Birdwatching tour in Colonia del Sacramento: 200 species

Choose your own route through 200 bird species

A full-day birdwatching and nature tour in Colonia del Sacramento led by a professional biologist and ornithologist, with routes through the city and surrounding countryside tailored to your interests. The guide speaks English and Spanish, and the tour includes bottled water, traditional mate with instruction on how to prepare it, and local snacks. You'll see around 200 bird species in the area, along with other wildlife, plants, ecosystems and local fossils.

The experience

Colonia del Sacramento sits in a region where around 200 bird species can be spotted, many of them new to visitors from other continents: endemic families from the Americas and South America are well represented, alongside waterbirds, raptors and pigeons. Your guide is a professional biologist and ornithologist with field research experience across Uruguay, so the tour goes beyond birds to cover local fauna, flora, neighboring ecosystems and fossils. Tours work on foot if you stay in the city itself, or a mix of driving and short walks if you venture into the nearby countryside.

You decide which sites to visit and build the full-day itinerary around your own interests, whether you're a casual nature enthusiast or a serious birder. Distances are short enough that you can combine several locations in one day. Along the way, you'll learn how to prepare and share mate, the traditional South American drink, during a snack stop. Bottled water and local snacks are included throughout.

The guide is bilingual in Spanish and English, with occasional Portuguese. Pickup is included, and the pace is moderate. You'll be on foot or in a vehicle for most of the day, but the walking distances are manageable and the route adapts to what you want to see.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• traditional mate with instruction on how to prepare it, shared during a snack stop.
• small snacks of typical local food.
• pickup included.
• live guide who is a professional biologist and ornithologist.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Saturday and Sunday

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 33 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Colonia Birding

Is this one for you?The tour runs on foot in the city and by a mix of driving and short walks in the countryside, with short distances overall. Bring binoculars if you have them, as they're not provided, and plan for a full day of moderate activity if you want to visit multiple sites and see the range of species the area offers.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

7 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many bird species can I expect to see in Colonia del Sacramento?

Around 200 species can be spotted in the area. Many are endemic to the Americas and South America, so they're new to visitors from other continents, though waterbirds, raptors and pigeons, familiar groups worldwide, are also common and often appear in forms unfamiliar to overseas birders.

Can I choose which places we visit on the tour?

Yes. You work with your guide to build the itinerary around your own interests, combining different sites within the city and countryside to create a full-day experience that matches what you want to see and learn.

What's included in the tour besides the birdwatching?

Bottled water, traditional mate with instruction on how to prepare it, and small snacks of typical local food are included. You'll also learn about local fauna, flora, ecosystems and fossils as you go.

What's the physical demand of this tour?

Tours in the city are carried out on foot. Countryside tours mix driving with short walks. Distances are short, and the tour is designed for a moderate level of physical fitness. Strollers and prams are welcome for infants and small children.