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© Mathias Ritschard

Finca Romelia

5.08845 , -75.61969

Colombia

Finca Romelia is a large privately-owned finca in the Colombian coffee region not far from Manizales. It has belonged to the Arango family for more than a century. While a large part of the area is cultivated, there are some secondary forest patches and bamboo grooves that attract interesting bird species. Bird photographers will find attractive photo opportunities at the feeding stations. While most of the species that occur in the finca are rather widespread, there are a few specialities that make a visit well worth even for the die-hard birder. These include White-chested Swift, the Colombian form of Speckle-breasted Wren (a potential future split) and Blue-lored Antbird.

Apart from the birds, one of the main attractions of Finca Romelia is an impressive orchid collection that includes around 800 species from all over the world. The finca offers tours for birds and orchids as well as accommodation and catering, but it is necessary to place a reservation in advance. The owners José and Marisa are great hosts.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 5.0884/-75.6197 (2021-11-24 13:41:23 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Finca Romelia" (2021-11-24 13:41:23 )

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:35:19
Finca Romelia is a large privately-owned finca in the Colombian coffee region not far from Manizales. It has belonged to the Arango family for more than a century. While a large part of the area is cultivated, there are some secondary forest patches and bamboo grooves that attract interesting bird species. Bird photographers will find attractive photo opportunities at the feeding stations. While most of the species that occur in the finca are rather widespread, there are a few specialities that make a visit well worth even for the die-hard birder. These include White-chested Swift, the Colombian form of Speckle-breasted Wren (a potential future split) and Blue-lored Antbird. Antbird. Apart from the birds, one of the main attractions of Finca Romelia is an impressive orchid collection that includes around 800 species from all over the world. The finca offers tours for birds and orchids as well as accommodation and catering, but it is necessary to place a reservation in advance. The owners José and Marisa are great hosts.
Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:33:10
\r\n\r\nFinca Romelia is a large privately-owned finca in the Colombian coffee region not far from Manizales. It has belonged to the Arango family for more than a century. While a large part of the area is cultivated, there are some secondary forest patches and bamboo grooves that attract interesting bird species. Bird photographers will find attractive photo opportunities at the feeding stations. While most of the species that occur in the finca are rather widespread, there are a few specialities that make a visit well worth even for the die-hard birder. These include White-chested Swift, the Colombian form of Speckle-breasted Wren (a potential future split) and Blue-lored Antbird. Apart from the birds, one of the main attractions of Finca Romelia is an impressive orchid collection that includes around 800 species from all over the world. The finca offers tours for birds and orchids as well as accommodation and catering, but it is necessary to place a reservation in advance. advance. The owners José and Marisa are great hosts.
Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 17:25:41
Finca Romelia is a large privately-owned finca in the Colombian coffee region not far from Manizales. It has belonged to the Arango family for more than a century. While a large part of the area is cultivated, there are some secondary forest patches and bamboo grooves that attract interesting bird species. Bird photographers will find attractive photo opportunities at the feeding stations. While most of the species that occur in the finca are rather widespread, there are a few specialities that make a visit well worth even for the die-hard birder. These include White-chested Swift, the Colombian form of Speckle-breasted Wren (a potential future split) and Blue-lored Antbird. Apart from the birds, one of the main attractions of Finca Romelia is an impressive orchid collection that includes around 800 species from all over the world. The finca offers tours for birds and orchids as well as accommodation and catering, but it is necessary to place a reservation in advance.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana)
Gray-headed Dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps)
White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi)
Moustached Puffbird (Malacoptila mystacalis)
Grayish Piculet (Picumnus granadensis)
Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus)
Bar-crested Antshrike (Thamnophilus multistriatus)
Blue-lored Antbird (Hafferia immaculata)
Speckle-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius sclateri)
Ultramarine Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia brissonii)
Scrub Tanager (Stilpnia vitriolina)

Scrub Tanager (Stilpnia vitriolina) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:56:40)

Bar-crested Antshrike (Thamnophilus multistriatus) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:56:30)

