The recommended departure time for the transfer to Villavicencio will depend on the flight schedule. If possible, we recommend departing in the late morning or around midday.
Villavicencio: Aeropuerto La Vanguardia (VVC)
Harpy Eagle Photo Tour
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About the Tour
This photography trip in Colombia offers a unique experience to capture the majesty of the harpy eagle, one of the most impressive and iconic raptors in the world.
Participants will have the opportunity to photograph this species up close in its natural habitat during the nesting process, in one of the most biodiverse areas of the region.
Date
November 17th – November 22nd, 2026 (6 spots)
Activity level
Hard
Available spaces
6
Itinerary
Day 1 | Nov 17 – Arrival in Villavicencio
Upon arrival in the city of Villavicencio: Aeropuerto La Vanguardia (VVC), your guide will be waiting with the designated vehicles to begin the transfer to Vista Hermosa.
The journey will take approximately four hours.
Overnight at Manantial del Güejar
Day 2,3.4.5 | Nov 18,19,20,21 – Full day Harpy nest
We will depart at approximately 5:00 a.m. for Los Alpes, one of the local farming communities that hosts and protects this Harpy Eagle nesting area. The drive takes approximately two hours.
Upon arrival, we will have breakfast at a local family’s home before continuing with a 1.5 km hike along a forest trail to the Harpy Eagle nest.
Lunch will be served in the field and prepared by members of the local community. We will spend most of the day observing and photographing the nest before beginning our return at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Some of the bird species that may be seen along the trail include:
* Blue-crowned Manakin
* Striolated Manakin
* Grayish Mourner
* White-bellied Wood-Wren
* Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
* Collared Trogon
* White-fronted Nunbird
* Wing-barred Piprites
…along with many other bird species native to the region.
Overnight at Manantial del Güejar
Day 6 | Nov 22 - Departure day
Important to read
Note: The hotel offers basic accommodation. It has air conditioning and a private bathroom but does not have hot water.
In Google Maps still appears under its former name, Cristales Plaza, although it is now called Manantial del Güejar. The facilities and services remain the same; only the name has changed.
Featured sightings
USD: 2,600
Included
- Single accommodation.
- All meals included (since dinner on Day 1).
- Expert photography guide.
- Private ground transportation.
- Entrance fees to reserves included.
- Single supplement.
Not included
- National and international air tickets and airport fees.
- Additional nights.
- Alcoholic beverages, snacks, and drinks not part of the meals.
- Laundry service.
- Personal expenses.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Tips.
- Any other service not specified in the document.
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If instead of walking the approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours to the lodge you prefer not to hike, there is an option to travel on horseback or mule for an additional cost of USD 100.
General tips
To ensure a better experience, it is essential to consider some important factors that will make your stay in Colombia more enjoyable:
- If you like to bring souvenirs back home, we recommend carrying some extra cash to purchase items in the different localities we will visit (the local currency is the Colombian peso). We suggest exchanging around USD 200, or the equivalent in your local currency, at the airport. For any other expenses, we recommend using credit cards.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Sunscreen.
- Hat or cap.
- Flashlight (preferably a headlamp).
- Cloth bag for wet clothes.
- Water bottle.
- Trekking shoes.
- Warm clothing for the Andean region.
Photographic equipment
As photographers, we understand how challenging it can be to decide how much gear to bring on trips, as we always want to pack everything to make the most of the experience. Below is our recommendation on what type of equipment to bring:
- Wide-angle lens.
- Zoom lens, ranging from 400 to 600mm.
- Rain gear for your equipment.
- Tripod.
- Batteries.
- Battery chargers.
- Cleaning kit.
- Plug adapter, in case you use international chargers.
Clothing
For this destination, La Meta – Sector Los Llanos, we will experience warm weather. Depending on the day, whether cloudy or clear, we might encounter high temperatures, occasionally accompanied by a humid sensation.
Recommendations:
- Bring long pants and long-sleeved shirts or t-shirts made from lightweight, breathable fabrics.
- Don’t forget a raincoat or waterproof layer, just in case the weather requires it.
Daniel Mideros
tour leader
He graduated in advertising career at the San Francisco de Quito University.
He worked on his career until 2017, since then he made the decision to live from his passion, nature photography. In the same year he started his own business, Photo Wildlife Tours, in which it is dedicated to wildlife photography tours, and conservation. In addition to other audiovisual projects.
In the year 2022 he became the first Ecuadorian to win a category of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, “Animals in their environment”.
