Hummingbird Expedition - Searching For The Cloud Forest Jewels.

Santiago from Neotropical Nature and Birding trips is not your typical tour guide. Although he specializes in bird watching, Santiago devoted his entire life on nature conservation and promoting Ecotourism. He is very knowledgeable in all aspects of Ecuador biodiversity and wildlife. Santiago was prompt in our communication before the tour. He was very flexible on our individual preferences. He really took effort to find the birds for us. The birds we saw exceeded our expectations. On our way to Mindo, Santiago heard the sound of Pale-mandibled Aracari, he stopped the car and set up his Spotting Scope, so we could see it clearly. We would never forget this sighting. If you are looking for a bird watching guide, look no further, Santiago is the only guide you need. We were so lucky to have him for our Mindo bird watching day trip. The experience we had with Santiago is priceless. We will come back to Quito for sure in the future.

We had a great guide for a day of bird watching and photography. He was on time for our early morning pick up, took us to three sites to photograph birds, including hummingbirds, toucan, and more. He was SUPER helpful showing us how to adjust our camera settings for the best shots. Highly recommend.

We did a 2-day private tour with Neotropical Nature and Birding that involved visiting several reserves and focused on birds and other wildlife. Early planning of the trip was easy with fast responses from Gaby. Sebastian, our guide, was excellent! He knew his birds but also general natural history. He was also very patient with us given we frequently got the various hummingbird species mixed up! A landslide happened on the road we were supposed to take on the first morning, but Sebastian, in connection with Neotropical Nature, quickly changed the itinerary to avoid the blocked road. All locations we went to were fantastic with the variety and diversity of birds amazing. The first afternoon we visited the cock-of the rock lek which was very interesting. We spent the night at Sachatamia: nice trail system, bird feeders, and the early morning moth/bird blind was great! We highly recommend Neotropical Nature and Birding and hope to do a future trip with them.

A lot of humming birds on two locations. Batteries too and observation of thé cocktail of thé rock. Gabriel thé guide very efficient and has a very good knowledge of nature

My daughter and myself both felt that the tour surpassed our expectations of what we could expect. It was a first class experience of seeing wild birds up close and having the pleasure of Santiago to answer all our questions and much more. The tour was customised to our interests and planned in advance with Santiago. This led an earlier start to see birds just after dawn. Santiago had so much experience, knowledge and skills and was flexible and able to adapt to a changing situation so we could see and hear a wide range of birds, over 60 different species in the day. We got to visit a number of reserves and the tour was not rushed and Santiago was always on the lookout for new sightings and it was incredible what it could see and hear to then direct us to see/hear the same. Santiago had a great understanding of the habitats were visiting and also on the lookout for other wildlife such as reptiles. Santiago was well equipped with telescope and other equipment to see and hear birds real close up. It was truly magical day and it was fantastic that Santiago recorded all the birds we had seen/heard and sent us the list. We would highly recommend Santiago for any wild life tours In South America, check out their website you won’t disappointed.

Dario was prompt in the pick up time. He was fairly quiet during the drive, but was very knowledgeable on the birds and cameras (both pro settings and camera phones). Alambi hummingbird reserve was great. Many feeders and many birds per feeder. Sachatamia had a cute set up for hummingbirds as well as a lookout into the valley. A short 300 meter walking path was cut into the grounds. We also had lunch here which was fine. They attempted to work with a dietary restriction, but missed with dessert. Mindo Loma was a great ending to the day. The hummingbirds were super active and friendly. We were able to sit under a covered area so the rain was not an issue. We even got to hand feed them at all locations! After this one day tour, we ended up with over 2000 hummingbird photos… we just couldn’t stop taking pictures of the cute lil birds. Truly an amazing experience!!

