Eric's second Colombia trip heads inland to the Cordillera Central, framed by the Cauca and Magdalena river valleys. Volcanic landscapes, geological isolation, and dramatic elevation changes have made it one of the most bird-rich regions in the country and there's space in the group.

Over nine days you'll work through well-known parks and reserves including the Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, Río Blanco Reserve, and Los Nevados National Natural Park. Habitats run from Andean cloud forest and agricultural land to wetlands and high-altitude páramo, with hummingbirds, trogons, tanagers, toucans, and condors all in play.
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What you'll be looking for

• Rare endemics including Cauca Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Crested Ant-Tanager, and Buffy Helmetcrest.
• The recently rediscovered population of endangered Fuertes's Parrot at La Finca El Cortaderal.
• Antpittas at Río Blanco Natural Reserve, a designated Important Bird Area.
• High-altitude flora and birdlife specific to the páramo in Los Nevados National Natural Park.

A local guide will walk the group through the origins of Tinamú Nature Reserve and its decades-long history of community conservation. Several reserves on this itinerary exist because the people living around them decided the birds were worth protecting - worth knowing while you're standing in one.

Who it's for

Birders who want elevation, variety, and a guide who'll get them on the bird. Expect real altitude and long days in the field, and a species list that will keep you busy afterward.

Trip details

• Dates: January 12–20, 2027 (9 days)
• Trip leader: Eric Moore, owner of The Lookout
• Operator: Holbrook Travel

For more info or to enroll

Visit holbrook.travel/moore-coba27, or contact Jill Hays at Holbrook Travel - 877-846-6296 or jill@holbrooktravel.com. Jill can answer questions about pricing, lodging, group size, and availability.

Back-to-back adventure

This one starts the day after the Santa Marta trip (January 3–11, 2027) ends, so the two can be booked together for an 18-day run across northern and central Colombia.