Orinoco river basin: Inirida - land of many water.

Inirida is situated in the extreme east of Colombia (30km from the border of Venezuela), at the confluence of the Inírida River and Guaviare River. Inírida lies in the Colombian Amazon region and is an amazing place for birding since this area has some of the best types of white-sand and varzea forest sites that host many scarce, rare, and seldom-seen specialties. Inirida is the capital city of Guainia department, locally known in Yuri language: "Land of many waters" because of its powerful waterways. Back in the nineteenth century the scientist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt chronicled his awe for the lush tropical terrain of this region and proclaimed the Raudal de Maypures torrents in Tuparro National Park to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World” 

You will be birding on land and water in company of local guides that know perfectly the area and the targets there, visiting some indigenous communities that have well marked trails and incredible pristine forest.

Flight to Inirida is operated only for one airline, sometimes the operation schedule can be change. In this case the logistics will be adjusted. 

Upon arriving in the city of Bogotá, you will be transferred to a comfortable hotel in the city. Here you will be met for a welcome dinner by tour leader with time to talk through some of the exciting adventures to come, including details about the flight tomorrow to Inírida.

 Accommodation at Hotel   Hilton Garden Inn Aeropuerto .

 Dinner included at the hotel from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm 

Our morning flight into Inírida is under two hours in duration. After arrival, we will get settled into our hotel, and then head out into the field for some afternoon birding at one of the nearby hotspots. Some of the first birds we encounter often include common species such as Large-billed Tern, Swallow-winged Puffbird, brown jacamar, Cobalt-winged Parakeets, and Yellow-headed Caracara. When the sun gets lower we’ll search for Spotted Puffbird and then as dusk settles around us, we’ll watch the Orange-winged Parrots, and the Scarlet and the Red-and-Green Macaws as they head for roost spots, and we’ll hope to snag sightings of Least Nighthawk too. After check-in today we can settle for the week, as we will spend all our nights at the same hotel until we return to Bogota on Day 6. 

 Accommodation and dinner at Fuente del Guania Hotel 

Perhaps the most species-rich hotspot of the trip, combining rural roadside birding with white sand savanna and white sand forest birding, Sabanitas provides a big bunch of birds, right out of the gate. Sabanitas is an indigenous community that welcomes birders to enjoy their land, and some days here when the weather is suitable we may top 100 species. One of our big targets here is the odd and unpredictable Capuchinbird. A crow-sized, crazy-looking cotinga, with a bald head and orange-brown plumage, they issue out incredibly loud somewhat cow-like sounds. We’ll hope to hear them, as the sound is remarkable, and keep fingers and toes crossed that we might even see one, but along the way there are plenty of other birds to keep us busy. Out in the savanna Southern Rough-winged Swallows and Short-tailed Swifts whizz around, while macaws may be seen coming and going. The meadow area sometimes has Plumbeous Euphonia, Cherrie’s Antwren, Yellow-green Grosbeak or even Pale-bellied Mourner. Once in the woods, we’ll hope for Yellow-crowned Manakin and Pompadour Cotinga, as the Screaming Pihas make their exclamatory cries. Lunch will be out in the field today, and we’ll return to the hotel before dinner.

This morning’s outing is to Matraca, one of the best stretches of várzea forest we’ll see here during our visit. After a short 5-minute canoe ride we will spend our morning on foot walking a lovely trail in primary forest. Here we have a chance for Orinoco Softtail and Black Bushbird, and a myriad of other great birds including, Green-tailed Jacamar, Black-fronted Nunbird, Gilded Barbet, Várzea Schiffornis, Cream-colored Woodpecker, and five or so species of antshrikes.

We’ll return to the hotel for lunch and after a brief siesta we will head back out on the river, birding by canoe. The Inírida River is the largest tributary of the Guaviare River, which it joins just north of town. Both are tributaries of the massive 1300+ mile long Orinoco River, which eventually flows out into the Atlantic on the coast of Venezuela. This is the third largest river in the world when measured by the volume of water it discharges. The drainage spans most of Venezuela and much of eastern Colombia where it is referred to as Orinoquia, one of five major bioregions within Colombia. We’ll explore the river as well as a narrow offshoot of the Rio Inírida to see what we find. With luck we might encounter Black-chinned Antbird, Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Orinoco Piculet, Slate-colored Hawk, or even a Duida Woodcreeper. We will stay out a little beyond sunset a little while and see if perhaps we can pick out a Boat-billed Heron or some feeding Band-tailed Nighthawks, before returning to the hotel for dinner.

A 90 minute boat-ride downriver, we will visit the remarkable Cerros de Mavecure, and see the black domes, and enjoy the scenery and birders around them. Weathered and worn tepuis, it is possible to hike up the smallest of these mountains, but it is very steep and usually extremely hot as well. To get to the top is a very rigorous uphill climb (involving ladders against part of the rock face), but to reach the lower edge, is not too far. We’ll have options for those who wish to try this steep but short hike, and for those who’d prefer to relax along the river. Regardless, there will be excellent scenery and some birds too. Recently featured in the Oscar-nominated (2016) film, “El Abrazo de la Serpiente” (‘The Embrace of the Serpent’), these hills are held sacred by the Amerindians living in the area and are startlingly beautiful. 

 Typically return flights to Bogotá are mid-morning, so we may enjoy a final bit of birding in the morning before we depart, but today is mostly set aside for travel 

 Early breakfast at the hotel Morning birding Rincón Vitina 

 arrival in Bogotá transfer to Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Aeropuerto 

 Breakfast at the hotel Flight to Pereira