ITINERARY:

Day 1 – Arrival Day – 
Plan for a flight that arrives at El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia. This is an arrival day with no activities planned and the tour will begin with dinner tonight. (D)

Day 2 – Sumapaz National Park
This morning we will leave early and travel towards Sumapaz National Park. As we reach the low stunted paramo we will search for a variety of hummingbirds including Glowing Puffleg, Tyrian Metaltail, Bronze-tailed Thornbill and the recently split Green-bearded Helmetcrest. Other interesting species here include endemics such as Bogotá Rail and Apolinar’s Wren and we would also hope to find Rufous-browed Conebill, Black Flowerpiercer, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Pale-naped Brushfinch, Andean Tit-Spinetail and the often very confiding Tawny Antpitta. Later we will head back to Bogotá for dinner and a review of the plans for the days ahead. (B,L,D)

Days 3 – 9 – Bogotá – Mitú
This morning we will take a flight to Mitu for the main portion of our tour. We have 7 glorious birding days among the local indigenous communities of (Mitú Cachivera, Santa Cruz, Tayasu, Pueblo Nuevo, Urania, Ceima Cachivera) and roads and trails near Mitú for a superb mix of white-sand, igapó, várzea, terra firma, and semi-open areas full of endemics restricted to the Orinoco and Negro rivers. This is an incredible place and we have and incredible list of birds to search for. On the forest trails we could find Gray-legged Tinamou, Blackish Nightjar, Banded Antbird, Bronzy Jacamar, Brown-banded Puffbird, Rusty-breasted Nunlet, Orinoco Piculet, Rufous-tailed Xenops, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Cinnamon Neopipo, Bar-bellied Woodcreeper, Black Bushbird, Yellow-throated, Cherrie’s & Spot-backed Antwrens, Imeri Warbling-Antbird, White-plumed, Grey-bellied & Chestnut-crested Antbirds, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Yellow-crowned & Black Manakins, Musician Wren and with luck the superb Chestnut-belted Gnateater. Flowering trees can attract hummingbirds such as Straight-billed Hermit, Black-bellied Thorntail and Gould’s Jewelfront, and we even have a spot for displaying Fiery Topaz, as well as the super rare Fiery-tailed Awlbill. Roadside birding is very productive and gives us opportunities for Tawny-tufted Toucanet, Red-fan Parrot, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Paradise and Yellow-billed Jacamars, Spangled & Pompadour Cotinga, Dusky-chested Flycatcher, Azure-naped Jay and White-naped Seedeater. Quietly scanning the forest edges we may spot Chestnut-capped and Spotted Puffbirds, Lemon-throated Barbet, Spot-winged, Fasciated, Blackish-grey & Amazonian Antshrikes, and possibly Amazonian Umbrellabird. In the unique ‘White Sand’ forest lurks the incredible Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo which we will need more than a little luck to find one. A little easier should be Yellow-green Grosbeak, Citron-bellied Attila, Pale-bellied Mourner, Striated Antthrush, Collared Puffbird, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Yellow-breasted Antbird, Pearly Antshrike and Short-billed Honeycreeper. Of course the list goes on and on with other good birds including Black Caracara, Red-bellied Macaw, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Dusky-billed Parrotlet, Long-tailed Potoo, Lettered Aracari, Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-tailed, Pygmy, White-flanked & Long-winged Antwrens, Grey, Dusky & Blackish Antbirds, plus White-browed, Black-faced, Black-chinned, Silvered, Black-throated, White-cheeked & Scale-backed Antbirds, Thrush-like Antpitta, Rusty-fronted & Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatchers, Musician Wren, Paradise, Opal-rumped & Opal-crowned Tanagers, Yellow-bellied Dacnis, Moriche Oriole and Plumbeous Euphonia among many others. As you will see, this is truly a wonderful birding destination.
Nights in Mitú. (B,L,D) 

Day 10 – Mitú – Bogotá
Today we leave wonderful Mitu for an afternoon flight back to Bogota.  No doubt there will be some last minute birding before departure. 
Night in Bogotá. (B,L,D)

Day 11 – Morning birding – Bogotá
We will set off early and drive up into the mountains that surround Bogotá. Our first destination will be Chingaza NP where we will search for a variety of high altitude specialties including a few that we would have looked for at Sumapaz NP. We will look for both Tawny and the local subspecies of Rufous Antpitta, Red-crested Cotinga plus Golden-fronted Whitestart, Purple-backed Thornbill, Black-chested Mountain Tanager, White-chinned Thistletail, Pale-naped Brushfinch and possibly Brown-breasted Parakeet or Andean Pygmy-Owl. From here we will descend and go to the Observatorio de Colibries where a sumptuous lunch will be set up for us, Our visit here is aimed at getting spectacular views of hummingbirds including some very special ones such as the gorgeous Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Coppery-bellied Puffleg and the extraordinary Sword-billed Hummingbird. Of course there are more species to see than this and are afternoon will be a real highlight of our tour. Afterwards we will head back to our hotel in Bogotá.
Night in Bogotá. (B,L,D)

Day 12 – Morning birding – Departures from Bogotá after 8 PM 
This morning we will leave early to cross Bogotá before the traffic gets too bad and head to Chicaque Park where we hope to see another spectacular hummingbird the Golden-bellied Starfrontlet. Other species present should include Glowing Puffleg and Moustached Brush Finch. After lunch here we will drive back a couple of hours to Bogotá airport arriving late afternoon in time for any international departures which should be no earlier than 8:00/9:00pm. Alternatively we can arrange an additional night near the airport. Note this extra night would be on your own expense. (B,L)