden gems like Wattled Jacana, Lettered and Chestnut-eared Aracari, Scaled Piculet, Red-stained Woodpecker, Barred Antshrike, Yellow-crowned, and Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Violaceous Jay, Tropical Mockingbird, Burnished-buff and Turquoise Tanager.
Night at Rancho Camana
Day 10 – Bosque Bavaria and Rancho Camana
This birding tour leads you to the enchanting Bavaria foothill forest, a pristine natural reserve in the Llanos foothills’ humid tropical forest. Here, the excitement is palpable as you search for Amazonian foothill (east slope) species, including White-chinned Jacamar, White-vented Plumeleteer, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Amazonian Motmot, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Pectoral Sparrow, Violaceous Jay, Speckled Chachalaca, Long-billed Starthroat, Gray-chinned Hermit, Green-backed Trogon, Gilded Barbet, Swallow Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis among others.
Interesting mammals to find in the Bavaria Forest include Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Brown Capuchin Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Tayra, South American Coati, and Red-tailed Squirrel
As the afternoon unfolds, you’ll visit a trail with excellent prospects for encountering the mythical Cock-of-the-Rock, as well as Sooty-capped Hermit, Sunbittern, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, and Mustached Puffbird.
Night at Rancho Camana
Day 11 – Herrería trail and Return to Bogotá
The grand finale of this Colombian Amazon and Savanna birding tour awaits as you embark on an early morning drive to the Herrería trail. Here, the excitement is palpable, as the owners have successfully attracted the elusive Cundinamarca Antpitta to a feeder. Other birds of interest include the endemics Chestnut Wood-Quail, Brown-breasted Parakeet, and Muisca Antpitta. Interesting to note that at this location locals have a program to protect the habitats of 5 species of snakes.
As you add these species to your list, your birding journey draws to a close. However, there’s one more thrilling drive ahead as you return to Bogotá. Your night at the Hotel Hilton Garden Inn near the airport provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on the incredible experiences and memories you’ve gathered throughout this unforgettable birdwatching adventure in Colombia.
Night Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Bogotá
Day 12 – La Florida park and drive to the airport
Depending on flight arrangements, we will go for early morning birding to La Florida Park, a remnant patch of wetland near the airport and best place on earth to find the elusive and endemic Bogota Rail. Other interesting species to see here include endemic Apolinar’s Wren, a fairly common bird of tall cattails. The endemic subspecies of the Yellow-hooded Blackbirds are normally present and conspicuous, but Noble Snipe and Subtropical Doradito are rather rare and more difficult to see. From here, we will go on a short drive to the airport with plenty of time for your international flight departure.
Photos Day 5
Birders in the Amazon
Capuchinbird
Collared Puffbird
Mavicure
Wire-tailed Manakin
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker by Joao Quental
Photos Day 10
Burrowing Owl by Aaron Maizlish
Collared Arazari
Gilded Barbet by Ondrej Prosicky
Orinoco Goose