Cali and Western Andes Birding – 4 days
Explore Cali’s Western Andes through La Florida, San Felipe, Doña Dora and Upper Anchicayá, combining feeder sessions, cloud-forest trails and Chocó foothill birding over four days.
Expedition Highlights
Itinerary At a Glance
Cali Airport - Dagua
Cali - Dagua
Cali - Dagua
Cali
Suitability & conditions
A practical overview of the pace, comfort, and conditions to expect on this journey.
Seasonality
Detailed Itinerary
Cali Airport - Dagua
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Transfer Cali Airport → Araucana Lodge
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Araucana Lodge Arrival and Garden Birding
After reaching Araucana Lodge, we use the gardens and nearby forest edge for an easy first session with hummingbirds, tanagers, Colombian Chachalaca and other western-Andean birds. It is a gentle way to begin, especially after travel or a long road transfer.
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Araucana Lodge
Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 1,589m (5,213 ft)
Cali - Dagua
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Morning Birdwatching at the Feeders
Following breakfast, we return to the lodge’s observation areas for another birdwatching session. As the morning progresses, mixed flocks become increasingly active around the feeders and forest edge, often bringing colourful tanagers, flowerpiercers, toucanets and a remarkable variety of hummingbirds into view. Rather than moving quickly between sites, we spend time observing the birds as they come and go, allowing plenty of opportunities for photography, identification and learning about the ecology of this exceptionally diverse cloud forest.
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Pre-Breakfast birding session in San Felipe
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Araucana Lodge
Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 1,589m (5,213 ft)
Cali - Dagua
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Birdwatching in Doña Dora farmhouse
Birdwatching in Doña Dora farmhouse. At 1200m between the Andes and Pacific, Doña Dora is a renowned tropical garden that offers world-class birdwatching. Relax with fresh juice or coffee as hummingbirds and exotic birds fly all around.
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Upper Anchicaya Roadside Birding
Along the upper Anchicaya road we move between forested pullouts, listening for mixed flocks and watching for Choco foothill species. This block is less controlled than a feeder session, but it adds habitat and field-birding depth to the Cali-based route.
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Araucana Lodge
Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 1,589m (5,213 ft)
Cali
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La Florida Cloud Forest Trail Birding
We follow La Florida’s forest trails at a quiet birding pace, listening for mixed flocks and watching the shaded understory for secretive cloud-forest species. The route complements the property’s feeder sessions with a more immersive walk beneath the canopy.
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Transfer Araucana Lodge to Cali Airport
Hotels
Araucana Lodge
Ecolodge | $$$ | Altitude: 1,589m (5,213 ft)
Araucana Lodge sits in a quiet forest clearing, granting immediate access to premontane cloud forest trails and the celebrated Río Blanco reserve. Its garden feeding stations attract tanagers, euphonias, and hummingbirds from dawn, allowing photographers to capture crisp images in soft morning light from the covered veranda. Rooms offer ample space to organize camera gear and recharge batteries, while the early breakfast service supports predawn departures for nearby lek sites and ridge-top hideouts. After a full day of field work, the lodge’s comfortable common areas and hot showers provide welcome comfort, with no light pollution to interfere with evening photography sessions or pre-dawn preparation.
A few kind words
Colombia Photography Tour 2026
Top notch photographic experience for enthusiasts of nature, culture, and portraits. Tristan is well connected to the area and the local communities with a specialty in indigenous tribes and less-visited areas. Additionally, he is an excellent teacher and will provide incredibly helpful instruction on exposure, lighting, and composition. Our tour was incredibly well organized and ran on time, with full days of photography. I fully recommend Remote Expeditions for your photographic travels!
You are in good hands with Tristan!
Tristan does an amazing job at putting together a culturally rich experience. He also does a great job at adapting to his clients needs and interests. He responds well to feedback. He is both professional and personable. I feel as though I had the opportunity not only to photograph many different elements of Colombia, but that I truly experienced the country and its culture. Our adventure took us from birding in the mountains outside of Cali, to visiting remote indigenous tribes, to visiting active fishing villages, to learning about local and historical musicians and customs, to beautiful settings in the mountains and along the seashore.
I give Tristan the highest recommendation as a guide for Colombia.
Colombia Birding Tour
I visited Colombia with Tristan of Remote Expeditions and would highly recommend him. He put together a wonderful itinerary with great knowledge of the areas and attention to details to give us a wonderful sampling of the country. He is personally very gentle and fun by nature and you will return home feeling very happy and satisfied. Whatever your special interest is, I’m sure he can make an itinerary to exceed your goals.
The difference is in the details
Journeys shaped by experience
Every route is built from time spent in the field: knowing when to linger, when to move on, and which small details are worth noticing.
Room for the unexpected
The best moments are not always on the itinerary. We leave enough flexibility to follow a good conversation, an unusual sighting, or a changing landscape.
Local relationships that open doors
Our journeys are grounded in long-term relationships with people who know their home intimately and are proud to share it in their own way.
A small group, properly looked after
With only a few travellers, decisions remain personal. We can adapt the pace, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels part of the journey.
Extend your journey
Optional extensions and add-ons you may consider for your trip. Each can be added to your itinerary on request — just let me know.
