Carolee and I loved this trip. Great birds and the lodgings were comfortable. Our guide Nelson Apolo was the very best. A generous person who did what he could to help us find the birds as well as share his incredible knowledge about the surrounding area.

The Trinidad and Tobago Birding trip was extremely well planned, with extraordinary birding, excellent guides who were both fun and knowledgeable, wonderful and unique lodgings, the food was an unexpected treat. Seeing the Leather Back Turtles coming up to lay eggs and snorkeling added variety to the birding. Watching the Scarlet Ibsis fly in at sunset over the Flamingoes was a moment I'll treasure forever.

This was a very excellent birding trip. We got some really outstanding bird species. A good mix between feeder photo opps plus forests, beaches and sea islands. There was a very nice series of boat rides at the end of the tour. And, as always, Benny led the tour with his inimitable sense of humour. Benny's tours are just so much fun!

Pato was an amazing guide in the city of Quito! Geeat day before we started.birding with Nelson. Nelson modified our birding trip to make sure the "non-birders" also enjoyed the trip. We all saw soooo many wonderful birds. Hummingbirds being the fav of our group! Nelson knew all the places to experience the best birding, and is very knowledgeable. Ecuadorian people, food, accommodations, and countryside are beautiful, welcoming and heartwarming. Thank you!

Our birding adventure in Northern Colombia was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived in Cartagena, it was clear this would be a trip full of both breathtaking beauty and unforgettable stories. Mountain House Lodge where we stayed 2 nights was perfect—welcoming and full of character. Bird calls drifted through the forested slopes of Santa Marta which felt almost unreal. Tanagers, hummingbirds, spinetails and wrens seemed to materialize in every direction. Close to the Caribbean near fancy hotels and quirky lodges the number of birds was equally astonishing—wave after wave of color and sound from the forest to the beach. Our guide, Juan Lopez, was phenomenal. His knowledge of the region, the birds and the subtle differences in calls and behavior was extraordinary. Even amid challenging conditions—flooding and even a bridge washout that could have derailed a lesser trip—Juan remained calm, resourceful and laser-focused on finding transport and birds. Somehow, even with route changes and muddy boots, we kept adding bird species and memories at a perfect pace. Spending time in areas connected to Indigenous communities added another meaningful layer to the experience. There was a palpable sense of history and stewardship of the land—this is a place where culture, landscape and wildlife are deeply intertwined. In the end it was everything and more than we hoped for in a birding journey: spectacular diversity, dramatic scenery from mountain to sea, warm and welcoming people and a guide who elevated the entire experience. Very heartfelt thanks to both Birdsbybijs and Juan Lopez for making this part of the trip even possible! We are forever grateful. The Santa Marta Endemics and Caribbean Birding Tour delivered magic at every turn.