Tours
Be part of a unique experience to help fight against the destruction of the Choco lowland rainforest, global warming and biofuels. Learn about the past, present and future of the jungle while enjoying one of the ten most bio diverse hotspots in the world.
Go Bird watching and herping in one of the 50 hotspots in the world for both and observe wildlife in its natural habitat with a high probability of seeing endemic and endangered species.
The Chocó Region extends from the south of Panama to the northwest of Ecuador, along the Pacific coast, and up to the western slopes of the Andes. It is one of the most bio diverse places on Earth, yet mostly unknown. Only 5% of this forest is left in Ecuador and less than 50% in Colombia. This paradise has been continuously deforested over the last 50 years. Many excuses are behind its destruction. Because the jungle was thought to be an endless green desert, Ecuador enacted a law in 1969 which mandated the clear cutting of forests by settlers so they could have a title of property. If settlers did not comply, the government would take back the land and give it to someone who would cut it. Shortly after the law was placed, big and small logging companies helped destroy the forest which continues to this day.
Additionally, the little remnant of the western lowlands jungle is succumbing to the idea of producing agro fuels to replace fossil fuels; thousands of hectares of rainforest are being replaced by African Palm Plantations to produce cheap and unhealthy cooking oil, cosmetics, and the monster of the century, biodiesel. This ultimate forest assassin, is killing the habitat of millions of species while taking away the land used for the people to produce their food, maintain their heritage and food sovereignty.
Take a tour of the true pristine rainforest areas before they lose their magic.
Tours in
Ecuador and Colombia
A trip to Ecuador or Colombia would not be complete without observing and learning about the magnificent and diverse plants, birds and other wildlife that inhabit one of the Earth’s most lush and vibrant Rainforests. Visit our reserve which has species of flowers, fruit trees, and orchids. See how the forest regenerates with great effort of a few people, but also see its destruction by many others. Enjoy rivers and waterfalls, jungles, mangroves traditional music, culinary diversity, culture and make your own chocolate. Our tours have been recommended by many travel guides including Lonely Planet, Footprint, plus various organizations and Eco tour companies throughout the world.
The tours are guided by Raul Nieto, a rainforest advocate who holds a graduate degree in Field Biology, with over 35 years of experience in the region as well as Gilberto Collazos, a licensed and experienced bird guide.
A Jungle Experience in the
Ecuadorian Choco Region
Puerto Quito / Canande
Western Lowland Rainforest
Two Day Tour
Puerto Quito
It is very educational experience to learn about the rainforest’s diverse ecology system, hike a patch of regenerating secondary forest and a piece of primary one, observe birds and other wildlife in its natural environment.
Arrival
You need to arrive the evening before, have dinner, learn about the biodiversity of the rainforest, its varied wildlife and the culture of the region.
Day One
- Breakfast includes fresh local fruits and home grown coffee
- Walk around the botanical garden, the fruit trees and orchids
- Hike to the secondary and primary forests to see their difference.
- Lunch
- Afternoon walk to see the cacao and coffee trees,
- Dinner, night walk to the forest (optional)
Two Day Tour
Breakfast
Walk to see the negative human impact on the region mainly due to the introduction of African palm plantations.
Lunch
Make and sample your own chocolate from cocoa seeds
Price
It is $150 dollars per person, minimum 2 people. It includes rooms with bathroom, all meals, the guide, walks. It does not include transportation to and from Puerto Quito.
Six Day Tour
Puerto Quito / Canande Jungle
Adventure & Wildlife Watch
This is one of the few options to see a real jungle. To do so, you have to hike for hours into the deep forest; otherwise, most likely you will just see a secondary forest, if roads or rivers are 2 hours or closer away from your destination.
Observe monkeys, toucans, birds and possibly jaguars in their native habitat as well as other mammals. Swim in pristine streams and waterfalls. Hike into the real jungle, away from spoiled tourist areas, camp in tents on our wooden platform.
Day One
Arrive to Puerto Quito in the afternoon pack for the next day.
Discuss the area’s history and biodiversity over dinner.
Day Two
Early get up, to travel one hour by car to Cristobal Colon, located 40km north of Puerto Quito.
Hike mostly virgin forest during 8 hours to our jungle cabin, spot many birds and other wildlife on the way. (Horses carry all supplies)
Set up tents, build fire, dinner, talk of our day’s experiences, card games, etc
Day Three
Walk down the river, swim, enjoy waterfalls, observe the diverse unspoiled nature
Return to camp, dinner, relax, and get ready for night.
Day Four
Walk through the jungle, observe animals and examine tracks
Return to camp, relax, enjoy dinner.
