Santa Marta Endemics Birding tour
Journey to the Santa Marta Mountains, a remarkable coastal range that kisses the Caribbean Coast with its lofty peaks. These mountains, secluded from the Andes by a sprawling valley is a hotbed of endemism in the Americas. Explore this captivating region and the neighboring Guajira peninsula, where a treasure trove of range-restricted bird species awaits. The Colombian Caribbean Coast is a true avian paradise, making it one of the most sought-after birding destinations on earth.
In just 7 thrilling days, you can encounter more than 20 endemic and a staggering 300 bird species. Join our expertly guided birding tours in Colombia for an exceptional adventure that combines comfort, safety and style, leaving you with memories of a lifetime. Go Birding!
Tour Duration: 7 days
2025 Tour Dates: June 27 – July 3 | August 16-22 | Nov 17-23
Tour Price: $3,000 per birder in a shared room
*Save $500 if added as an extension*
Single Occupancy Supplement: $300
Tour Goal: 250-300 bird species including +20 endemics
Tour Size: Limited to 6 participants
Tour Guide: Breiner Tarazona or Cristian Manrique
Birds of particular interest include (E) Sierra Nevada Brush-finch, (E) Santa Marta Tapaculo, (E) Santa Marta Woodstar, (E) Santa Marta Blossomcrown (E) Santa Marta Antbird, (E) Santa Marta Screech-owl, (E) Santa Marta Foliage Gleaner, (E) Santa Marta Antpitta, (E) Santa Marta Warbler, (E) Santa Marta Parakeet, (E) White-tailed Starfrontlet, (E) Santa Marta Mountain-tanager, (NE) White-tipped Quetzal among many more.
Santa Marta Birding Tour Highlights:
• Birding for a day at the Flamencos Nature Sanctuary in the Guajira peninsula, a coastal wetland and dry forest home to a large concentration of the American Flamingo.
• Explore Colombia’s magnificent Santa Marta Mountains, home to the highest concentration of coastal range-restricted bird species on earth.
• Relax in an ecohotel on the beach for 2 nights, overlooking the Caribbean ocean, and indulge in a deep-tissue massage between birding.
• Add the Santa Marta endemics tour as an extension to any other Icaro Birding tour and save $500!
• Experience the thrill of knowing that 5% of your tour investment goes to support a conservation initiative in the area.
Tour Map
Included in the Tour
• Internal private land transportation
• All meals starting with dinner on day 1 through breakfast on the last day
• Plenty of bottled water and snacks
• Accommodation: Lodges and Hotels (3 ½ stars and up)
• Entrance fee to Natural Reserves
Not included in the Tour
• International flights
• Comprehensive Medical and personal liability insurance
• Personal expenses (laundry, tips, international phone calls)
• Not specified expenses
Santa Marta Endemics Birding Tour – 7 Days of Avian Marvels in Colombia
Day 1 – Arrival in Colombia – Barranquilla
Your enchanting birding adventure begins with your arrival in Colombia. Our friendly team will greet you at Barranquilla International Airport and whisk you away to the BH Barranquilla hotel. Here, amid a delicious dinner, a tour presentation, and a Q&A session, you’ll rest up for your upcoming Santa Marta birding tour.
Night at BH Barranquilla Hotel
Day 2 – Salamanca Natural Reserve – A Birdwatcher’s Paradise
Kick off your birdwatching tour in Colombia with a 35-minute drive to the breathtaking Salamanca Island Nature Reserve. This coastal gem is a prime hotspot for birding tours in Colombia, home to the critically endangered and endemic Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird. Traverse nearly 140,000 acres of lush mangrove forests, spotting other beauties like the Turquoise-winged Parrotlet and Chestnut-winged Chachalaca. A vital stop on your Santa Marta birding adventure!
Other highlights for the day include Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, Golden-green Woodpecker, Bicolored Conebill, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, (NE) Chestnut Piculet, Northern Scrub-flycatcher, Black-crested Antshrike, Crane Hawk, Russet-throated Puffbird, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Bronzed Cowbird (endemic subspecies/potential split), Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Bare-throated and Fasciated Tiger Herons, (NE) Northern Screamer, Black-collared Hawk, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Bicolored Wren, Rufous-necked Wood-rail, Pied Puffbird, and Great Black-hawk.
In the late morning, we’ll head to the picturesque town of Minca, nestled in the Santa Marta mountains’ foothills. Here, we’ll explore well-maintained trails, offering excellent opportunities to spot various notable bird species including Swallow Tanager, Keel-billed Toucan, Crested Oropendola, Black-and-White Owl, Gartered Trogon, Scaled Piculet, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, and Golden-winged Sparrow, among others. Minca’s natural beauty and rich birdlife make it a must-visit for birdwatchers.
Night at Siembra Hotel
Day 3 – Minca – Low and Mid Santa Marta Mountains
Set your alarm for an early start as we embark on a 4WD adventure along the Minca – El Dorado dirt road. Pause to spot Santa Marta’s unique bird species such as (E) Santa Marta Tapaculo, (E) Santa Marta Woodstar, (E) Santa Marta Blossomcrown, (E) Santa Marta Antbird, (E) Santa Marta Screech-owl, (E) Santa Marta Foliage Gleaner, (E) White-lored Warbler, (NE) Black-fronted Wood-quail, (NE) Coppery Emerald, (NE) White-tipped Quetzal, and (NE) Streak-capped Spinetail.
