Namibia
Goa and Karnataka
A Tour for the Alpine Garden Society
Colombia’s fauna and flora are renowned. Simply, it has the greatest biodiversity in a single country on the planet. More birds, more butterflies, and, more Orchids. At least 4270 species of them. And counting. Sebastian Moreno, your guide for this trip, has added 65 new species in the last four years alone. There’s half a chance that you might spot an undescribed species on this tour!
The engine that drives this incredible richness are the three cordilleras, for here the Colombian Andes split into three geologically and climatically distinct arms. The incredibly varied topography, with western and eastern slopes and inter-Andean valleys has provided the arena for an explosion of evolution.
We’ll be exploring several of these zones, which though so distinct from each other are not so very far apart. We’ll start in the Western Andes where we’ll spend some time in what is known as the Orchid Reserve. Amongst the beauties we’ll find will be pretty-in-pink Epidendrum fimbriatum, maroon Epidendrum rhodovandoides, whip-petalled Masdevallia hortensis, yellow and chocolate Oncidium mirandum, and Cyrtochilum ramosissimum, whose blooms are so wavy they might make you dizzy! We’ll visit the Yellow-Eared Parrot Reserve and whilst we’ll hope to see that avian rarity we’ll be concentrating on delicate bonnet orchids such as Pleurothallis canaligera whose flowers emerge from a leaf like a tight-knit shoal of yellow and maroon fish, and Pleurothallis forceps-cancri whose bizarrely-shaped flowers are noted in the specific name! We’ll also see the Paprika Orchid, Restrepia elegans, Blousy Telipogon pulcher, and the amazing Teagueia phasmida whose flowers look like a bunch of exceptionally willowy ballerinas at the bar.
The diversity of orchid species in Tatama National Natural Park is such that during our stay there we are likely to see upwards of a hundred species! Among them the elegant Lepanthes felis, hairy red Porroglossum eduardi, citrus Pleurothallis silverstonei, and Brachionidium imperialis, whose petals are drawn into amazingly long tassels. Between Montezuma and Cali are several species of remarkably weird Dracula Orchids. In a family of amazing flowers, Dracula really stand out as something special. Here we’ll see Dracula iricolor, Dracula chimaera, and the truly spectacular Dracula platycrater. We’ll search for the unbelievably ghostly Dracula ophioceps in the San Antonio Cloud Forests. An abundance of Maxillaria, Lepanthes (Sebastian’s favourite genus!) and Sobralia species occur there. There’s also bearded yellow Chondroscaphe amabilis and Epidendrum lacustre with green and white flowers of such clarity yet it is the overall effect of the elegantly arranged flowering plant that transfixes us. Minute Lepanthopsis acuminata has an infloresence that resembles an animated centipede! A visit the Upper Sibundoy Valley in the South Colombian Massif will allow us to find the gaping Myoxanthus ortizianus and the tiny but dazzling Hofmeisterella eumicroscopic. In the forests surrounding La Cocha Lagoon is a veritable Leptanthes festival with perhaps a dozen species on show. In the Encenillo Natural Reserve in the Eastern Andes it is again full-on variety laced with choice species such as Elleanthus aurantiacus with clusters or bright orange blooms and the extraordinary Specklinia latilabris.
Dates and Prices
16th November - 1st December 2025 (16 days)
* doesn't apply if you're willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
Orchids. Also other Flora.
The minimum is 4 and the maximum group size of 15.
All flights. All transport and meals in Colombia. Services of your leaders. Please note: Drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature such as travel insurance, are not included.
Orchid, butterfly and bird checklists are available.
Our first night will be a good hotel close to Bogota Airport. Next are three nights at the Balandu Hotel in Jardin. This hotel is set in rather scenic grounds, there’s a large pool, and very pleasant rooms. Next we move to the Montezuma Lodge for a three night stay on the edge of superb forest in the Tatamá National Park. This family-run lodge has a superb location and good food. We move to Cali and stay at the Hampton by Hilton for two nights. This is a typical hotel of the chai, business-like, and very comfortable. In Sibundoy we stay at the Posada Villa Beatriz, a slightly more rustic hotel, but with nice rooms and wildlife-filled surroundings. In La Cocha area we’ve two nights at the lovely Guamuez Hotel which has a particularly good restaurant. We’ll return to the same hotel near Bogota Airport for the last night. All rooms on this tour have en suite facilities.
Fairly easy throughout though trails occasionally muddy or steep for short distances.
UK direct return flights are from London Heathrow to Bogota. Indirect routes from regional UK Airports* and various European Airports may be available.
*These routes may incur a supplement
Warm to hot in the lowlands though much of the tour is at a reasonable altitude which certainly takes the edge of temperatures and it can even be quite cool early mornings at a couple of locations. Occasional heavy showers.
Contact us to check if there is availability for the number of places you require. Click on the ‘Book this Tour’ button on this page to be taken to the online booking form or contact us and we will send one to you which you can complete and send back to us. You will receive confirmation of your place, and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information.