Jan 10, 2027 — Jan 20, 2027

Araucana Lodge in Colombia’s Western Andes has been one of our most popular trips since we began offering it in 2023. It was originally designed for birders who haven’t traveled abroad previously AND it offers the best of everything for birders who are on a tight schedule. Both beginning birders and seasoned veterans have enjoyed this birding tour, ticking off a few mega-finds along the way! That part of the trip hasn’t changed.

But the trip was also initially designed as one of our original Home Base trips where you unpacked once and came home to the same lovely room each night. We paired the trip with a different extension each year where birders who had an extra week and the inclination to do so could visit a different part of Colombia. We’re trying something new this year–—the first week at Araucana Lodge remains unchanged, but we’re adding three more days at the end where you’ll stay at the Eco Hotel Hacienda El Diamante in the foothills of the Central Andes where a new suite of birds awaits.

Sword-billed Hummingbird / Juan Jose Arango

And now for the good part. Why Colombia? Easy. It’s the birdiest country on earth, with 1,930 species—almost 20% of the world’s total in 1% of its landmass, with new species still being discovered and new records being announced regularly. There are several reasons for this: Colombia is tropical yet it also has ample elevation changes due to the Andes; it has both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts; it has a wide range of different habitats, and different habitats ensure a wide range of bird species.

This trip includes visits to some of Colombia’s most iconic birding locations, including KM 18 and the San Antonio Cloud Forest (an excellent introduction to birding in the Colombian Andes), the San Cipriano Reserve (which features the humid forests of the Pacific lowlands), the Anchicaya Valley (which is located in one of the most biodiverse national parks in the planet), and an active Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek, Sonso Lagoon (an extensive remnant wetland boasting 368 bird species).

Along the way you’ll stay in very comfortable accommodations while birding some of the best sites in Colombia without having to spend much time in a vehicle—or packing your suitcase every other day! Araucana Lodge opened in January 2019 and was designed specifically for birders and nature lovers, with spacious rooms and all the comforts that ensure a good night’s rest.…

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Our first trip to Bhutan (scheduled for spring of 2021) fell victim to COVID. We waited two years before we were able to offer it. That year we ended up sending two groups. Was it worth the wait? I think you’d get a resounding “yes” from those who went, including GGBA Travel Coordinator Dawn Lemoine. Two years later it was our other Travel Coordinator, Eric Schroeder, who went, and he adds his voice to the chorus (along with those of former GGBA Trip Leaders Bob Lewis, Eddie Bartley, and Noreen Weeden). For a complete list of the 340 species seen by this group, check out the trip report.

It’s no wonder that it’s possible to see so many birds in a trip that’s less than three weeks long. Bhutan, a country roughly the size of Maryland, has almost 600 species of birds. Over 70% of its land is forested with 25% protected by National Parks. You’ll visit a range of environments varying from sub-tropical at 150m to alpine at over 4,500m.

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.kb-image68056_5f0e30-f0 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;} Fire-tailed Myzornis / Chubzang Tangbi

On this 19-day trip, some of the major targets you’ll be looking for include the big three pheasants—Himalayan Monal, Satyr Tragopan, and Blood Pheasant—as well as some unusual birds like the Ibisbill, some beautiful birds like the Fire-tailed Myzornis, Ward’s Trogon and the aptly named Beautiful Nuthatch, and some critically endangered birds like the Rufous-necked Hornbill and the White-bellied Heron. You can also expect to see 10-15 species of mammals (on several trips the group was fortunate enough to see Red Panda). Our Bhutanese guide from Langur Eco Travels will not only introduce you to the fauna but also the flora of Bhutan (we’re visiting during the spring rhododendron bloom) and its culture (our trip includes visits to several famous sites, including the Tiger’s Nest Monastery).