This tour was absolutely the highlight of our trip. Gabriel was our guide for a fabulous tour of the cloud forest in Mindo with incredible bird sightings. After picking us up early in the morning from our hotel, we headed to the cloud forest. Along the way we stopped at several different spots to see vast numbers of bird species. Gabriel was an expert in identifying the different birds for us. The shear number of different hummingbirds and tangiers that we saw was unbelievable. We also took a cable ride across the Mindo valley for spectacular views followed by a nice hike to a beautiful waterfall with many more bird sightings along the way. We had a most delicious lunch at a local restaurant. We then headed in search of the Andean Cock of the Rock and were able to see several in a remote area. This was such an awesome experience. Gabriel took such great care of us and made sure we had plenty of time for photography. If you love birdwatching and/or bird photography, then this tour is a must with the best guide ever, Gabriel.

Outstanding tour! The various locations we visited were a treasure trove of hummingbirds, birds, flora and fauna. Our guide Dario taught us so much about the area, hummingbirds and on top of that helped me understand and use my camera to its optimum, capturing amazing images. We can't stop talking about the tour now that we are home. The highlight of our trip!

We were very disappointed. We booked this excursion at the start of our holiday. We got up at 5.30. No one arrived to collect us . After 20 minutes we messaged to ask if the excursion had been cancelled- the person answering the message said they had received no notification that this was the case. After an hour, we messaged again and were asked if we had phoned. When we did phone we were told the excursion had indeed been cancelled. It’s a shame no one contacted us at any point.

Santiago is a wonderful guide! He took us to some of the most accessible spots in the Choco cloud forest where we saw dozens of hummingbird species, tanagers, aracari, umbrellabird, Andean cock-of-the-rock and many more species. He made sure we got the best look possible, while still ensuring the birds were not disturbed and the reserves we visited used ethical measures to protect the birds. We would highly recommend Santiago for your birding adventures!

A second half day trip with Santiago to see the hummingbirds in the Mindo area. What a delight. Again, Santiago pointed out the different birds, we felt tiny hummingbird feet on our fingers when they perched....what an experience! Delicious lunch. Santiago made sure we were able to see the birds as he identified them. Thank you, Santiago, we are looking forward to more trips with you.

The views were amazing, and we took so many photos of the birds. The guide was so knowledgeable about the area and the birds. His enthusiasm about the birds made the day so pleasurable. He was very personable and was concerned and helpful when the altitude got the better of me. We have just returned home and anxious to review my photos. Meredith & Nicky gmaw5322@gmail.com

We started our birding at daybreak at a cock-of-the-rock lek. The birds were very vocal and easy to spot in the cloud forest canopy. It's difficult to describe the incredible experience. Afterward, Santiago took us to various locations to see an amazing number and variety of hummingbirds and colorful tanagers. Santiago is very knowledgeable about what is where and how to find it. We could not have had a better guide!

A wonderful, perfectly guided day tour to the rainforest. Santiago is a wonderful guide with extensive knowledge and passion for the local flora and fauna. With utmost enthusiasm, he showed me some wonderful spots in the rainforest teeming with countless tropical bird species. I highly recommend adding a visit to the cock of the rocks. Overall, an unforgettable experience.

