Colombia

• November 2014
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• March 2016
  • Species List
• February 2018
  • Species List
• February 2019
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• November 2022
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• January 2023
  • Trip Report
  • Species List
• August 2023
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• January 2024
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• December 2024 (Short & Sweet from Bogota)
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• January 2025
  • Species List
  • Trip Report
• March 2025 (Santa Marta)
  • Species List
  • Trip Report

This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!

Ahead of Your Tour

• Make sure your passport will be valid on the date of your arrival through the date of your return home. However, it is recommended you have at least 6 months validity beyond the end of your tour in case of unexpected delay in return. See "Passport, Visa & Documentation" section below for more details.
• A visa is NOT required for U.S. citizens visiting Colombia. If you are traveling with a passport from another country, please contact the Embassy of Colombia website for guidelines.
• You must fill out your Colombia immigration form before arrival. Visit Migración Colombia’s online Check-Mig form within 72 hours of boarding an inbound or outbound flight from Colombia.
• Please check current CDC recommendations for travel to Colombia and consult with your doctor about general travel vaccinations you should have as precaution for travel. See the “General Health and Inoculations” section below.
• Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is strongly recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance.
• Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are preferred as luggage, for ease in loading vans. Please pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Passports, Visas & Documents

Guidelines and regulations can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s documentation requirements 60-90 days ahead of traveling. Information for U.S. citizens can be found at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Colombia.html. If you are from another country, please contact the Colombian Embassy’s website for guidelines. 

Passports: Must be valid at the date of entry and for the duration of your stay. However, travel authorities recommend 6 months validity beyond the end of the tour (this, among other precautions, will allow for unexpected delays in return travel). There must be 1 blank passport page for entry stamp unless enrolled in Migración Automática, Colombia’s program for frequent travelers. 

Visas: At the time of writing, a tourist visa is required of US citizens for stays the length of this tour. You will also need proof of a return ticket. We do advise that you bring your contact list of hotels for use at immigration as well. 

TRAVEL TIP: As a precaution in case of lost or misplaced documents you carry on your person during travel, we highly recommend you keep hard and digital backup copies on your phone (either photo or PDF scan), as well as a hard copy left with your emergency contact at home. The recommended important documents to copy include, but are not limited to; your passport ID page, travel visa, the front and back of your credit card(s), the airline barcode on your luggage. This will greatly expedite getting new ones if necessary – we hope everyone will always keep travel documents close so that losing them will not be an issue.

General Health & Inoculations Information – Be Prepared!

Health requirements for entry to any country can change. It is always advisable to double-check the country’s health requirements and recommendations 60-90 days ahead of traveling. Also, in case there are any that require follow-up inoculations or time to become effective before your departure.  A helpful website for planning is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for Colombia or by phone (800) CDC-INFO or (800) 232-4636.

We will share a copy of the health information that you provided with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important in case of a medical emergency.

Vaccinations: Bring copies of your current vaccination records with you. At the time of writing there were no required vaccinations to enter Colombia (see exception below for yellow fever). However, the CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date with routine vaccinations and basic travel vaccines (such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid) before traveling to any destination. Consult with your doctor for recommendations at least 4- 6 weeks before departing on your trip as some vaccines may require more than one dose and time to become effective prior to your departure.

Yellow fever vaccination:  Required for travelers coming from certain countries or visiting certain national parks. For more information, visit the Government of Colombia’s Health Ministry webpage and the CDC Yellow Book for more information.

Mosquito and tick-borne illness: The CDC will have updated information regarding recent disease outbreaks, such as Malaria or other mosquito or tick-borne diseases, as well as extra precautions to take depending on the area(s) you will be traveling through. Travelers should reduce their risk of mosquito and/or tick-borne diseases (including yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever, zika, Japanese encephalitis, etc.) by protecting themselves from bites using protective clothing, insect repellant (containing DEET, Picaridin, OLE, etc.) and prophylactics where applicable. Check the CDC and with your doctor to see whether your trip destination is currently at risk for malaria transmission and whether you should consider anti-malarial medication. For repellent permeated clothing, see Packing List for our recommendations. See the “CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel” website for more information: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/yellowbook-home.

Prescriptions: It is a good idea to pack any meds you take regularly in your carry-on luggage.  Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. Bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications you use, a copy of the prescription and a list of generic names of your medicines as “back-up” in case it is necessary to purchase drugs while abroad. You’ll want to keep medications in their original, labeled containers. 

