Birds of the Magdalena River Valley Dry Forest

Join a guided birdwatching experience where careful observation becomes a way to discover, learn, and connect with the landscape. At Finca Los Cactos, local knowledge, interpretation, and encounters with the people who care for this special place reveal a different side of birdwatching in Colombia, offering travelers a meaningful experience that complements other high-Andean and cloud-forest birdwatching destinations around Bogotá.

Birdwatching in Colombia’s Tropical Dry Forest

On the western slopes of the Eastern Andes lies Finca Los Cactos in Apulo, a municipality in Cundinamarca, Colombia. Located in the Magdalena River Valley, this area preserves an important ecosystem now at risk: the tropical dry forest, one of the country’s most distinctive and threatened habitats and an emerging destination for birdwatching in Colombia, where visitors can discover remarkable birds of Colombia in a unique lowland environment.

Discover the Birds of the Magdalena River Valley

Birdwatching at Finca Los Cactos offers the opportunity to encounter lowland birds while walking through a well-preserved tropical dry forest. Visitors also experience the hospitality of the landowners, who live deeply connected to this warm landscape and its constant birdsong, creating an authentic birdwatching experience in Colombia for travelers interested in nature, conservation, and the remarkable biodiversity of the Magdalena River Valley.

Target Bird Species Recorded at Finca Los Cactos

Endemic species (E)

Apical Flycatcher, Velvet-fronted Euphonia and Colombian Chachalaca.

Near-endemic species

Spectacled Parrotlet, Scrub Tanager, Shining-green Hummingbird, Red-billed Emerald and Black-bellied Wren.

Additional species

Little Tinamou, White-tipped Dove, Common Ground Dove, Ruddy Ground Dove, Plain-breasted Ground Dove, Striped Cuckoo, Squirrel Cuckoo, Pale-bellied Hermit, White-vented Plumeleteer, Bicolored Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Whooping Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Olivaceous Piculet, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Collared Forest-Falcon, Laughing Falcon, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, American Kestrel, Bat Falcon, Aplomado Falcon, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned Parrot, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Barred Antshrike, Black-crowned antshrike, White-bearded Manakin,  Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Tropical Kingbird, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren,  Thick-billed Euphonia,  Shiny Cowbird, Yellow Oriole, Tropical Parula, Bananaquit,,  Bay-headed Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Black-faced Dacnis and more.

Conservation Status of Recorded Bird Species

• Critically endangered (CR): None recorded
• Endangered (EN): None recorded
• Vulnerable (VU): None recorded
• Near Threatened (NT): None recorded
• Data Deficient (DD): None recorded

Austral species migratory (Typically May – September)

Fork-tailed Flycatcher.

Boreal species migratory (Typically September – April)

Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Merlin, Western Wood Pewee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Bank Swallow, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager.

Tour Information

What’s Included in Your Los Cactos Birdwatching Experience

Included Services

Transportation and Access

• Round-trip terrestrial transportation from your hotel in Bogotá to Los Cactos and back.
• Entrance tickets to Finca Los Cactos.
• Management of access permits required for protected natural areas.

Food, Hydration and Comfort

• Breakfast.
• Lunch.
• Snacks and hydration during the activity.
• Drinking water available throughout the experience.
• An exclusive comfort accessory specially designed to enhance your journey and provide a more enjoyable experience in the dry forest environment.

Professional Guidance, Planning and Support

• Medical assistance card during the activity.
• Professional birding guide providing personalized guidance and expert interpretation of tropical dry forest, biodiversity, and conservation throughout the tour.
• Complete administrative management, experience planning, and operational coordination to ensure a safe, organized, and memorable birdwatching experience.

What’s Not Included

The plan does not include

• Services or activities not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
• Personal expenses and items of personal use.
• Medical expenses beyond the coverage provided by the travel assistance card.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Tips or gratuities, which are voluntary and provided at the guest’s discretion.
• Additional costs or itinerary changes resulting from circumstances beyond our control.

Why Travel with Raíces Profundas?

• Small groups for a more personalized birdwatching experience.
• Professional local birding guides.
• Responsible nature tourism focused on conservation.
• Interpretation of biodiversity, geology, and Andean ecosystems.
• Comfortable transportation from Bogotá.
• Carefully designed itineraries that maximize birdwatching opportunities.

Recommendations for Los Cactos Birdwatching Experience

To ensure a safe, comfortable, and rewarding birdwatching experience, we recommend following these guidelines throughout your visit to the dry forest environment.

• Punctuality: Please arrive at the meeting point at the scheduled time. This allows us to follow the planned itinerary, maximize birdwatching opportunities, and provide a smooth experience throughout the day.
• Clothing and Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing suitable for hot and humid mountain conditions. We recommend bringing a rain jacket and avoiding jeans, as they are not ideal for dry environments. Additional recommended items include a cap or hat, and other accessories suitable for changing weather conditions.
• Personal Care: Bring sunscreen, personal hygiene items, insect repellent, and one or two reusable bags to collect any personal waste generated during the activity. If you take prescribed medication, remember to bring it with you.
• Personal Belongings: For greater comfort during transportation and the activity, we recommend traveling with a suitcase rather than backpacks or handbags. If you are traveling with a group, each participant should carry their own belongings to distribute weight properly. Rolling suitcases are not recommended due to the natural conditions of some areas.
• Food and Hydration: Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and hydration are included during the experience. You may also bring additional personal snacks if you require extra energy during the activity. Drinking water will be available throughout the tour.
• Documents: Please carry your passport and any personal documents required during your visit. Remember that your experience includes a travel assistance card covering health-related emergencies during the activity.
• Money: Bring the amount of money you consider necessary, especially if you wish to purchase local products, traditional foods, or support local initiatives during your visit.

Responsible Birdwatching Guidelines

To help protect the biodiversity of Finca Los Cactos and preserve the tranquility of this unique Tropical Dry Forest environment, we kindly ask visitors to follow these guidelines:

• Do not participate in the activity under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive substances.
• Do not bring pets or other animal species into the natural areas.
• Avoid carrying radios or any objects that may generate noise and disturb wildlife observation.

Do you have questions or want to make a reservation? Contact us! Our advisors will provide you with all the information you need. 

Discover more places where Colombia’s biodiversity reveals its hidden stories. Continue your journey through nature, culture, and conservation.