El Campanario

 

For high-altitude birding, El Campanario is the best spot in Quindio. The rocky road splits off from the highway at 3200m and climbs through high altitude forest before reaching the central andean ridge line with views down into Quindio on one side, Tolima on the other. The road continues to follow up along the ridge, and then passes the treeline and reaches the paramo at ~3600m. This area feels like a totally different planet, filled with strange flowering plants and the hummingbirds that pollinate them. The eBird hotspot lists 127 species: Paramo El Campanario. This area has 16 species of humingbirds, with the crown jewel being the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill.