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Trip in early March (2 Viewers)

I've never been to Columbia but after a successful trip to Costa Rica last March, we would like to experience birding in Columbia. We can fly direct tp Medellin or Bogota and would like to spend 5 nights, with two hours or so drive of either city. We would use guides the entire time. Budget is between $150 and $200 a night for hotel (no more and no less). The goal is to stay in one lodge for all nights. 2 adults, no kids. Ideally, we fly to one city, take a car to a lodge, spend 5 nights, then fly home. Just want a great experience like we had in Costa Rica. Any advice would be most helpful.
 
I'd recommend taking a connecting flight to Cali and staying at Araucana Lodge. Should be within your budget and is pretty luxury (Colombia hotels are pretty cheap). Some great birding round there.

Montezuma would be an alternative option. Amazing birding but needs a 4x4. You can arrange pick up from Pereira and a guide from the lodge. However, if you are looking to spend at least $150 a night on lodging, you may find lodge pretty basic (though it is more than fine).
 
I'd recommend taking a connecting flight to Cali and staying at Araucana Lodge. Should be within your budget and is pretty luxury (Colombia hotels are pretty cheap). Some great birding round there.

Montezuma would be an alternative option. Amazing birding but needs a 4x4. You can arrange pick up from Pereira and a guide from the lodge. However, if you are looking to spend at least $150 a night on lodging, you may find lodge pretty basic (though it is more than fine).
 
Thank you but we are not interested in connecting flights. We will likely stay in Bogota and take birding trips from there with a guide.
If anyone else can help with hotel and guide recommendations, we appreciate it.
 
Thank you but we are not interested in connecting flights. We will likely stay in Bogota and take birding trips from there with a guide.
If anyone else can help with hotel and guide recommendations, we appreciate it.
Colombia is quite different from Cost Rica in terms of good birding options right around Bogota/Medellin. There aren't any birding lodges within a couple hours of Bogota unfortunately and the various birding sites mostly all require a couple hours drive to get to/between. Basing yourself in a hotel in Bogota means 2-3hours of driving each way every day to get to most of the birding sites.

If you are set on Colombia I would suggest Medellin and going to the Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve - 4hr drive but you can do some birding along the way and with 5 days spending a half day at either end in transit isn't so bad. The lodge is simple but birding there is exceptional though the trails are a little steep in places but as long as you have reasonable mobility they shouldn't bee too difficult. The local forest guard (assuming it is still Jose) knows his birds very well.

Another option from Medellin would be Rio Claro Reserve which is closer but it's a bit more touristy (rafting, swimming in the river etc) and can be quite busy on weekends.

If you're open to it, I would suggest your best bet may be Ecuador and going to one of the plethora of lodges in the Mindo area which is only a couple hours from Quito.

For birding around Bogota you can try Oswado Cortes of Bogota Birding: Birding Colombia – Nature – Colombia Wildlife Tours – Live a memorable experience with the best company from Colombia, Awesome Colombia Birding and Nature Tours and let´s explore together our beautiful country.

Medellin area maybe try Jose Castaño José Castaño or Ivan Lau Iván A. Lau Lovera. Both excellent but not cheap.
 
Colombia is quite different from Cost Rica in terms of good birding options right around Bogota/Medellin. There aren't any birding lodges within a couple hours of Bogota unfortunately and the various birding sites mostly all require a couple hours drive to get to/between. Basing yourself in a hotel in Bogota means 2-3hours of driving each way every day to get to most of the birding sites.

If you are set on Colombia I would suggest Medellin and going to the Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve - 4hr drive but you can do some birding along the way and with 5 days spending a half day at either end in transit isn't so bad. The lodge is simple but birding there is exceptional though the trails are a little steep in places but as long as you have reasonable mobility they shouldn't bee too difficult. The local forest guard (assuming it is still Jose) knows his birds very well.

Another option from Medellin would be Rio Claro Reserve which is closer but it's a bit more touristy (rafting, swimming in the river etc) and can be quite busy on weekends.

If you're open to it, I would suggest your best bet may be Ecuador and going to one of the plethora of lodges in the Mindo area which is only a couple hours from Quito.

For birding around Bogota you can try Oswado Cortes of Bogota Birding: Birding Colombia – Nature – Colombia Wildlife Tours – Live a memorable experience with the best company from Colombia, Awesome Colombia Birding and Nature Tours and let´s explore together our beautiful country.

Medellin area maybe try Jose Castaño José Castaño or Ivan Lau Iván A. Lau Lovera. Both excellent but not cheap.
Just to chip in here regarding Bogotá birding, I’ve heard good things about Oswaldo but quotes we got from him were very very expensive, especially compared to guides in Antioquia, Cali, Santa Marta etc.

Also think Ecuador is a better idea if you want to avoid internal flights, if you head west (Yanacocha, Mindo, Refugio Paz, Mashpi, Silanche etc) or east (Cayambe Coca, Guango, San Isidro, Sumaco etc) , from Quito you can get many many species in the time you have, and no need to fly
 
This is another great place, but the 7 day stay guarantees you going on excursions to a couple of places not included in the 5 day stay - I regretted not going for the full package.
Niels
Actually, we have now decided that Canopy is just too expensive. Even with the all-inclusive aspect, we can’t justify spending more than $1K a day. Too rich for us. Now I’m trying to find a nice spot in that general area. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Try Birding Panama to see what they can arrange for you. They have well-respected guides and you can just stay at the Summit Rainforest Resort which is a pretty central location for birding the canal zone.

I believe that resort is what was named Radisson when I stayed there. Saying this is within the Rainforest is an exaggeration (I did see some good species even from the room, but still), but it certainly is within a very short distance to prime habitat. Some places can be visited without guides, but other certainly would be a lot easier with a guide. Beyond the fact that guides certainly can help finding the skulkers where one needs knowledge of habitat and sound to find them.
Niels
 

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