Allergies: To be prepared for environmental triggers to allergies or breathing difficulties, please bring your allergy and/or asthma medication(s).  If you have severe allergies talk to your doctor about carrying an EPI pen and notify your guides. It is also recommended to carry with you an up-to-date record of known allergies, chronic medical problems and Medic Alerts so that, if necessary, emergency treatment can be carried out without endangering your health.

Common Ailments: We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and a supply of standard over-the-counter medications for prevention or treatment of common ailments (such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, cough, congestion, head or body aches, motion sickness, insect bites and sunburn); as well as ointments, moisturizer, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, and tweezers, etc.

Altitudes and Altitude Illness:  According to the CDC's website, day trips to high-elevation destinations less than 8000 ft. with an evening return to a lower elevation are much less stressful on the body, depending on the time provided for your body to adjust. However, overnights at higher altitudes may have more adverse effects on your body and you should be informed about altitude illness and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) (see https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/high-altitude-travel-and-altitude-illness.html). The most general symptoms are headache and occasionally fatigue and dizziness. You’ll want to take it easy, particularly at first. The likelihood of these symptoms can be reduced by resting, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol, taking aspirin and optimize acclimatization by adjusting itineraries to avoid going “too high too fast." If you have concerns about the altitude, ask your physician about medications (such as Diamox) that may be right for you. 

Higher altitudes for this trip:

• Chingaza NP - 2,600' - 13,200’
• Sumapaz NP - 11,500’- 13,000'

Weather & Climate

Colombia is a vast country of northern South America, crossed by the Equator in the south and the Andes Mountain range in the west. The country has many different climate zones, and while the plains may be hot year-round, the biggest differences are due to the elevation, which affects temperature and rainfall, often dramatically.

In general weather in Colombia is variable where we will travel. At the mid-elevations of the Central Andes where we’ll spend most of our time, temperatures tend to be mild, with highs in the mid-70s°F and lows in the mid-60s°F. A lightweight fleece is a good idea for some evenings. At higher elevations such as Chingaza and Sumapaz National Parks, highs may only reach 40°F, with mist and fog, and even snow is possible! Good quality rain gear, a heavy fleece, and even gloves and a hat may seem crazy, but the weather at higher elevations can be extreme. Good shoes that provide warmth, ankle support and traction are essential.

You may want to check your favorite weather information website for forecasts and predictions closer to your date of travel. Visit https://www.climatestotravel.com for an overview.

Annoyances & Hazards

Always listen carefully to any advice given by your local guide regarding pests and other biting insects or reptiles you may encounter.

Mosquitos, ticks and other insects: Even if you are traveling in the dry season, mosquitos, ticks and other insects can always be encountered in your travels, so don't risk illness. See the “General Health and Inoculations” section above regarding recommended preventative measures.

Chiggers are a part of lowland and mid-elevation habitats. You may encounter them at grassland or farm locations. Your guide should have a good read on whether chiggers are a concern. It is helpful to spray your shoes with repellent and tuck your pants into your socks .  When back, be sure to shower and air out your clothing.

Remember, sunburn can be both an annoyance and a hazard, so be prepared with proper sun protection.

Food & Drinks

There will be a variety of foods available, with choices to accommodate most dietary requirements. At all restaurants you will find a good variety of foods reflecting the contributions of American, European, Spanish and local cuisines.

Although major cities have excellent running water services, we recommend that you avoid tap water, and instead drink bottled water. Plan to purchase this at your hotels, and there will be water on the bus as needed for day trips. If convenient, to reduce the extra use of plastics, we would appreciate it if you can bring a reusable water bottle – one option is a LifeStraw filtered water bottle. And you might consider bringing a SteriPEN or other product to purify drinking water.

Packing, Clothing & Laundry

Please pack light! We are serious about this – we move around a lot; you just do not need much to cope with tropical life! Please do not bring anything more than you must. 

Pack using soft-sided luggage, if at all possible, with ID tags inside and out. Please reconfirm your airline’s baggage weight and size restrictions about a week or so before departure.

TRAVEL TIP: Imagine NOT getting your suitcase. Wear your most important shoes for the field and have one day’s clothing change (including a change of underwear!). And please, DO NOT pack any essential medications or vital optics (i.e. glasses, binoculars) in your checked luggage!

Dress is comfortable and informal throughout the trip. While some people will change for dinner, it is usually just to a drier or cleaner version of what they wore during the day. Dressing in layers is the best way to be comfortable. Choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy and things that are comfortable and easy to launder and dry out.

