Biodiverse Lands: The Forests of Choco & Central Andes (Whale Season)

Reception at the airport in Bogota, the Andean capital, and transfer to your hotel.

Transport from Bogotá to Cañón del Rio Claro Nature Reserve. Approx. 6h30

Without having to leave the Rio Claro Canyon Nature Reserve, you can enjoy a range of activities and adventure sports: rafting, canopy climbing, via ferrata, caving in the “Los Guacharos” marble cave, hiking and birdwatching. These outdoor experiences, which generate a dynamic immersion in nature, invite you to understand the importance of protecting and conserving these priceless natural resources, while acquiring skills and fostering growth as an individual and as a group. All these activities (not included) are guided and require prior booking.

Today we’re off early for a birdwatching hike in the reserve. We cross the Rio Claro to stop in the canyon and watch the morning bird activity. Return for lunch We head to Plata manantial to hike an ecological trail to puerta del paraíso to look for insects, reptiles and other local species. A lovely trail for photos and ideal for observation. Back for dinner. Around 8 p.m. we go out for a nocturnal observation hike of spiders, frogs, reptiles, owls, among others. return to the hotel.

Morning at leisure in Rio Claro, then private transport from Rio Claro to Medellin.

Transfer from hotel to Medellin’s Enrique Olaya Herrera airport (approx. 15 minutes).

Domestic flight to Bahia Solano. Maximum baggage weight is 15kg, any excess will incur an additional cost to be paid directly at the airport. Tourist contribution to be paid on site: National $20,000, Foreign $30,000 and children (11-18 years old with no difference in nationality) $10,000.

Arrival at Bahia Solano airport; welcome by our local guide and transfer to the Esso wharf, passing through the town of Bahia Solano. Transfer by boat to the Botanical Gardens. Accommodation for 2 nights in our ecolodge. Lunch and departure by boat for our first humpback whale watching trip. During the excursion, we’ll see pelagic birds such as blue-footed boobies and frigate birds nesting on several islands in front of Mecana Bay. Species to be seen: Leptophis sp., Megaptera novaeangliae, sula nebuoxii, sula leucogaster, leptodeira sp, bothrops sp.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a medium-level walk along the trails of the botanical garden. This is an area of unspoilt primary forest, home to the harpy eagle and the crested eagle, which usually have their nests and young in the area. On this tour, we can also observe titi monkeys and many other bird species. Return to the hotel after lunch and afternoon at leisure to swim in the sea, take photos and enjoy the sunset. Dinner and an evening walk to observe different species of spiders, snakes and lizards. Species to be seen: Myrmotherula pacifica, Corapipo altera, Ceiba pentrandra, Raptor sp. and Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis)

Short tour of the hotel. Breakfast and departure with luggage for a boat excursion, where the second whale watching can take place. Arrival in the valley where “Mamá Orbe” is located, a community project for the conservation of hawksbill and olive ridley turtles. Settle into the lodge and enjoy a typical fish lunch. Afternoon at the turtle farm with release of baby turtles on the beach. Finally, there will be dinner and a final night of turtle-watching to try and see the turtles nesting on the beaches.
Species we can observe: Megaptera novaeangliae, Lepidochelys kempii, Lepidochelys olivacea, Eretmochelys imbricata.

Breakfast at the hotel and early departure with lunch box. 9 km walk on flat ground with mud for the first observation of birds, monkeys, spiders, lizards, insects, butterflies, with traces of mammals, on the path of the Valley (Utría). Stop for lunch during the visit and departure for Almejal beach. Check-in at Hotel Almejal. Dinner and evening walk in the reserve where you can observe the Crystal Frogs. Species you can observe: Ramphastos brevis, Ameiva sp, Trogon chionurus, Anolis sp, Psychotria elata, Saguinus geoffroyi, butterfly sp “Morpho sp”, Sachatamia ilex, Cochranella euknemos, Teratohyla spinosa.

Breakfast and departure by overland transport to the village of El Valle with packed lunch. From the pier, you’ll take a canoe trip on the Tundo River, where you can observe local birds such as toucans. Hike up the mountain in search of different species of colorful frogs. Lunch during the hike and descent with time for bird and frog watching. Optional swim in the Tundo waterfall and return by canoe to the pier in the village of El Valle. Return to the hotel by land and dinner. Species to be seen: Oophaga solanensis, Phyllobates aurotaenia, Atelopus spurrelli, Craugastor sp., Colosthetus sp, Enyaloides, Manglar, Megaceryle, Chloroceryle, Egretta caerulescens,

A vehicle (tuk tuk or chiva) will pick us up at the hotel and take us to the pier. We’ll bring our own breakfast for the ride. Boat trip for whale and pelagic bird watching. Arrival at Utría National Park. Breakfast and visit to the park. Boat trip across the Utría inlet to the Cocalito trail, where we take a tour of the mountain and creek. Return by boat to Playa Blanca for lunch and a chance to relax, snorkel or swim on the beach. On the way back to the hotel by boat, we can go whale watching. Dinner at the hotel. Species we can observe: Tetraodontidae, Chrysuronia humboldti, Patagioenas oosgodi, Polyerata amabilis

Breakfast and departure from the hotel with luggage. Land tour by tuk tuk or chiva where we can do a final birdwatching along the way (depending on flight schedule). Species we can observe: tanager sp, sarcoramphus papa, pteroglosus torquata, Porphyrio martinica, Jacana jacana.
Arrival at the airport and flight to Medellin. Then we take a transfer direct to Jardin Antioquia Village .

B&D – Ground transportation 3h

Domestic flight to Medellin
The maximum weight allowed is 15kg per piece of luggage, any excess will incur an additional cost to be paid directly at the airport. A car will take you from Medellin to Jardin. Journey time approx. 3 hours. Short stroll through Jardin town center with your Tour Leader.

Departure at 5 a.m. by 4×4 vehicle for our day trip to Ventanas and the Mirador el Roble. We’ll go in search of Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis) and visit the viewpoint to enjoy the variety of birds; we’ll get to know Sandra and her conservation project. Local guide Paula will accompany us for the day.

Morning visit to the Jardín de Rocas reserve for observation of the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), in the afternoon you’ll take a walk along the Herrera path with your local guide for a final observation. A car will take you from Jardin to Medellin. Journey time approx. 3 hours.

Before Trasnfer to Airport we will take a Graffititour to the COMUNA 13: Medellín’s Comuna 13 used to be one of the most violent neighborhoods in the city. Tired of the situation, however, young people decided to react by using art forms such as rap, graffiti and break dancing to transform their neighborhood. From this movement was born the Casa Kolacho foundation. Two decades later, this meeting place of artists has given children an alternative to crime, with art as an alternative. Today we’re accompanied by our guide and a member of the Casa Kolacho foundation as we take a stroll through the streets of the commune, to learn all about the evolution of this neighborhood.