The hummingbirds of our garden

Our name comes from a legend — Cocora, the Quimbaya princess whose name means "water star" — but the hostel's most famous residents appear in no legend at all: the hummingbirds that visit the garden every morning.

Who comes to breakfast

Colombia has more hummingbird species than any country on Earth (over 160), and Quindío is one of their best stages. In the garden and around Salento you'll commonly spot:

• White-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) — the most sociable and easiest to see.
• Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) — territorial and feisty: the self-appointed owner of the feeder.
• Sword-billed hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) — the only bird in the world whose beak is longer than its body; more likely at higher elevations, toward Acaime.
• Steely-vented hummingbirds and other amazilias depending on what's flowering.

When to see them

Peak activity is between 6:00 and 9:00 am, when the flowers recharge their nectar, with a second round around 4:30 pm. Sit still near the flowers with your coffee — they'll come to you. Seriously: the trick isn't finding them, it's staying still.

How to photograph them (without scaring anyone)

1. Light first: position yourself with the sun at your back; iridescent feathers only "switch on" in direct light.
2. Fast shutter: at least 1/1000 s to freeze the wings; 1/250 s if you like motion blur.
3. No flash, and keep your distance from nests.
4. On a phone: use burst mode and aim at the flower, not the bird — let it fly into your frame.

Want more?

The detour to the Acaime reserve, part of the Cocora Valley hike, guarantees dozens of hummingbirds at arm's length. And for the serious birders, the forests between Salento and Filandia are a world-class birding destination — ask us about local bird guides.

The garden belongs to them; we just pay the rent. Come see for yourself any morning.