Laundry services can be arranged at some of our hotels, those where you have multiple nights. But be prepared to hand launder if you need to.

See “Packing List” tab for detailed information regarding this tour and further recommendations.

Spending Money

The official currency in Colombia is the Peso COP. We advise that you carry a mix of different types of payments, such as cash, an ATM card and a credit card. For the current exchange rate, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com, or your bank. Shopping for smaller handicrafts necessitates using local currency. Bring large U.S. bills ($50 or $100) that will give you the better rate when exchanging to local currency.

When using the ATM to withdrawal cash, keep in mind it might only accept cards from local banks or not allow cash advances on credit cards, and there are often transaction fees for withdrawals. Check with your bank before departure and be sure that you know your PIN number ahead of the journey. Also, ATM limits in Colombia are very low and average around $125. It may be easier to use exchange larger sums of money at the airport.

We suggest you have more than one card available, if possible. You may want to bring more than one brand of card (VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted; American Express is less common). You can use credit cards at hotels and restaurants to pay any bar or gift tabs. Not every location accepts every card, and smaller shops, restaurants or taxis often require cash, so it is always a good idea to ask before making a purchase. We recommend that you advise your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling abroad to avoid questions, card freezes or charges. Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted, and we do not advice that you use them.

Gratuities

Tipping throughout the tour is at your discretion. Some guidelines follow. At larger (mostly city) hotels, tip maids and bar service as you would at home. At smaller hotels, there is typically a staff tip box in a public area; the going rate per person is $6-$10 a day, which is shared among staff for maid service, and general staff service at the hotels. Gratuities for group meals are already included. Your Naturalist Journeys host will take care of smaller tips such field trip services by boat drivers, night drive outings, single activities. Your additional tip is encouraged for birding tour guides and drivers who are with you for several days or the full trip; $10-$15 per day per guest is standard for guide service, and half that for a driver. If you have more than one local guide at a location, they will share the daily amount. We encourage tipping for the local teams hosting you; anything extra for your Naturalist Journeys host is at your discretion.

Cell Phones & Internet Service

Your guide is well connected and can help if any urgent communication need arises. However, it is highly recommended that you travel with a cell phone, if only as a precaution for the unfortunate occurrence of a medical emergency during an outing and needing swift accessibility to critical personal or medical contacts. 

You can make International calls from most of our hotels. The country code for the USA is 1, and for Colombia, it is 57. From Colombia:

International calls: Dial 00 + (9) or (7) + country code + area code + number.

National calls: Dial 0 + (9) (5) or (7) + city code + number.

Please check with your wireless provider to see if your phone and service will work in your destination country. Options include activating international roaming, purchasing a local SIM card at the airport (newer phones may not accept SIM cards), or simply turning off cellular service and relying on Wi-Fi to make calls and access the internet.

If your phone can connect to Wi-Fi, you may be able to make voice and video calls free of charge. Another option if you have access to Wi-Fi is to use smartphone apps like Skype, WhatsApp, or Viber to send text messages, and make voice calls, or video calls. Many smartphones, tablets, or laptops come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download for free.

Your hotels and most local restaurants provide Wi-Fi at least in their common areas. Although service is generally reliable, it can be affected by adverse weather conditions or due to the remote location.

Make sure if you do NOT want to use your cell phone that you turn off your cellular data. You could incur huge charges if you are not on Wi-Fi. Putting your phone in airplane mode if you mainly use it for photos will save the battery as well. 

Please refrain from taking or making cell phone calls in the vehicles when traveling with other passengers, unless it appears to be an emergency. This disrupts other guests, plan on cell phone call use on your own time.

Electricity

The standard in Colombia is the same as in the United States and Canada: 110 volts AC (60 cycles). Plugs are set up in the same style; however, three-pronged outlets can be scarce, and existing three-prong outlets may feature even-sized flat blade plugs, so it's helpful to bring along adapters for both two- and three-prong outlets. More information can be found at www.power-plugs-sockets.com.

Time

Colombia is on the same time as Eastern Standard Time (EST), the country does not observe Daylight Savings. Check www.timeanddate.com before leaving home for your conversion.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey!

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role

Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Travel Insurance

You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

Please pack light!

