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NATIVE EXPEDITIONS
Biological, cultural and adventure expeditions
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Biological and Trekking/4x4 Expedition
Sierra Nevada Santa Marta - Guajira Peninsula
Welcome to one of the most biodiverse places on earth! Colombia, Possessor of all types of climates, a wide variety of ecosystems such as Thorny Scrub, dry forest, rainforest, cloud forest, swamps, coasts, plains, moors, among others, this place with all this variety of ecosystems is home of 1.937 species of birds, 518 species of mammals, 537 reptiles, 805 amphibians, 2.425 fish, and about 66.000 species of insects and arachnids. Native Experience wants to guide you in this place so you can discover, observe, research, record, photograph and enjoy the biovidersity and enjoy biodiversity, specifically, one of the most representative places of biodiversity and natural conservation of Colombia: the Sierra Nevada De Santa Marta and the Cabbiean Coast. programming your expedition towards each of the ecosystems (it can be one or several at the same time), do it your way, take yourself your time and customize your expedition according to your time and interests.
Remember that the philosophy of Native Experience is to work as much as possible with the peasant and indigenous communities, and that is why our use of rural roads and accommodation provided by the families of the region with a rustic but familiar and welcoming aspect is part of our logistics.
Dry Forest
Paso Del Mango
It's a small community of peasants and small tourism entrepreneurs, where mango is the base of the economy; that is located between 100 and 400 meters high, dominated mainly by the dry forest, Here we will find many of characteristic animal species of the Colombian dry forest such as:
Yellow Oriole, Common Basilisk,Orange-Chinned Parakeet, Parrot Snake, Pearl Kite, Green Iguana, Military Macaw (always flying), Gaige's Rainbow Lizard, Trinidad Euphonia, Dry Leaf Lizard, Pale-Eyed Pigmy-Tyrant, Russet-Throated Puffbird, etc.
Activities
We'll pick you up from your location in Santa Marta at 05:00 AM to start the tour along the road that leads to Paso Del Mango surrounded by the dry forest (5 Km), until you reach our accommodation, Finca Carpe Diem.
The next day (05:30) we'll hike to go a little further along the paths of Paso De Mango visiting peasant farms and the Caoba nature reserve.
Rain Forest
Central Códoba Farmers Community
It's a traditional coffe grower community with a huge potential for the wildlife conservation. Located between 1.400 and 950 meters high, it's dominate by rain forest and plantations and a very quite place far from the commun touristic bustle; and thanks to this we will have the chance to have encounters with species like:
Keel-billed toucan, Boddaert's Tropical Racer, Collared aracari, Flannel Caterpillar, Crested Oropendola, Prayer Mantis, Red-Billed Parrot, Red-Tailed Squirrel, Yellow-Backed Oriole, Venezuelan Red Howler, etc.
Activities
We'll leave Paso Del Mango early (04:30) to arrive at 06:00 to Central Códoba to start the hike until the Tequendama Farm where we'll spend the afternoon and the night. 06:00 PM we'll have a nocturnal hike to keep looking for wildlife. Next day (06:15) We will take a different path through the plantations watching the nature but at the same time we will go to visit a spectacular waterfall, after spending some time there we will return to the farm just in time for lunch.
Cloud Forest
San Lorenzo watershed
Located between 1.500 and 2.900 meters high, it's dominate by cloud forest. It's this very important area for the whole region because it is the place where 5 of the main rivers of the Sierra Nevada de SM are born; is the home of most of 26 endemic species of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, but, here the ways of life are much smaller and elusive, you have to pay attention to the details, every sound and every movement. Some notable species are:
Santa Marta wood-wren, SM Harlequin Toad, SM mountain tanager, SM Ground Snake, SM Screech-Owl, Magdalena Giant Glass-Frog, SM parakeet, Brown-rumped tapaculo, White-tailed starfrontlet.
Activities
14:00 we leave from Central Córdoba Farmers Community to the El Dorado Nature Reserve. We will finally rest at the cabin of this reserve and take a night tour. The next day we will start early a trip on a difficult road for 1.5 hours to reach the highest point of our trip, the San Lorenzo crest, 2,500 meters high from where we will go down again towards the cabin walking through wooded areas in search for biodiversity. We will take our lunch and then return to Santa Marta.
Rain Forest, River and Coast
Don Diego
It is a small and humble town dedicated mainly to work in large banana farms. It is located on the banks of the Don Diego River (from where the town takes its name) and it is this location that makes this destination a strategic place to observe species of various types of ecosystem:
Buff-breasted wren, Boa Constrictor, Black-throated mango, Rio Magdlena Tegu, Lance-tailed manakin, Venezuelan Red Howler, Bright-rumped Attila, Spectacled Caiman, Green Kingfisher, Rainbow Lizard, Red-legged honeycreeper, Cane Toad, Ringed kingfisher, Common Iguana, Pied water-tyrant, Yellow-Striped Poison Frog, Great Black-hawk etc.
Activities
From El Dorado NR we leave after lunch time (2:00 pm) to arrive at our next accommodation, Tayronaka, there we will spend the afternoon to organize and rest; We will have a night hike to explore. The next day (05:40) we will go exploring by boat the biodiversity of the Don Diego River from Tayronaka until the river's mouth (approximately 4 km) throughout the morning, then we will return to have lunch. and continue our journey.
Thorny Scrub and Coast:
Los Flamencos Nature Sanctuary
The Flamingos Wildlife and Flora Sanctuary is located on the Colombian northeast caribbean coast in in the department of La Guajira. is this small land of coastal lagoons irrigated by streams that is an important supply area for the birds that give it its name: the American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), as well as hundreds of other coastal species such as:
Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird,Scarlet Ibis, Gulls, Plovers, Terns, etc. and typical dry forest and thorny scrub birds of this region such as the Vermillion Cardinal, the Buffy Hummingbird, Black-Crested Antshrike, Green-Rumped Parrolet an White-Whiskered Spinetail.
Activities
We'll leave Don Diego (02:00 PM) to arrive just in time to see the sunset and the different shorebirds during their activity period before going to sleep. Possible hike at night.
Nex day, early in the morning (05:30AM) we'll hike through the thorny scrub guided by a local indigenous birdwachter.
Costs
(for at least 2 people, if you want to do the expedition just ask!)
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Step 1: Choose the ecosystems you want to visit or define which bird, mammal, reptile, insect, etc. of our region you would like to know.
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Step 2: Define the time you want to take to achieve your goals!
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Step 3: In "CLICK TO BOOK NOW" you will find the WhatsApp Chat number and our E-mail: Let's write what you decided in steps 1 and 2.
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Step 4: Receive the costs and shipping itinerary in a short time
It includes
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Transportation from your location in Santa Marta/Riohacha.
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Meals.
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Lodging.
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Health insurance.
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Guide.
Recommendations
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Closed shoe, resistant to rough terrain and comfortable to walk (preferably of high and semi- or waterproof boot).
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Protection for rain for the body and objects.
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Protection for the sun rays.
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Insect repellent.
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Pants and long-sleeved t-shirts made of cool fabric for the journey.
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Lantern.
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Inform the agency or local guide about health problems, allergies and / or injuries you have.
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