Birding trip to the beautiful country of Colombia.

In February of 2023 I decided it was time to test my bravery outside of the country. I decided to join a traveling couple named Acouplewithoutborders on a trip to Colombia for birding and sight seeing. They travel all over the world and invite others to join them. You can find more information on the different trips they take at acouplewithoutborders.com. They arrange the places, the guides, the food etc. It would be my first trip traveling with strangers but certainly not my last. Since I usually travel alone, meeting up with these tour groups feels the safest to me. I like knowing that if I go missing, someone would notice lol

We stayed at AraucanaLodge.com in Dague, Valle del Cacau Colombia. I didn't get in until late at night but my room was amazing. I crashed and couldn't wait to start my adventure in the morning.

Day 1-February 6

After a delicious homemade breakfast we headed off to our first stop La Florida de Finca. This place is a birders paradise and is located in the San Antonio cloud forest. When we arrived there were feeders set up and we could sit and relax and photograph/video the birds. This was my first experience seeing the beautiful birds of Colombia and I was awestruck. So colorful and they all looked so different. I must have taken 1000 pictures and videos throughout the day. We sat there and we were served tea. Occasionally the clouds would float through, so serene and peaceful. It was an experience I wont forget. I had never met any of these people before but I knew instantly I would enjoy their company. There is something special about being in magical places with people who appreciate nature and respect the boundaries of the birds and other species. There's nothing better. I swear.

After spending the morning at La Florida, we headed to Finca Alejandria about 10 mins down the road. Finca Alejandria is famous in Colombia for having so many hummingbird feeders and many different species of birds.

Day 2 - February 7

Those of you that know me know that I suffer from anxiety. I had taken a Benedryl to help with my numerous bug bites. The bites were itchy and I was having a tough time. I ended up having a strange reaction to the Benedryl and it made me feel like I was on acid. I ended up calling Maddy to chat and so she could calm me down. Lack of sleep and anxious feelings gave me a rough start to my day. After a rough nights sleep I was so nervous for the days adventures. We would be driving 90 minutes to Reserva Forestal San Cipriano. When reading the itinerary this was the day I was most nervous for. We would be traveling to the preserve on a Brujita. Brujita means "little witch". A brujita is the most unique train ride you will ever take. Its's a traditional means of transportation in the area. Its made of wood and is attached to a motorbike that rides along the tracks.  It was the most unforgettable experience. We arrived at the reserve and began our long walk to explore the area.

The lodge staff packed us the most amazing pb and j I have ever had, and believe me I have had a lot of them. They made their bread fresh everyday and it was still warm when we ate it.

There was a lot of walking and it was definitely our hottest day. We stopped mid day through to have some lunch at La Sazon de Yurymichel. Look at this fish. It was so good and the break was much needed.

It will come as no surprise to anyone. I often explore on my own. I prefer it that way to be honest. I like to take my time and enter my own little world. Not so safe to do in a foreign country when I don't know the area or the language. I would often fall behind the group looking at leaf cutter ants or following a butterfly down a path mindlessly. This is where the amazing Favian came in. He became my wrangler. He would walk at the end of the group behind me so I wouldn't get lost. I charmed him onto looking for insects and butterflies with me along the way. He would say "Miss, Miss it's a mariposa" meaning butterfly. He was a great scout and I appreciated him so much for looking out for me and keeping me safe. He became in charge of me for the rest of the trip.

Day 3 - February 8

We spent the morning on the grounds of the Araucana Lodge. This really was the most amazing place to stay. The people were so kind, the food was beyond amazing and the grounds had the best things to see. Just incredible.

We spent the afternoon at Finca La Conchita. La Conchito was a private home belonging to the sweetest couple. They had a beautiful property filled with bird feeding stations and hummingbird feeders. Opening your home like this is a great way for the people of Colombia to have some extra money coming in. We paid a fee to sit and enjoy their property. They serve tea, coffee, and a delicious hot chocolate. They also open their bathrooms to us which was appreciated.

Day 4 - February 9

We started the day early. We picked up Santiago, our guide for the day and headed to Laguna de Sonso Nature Reserve. We pulled over periodically to do some roadside birding. My favorite bird of the day was the Groove billed Ani. Such a unique looking bird. It was a great but hot morning. The one thing I will say about Colombia is that everywhere you turn there is beauty. Every back road, every pond or wooded path is filled with the most incredible views. We were able to take a much needed bathroom break in the house of our guide Santiago.

After our busy morning exploring we were taking a short drive to meet our boat for the second half of our day. We boarded a small boat and after a short trip we arrived at the Osprey Lodge. Osprey Lodge is an eco lodge with bamboo style bungalows where you can stay right there on the island. We were just visiting for the day but we were welcomed with fresh juice and the most delicious fresh fish lunch. The food in Colombia was always so fresh. Every stop on the itinerary included fresh food, snacks and fresh pressed juices. We were never hungry.

Day 5 - February 10

We woke up early and took a short drive to Dona Dora. Dona Dora was a place that everyone was talking about. They would say how incredible it was and how diverse the birds were and they weren't mistaken. We had a delicious breakfast and even stayed long enough for a great lunch as well. There was a long counter with stools over looking the forest with hummingbird feeders next to our eating area. Eating while watching the hummingbirds fly all around us was a highlight for me. While facing the forest they has established feeder areas for the birds. The birds enjoy a diversity of feeders with papayas, guava, bananas and sweet plantains.

The afternoon had us first taking our van on a 90 minute drive and then switching into these cool Jeeps to make the long and bumpy ride. I think bumpy may be an understatement. After the long bumpy ride we arrived at gorgeous estate with plenty of guard dogs. The birds in this country are protected by many land owners. After a STEEP 10 min walk downhill. My knees were screaming. The walk down was no match for the way back up. Lets just say it took me way more than 10 minutes. Our target species for this long trek was the Andean Cock of the Rock. The Andean Cock of the Rock males arrive late in the afternoon to meet up with each other forming a lek. The males show off and engage in courtship rituals and competitive displays. This is known as lekking. The goal is to entice the females and find a future partner. It was hard to get pictures of them because they were jumping from branch to branch, but when I first laid eyes on this guy I was stunned. He was the coolest bird you could ever see.

Day 6- February 11

It was an early wake up for me and also my birthday. It was weird waking up on my birthday in a foreign country without my people. I was exhausted and filled with so many great memories and was ready for my flight home. While my anxiety would keep me up most nights I really enjoyed my trip and my first out of the country birding tour. As always I'm grateful for experiences and life lessons I am constantly learning. Thanks for reading my recap of my time in Colombia. Stay tuned, there's so much more to come. Later, loves until next time