Discuss observations of the day, get ready for night.
Night walk
Day five
Pack up camp, hike out of the jungle back to Cristobal Colon
Ride Back to Puerto Quito arriving before dinner live music with the children of our school of traditional music, Prepare dinner, relax, and get ready for night, discussion of the day.
Day Six
Breakfast includes fresh local fruits and home grown coffee
Make your own chocolate from cacao seeds
End of the visit at noon
Price
It is $500 each person, minimum 2 people. This trip is for 2 or more people. It includes all meals, camping equipment, pack horses & guide. Price does not include transportation to and from Puerto Quito.
four Day Tour
Choco tours Colombia Timbiqui – Cauca
Day One
Gather in at Carrera 9, #3-09, San Antonio, Cali at Itapoa’s headquarters in that morning. Depart from Cali at noon by plane directly to Timbiqui. It is a 40 minute flight.
Arrive in the afternoon where you will learn about the region. Have dinner, local drinks and music at night.
Day Two
Take a boat ride to the mangroves and San Miguel de La Mar. Swim and enjoying traditional ways of sea food cooking, bird watching. Return to Timbiqui, dinner, drinks.
Day three
Morning walk to see the Golden Dart Frog in the forest.
Lunch
Afternoon boat ride up the river to San Miguel del Rio. Get involved in different activities of the community. Find handcrafts. Local dinner cooked by the woman of the community
Day four
Early breakfast and take the plane back to San Antonio, Cali. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate made from our own cacao trees and learn about chocolate.
Price
It is $500 USD per person. It includes everything to and from San Antonio, Cali except alcoholic drinks (aside from the traditional ones offered as part of the tour).
Customized tours in Colombia and Ecuador
Travel both countries in comfortable 4 x 4 SUV’S with expert guides in bird watching, herpetology and adventure. We offer a great number of destinations in both countries in order to discover natural settings as well as cultural ones. Be part of an incredible experience exploring Nature and Culture.
Destinations and fees are established after discussing the priorities of the customers in either country or both. We work with expert multilingual guides and local communities.
Our tours include mountain bikes and surfing gear for different destinations and preferences with expert bikers and surfers.
ECUADOR
Our highlights are:
- The Volcano Avenue in the Ecuadorian Andes including indigenous markets
- Cajas National Park
- Chimborazo National Park
- Machalilla National Park
- Cotopaxi National Park
- Magrooves in Muisne and San Lorenzo
COLOMBIA
Our highlights are:
- The Coffee Region
- Learn to Salsa in Cali
- Purace Natural Park
- San Agustin
- Los Farallones Natural Park
- Guatape
- Popayan
- Uramba Natural Park
- San Cipriano
- Cartagena
- Tayrona Natural Park and Sierra Nevada
- Mompos
- Villa de Neiva
- Cano Cristales
- Santa Isabel
- Santa Fe de Antioquia
Choco – Poison Frog Expedition: Customized Sample Tour
12 days, 11 nights
6 Locations
Cali – Anchicayá – Buenaventura (San Cipriano) – Timbiquí – Cali- Santa Cecilia-Quibdó – Nuquí-Cali
Price: $5000/pp with a minimum of two people
- Deadline deposit: usually two months before the expedition and is 50%
- Deadline full payment: usually two weeks before the expedition and is the remaining 50%
Amount of people: 2+
Activity level: 6.5/10.
- Accommodations: Throughout the expedition, you’ll stay in different kinds of accommodations, in shared rooms. These accommodations are totally out of touristic routes and probably not possible to get single rooms. Upon request, we can offer those for an extra cost when possible.
- The regions we will be exploring are not designed for mainstream tourism, so we will not have access to standard amenities or typical tourist-friendly dining options.
Duration: 11 nights, daily walks: 1 to 4 hours.
We will embark on daytime walks to observe the desired species, as well as selected nocturnal excursions to further enhance our encounters with the desired Dendrobatid diversity and more.
Team: Private expert guides (in herpetology and photography) will accompany you throughout the trip, and local guides will meet with you along the way.
Transportation: All transportation included from day 1 arrival to day of departure.
Expedition Guides: Raul Nieto and Gilberto Collazos
Itinerary
Day 1: Cali
- Arrive in Cali and check in at a hotel
- Rest
Day 2: Anchicayá
- Transit from Cali to Anchicayá by car(45 min)
- Day herping (species: Oophaga lehmani, O. anchicayensis, Andinobates fulguritus, A. bombetes)
- Overnight stay in Anchicayá
Day 3: Anchicayá
- Day herping in Anchicayá. (species: Oophaga lehmani, O. anchicayensis, Andinobates fulguritus)
- Overnight stay in Anchicayá
Day 4: Anchicayá / San Cipriano-Cali
- Travel from Anchicayá to San Cipriano, and back to Cali (6 hours).