For more on Bhutan we recommend the talk our Bhutanese host Chubzang Tangbi gave at one of our special Travel Program Speaker Series talks two years ago. All of the amazing photographs are his. Click here for the talk and slideshow.…

Winter birding in Minnesota can be extremely rewarding with both amazing birds and breathtaking scenery. We’ve been offering this trip for three years now and it’s been very popular The six-day itinerary focuses on owls as well as a variety of other species that call the boreal forest and Lake Superior their winter home. Starting in Minneapolis, we will target Long-eared, Northern Saw-Whet, and Great Horned Owls, all of which occur in this area but are not found further north. From there we’ll head up to Duluth for the next four nights. The incredible Sax-Zim Bog will be our focus for the next few days; it’s home to loads of our target species, such as Great Grey and Barred Owls, Northern Hawk-Owl, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Boreal Chickadee, Ruffed Grouse, Common Redpoll, and Canada Jay. In addition to this well-known USA birding site, the tour will explore the Duluth/Superior harbor for species such as Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Long-tailed Duck. This is also the best tour location to find the coveted Snowy Owl to round out our owl targets for this trip. The bog and the lake are not the only birding destinations; we’ll venture into Superior National Forest in search of both Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers and, with some luck, Spruce Grouse. After three full days exploring the area, we’ll pack up and leave Duluth to head back to the airport in Minneapolis. Extra birding may be possible on the final day, depending on flight times. This trip is limited to 7 people.

For a detailed trip report from a previous trip, click here.

Price:
$2,990 per person, sharing 
Single supplement: $440

Questions? Contact GGBA Travel Coordinator Eric Schroeder at travelprogram@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Ready to register?  Contact Eric first.  He will put you in touch with Birding Ecotours.

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GGBA travelers had such a great time on this trip last year (2025), we decided to do it again!  It is ALMOST a Home Base trip because we stay in only 2 locations during the 14-day trip:  7 nights in the world-famous Canopy Tower and 7 nights in the delightfully comfortable Canopy Lodge.

Canopy takes care of everything, leaving us to spend our time enjoying the birds, mammals and natural history.

The trip in a nutshell:

• We are picked up at the PTY airport and transported to Canopy Tower, in the Soberanía National Park, 25 miles north of Panama City .
• For 7 days:
  • Breakfast at Canopy Tower
  • Morning birding, transported in one of Canopy’s unique vehicles
  • Lunch at Canopy Tower, followed by relaxation time
  • Late afternoon birding
  • Dinner at Canopy Tower
• On Day 8, we have a 2-hr ride to Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Antón In Coclé Province.
• For 7 days:
  • Breakfast at Canopy Lodge
  • Morning birding
  • Lunch at Canopy Lodge, followed by relaxation time
  • Late afternoon birding
  • Dinner at Canopy Lodge
• On Day 15, we have a 3-hr ride back to the PTY airport.

If this dry synopsis intrigues you, check out the detailed itinerary on the Canopy website.  Your mind will be blown.  Note:  The itinerary is flexible, and may change without prior notice due to weather, alterations in habitat or other conditions.

Canopy Tower was constructed by the United States military ca. 1963, in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, as a radar tower.  In 1999, Raúl Arias de Para transformed the tower into a center for rainforest observation and ecotourism in Panama.

Check out the video: The History of the Canopy Tower

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Panama Fruit Feeder Camera is located at Canopy Lodge, right next to the dining area.  Check out the feed.

Maximum Participants:  10

PRICE:  $4,300/person

Deposit of $600 is due by 1-Oct-2026.

Note:  Canopy has blocked 4 single rooms and 3 double rooms for us at each lodge.  If a 4th single person wishes to attend, there will be an additional Single Supplement fee of $63.80/night ($893.20).  THERE IS NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FOR THE FIRST 4 PEOPLE STAYING IN SINGLE ROOMS.

GGBA Travel Coordinator Dawn Lemoine took this trip in 2022.  She remains awed by the experience.  They observed 304 species of birds, most of which were lifers!  Here’s the trip report.  (Don’t miss the photos!) …