Soft luggage is much easier for us to pack than a more rigid hard sided piece, so if you have the choice, please use your soft luggage.  Be sure to have your name and address on the inside of the bag, as well as on the luggage tag on the handle.  It is our hope that you can pack in one checked suitcase that does not exceed 45 pounds.  Be sure to pack your personal medication, airline tickets, passport, binoculars, camera, and other essential items in your carry-on bag. You will want a day pack for field trips, so this is an ideal carry-on. Please reconfirm your airline’s baggage weight and size restrictions about a week or so before departure.

Check your favorite weather website for the cities of Bogota, Zipaquirá, and Villavicencio closer to your departure to better predict what the weather will be on your adventure. At the mid-elevations of the Central Andes where we’ll spend most of our time, temperatures tend to be mild, with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-60s.  That said, please remember that we spend two days at Chingaza and Sumapaz National Parks where highs may only reach 40°F, even with the possibility of snow!  

Dress is comfortable and informal throughout the trip. Dressing in layers is the best way to be comfortable. For the milder weather, lightweight long sleeve shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing as they are more protective from sun and vegetation.  But if you like to wear them, by all means bring some shorts. For some evenings, a lightweight fleece is a good idea. Choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy and things that are comfortable and easy. For higher elevations, you'll be glad you bring good quality rain gear, a heavy fleece, and even gloves and a hat to layer with. This may seem crazy, but the weather at the higher elevations can be extreme and cold. Good shoes that provide ankle support and traction are essential.

Note on clothing colors and insect repellent: We recommend muted colors of tan, brown, khaki, grey or green, as they are spotted less easily than white or bright colors, though camouflage clothing is not recommended, and in some countries, not legal to wear. It is possible to purchase field clothing permeated with insect repellent such as the Craghoppers Insect Shield collection. Another approach is to purchase Permethrin spray (online or from REI) to treat your field clothing and socks before your departure.

Clothing & Gear

• Lightweight long pants, 2-3 pair
• Shorts (optional, not generally recommended)
• Lightweight long-sleeved shirts, 2-3 (Loose fitting keeps you cool. Quick-dry fabrics are ideal, and you may wish to spray with repellent or try those made of bug repellant fabric)
• T-shirts, short-sleeved shirts or equivalent (2-3)
• Casual clothing for travel days and evenings, skirts for women may come in handy in the city
• Personal underclothing and pajamas
• Socks – lightweight and easy to wash and dry (Long enough to tuck your pants into, for protection from chiggers)
• Wool socks
• Comfortable walking/hiking shoes such as tennis shoes, and lightweight hiking boots – 2 pairs.  Please note that forest trails will be on uneven terrain and may be muddy – good tread and support are essential!
• Comfortable sandals or light shoes for evenings, travel days
• Good quality rain gear
• Heavy fleece jacket / sweater for highlands
• Gloves
• Knit cap and scarf
• Hat with broad brim
• Bandana (optional, great for cooling off when you are hot and sweaty)
• Field vest (optional), a great source is Big Pockets

Equipment & Miscellaneous

• Airline tickets or e-ticket verification
• Passport, visa (if required), travel insurance info, money & credit cards.
• A secure pouch to carry the items above on your person at all times (such as a secure, under-clothing document pouch)
• As a backup: copies of all the above (phone and/or paper) packed in a separate location than on your person, plus a set given to your emergency contact at home as a backup. For passport, copy of the  ID and entry stamp pages.
• Small daypack to carry your field gear while hiking
• Walking stick – (optional, but recommended if you have one, or we’ll try to cut you one on the trail)
• Umbrella – compact and not brightly colored
• Small flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries (important as cabins may be up the hill from our dining areas). Make sure this is in good working order.
• Alarm clock (if you use your phone, be sure to turn off data roaming)
• Sunscreen/Chapstick or equivalent
• Sunglasses with neck strap
• Insect repellent (something containing DEET, and sulphur powder or other for chiggers)
• Toiletry articles
• Binoculars (a shower cap is great to cover these when raining)
• Spotting scope and tripod (optional, your guide will have one)
• Camera and extra batteries, memory cards, lens cleaning supplies and your instruction manual
• Water bottle (or plan to refill one bought on location)
• Notebook or journal and pen (optional)
• Field guides (optional)
• Laundry soap if you plan to do hand washing
• Earplugs – in urban and even rural areas barking dogs and traffic noise can be annoying
• Gallon-size zip-lock bags to keep things dry
• Rechargeable power bank (optional)
• Steri-Pen or other UV water treatment device to help cut down on the use of plastic bottles (optional)
• A collapsible airplane footrest (such as an inflatable, foldable, or hammock type) may help make longer flights more comfortable. Some airlines may have restrictions, so confirm with your airline which types are allowed and where they may be not allowed, i.e. bulkhead or exit rows (optional)

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing, and your mind will be at ease!

