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Home to more avian species than any other country, Colombia is a veritable paradise for birdwatchers, drawing visitors from all across the globe in search of elusive endemics and rainforest-dwelling species. Across the nation, cities like Santa Marta and Armenia have long served as jumping-off points for birders as they explore the surrounding countryside -- but in the northern reaches of the country, one city tends to fly under the radar as a birdwatching base. Best known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed walled city, Cartagena doubles as an underrated gem for avitourism, with plenty of top-tier birding destinations located just beyond city limits.

"We have very beautiful manakins, we have oropendolas, we have orioles, we have a lot of hawks. The biodiversity is huge in Cartagena," says Andres Felipe Bonilla Camacho, freelance birdwatching guide based in Colombia's Bolívar Department. While Bonilla Camacho notes that there are roughly 600 different bird species found throughout the department, birdwatchers tend to focus on specific endemics, with Ekoparque Luna Forest serving as prime territory for spotting one bird in particular. Known as the chestnut-winged chachalaca, this inconspicuous animal is one of several species that's endemic to the Colombian Caribbean, often appearing in the Luna Forest treetops during the early morning hours.

Beyond these birds, the park also plays host to eye-catching creatures like the blue-gray tanager, red-billed emerald and crimson-crested woodpecker -- and while this inland preserve is popular for Cartagena birdwatchers, Bonilla Camacho highlights the Islas del Rosario as one of the region's most essential destinations for avitourism. Home to the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park, this idyllic archipelago is one of the nation's most renowned snorkeling and scuba diving destinations thanks to its high levels of marine biodiversity -- but there's plenty of fauna to find on dry land as well. Alongside classic coastal Colombian birds like the tricolored heron and brown pelican, birders can check the white-headed pigeon -- a Caribbean species found nowhere else in the nation -- off of their life list as well.

In addition to these two sites, Bonilla Camacho also points to the Santuario de Flora y Fauna Los Colorados as a crucial haven for the biodiversity of Bolívar. Located within the Montes de María mountain range, the preserve is home to vast swathes of tropical dry forest, providing plenty of room for the region's native fauna to flourish. Monkeys are a particular highlight for visiting ecotourists, with species spanning from the Colombian red howler to the cotton-top tamarin -- and of course, the area also offers its fair share of birdwatching opportunities, with colorful residents like the rose-breasted grosbeak, Amazon kingfisher and scarlet macaw residing within its boundaries.

While it's possible to explore these destinations alone, Bonilla Camacho recommends that visitors travel with a dedicated birdwatching guide to assist with species identification -- and in terms of local companies, Betoma Tours comes equipped with a "Birdwatching around Cartagena" itinerary that's dedicated to the biodiversity of the Bolívar Department. The three-day itinerary focuses on the aforementioned Luna Forest and Santuario de Flora y Fauna los Colorados while also highlighting La Boquilla, a mangrove-filled region that's brimming with waders like the wattled jacana, little blue heron and great egret.

During a visit to Cartagena, visitors are welcome to explore centuries-old cobblestone streets, lounge on the sandy beach, and sample beloved dishes like arepa de huevo and carimañolas -- and to sweeten the deal, this storied city also offers top-tier birdwatching opportunities just past city limits. Though not quite as popular an avitourism destination as other Colombian cities, Cartagena is perfect for taking a deep dive into the rich biodiversity of the Colombian Caribbean, with colorful passerines, fearsome raptors and tiny hummingbirds all thriving around the surrounding department.