Join us on a fantastic butterfly tour of Colombia! This tour will take you to two very different and distinct areas of the country, allowing you to see a wide variety of different butterflies.

We'll start in Bogotá and venture into the Putumayo region to explore the Andean-Amazonian mountains. This area is home to many different species of butterflies, so you're sure to see some incredible species.

The second half of our trip will take us to the mountains at medium altitude (1200m) near Santa Maria, Boyacá. Santa María (800 masl) is one of the best places to see and photograph nature in the entire Eastern Cordillera (eastern slope). Researchers estimate that the Boyacá region is home to about 600 species of butterfly. During the following days, we will visit different locations well known as butterfly hotspots, where we can find species such as Morpho menelaus lecromi, Morpho teseus, Morpho peleides. In addition to unique species such as Prepona praeneste, Heliconius heurippa (ENDEMIC), three species of Epiphile, Doxocopa, Perisama, Leodonta, Catasticta, among many others. 

Tour Dates:

October 2 –15, 2026, registration cutoff is July 1, 2026 at 10:00 pm EST

Tour Leader:

Rob Gilson and Fredy Montero Abril

Arrive at El Dorado airport in Bogotá. We will spend the evening in a comfortable hotel, Hotel El El Campin, located in the center of the city.

Day 2:

After breakfast, we will depart for the airport and take an internal flight to our second destination: the town of Villa Garzón (Putumayo). We will base our explorations for the next 3 days in the vicinity of the town of Mocoa.

During the next six days, we will visit places around Mocoa at different altitudes, between 400 and 1100 meters. We will be looking for species typical of the Amazon foothills region and endemic species such as Callicore ines.  Every day we will see one or two locations. The activities will begin after breakfast (8 am), and we will be in the field until around 3-4 pm.

In the morning hours, we can make a morning outing to look for butterflies or go through Mocoa and get some of their typical "chaquiras" and wood crafts before our return flight to Bogotá. 

After a delicious breakfast, we will check out of Mururito Reserva Natural and embark on a scenic drive to Santa María. The journey will take approximately 6 hours, offering a chance to enjoy the changing landscapes along the way. Upon arrival in Santa María, we’ll settle into our accommodations and have the evening free to relax and explore this charming town at your own pace.

During our stay in Santa María, we’ll be based at the comfortable Hotel Turístico La Esmeralda. Over these four days, we’ll embark on explorations to remarkable sites such as Ikakuye, La Almenara, and Cascada 70. Our adventures will focus on discovering the unique biodiversity of the area, with a special emphasis on locating the elusive Prepnoa praeneste and the endemic Heliconius heurippa. Each day promises exciting opportunities for wildlife observation and immersion in the region's natural wonders.

After a final breakfast in Villa de Leyva, we'll begin our journey back to Bogotá. The drive will take us through scenic landscapes as we make our way to the city. Upon arrival, we will transfer to El Dorado Airport, where the tour will conclude. Wishing everyone safe travels and fond memories of our adventure!