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Sunrise Birding LLC - Worldwide Birding Tours and Wildlife SafarisPhoto: Red-fan Parrot. Photo by Diego Calderon.COLOMBIA
Specialties of Mitú


with Diego Calderon
APRIL 13 - 24, 2023


Contact gina@sunrisebirding.com for availability.

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Over the last few years Colombia has hit the birding headlines as being a fantastic, new, safe destination, with more species (over 1900) than any other country in the world. Our guide Diego Calderon has been at the forefront of birding in this his home country and with new hotspots and new species being found all the time we are delighted to offer our second tour with him to one of the very best – Mitú. Here the diverse biodiversity holds a great variety of species amongst habitats such as Terra Firma, White Sands, Varzea and Riparian Forests. Many Amazon/Guianan Shield specialties can be found here and the sheer variety and quality of the species on offer is astounding.

For those that have been to Colombia before or for those wanting to experience somewhere new, our Mitú itinerary is a must. Add to this a few days before and after Mitú looking for some very special endemics and hummingbirds this is a trip not to miss!

Photo: Red-fan Parrot. Photo by Diego Calderon.

Specialties & Targets:

  • Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock
  • Orinoco Piculet
  • Tawny-tufted Toucanet
  • Bar-bellied Woodcreeper
  • Cherrie’s Antwren
  • Chestnut-crested Antbird
  • Yellow-crowned Manakin
  • Gray-bellied Antbird
  • Yellow-throated Antwren
  • Azure-naped Jay
  • Bronzy Jacamar
  • Pavonine Quetzal
  • Rufous-crested Elaenia
  • Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
  • Green-bearded Helmetcrest
  • Yellow-billed Nunbird
  • Sword-billed Hummingbird
  • Blue-throated Starfrontlet
  • Red-crested Cotinga
  • Chestnut-winged Hookbill
  • Blackish-gray Antshrike
  • Brown-headed Greenlet
  • Plumbeous Euphonia
  • White-naped Seedeater
  • Cinnamon Neopipo
  • Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet
  • Dot-backed Antbird
  • White-bellied Dacnis
  • Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin
  • Imeri Warbling-Antbird
  • Purple-breasted Cotinga
  • Black Manakin
  • Black Bushbird
  • Brown-banded Puffbird
  • Pompadour Cotinga

  • Plus many more

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 NP
Green-bearded HelmetcrestThis 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)



Guianan Cock-of-the-RockDays 3 - 9: Bogotá – Mitú
This morning we will take a flight to Mitu for the main portion of our tour. We have 7 full 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.

Saffron-crested Tyrant-ManakinQuietly scanning the forest edges we may spot Chestnut-capped and Spotted Puffbirds, Lemon-throated Barbet, Spot-winged, Fasciated, Blackish-gray & 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, Gray, 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, 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, Bogotá. (B,L,D)

 

Blue-throated StarfrontletDay 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, Bogotá. (B,L,D)

 

 

 

Golden-bellied StarfrontletDay 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)

 

Leader:  Diego Calderon & local guides

 

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Orange-cheeked ParrotCOLOMBIA: Specialties of Mitú with Diego Calderon!
April 13 - 24, 2023
Questions? Email [email protected]
     
Registration Form>

TOUR PRICE: $4195.00 per person/double occupancy from Bogotá, Colombia, Airport Code: BOG. Single supplement:$595.00 per person for the Bogotá portion of the tour. Please note that singles may not be available at Mitú depending on room availability.

Deposit: $1000.00 per person. Tour deposits can be paid by credit card via PayPal.  Use this link to make your credit card payment.  Please advise [email protected] when you have made payment. 

Included in cost:  Accommodation based on twin rooms, all meals and drinks, from Dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 12, all community fees, and transportation throughout, domestic flights, drinking water and services of leaders.

Not included: International flight, passport fees, departure tax, fees to comply with governmental regulations, insurance, laundry, tips, drinks, and items of a personal nature.   Also, any and all costs arising from pandemic or Covid-19 related issues are not included in the tour cost and are the sole responsibility of the traveler. These include, among others, the costs of Covid treatment, hospitalization, medical fees, transport, meals and accommodation in case of illness or quarantine, and the costs of any Covid tests needed before, during and after the tour.

 

NOTE: This tour is being run in association with Bird's Wildilfe & Nature Tours of Plymouth, England.


RESERVATIONS: To reserve your place on this tour:

1) Contact Gina Nichol at [email protected] to confirm availability and hold your place.

2) Review the Terms and Conditions of Booking (pdf download)>

3) Complete the Registration & Release Form (pdf)> and mail it with your deposit of US$500.00 per person to Sunrise Birding, LLC within two weeks to secure your place. 

>Download & print the Registration Form (pdf download).
Instructions are on the form.

Reservations are held with a paid deposit on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once the tour is confirmed to go ahead, we will send you information about booking your flights. Please do not book flights until you receive this information from us. Final payment is due January 2023. Credit card payments are possible, must be pre-approved and will incur a 5% fee. 

Please note: Tour prices are based on quoted costs from ground operators, estimated fuel costs, and the rate of exchange the time of itinerary publication. The erratic nature to global financial markets makes it difficult to predict changes in costs and foreign currency exchange rates over the long term. Since tours are priced well in advance of the actual operation of the tour, tour costs, fuel costs and exchange rates can change, sometimes drastically. Depending on the extent of such changes, it may be necessary to implement a surcharge on this tour. If a surcharge is necessary, every effort will be made to minimize the amount.

 

Cancellations and Refunds:
Please review our Terms and Conditions of Booking (pdf download)> prior to registering for this tour. All cancellations must be made in writing. Please ensure that you take out adequate insurance to cover this and any other eventuality as early as possible. You may have the opportunity to transfer your booking to another tour or another person, provided you are unavoidably prevented from coming on the tour. In this case, you will bear any extra costs that such changes may incur.


There are no refunds once the trip is confirmed to go ahead and no refunds will be made for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features. Sunrise Birding, LLC cannot accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour.

 

TRIP INSURANCE:
Sunrise Birding LLC strongly recommends that you consider purchasing a travel protection plan to protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected in case of delay, injury or illness prior to or during a tour. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Loss and Delay, Emergency Medical Transportation, Pre-existing Conditions, and more.

 

There are many trip insurers. Here are two options to consider:

CSA Travel Protection
CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION>
CSA offers coverage for pre-existing conditions if you purchase your policy before making your final payment for a tour. Please be sure to use Sunrise Birding's producer code: 20201123 when purchasing your policy.
Insuremytrip
INSURE MY TRIP>
Insure My Trip is a web site that allows you
to compare trip insurance plans
to find the right plan for you.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Insurance policy requirements vary and the timing of your purchase can affect coverage. Some insurance providers require that for coverage of pre-existing conditions, a policy must be purchased within 7-14 days of booking. Others, like CSA, offer policies that cover pre-existing conditions as long as the policy is purchased prior to making your final payment for the tour.

  • Trip insurance policy premiums may be non-refundable, but they may be able to be amended or transferred. Check with your insurer. It is important to be sure that the tour is sufficiently subscribed to operate before you purchase trip insurance.

  • Pay attention to coverages provided by your policy. Be aware of the requirements of country or destination can change, so check often. Some policies are now offering Covid related coverages so check with your insurer.

  • US medical insurance plans (including Medicare) often do not provide coverage outside the US. The US State Department strongly advises Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Consult with your insurer prior to your trip to ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider directly or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Be sure to get and keep all documentation of any expenses incurred.
Questions? Email [email protected]

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