Ultramarine Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia brissonii) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:53:38)

Speckle-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius sclateri) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:52:15)

Blue-lored Antbird (Hafferia immaculata) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:50:00)

Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:48:52)

Grayish Piculet (Picumnus granadensis) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:48:24)

Moustached Puffbird (Malacoptila mystacalis) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:47:57)

White-chested Swift (Cypseloides lemosi) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:45:43)

Gray-headed Dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:45:17)

Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) was added by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) (2021-11-24 16:44:06)

  • Timing and strategy

Finca Romelia can be visited all year. A birding tour (ca. 5 hours) costs $150,000 COP per person (see here for details). Early mornings are best, since it can get very warm and sunny during the day, but there is activity at the feeding stations throughout the day. The finca will provide a birding guide who is very helpful if you are looking for some of the scarcer species. A relaxed day of birding will usually be enough to find most of the specialities. Depending on the weather conditions, the rare White-chested Swift can be difficult or impossible to see.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:22
Finca Romelia can be visited all year. A birding tour (ca. 5 hours) costs $150,000 COP per person (see here for details). Early mornings are best, since it can get very warm and sunny during the day, but there is activity at the feeding stations throughout the day. The finca will provide a birding guide who is very helpful if you are looking for some of the scarcer species. A relaxed day of birding will usually be enough to find most of the specialities. Depending on the weather conditions, the rare White-chested Swift can be difficult or impossible to see.
Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 17:32
Finca Romelia can be visited all year. Early mornings are best, since it can get very warm and sunny during the day, but there is activity at the feeding stations throughout the day. The finca will provide a birding guide who is very helpful if you are looking for some of the scarcer species. A relaxed day of birding will usually be enough to find most of the specialities. Depending on the weather conditions, the rare White-chested Swift can be difficult or impossible to see.
  • How to get there

The easiest was to visit Finca Romelia is by car from Manizales, the drive takes around 45 min. You need a 4x4 to drive down to the main building of the finca from the entrance, otherwise you can park or have yourself dropped off at the gate and either walk down (ca. 15 min) or have yourself picked up.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 17:41
The easiest was to visit Finca Romelia is by car from Manizales, the drive takes around 45 min. You need a 4x4 to drive down to the main building of the finca from the entrance, otherwise you can park or have yourself dropped off at the gate and either walk down (ca. 15 min) or have yourself picked up.

To visit Finca Romelia you need a reservation (contact: reservas@fincaromelia.com, +57 301 7083438).

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:22
To visit Finca Romelia you need a reservation (contact: reservas@fincaromelia.com, +57 301 7083438).
Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:21
To visit Finca Romelia you need a reservation (contact: reservas@fincaromelia.com, +57 301 7083438). A birding tour (ca. 5 hours) costs $150,000 COP per person. See here for details.
Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:21
To visit Finca Romelia you need a reservation (contact: reservas@fincaromelia.com, +57 301 7083438). A birding tour (ca. 5 hours) costs $150,000 COP per person. See their website here for more details.
Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:16
To visit Finca Romelia you need a reservation (contact: reservas@fincaromelia.com, +57 301 7083438). A birding tour (ca. 5 hours) costs $150,000 COP per person. See their website for more details.
  • Other attractions

Finca Romelia has an impressive collection of orchids that include ca. 800 species from all over the world. You can book an orchid tour which takes around 3 hours and costs $120,000 COP per person. See here for details.

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:19
Finca Romelia has an impressive collection of orchids that include ca. 800 species from all over the world. You can book an orchid tour which takes around 3 hours and costs $120,000 COP per person. See here for details.

The beautiful old main building has 3 guest rooms for single or double occupancy (see here for details). They also serve tasty meals (on reservation).

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:30
The beautiful old main building has 3 guest rooms for single or double occupancy (see here for details). They also serve tasty meals (on reservation).

There are no security issues.

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) on 2021-11-24 18:33
There are no security issues.
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

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Reports

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Species:
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Finca Romelia - Orniverse