You do not need to be a birder to become one here. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has more than 600 recorded species, and some of them live nowhere else on Earth. Sooner or later something absurdly colourful lands on a branch near you, and suddenly you care deeply about its name.
The local celebrities are the endemics: the Santa Marta parakeet, the Santa Marta brushfinch and the Santa Marta woodstar, a tiny hummingbird. Minca itself is an eBird hotspot with a long checklist, and higher up on Cerro Kennedy the ProAves El Dorado Reserve has recorded around 365 species.
The rule is simple: go early. Birds are most active at first light, when the air is cool and the forest is loud. Walk slowly along the roads and trails around town, bring binoculars if you have them, and check the eBird checklist to know what to look for. Then reward yourself with coffee.
Pack
- Binoculars, if you have them
- eBird or a bird app with the Minca checklist
- Long sleeves and insect repellent
- Water and a snack
- A light jacket for cool mornings
Stay safe
- Watch for traffic and motos when birding along roads
- Carry a torch if you leave before full light
- Stay on paths and respect private farmland
- Tell someone your route