I'm in Ecuador for work and wanted to get in one solid birding trip during an off day. A colleague recommended Neotropical Nature and Birding Trips by telling me it was founded by a fellow biologist who realized they didn't want to stay in academia and started this company. It really shows, because the people here definitely know their stuff! When I messaged them to see if they had any availability at short notice, they did, for the hummingbird expedition the next day. I said I really wanted to see toucans, and Gabriela said my guide would know and take care of things. And she was right! Dario was absolutely fantastic! He knew all the best spots to see specific species, he knew who to call about what birds have been active in which places, and he made sure we saw endemic species like the Toucan Barbet and Chocó Toucan. He knew every bird by sight and sound too. The hummingbirds were fantastic and plentiful, but we saw so many others as well. I never imagined I'd see an Antpitta so close, or 2 species of Quetzal! More than any other species, I wanted to see a Plate-billed Mountain Toucan. When we missed it at its regular spot, Dario didn't give up. He heard about a potential nest, so we went looking. And when our car couldn't make it up the road, he didn't give up then either. He scouted ahead for the nest and heard the toucans calling. And when we finally got one to come out of cover, it was such a triumph!!! I didn't bring my camera with me, so I was happy to just see the birds without photos. But Dario brought his scope and at every turn offered to take photos for me through his scope with my phone! So thanks to him, I have Amazing photos and VIDEO of 5 species of Toucan, 12 Hummingbirds, Crested Quetzal, Yellow-bellied Antpitta, Golden-headed Quetzal, Toucan Barbet, Cock-of-the-rock, and so many gorgeous Tanagers!! And these photos and video are excellent! I paid extra for the early pickup, and I think it's really worth it. They picked me up from my hotel in Cumbaya at 5, and it was a 2 hour drive to our first stop. I really don't think I would've seen as many species if I hadn't gone with the early-pickup option, especially not the super reclusive Antpitta. There is breakfast included with early pickup. They arranged a packaged to-go breakfast to eat in the car on the way there, and it was really tasty and filling! It included some sides I could snack on later in the morning too (apple, banana chips, oreos). The lunch spot was delicious and had so many great options on the menu. Best part was it had big windows with bird feeders all around. I saw even more hummingbirds, Tanagers, and an Aracari while I ate lunch! It also has a nice overlook where you can look down on the Rio Blanco and the valley if it isn't too misty. Overall my trip was excellent with 0 downsides. Absolutely everything was taken care of. Even something as small as me wanting a t-shirt as a souvenir, Dario knew a place where I could get one with some of the hummingbirds we saw that day! I saw every single bird I wanted to see, and some I didn't even think I would see!

Hotel picked up was on time. We saw three different humming bird locations and cock of the rock extension was a exciting experience. We got a chance to feed the humming birds and that was magical. Lunch was nice in Mindo. Be prepare for curvy roads and bumpy at times. Santiago was a great guide. Be sure to bring a binocular.

This expedition was the third we took with Neotropical. Our guide Dario took us to 3 different hummingbird reserves plus a lek for cocks of the rock (a spot in the forest where the males show off for the females). We walked through cloud forests and actually fed hummers out of bottle caps balanced on our hands. The number of birds (many hummers plus toucans) and the variety of plants was amazing, and our guide Dario knew them all. What a fantastic day! We cannot recommend Neotropical highly enough.

Ecuador is an amazing place to visit with it's beautiful scenery, gorgeous birds and wonderful people. Santiago Salazar of Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips is over the top! He's an incredible guide and took excellent care of us starting with the planning stages and throughout the entire experience. We could not have asked for better service. When it was time to say goodbye it felt as if we were leaving family behind. If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Ecuador we would highly recommend Santiago and Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips. This is one trip we would love to repeat and bring our family next time. We have traveled the world and have seen amazing places however, Ecuador is about as close to Heaven on earth as you can get. We can only imaging what God has in store for us in Heaven.

It was a real privilege to cross path with Santiago. His knowledge is incredible and we had a wonderful day, learning not only about birds but the wider ecosystem. Everything was perfect from start to finish, including the fantastic lunch. You are in the very best hands with Santiago and we hope to see him again in the future.

Santiago Salazar was an excellent guide! He not only knew birds, but also plants, trees, and the ecosystem. I learned so much in one day and thoroughly enjoyed the experience even though I am not a real “birder”.

Our guide, Santiago Salazar, from Neotropical Tours, was extremely knowledgeable, very personable, and responsive to our needs and desires. Thank you for a great birding experience.

If you're thinking of taking a tour with Neotropical, do it!! Santiago S is an amazing guide and birder, he knew every bird we saw and heard, even if it was just a glimpse. He also made and sent eBird lists from everywhere we went, which was extremely helpful as there was no way I was going to remember all the birds we saw- there were so many! I was able to get incredible photos of hummingbirds, toucans, and others. I'll definitely be going on more tours with them.

I was really an adventure. Santiago, our guide, is a great person with huge knowledge about birds. Everything was well organized, and the service was worth the money. Thank you once again.

