The north of Colombia has some nice areas for birding: plenty of safe birding
spots and very very diverse. 1. Riohacha, Musiche and Manaure.
(Guajira peninsular; Desert in extreme North-Colombia)
The dry north is home for some of the typical half-endemics, such as
Vermilion Cardinal (Cardinalis phoeniceus),
White-whiskered Spinetail (Synallaxis candei),
Chestnut Piculet (Picumnus cinnamomeus),
Buffy Hummingbird (Leucippus fallax),
Tocuyo Sparrow (Arremonops tocuyensis),
Blue-crowned Parakeet (Aratinga acuticauda) and
Bare-eyed Pigeon (Columba corensis).There are a few areas where one can try to find them.
But be careful as the situation isn't that safe especially around Riohacha. Armed robbery is common practise.
Therefore it is best no to go the mangroves at Rio Rancheria.
PN Los Flamencos is probably the easiest place. It is also interesting for migrating waders in the proper time of the year.
You have to drive a half hour coming from Riohacha towards Santa Marta and is indicated.
It has 2 sections and 2 entrances.
If you have a bit more time it is sure worth to go to Manaure and/or Musiche, especially in the migration period.
Musiche is a very small village close to Manaure. It is a bit complicated to get here.
Take a bus to Manaure (over 4-vias) and from here a local bus to Musiche.It is a long way and there is also a short cut from Riohacha. Do not take this road as it is dangerous.
When you arrive in Musiche, ask the locals where the reserve is. There is no path towards it, but just keep on walking north-west through the windy desert.
In November there are nice flocks of flamingo's around Musiche, but they are gone in March-April (they are then in numbers near Maracaibo).
If you like to explore the region, you can best stay overnight in Riohacha.
This park has some very good dry scrub/forest birding.
Best birding is along the main road between the entrance and Cañaveral,
the trail between Cañaveral and Arecifes and the trail that goes to
Pueblito (N 11°18,38'; W 73°58,7') , a pre-colombian village. Along this trail, one
might see Blue-billed Curassows (Crax alberti).
In case you are in the dry season, try to wait in
the evening near tiny creeks, where the birds come to drink.
This way I saw nearly all birds of the past week
in an easier way. Best is the creek on the trail towards Pueblito and
the one halfway between Arecifes and Cañaveral. Along the first one I saw
some endemic Poison-arrow Frogs (Dendrobates truncatus). 
In the evening Rufous Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufus) was calling nearby.
When the mataratones are in bloom, there are lots of
Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds (Chrysolampis mosquitus).
I also had here:
Cinereous (Pachyramphus rufus),
White-winged (Pachyramphus polychopterus) and
One-coloured Becard (Pachyramphus homochrous) and
Greenish Elaenia (Myiopagis viridicata).
The place to be for nearly all the Santa Marta endemics. The Cuchillo (literally: knife) is a small mountain ridge
that is not attached to the Santa Marta mountains. There is a valley between as you can see on the picture to the right. 
Many told me that they have seen the last one but be careful: Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant is also here
and by far more common!
(We have some doubts when they have seen Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant and not Streak-throated.)
Other goodies are the half-endemic White-tipped Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus),
White-rumped Hawk (Buteo leucorrhous),
Black-fronted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus atrifrons),
Golden-breasted Fruiteater (Pipreola aureopectus),
Grey-throated Warbler (Basileuterus cinereicollis) and
Lined Quail-Dove (Geotrygon linearis).
This year I spend more time in and around Cordoba. A beautiful country with one of the most fertile
land in Colombia.
White-eared Conebill (Conirostrum leucogenys), 
Up to recently this region was of the most dangerous of all Colombia.