- Day herping (species: Phyllobates samperi).
- Overnight stay in Cali.
- Brujita
- Entrance to San Cipriano
- Guide
Day 5: Cali / Timbiqui
- Flight from Cali to Timbiqui (1 hour)
- Day herping (species: Phyllobates terribilis, Oophaga sylvatica (2 morphs),
- O. occultator, Andinobates minutus.
- Overnight stay in Timbiqui
Guide:Venancio
Day 6: Timbiqui
- Day herping in Timbiqui (Phyllobates terribilis, Oophaga sylvatica (2 morphs), Andinobates minutus)
- Overnight stay in Timbiqui
- guide Venencio
Day 7 : Timbiqui / Cali-Santa Cecilia
- Flight from Timbiqui to Cali, then to Choco Department
- Day herping (species: one morphs of Oophaga histrionica) Morfo rojo Santa cecilia
Day 8: Santa Cecilia-Quibdó
- Oophaga andresi and optional Phyllobates bicolor (needs extra time for a 3 hour walk back and forth from observation site)
Day 9: Quibdó / Nuquí
- Flight from Quibdó to Nuquí (30 minutes)
- Day and night herping (species: Oophaga solanensis, Atelopus spurrelli, Dendrobates auratus, Andinobates fulguritus (other morph)
- Overnight stay in Nuquí.
- Transportation
Day 10: Nuquí
- Day herping in Nuquí (species: Oophaga solanensis, Atelopus spurrelli, Dendrobates auratus, Andinobates fulguritus (other morph), Lachesis acrochorda, Glassfrogs, Agalychnis terranova)
- Overnight stay in Nuquí.
Day 11: Nuquí
- Day herping in Nuquí *
- Overnight stay in Nuquí
Day 12: Nuquí / Cali
- Flight from Nuquí to Cali
- Overnight stay in the city
- Taxis hotel
- Airport transport
- End of trip.
Please note that the itinerary is completely customizable to the desires of the traveler and all of the herping days will include bird watching.
List of Target species:
- Oophaga lehmani (2 morphs)
- Oophaga anchicayensis
- Andinobates fulguritus (2 morphs)
- Andinobates bombetes
- Phyllobates “samperi”
- Phyllobates terribilis
- Oophaga sylvatica (2 morphs)
- Oophaga occultator
- Oophaga andresi
- Andinobates minutus
- Oophaga histrionica (several morphs)
- Oophaga solanensis
- Atelopus spurrelli
- Dendrobates auratus
- Lachesis acrochorda
- Glass frogs (see list at the end)
What is included
- Transport from the airport to all the locations and back to the airport
- 5 internal flights
- Guides specialized in herpetology, ornithology, and photography.
- Local guides
- Stay at hotels (in doubles or triples), lodges, and/or rooms.
- All entrances to National Parks and private reserves.
- 3 meals per day with beverages (Non-alcoholic drinks included).
What is not included
- Flight from Origin to Colombia and return to origin.
- Travel insurance (obligatory)
- Tips
Necessary gear
- Waterproof trekking boots or rubber boots
- Headlamp
- Camera gear (if interested in photography)
- Insect repellent (preferably no DEET)
- Raincoat
- Water bottle.
- Travel insurance (this is an obligatory requirement).
Notes
- Medications should be taken with you since pharmacy supplies are unknown
- -If you have any food restrictions, please advise with time. We will do our best to offer a variety of healthy food selections when available locally, but keep in mind we will be in rural areas out of the tourist path. You may bring protein bars or snacks if you would like.
- -Travel as light as possible. Many flights are with small planes that can be very strict with passenger equipment.
Birding Tour: Customized Sample Tour
10 days, 9 nights
6 Locations
Cali – La Florida – Upper Anchicaya – Lower Anchicaya – Manizales – Pereira
**Please note this is a sample tour which is customizable.
Price per day per group:
- Guide: $120/day for a group of 1-2 people and $300/day for a group of 3+
- Local Guide: $60/day
- Driver: $50/day
Deadline deposit: 50% two months before the tour
Deadline full payment: Remaining 50% two weeks before the tour
Amount of people: 2+
Activity level: 4.5/10
Accommodations: Throughout the excursion, you’ll stay in single or shared rooms, depending on availability
Duration: 9 nights, daily walks: 4-8 hours.
