Your day begins early with a departure from Hotel Quo Quality to the Rio Blanco Nature Reserve, a short 20-minute drive away. Located just 3 km from Manizales, Rio Blanco is an ideal spot for bird photography, boasting 4,932 hectares of cloud forest ranging from 2,150 to 3,700 meters above sea level. This reserve plays a crucial role in conserving the water supply for Manizales’ residents and has historically recorded up to 517 bird species.

During your visit, you will explore ecological trails equipped with bird feeders attracting antpittas such as Grallaria milleri, Grallaria rufocinerea, and Grallaria ruficapilla. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed within the reserve, providing ample opportunities for photography amidst stunning natural backdrops. In the afternoon, you will return to Hotel Quo Quality in Manizales for dinner and overnight stay.

Hotel Quo Quality: https://quo.com.co/

Rio Blanco Nature Reserve eBird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2241379/bird-list

On this exciting day, you will embark early in the morning from Hotel Quo Quality to Hacienda El Bosque, one of the premier birding sites in Colombia’s coffee region. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to spotting stunning species, including the Grallaricula lineifrons, Ensifera ensifera, Buthraupis montana, and many more, with a remarkable record of up to 314 bird species documented in this area.

Breakfast and lunch will be served at Hacienda El Bosque, allowing you to savor the local flavors while surrounded by breathtaking scenery.  In the afternoon, you’ll return to Hotel Quo Quality for dinner and overnight stay. 

Hacienda El Bosque eBird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L7816358

This day will start with an early departure from Hotel Quo Quality to the Los Nevados National Park, where you’ll visit two key birding hotspots. The first stop will be Laguna Negra, where you can observe species such as Cinclodes excelsior, Oxyura ferruginea andina, Anas andium andium, Catamenia homochroa, and Asthenes flammulata. The second stop will be the Brisas zone, known for birds like Atlapetes pallidinucha, Oxypogon stuebelii (a highlight), Geranoaetus melanoleucus, Ochthoeca fumicolor, and Asthenes flammulata. In the afternoon, you’ll return to Hotel Quo Quality for dinner and rest.

Laguna Negra eBird Hotspot: Laguna Negra eBird

Brisas Sector eBird Hotspot: Brisas Sector eBird 

After breakfast at Hotel Quo Quality, you will depart for Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, a journey of approximately 1.5 hours. It is recommended to schedule an afternoon flight to allow ample time to arrive at the airport. We hope you’ve enjoyed this unforgettable birding experience in Colombia’s coffee region and look forward to hosting you again!