Medical & First Aid Items

• Personal medication (and copy of vital prescriptions, including glasses – or have at easy reference to call or fax from home)
• Motion sickness preventatives if likely to be needed on bus, van, drives, etc.
• Personal first aid kit and medications for general ailments and stomach ailments
• Foot powder, lotions, general “comfort” items
• Band-Aids, moleskin to protect against blisters
• Antibacterial hand soap, small vial
• Heath insurance and vaccination information (kept in personal pouch with other travel documents)
• Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
• Altitude sickness medication (optional)

There are many titles of interest for Colombia; the following are a few that we have enjoyed as an introduction to the natural and cultural history of the country.

Top Picks

Birds of Colombia by Steven L. Hilty

Colombia: A paradise for birders: Stunning birds of the Andes: Hummingbirds, hawks, owls, tanagers, ducks, guans, woodpeckers, manakins, euphonias, quetzals and more

Helm Wildlife Guides: Birds of Colombia

Merlin App – Colombia Pack. A phone-based birding app from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Before departing the U.S., download the app for free, then from the app, download a "pack" for either "Colombia: All" or "Colombia: Andes".

The New Neotropical Companion

Field Guides

Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia

A Guide to the Birds of Colombia

Birds of Northern South America: An Identification Guide, Volume 2: Plates and Maps

Birdwatching in Colombia

Checklist of the Birds of Colombia

Wildlife & Nature

Birds of Tropical America. A Watcher’s Introduction to Behavior, Breeding, and Diversity

Tropical Nature

Colombia Natural Parks

History & Culture

The Making of Modern Colombia: A Nation in Spite of Itself

Colombia: A Concise Contemporary History

More Terrible Than Death: Drugs, Violence, and America's War in Colombia

Colombia - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Michelin Green Guide Colombia

National Geographic Traveler: Colombia

Colombian Spanish: Phrases, Expressions and Tips to Help You Speak Like a Local

Quick Guide to Colombian Spanish

Memoir/Non-Fiction

Colombia: A Rosen-Cooney Travel Story-No Passports Required: Bogota, the Coffee Zone, Cartagena, and Tayrona National Park

Your guide will have a selection of reference books and materials for participants to share. As an Amazon Associate, Naturalist Journeys earns from qualifying purchases, and may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no added cost to you.

General

Bogota

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogotá

Villavicencio

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villavicencio

Nature, Wildlife & Biology

Birding Colombia – Locations and Checklists

• https://fatbirder.com/world-birding/south-america/republic-of-colombia/

Avibase Bird Checklist of Colombia

• https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=CO

Conservation, Parks & Reserves

Chingaza National Park

• https://old.parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/en/ecotourism/orinoco-region/chingaza-national-natural-park/

Geology & Geography

Geology of Colombia – Encyclopedic Overview

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_Colombia

Geography of Colombia – Encyclopedic Overview

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Colombia

History & Culture

History of Colombia

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Colombia

Culture of Colombia

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Colombia

Pre-Colombian Civilizations

• https://www.monah.org/precolumbian-nonlinked

Food of Colombia

• https://www.southamerica.cl/Colombia/Food.htm
• Sancocho
  • https://blog.amigofoods.com/index.php/colombian-food/colombian-sancocho-colombiano/

Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (by UNESCO)

• https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1121/

Helpful Travel Websites

Arrival and Departure: El Dorado International Airport (BOG), Bogota

• https://eldorado.aero/en

National Passport Information Center

• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

Homeland Security Real ID Act

• https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• https://www.cbp.gov/travel

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• https://www.tsa.gov

Foreign Exchange Rates

• https://www.xe.com/

ATM Locator

• https://www.visa.com/atmlocator/
• https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/find-nearest-atm.html

U.S. Department of State International Travel Information – Colombia

• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Colombia.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Colombia

• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/colombia?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001

Canada Travel Advice and Advisories – Colombia

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/colombia

Travel Health Pro (UK) – Colombia

• https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/53/colombia

Electricity and Plugs – Colombia

• https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/colombia/

Date, Time, and Holidays – Colombia

• https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/colombia/pereira
• https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/colombia/