We will embark on daytime walks to observe the desired species
Team: Private expert guide, Gilberto Collazos (in ornithology and photography) will accompany you throughout the trip
Transportation: All transportation included from day 1 arrival to the day of departure.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cali – la Florida km 18
- Arrive in Cali and drive to La Florida
- Hotel stay in La Florida
- Rest
Day 2: La Florida, the Hummingbird Paradise
- Target sightings: Multicolored Tanager, Chestnut wood quail, Little Tinamou, Scaled Ant Pita, White Booted Racket Tail, Blue Headed Sapphire, Colombian Chachalaca, Longtailed Sylph, Golden- winged Manakin
- Overnight stay in Casa Francia, Queremal
Day 3: Upper Anchicayá (Old Buenaventura Road) to visit Dona Dora
- Target sightings: Empress Brilliant, Rufous Gaped Hillstar, Choco Brush-Finch, Black-headed Brush-Finch, Lita Woodpecker, Toucan Barbet, Glistening Green Tanager, Velvet Purple Coronet, Spot-Crowned Barbet, Rufous-Throated Tanager, Black-Chinned Mountain tanager, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Green Thorn Tailed
- Overnight stay at Casa Francia, Queremal
Day 4: Lower Anchicayá
- Targeted Sightings: Scarlet and White Tanager, Golden-Chested Tanager, Choco, To=rogon, White-Headed Wren, Slaty-Capped Shrike Vireo, Stub-Tailed Antbird, Emerald Antbird, Barred Puff Bird
- Overnight Stay at Araucana Lodge
Day 5: San Cipriano
- Target Sightings: Five-Colored Barbet, Black-Tipped Cotinga, Ocellated Antbird, Choco Toucan, Blue-Whiskered Tanager, Choco Stretched Owl, Stub-Tailed Antbird, Pacific Ant Wren
- Overnight Stay at La Huerta in Calima
Day 6: Travel to Manizales/Sonso Lagoon stop
- 5 hour non-stop drive
- 9-hour stop at the Sonso Lagoon
- Target sightings: Little Coockoo, Oriol Blackbird, Grayish Picoulett, Tropical Skreetched Owl, Common, Potoo, Horned Screamer, Cocoa woodpecker, Pied Water Tirant, Marked cardinal, Apical Flycatcher, Jet Antbird
- Overnight in Hotel Recinto del Pensamiento or Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco in Caldas
Day 7: Rio Blanco
- Target Sightings: Brown-banned Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Max saltator, Green and Black Fruiteater, Grass-green Tanager, White-throated Daggerbill, White-bellied woodstar, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-plumed Parakeet
- Overnight stay in Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco in Caldas
Day 8: Hacienda El Bosque, Caldas
- Target Sightings: Equatorial Antpitta, Crescent-faced Antpitta, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Andean Guan, Sickle-winged Guan, White-throated Quail Dove, Bared Fruiteater, Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Grass Wren, Mountain Wren
- Overnight stay at Hacienda El Bosque or Termales Del Ruiz
Day 9: Nevado del Ruiz/ Hotel Termales Del Ruiz
- Target Sightings: Buffy Helmet Crest, Stout-bille Cinclodes, Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Great Sapphire Wing, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Golden-breasted Puffleck, Pale-naped Brushfinch, Rainbow-beard Thornbill
- Hotel Termales Del Ruiz
Day 10: Drive to Pereira where the tour ends
What is included
- Transport from the airport to all the locations and ending in Pereira
- Private Guide
- Local guides
- Stay at hotels (in doubles or triples), lodges, and/or rooms.
- All entrances to National Parks and private reserves.
- 3 meals per day with beverages (Non-alcoholic drinks included).
What is not included
- Flight to and from Colombia
- Travel insurance
- Tips
Necessary gear
- Comfortable footwear
- Camera gear and equipment (If you are into photography)
- Insect repellent (preferably no DEET)
- Raincoat
- Water bottle.
- Travel insurance (this is an obligatory requirement).
Notes
- Please bring your medicines.
- Let us know about food allergies. If you follow a special diet, please bring any snacks/protein bars/etc. that you might need. We provide healthy and nutritious meals at each destination but can not guarantee special diet needs can be met.
Birding and Herping Tours can be combined for groups interested in day and evening adventures. Please contact Raul Nieto to learn how to maximize your trip!
Tours in
Surfing in Colombia and Ecuador
YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR “MEET JUNGLES AND WAVES TRIPS”
5-10 day Specialized Surfing, Birding and Herping tours in Colombia and Ecuador with expert surf guides and instructors
1. Colombia: Nuqui, Ladrilleros, Juanchaco and others from May to October during south waves season.
2. Ecuador: Ayampe, Montañita, Santa Marianita, Las Tunas, etc from December to April during north waves season.