In a tour led by our genial guide Santiago of Neotropical Nature & Birding into the Cloud forest just outside of Quito, the Birdwatchers house gave us close-up performances of Toucan barbets and the Plate-billed toucan. Perches filled with bananas served as a stage for myriad hummers, as well as Tanagers, Wood creepers, Flowerpiercers. The Violet-tailed Sylph battled it out with Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Empress Brilliant with Buff-tailed Coronet in a dazzling show of iridescence. Photography was drop-dead easy! And don’t forget to add the Cock of the Rock Lek to your tour. Worth every step of the mountain trail!!

I almost can't even describe what an incredible day trip this tour this was! Santiago was our guide for the day and we started off the day by visiting the Birdwatcher's House. That location was amazing and it felt as if we saw a new or different bird species everywhere we looked. Our second stop was lunch and the restaurant Santiago took us to had wonderful food and plenty of options to chose from. After lunch we visited another reserve and were fortunate to see even more new/different bird species since the reserve was situated at a different elevation than the Birdwatcher's House. We signed up for the Cock-of-the-rock add-on and it was the perfect way to end our day. We had the lek all to ourselves and enjoyed the opportunity to watch these beautiful birds without disturbing them. All-in-all it was an incredible day and I would definitely recommend this tour! I saw another reviewer suggested booking a multiple day adventure with Neotropical and I heartily agree with his recommendation.

As a professional wildlife naturalist in Yellowstone, I have met and worked with many good naturalist guides. Santiago can hold his own with the best in the world. I am a birder and photographer and was accompanied by my wife who is not. She is more a history buff with a great interest in world cultures who appreciates wildlife and wild places. Santiago made the trip about her interests as much as about the birds. Life, human history, natural history, Ecuadorian culture, geology….. there was not a subject that he could not impart knowledge and observations. We had a great day and spent it with a great naturalist and a very intelligent man. Pick-up was perfect, lunch was great, and the places we visited were the absolute best utilization of our time (if we have known the quality in advance, we would’ve booked a multiple day adventure with this company). Highly recommend this tour and Neotropical. I invited Santiago to visit me in Yellowstone and only hope I could perform for him as well as he performed for us. We were already looking into guides for a future through the Pantanal in the next couple of years and fortunately for us we found him. I am confident no one could do it better. Book this company without hesitation you will not be disappointed.

Santiago took us to multiple hummingbird reserves and knew every bird that flew in to feed. It was like travelling with an encyclopedia. He made a customized tour for us that took us to 5 different reserves that were spectacular . He's very involved with nature and conservation and his love of nature. I highly recommend Santiago for any nature trip. Bring a tripod for photography

Loved everything about this trip, the lodegs that we stayed at were lovely, the food was wonderful and of coarse the humming birds were truly amazing. I also got to experience the cock of the rock lek, where the birds came really close to the blind, even my guide Santiago was excited saying that they never come that close, making it a truly unique experience. Do note that the roads are very windy and if you experience motion sickness like I do be sure to take medication before embarking on your journey, and possibly double your dose, you're gonna need it.

My husband and I had a fantastic experience with Neotropical Eco Tours. Santiago, a world class naturalist, birder, and conservationist, led us on 4 days of cloud forest hiking and nature appreciation in several reserves near Mindo. Our favorites were hummingbirds, toucanettes, cocks of the rock, leaf-cutter ants, orchids, and all the different trees of the Ecuadorian cloud forest. Santiago filled every day with new and interesting sights, sounds, and information about Ecuador’s flora and fauna. Maria Gabriela, our point person at Neotropical, organized our trip, which included our stay at Sachatamia Eco Lodge. What a fabulous place away from town. After our daily hikes through the cloud forest we’d return to the lodge for a delicious Ecuadorian meal, then swim in the indoor pool, soak in the hot tub, and fall asleep in our cabin listening to the rain and nighttime forest animals doing their thing. In addition to planning our 5 days there, she organized our trip to Isabela Island and scheduled a lab tech to come to our Quito hotel to give us Covid tests, which are required to visit the Galápagos Islands. I highly recommend working with this extremely professional and attentive organization when planning your trip to beautiful Ecuador. It was a highlight of our lives.

