Manizales turned 177 on October 12, 2026. Among the usual speeches and celebrations, the city chose to put something unexpected at the centre of the story: birds. Not coffee, not the snow-capped volcanoes as a postcard. Birds, as an engine for the local economy.
The numbers back it up. The department of Caldas has 802 recorded bird species, 22 of them endemic and 77 migratory, according to figures published by Colombian outlets La FM and Semana for the anniversary. That is roughly 42% of all species reported in Colombia, which already holds the world record for bird diversity.
For a birder, the takeaway is simple. Manizales is no longer just a stop on the Coffee Region route; it is putting itself forward as a birding destination in its own right. For those of us who have worked this land for decades, like Hacienda El Bosque, the recognition is long overdue and very welcome.
Why Manizales chose birdwatching for its 177th anniversary
Birdwatching in Manizales was not invented for a birthday. It comes from geography that is hard to match: the city sits on Colombia’s Central Andes, surrounded by cloud forest, páramo and steep valleys that change climate, vegetation and birdlife within a few kilometres.
What is new is the decision to treat it as what it is: an economic activity. Birding supports hotels, restaurants, drivers, guides and tour operators, and it does so with a traveller who tends to stay longer, gets up early, hires local guides and comes back. Birders don’t need crowds. They need standing forest.
| Quick answer Why is Manizales betting on birdwatching? Because Caldas has 802 recorded bird species (22 endemic, 77 migratory), about 42% of Colombia’s total. The city used its 177th anniversary in October 2026 to position itself as a birding destination that benefits local hotels, restaurants, guides and drivers. |
The Caldas bird numbers behind the bet
| Indicator | Figure |
| Recorded bird species in Caldas | 802 |
| Endemic species | 22 |
| Migratory species | 77 |
| Share of Colombia’s total | About 42% |
| Upcoming event | Manizales Bird Fair, November 12–15 |
Source: La FM and Semana, October 2026.
The migratory figure deserves a closer look. Many of those 77 species arrive from North America during the northern winter, which gives birding in Manizales a strong second season, exactly when birders in the US, Canada and Europe are planning their escape.
Hacienda El Bosque: 35 years of conservation, now a destination
Colombia’s national media singled out Hacienda El Bosque, at Km 18 on the road to Magdalena, among the stories of the anniversary. Juan Martín, its CEO and part of the seventh generation of the family that cares for this land, put it simply: “We have been conserving our forests for 35 years.”
What that looks like on the ground, according to La FM and Semana:
- More than 950 hectares, 55% of it forest.
- About 170 bird species.
- 22 protected water springs.
- 25 kilometres of living fences that act as biological corridors.
That last point is easy to skip, and it may matter most to a birder. Living fences link forest patches so birds can move between them. An isolated forest loses species; a connected one keeps them.
Juan Martín described conservation as “an opportunity to attract visitors”. Not the other way round. The forest came first; tourism followed.
The birds people travel here for
The Equatorial Antpitta is the undisputed star. It is a shy ground-dweller that is usually heard far more often than seen. At the hacienda’s feeders, with patience and a guide who knows its routine, it can be photographed at close range.
Alongside it: the Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca), the Crescent-faced Antpitta (Grallaricula lineifrons), high-Andean hummingbirds such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird and the Purple-backed Thornbill, and cloud-forest fruit-eaters like the Barred Fruiteater. For many international visitors these are target species they come to Colombia specifically to tick.
Hides and feeders built for photographers
The difference between seeing a bird and getting the shot is logistics. Hacienda El Bosque has feeding stations with hides for professional photography, plus specialised local guides such as Eddison and Néstor Zapata, who know every feeder, every call and the best hour of light.
The November Bird Fair: the next step
The anniversary is not just talk. From November 12 to 15, Manizales holds its Bird Fair, aimed at showcasing the region’s biodiversity, drawing visitors and establishing the city as a birdwatching destination.
If you’re coming for the fair, our advice is straightforward: don’t stay in town the whole time. The fair is the shop window; the forest is the experience. Book at least one dawn session at a private reserve with feeders, because that is where the difficult species show up.
And book early. Hacienda El Bosque has only five cabins, so dates around the fair fill up before the rest of the calendar.
More than a celebration: what the region gains
Done well, birding spreads the benefits. The guide who gets up before dawn, the driver who takes visitors up the mountain at 5 a.m., the restaurant that welcomes them back with hot chocolate, the farming family selling what they grow.
But there is one non-negotiable condition: the forest has to stay standing. The nearby Río Blanco Reserve, around 500 hectares, supplies roughly 30% of the water Manizales consumes. Conservation here literally secures the city’s water. Private reserves like Hacienda El Bosque play the same role on their own scale.
Our view is clear. The future of birdwatching in Manizales lies in quality, not volume: small groups, local guides, longer stays. That is what protects the forest and what makes a birder recommend the destination to others.
Frequently asked questions about birdwatching in Manizales
How many bird species are there in Caldas, Colombia?
Caldas has 802 recorded bird species, including 22 endemic and 77 migratory species. That is about 42% of all species reported in Colombia.
When is the Manizales Bird Fair?
The Manizales Bird Fair takes place from November 12 to 15, 2026. It aims to showcase the region’s biodiversity and position the city as a birdwatching destination.
Where can I go birding near Manizales?
One option is Hacienda El Bosque, at Km 18 on the road to Magdalena, with more than 950 hectares, about 170 recorded bird species, feeders with photography hides and specialised local guides.
What birds can I see at Hacienda El Bosque?
Top targets include the Equatorial Antpitta, the Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, the Crescent-faced Antpitta and high-Andean hummingbirds such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird.
Is there accommodation for birders at the hacienda?
Yes. Hacienda El Bosque has five glass “capsule” cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows and fireplaces, designed for guests who want to sleep inside the forest and be out birding at first light.
Celebrate Manizales’ 177 years from inside the forest
If the anniversary has you thinking about birdwatching in Manizales, start where the birds are. Message us on WhatsApp at +57 321 8116189 with the species you’d like to see or photograph and your dates, and we’ll plan the visit with you: cabin, guide and dawn in the hides. We speak English, Spanish and French.