Owl's Watch at Rio Blanco
A small nature retreat of private cabins on 85 hectares inside the Río Blanco Reserve above Manizales, about 40 minutes from Manizales airport on a gravel road, made by Dennis and Adriana, who have planted more than 20,000 native trees on former pasture with local NGOs through The Nature Conservancy. Birds are the heart of it: feeders stocked daily with fruit and sugar water bring in toucans, tanagers, antpittas and hummingbirds, four platforms stand in the forest, local guides lead birding tours, and a guided hike goes to a Black-and-chestnut Eagle nest found nearby. Six kilometres of trails, a hummingbird garden, a koi pond and the whimsical Enchanted Forest trail can be walked on your own. Each cabin has a queen bed, a wood-burning fireplace, a private outdoor jacuzzi, a kitchenette and a balcony over the Andes. Breakfast is included; the restaurant serves international comfort food, and yoga, massage and excursions to other birding sites can be arranged. Booked for you by an affiliated travel advisor.
- Location: Río Blanco Reserve, above Manizales, Caldas
- Country: Colombia
At the lodge
- Feeders
- Trails
- Restaurant
- Spa
- Wi-Fi
- Transfers
Rooms
- The Cabin: Queen, The Nevados, the Central Andes and the lights of Manizales
Target species
- Black-and-chestnut Eagle: Spizaetus isidori