Andean

The Andean region, located in central Colombia, is the most populated natural region of Colombia. With many mountains, the Andes contain most of the country’s urban centers. They were also the location of the most significant pre-Columbian indigenous settlements. Beyond the Colombian Massif in the south-western departments of Cauca and Nariño, the Colombian Andes divide into three branches known as «cordilleras» (from the Spanish for mountain range): the West Andes run adjacent to the Pacific coast and is home to the city of Cali. The Central Andes run up the center of the country between the Cauca and Magdalena river valleys (to the west and east respectively) and includes the cities of Medellín, Manizales and Pereira. The East Andes extend northeast towards the Guajira Peninsula, and includes the cities of Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta.

Ecosystems

Dry Forest, Rainforest, Mountain Forest, Páramo.

Climate

Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate. Raining.

Altitude

500 – 4200 MSL

Experience

Coffee culture, Music, gastronomy, landscape, festivals, traditional towns, beerding, Market place

Representative Birds

Routes

Central Andes

The Central Andes is the highest of the three branches of the Colombian Andes.

The range is bounded by the Cauca and Magdalena river valleys to the west and east, respectively.

The Cauca Valley montane forests ecoregion covers the western slope of the range. The Magdalena Valley montane forests cover the eastern slopes and the northern end of the cordillera. The Northern Andean páramo covers the highest elevations.

West Andes

The West Andes is the lowest in elevation of the three branches of the Colombian Andes. The average altitude is 2,000 m (6,600 ft) and the highest peak is Cerro Tatamá at 4,100 m (13,500 ft).

A number of ecoregions cover the cordillera. The Chocó–Darién moist forests cover the western foothills below 1000 meters elevation. The Northwestern Andean montane forests cover the humid western slopes of the range. The Cauca Valley montane forests cover the eastern slopes. Northern Andean páramo covers the highest elevations.

East Andes

The East Andes is the widest of the three branches of the Colombian Andes. The range extends from south to north dividing from the Colombian Massif in Huila Department to Norte de Santander Department where it splits into the Serranía del Perijá.

Within it, the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (with the only snowy peaks in this mountain range) stand out. The mountain range contains the most páramos in the world.

Experiences

Colombia features rich culture, gastronomy, music and wide and diverse geography. This diversity guarantees to translate into a wonderful life experience.

Barista

Live an experience with a barista to learn more about coffee culture and its different preparations.

Salsa Dancing or Tango Dancing

Salsa show presented at the 1st Cabaret Latino of Colombia with a tribute to the great stars of the dance. You can enjoy a night that will surely transform the way you feel Latin music and culture in Cali, the salsa capital of the world.

Plan for Her

While your partner goes birding with Mauro, Niky will take you in the morning to the best spa in the region and then an afternoon of shopping.

Herping

A night of photography with a guide specializing in herpets.

Traditional Town

During our bird watching tours we will visit a small traditional village with colonial houses with balconies and vivid colors.

Market Place

Walking through the corridors of the Alameda Gallery is to stray into the smells of the countryside and be enchanted by the colors of the fresh fruits and vegetables of the region. Visiting this market is also a way to get in touch with the rural spirit of the region and with the cheerfulness and outgoing nature that Colombians are known for. Sellers offer you their products and give samples, people tell jokes and look for conversation. A whole social experience.

Bird Friendly Coffee Farm

Visit a shaded coffee farm that is bird friendly and learn about the whole process of growing and producing coffee.

Beerding

A workshop to learn more about local beers with an experts certified as Host Brewers by the international organization Cicerone.

Unusual Cuisine

Private dining room of original cuisine inspired on travels. This is not in itself a place, a table or a restaurant. It is a unique experience of concept food that intermingled the influences of various cuisines of the world through several magical moments that seduce the palate. it does not make a lot of sense!!

Orchids & Green Magic

Get ready for an unforgettable botanical experience in one of Colombia’s most spectacular gardens. This tour takes you through one of the largest living orchid collections in the world, with over 20,000 plants and around 1,000 in bloom at any given time.

You’ll walk along a lush ecological trail filled with mosses, anthuriums, bromeliads and ferns, in a setting that feels straight out of a fairytale.

And to complete the magic, you’ll visit a beautiful hummingbird garden, where these winged jewels hover close, offering breathtaking photo opportunities.

An experience to reconnect with beauty, peace, and the silent miracles that bloom all around us.

Landscapes

Nevados National Park

La Cocha Lagoon

Calima Lake

Black Lagoon

Trampolin de las aves

Tatacoa desert

Termals water

Bambuca River Canyon

Festivals

January

Blacks and Whites Carnival

Locals paint their faces black one day and white the next. These are the two principal days of the Blacks and Whites Carnival, which since 2009 is part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage. The celebrations, which take place from the 2nd to the 7th of January, are famous for giant figures made by local artisans walking through the streets of the city.

Pasto/Nariño

January/2025

Riosucio’s Carnival

Riosucio’s principal attraction is the Riosucio’s Carnival, also known as the Carnival of the Devil, that takes place every two years (in odd-numbered years) in early January. It is one of the best known and most popular carnivals in Colombia

Riosucio/Caldas