Birding · Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Birding in Tuluá, Valle del Cauca
A dawn birding walk at Los Chagualos Nature Reserve, two hours by road from Cali: dry forest, a lagoon and a local guide. Stay the night at the reserve and be on the trail at first light.
Target species
Colombian endemics and near endemics
Birds found only in Colombia, or hardly anywhere else, all recorded in the reserve's dry forest and around its lagoon.
Full list of the 122 species (in Spanish, with scientific names) →
The walk
How it works
Start at dawn
Birds are most active in the first hours of the day. Sleep at the reserve the night before and walk out as it gets light, with no early drive.
Walk the forest trail
The trail runs through the forest, where canopy and understory birds concentrate. We walk slowly and quietly, stopping whenever something calls.
Reach the lagoon
Water brings in species you won't see among the trees: ducks, herons and the flocks that arrive late in the day. Forest and lagoon on the same property make for a longer day list.
Log the day's list
At the end we put together the day's checklist as a group. The guide helps confirm the tricky identifications, which tend to be the most interesting ones.
Where we are
Valle del Cauca is one of the best places in the world to go birding
Colombia has more bird species than any other country, and Valle del Cauca is one of its richest departments, with close to a thousand species recorded.
The reason is geography. The Cauca River valley runs between two Andean ranges, so within a few kilometres you go from the flat valley floor to montane forest, and each elevation band has its own birds. Add the migrants that come down from the north every season.
The reserve sits in that corridor, with protected forest and a lagoon on the same 250 hectares, including tropical dry forest, one of the most threatened ecosystems in Colombia.
Before you come
Good to know
Coming to the Cali birdfairs?
Cali hosts the World Birdfair, the South American Bird Fair and Colombia Birdfair in 2027. The reserve is two hours from Cali by road, an easy extra day before or after the fair.
Stay here
The reserve's farmhouse sleeps up to 20 people. Staying the night before solves the hardest part of birding: being on site before sunrise.
Groups and length
One day, for groups of 8 people or more: the walk takes the morning and the day continues around the reserve. Fewer of you? We'll let you know when a group comes together.
What to bring
Binoculars if you have them, neutral-coloured clothes, closed shoes with good grip, a cap and water. No perfume or bright clothing.
Plan your birding day
Tell us how many you are and your dates. We'll reply with a proposal for your group.