Tropical Birding ToursReviews of tropicalbirding.com

We had an outstanding private tour in S. Ecuador. We saw almost 500 species, including many rare and critically endangered species. Our leader Sam Woods was excellent, a great leader with a deep knowledge and passion for birds. Accommodations and food were about the best I've come across in S. America. The office staff seemed very professional and on top of things. I can't wait to go back to Ecuador some day. We have already booked a Tropical Birding tour in 2021. The extension took us to the mainland's west coast. Our leader for this portion was not as up to speed on his shore birds and needed to be encouraged to have a plan for what we might see each day. He did catch on and we had some great sightings.

Jose Illanos was one of the best birders we have had the good fortune to travel with. Recommend insisting on seat rotation and more regular bathroom breaks.

This was a great tour where hard work (pre-dawn starts and long up- and downhill walks) really paid dividends. We saw 14 different species of Birds of Paradise and heard another - in spite of not being able to get up into the mountains because of political instability. Hotels, lodge amd homestay accommodation were just as described, food was goos and plentiful (and not too spicy). My only concern is that 9 guests is too many for a tour of this intensity of forest birding. W Papua is a fascinating part fo the world and can be strongly recommended.

Great guide and great driver. Three-week trip. First week a week-long stay at one lodge in Amazon. Guide was good, although sick for most of the week. He could whistle all the calls without using a tape—very impressie. Good food, good experience. Second and third weeks touring southern Ecuador. Great guide and driver, fun, funny, knowledgeable and able to get every bird!! Many lodges, most fine, some rustic, some cold. Great food, but too much at meals with too long a wait between meals. Caused digestive discomfort for both weeks. Great variety of places and habitats but a bit frenetic of a pace.

Tropical Birding puts together very good tours with great locations, great guides, and good accommodations and food. They would be one of our first choices when we decide to do another birding trip.

Good birding adventure, missed White-tailed Ptarmigan. May need another site since Loveland Pass is heavily used and birded. A little more advanced information on leks and blinds would have been helpful for personal preparation. Good group of participants and size. Van could have been more user friendly for luggage.

Sometimes the problem is not the Tour but the participants. Over-eager photographers can spoil things for others at times.

The guides were excellent at finding and showing us the birds. We would have appreciated a little more free/relaxing time. The food and lodging were generally good. Some of our early mornings made breakfast a little challenging. The tour size was great, 6 participants and 2 or more guides the whole time.