This tour was much more amazing than we anticipated. We needed to fill one day in Quito and this was the perfect day trip. Natalia was amazing end truly loves her job. The spectacular bird life is truly worth seeing. Many incredible local guides lead you to creatures that you would have never seen otherwise, hidden in plain sight. I think this is a must do activity!

Beyond expectations! Neotropical was recommended to us by a fellow traveler but we had already read great reviews online. We were picked up promptly at our hotel and the day passed by way too fast! We were treated to incredible experiences with hummingbirds, but Sebastian also took much effort and excitement in making sure we saw other endemic birds along the way. We cannot recommend Neotropical more highly than our review here. Wonderful experience and such a nice day with an incredible soul who cares about nature.

Santiago is an amazing guide, environmentalist and communicator. We visited multiple reserves on our way to the Mindo Cloud forest to spot various hummingbirds, and we were able to see so many! We had no idea there were so many different species, but Santiago knew every single one and pointed them each out and shared what we were seeing. He guided us through the beautiful Mindo Cloud Forest and once again his knowledge of birds and their calls allowed us to spot so many more than we would ever see on our own. Santiago set a very comfortable pace for us, and read our body language well when we were dealing a bit with altitude issues. He slowed the pace, stopped to let us catch our breath, all while pointing out flora and wildlife so we didn't feel like we were stopping just to breathe! We stopped at a charming restaurant and had the most delicious lunch! Our first course was chicken soup, followed by a mouth-watering trout and topped with carrot cake. We will be talking about that trout for years to come! We were a little worried about travel in Ecuador due to the pandemic, but felt 100% safe and comfortable the entire time. Go visit Ecuador, and have Santiago show you his beautiful country, you won't regret it!

Santiago picked us up at our hotel in Quito and took us to the Mindo Cloud Forest to photograph hummingbirds and cock of the rock. He was very personable and incredibly knowledgeable. We got great shots of the birds and had quite an adventure doing so. We were in Ecuador for Galapagos and the Amazon Rainforest and this was on par with those experiences. We highly recommend him for a tour.

My guide Santiago Salazar delivered everything he promised, and more! His wealth of knowledge about the local natural and cultural history and experience in handling expectations were apparent from the very start. I expressed a desire to see as many new hummingbird species as possible, and boy did he deliver. By day's end I had seen and photographed 25 species of hummingbirds, as well as a plethora of tanagers and a vast number of other birds I would never had been able to identify on my own. If I ever get the opportunity to visit Ecuador again, I will undoubtedly book another trip with Neotropical Nature & Birding Trips.

I wish there was enough time and space to list the number of accolades I could list for this tour and its guide, Santiago. To list this as only a birding tour does not do it justice. Santiago's knowledge of history, topography, environmental science and general information was amazing. It was not surprising to learn that he has been published and was part of a symposium at Princeton University due to his vast knowledge of environmental issues. In addition, he stayed with the seven of us at all times, including meals, and answered our countless questions, even some of the more inane ones! The facilities were perfect and the meals were surprisingly good. We had choices at every meal and the portions were more than adequate. The tour itself was hard to capsulize in a few words. We started each day quite early and usually rode, on a comfortable bus, to a birding destination. We would often go to more than one destination each day and arrive in time for dinner at the next resort. Our group consisted of retirees ranging in ages from the mid-sixties to early eighties. Santiago exhibited great patience and understanding throughout the experience and encouraged us throughout the week. As a bonus, Santiago sent us each a photo log of each of the birds we saw and labelled each one. This was above and beyond and was much appreciated. The tour bus was driven by Jorge and he was a delight. He interacted with the group and drove some challenging roads safely and slowly. His contribution to the trip"s success cannot be understated. This a top 3 trip in our travels over the last 40 years. We were so impressed that we intend to return next year on an Amazon trip with Santiago. It is so refreshing to be with someone who demonstrates the enthusiasm for the tour as if it was his first.

Neotropical showed us some of the jewels of that beautiful country (Ecuador) The scenery, the company, the food... everything excellent