Stay at either El Dorado Reserve or Mountain House, nice and comfortable lodges perched in Cloud forest with a view of the Caribbean Sea far below. Named after the legendary city of gold, El Dorado is ProAve’s flagship reserve and a Holy Grail for birding in the Americas. This reserve, created with support from the American Bird Conservancy preserves the habitats of the highest concentration of continental range-restricted bird species on earth. The Sierra Nevada remains remarkably little known, with at least two new bird species discovered since 2007, including a new species of Screech-Owl that roosts beside the EcoLodge!
Night at El Dorado Reserve or Mountain House Ecolodge
Day 4 – San Lorenzo Ridge
Rise and shine at 4:30 am for a 4WD journey to the San Lorenzo Ridge, the highest point birding the Santa Marta Mountains. At 7,700 feet above sea level, you’ll be on the lookout for numerous Santa Marta endemics including (E) Santa Marta Warbler, (E) Santa Marta Parakeet, (E) Rusty-headed Spinetail, (E) Santa Marta Bush-tyrant, (E) Sierra Nevada Brushfinch, (E) Santa Marta Brushfinch, (E) Brown-rumped Tapaculo, (E) Bangs Wood-wren, (E) Santa Marta Wood-Wren, (E) Yellow-crowned Whitestart, (E) Santa Marta Mountain-tanager, and (E) Black-backed Thornbill. This morning out birding will command a packed breakfast.
We’ll continue our birding adventure, gradually descending and making strategic stops along the way. Our journey promises exciting sightings as we aim to complete our list of unique bird species and get awe-inspired views of the Sierra, the valley, and the ocean.
Night at El Dorado Reserve or Mountain House Ecolodge
Day 5 – El Dorado to Minca – Palomino
Leave El Dorado Reserve behind and return to Minca, adding more Santa Marta specialties to your birding checklist. After a revitalizing lunch, drive north along the coast to explore a hidden lowland forest near Gaviotas village. Seek out birds like the Lance-tailed Manakin, White-bellied Antbird, Buff-breasted Wren, Barred Antshrike, Golden-fronted Greenlet, Cocoa Woodcreeper, and Crimson-crested Woodpecker. Your night will be spent at a cozy beachside hotel or a hotel in Riohacha city.
Night at Hotel Hukumeizi or Hotel Taroa
Day 6 – Los Flamencos Flora & Fauna Sanctuary – Camarones
Get ready for a captivating day as we embark on a short 40-minute drive to the renowned Los Flamencos Sanctuary. Spanning over 17,000 acres, this coastal wetland and dry forest reserve protect and conserve the thriving American Flamingo population. It hosts an impressive 185 bird species, with a remarkable 80% being migratory birds.
As we venture deeper into the forest, the xerophytic scrub vegetation supports a unique array of Guajira specialties found only in NE Colombia and NW Venezuela. Prepare for captivating encounters with the Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Tocuyo Sparrow, Orinocan Saltator, American Flamingo, Scarlet Ibis, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird, Red-crown Woodpecker, and more. Keep an eye out for the striking Vermilion Cardinal, known as “El Rey de la Guajira” (King of the Guajira) by locals.
Other day highlights include Blue-crowned Parakeet, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Black-crested Antshrike, Northern Scrub-flycatcher, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Glaucous Tanager, Double-striped Thick-knee, White-fringed Antwren (northern race), Reddish Egret, White-tipped Inezia, Pale-legged Hornero (Caribbean)
Our birding adventure will continue until afternoon when we’ll return to your beachfront hotel, allowing you time to relax and reflect on the day’s remarkable birdwatching experiences.
Night at Hotel Hukumeizi or Hotel Taroa
Day 7 – Palomino – Las Gaviotas – Barranquilla
Explore a coastal lowland vegetation trail near your hotel, where the striking Lance-tailed Manakin and White-bellied Antbird await your discovery. Other birds of interest include Buff-breasted Wren, Barred Antshrike, Golden-fronted Greenlet, Cocoa Woodcreeper, and Crimson-crested Woodpecker.
We will spend the day birding and driving along the coast towards the city of Barranquilla making it to the airport with plenty of time for your connecting flight back home. If you are flying back home from Bogota, we will include the internal flight and a night hotel in Bogota if needed.
It’s been our pleasure to share the wonders of the Caribbean Coast with you on our Santa Marta Endemics Birding Tour. We hope to see you soon for another unique birding adventure!
Ask a member of our team to add the Santa Marta Endemics Tour as an extension to any other tour and save up to $500 on the combined adventure!
Photos Day 2
Black-collared Hawk by Cavan Images
Golden-winged Sparrow by mlharing
Russet-throated Puffbird by Esteban Berrio
Swallow Tanager by Emarys
Photos Day 4
Sierra Nevada Brushfinch by Toby Ross
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
White-lored Warbler by ProAves
White-tipped Quetzal
Photos Day 6
American Flamingo by Fernando Flores
Orinocan Saltator by Toby Ross
Vermilion Cardinal
White-bellied Antbird by Ondrej Prosicky