This was a very good trip. The birding was great, the accommodations (mostly) nice, and the food lovely. Thomaz was an excellent guide. His knowledge of the birds and where to find them was wonderful. He made a real effort to get all of us to see the birds. The only problem was with equipment. It was fortunate that Doug brought his laser pointer, as Thomaz's didn't work very well. Also It would have been a big advantage for him to have a spotting scope. I can't recall ever being on a birding tour where the guide did not have a spotting scope.

Not only did I have a great tour, and saw spectacular birds, I connected with an organization that does amazing local conservation work. The Fecse Foundacion Sembrando Esperanza. This foundation is supporting local community conservation efforts, and protecting the imperiled Choco Forest habitat that we visited. I was happy to learn about and support this effort. It is important to support local travel companies, but it is also important to support conservation of the very places we visit.

Overall, the trip was very successful and well organised. The standard of accommodation, meals, transport etc. was of a high standard and we appreciated the service that was provided by the various lodges. Javier was an excellent guide, and I enjoyed his company and expertise. He never got upset when we had hiccups along the way, and for a long trip like ours, he maintained a high level of professionalism and worked hard to get us the birds throughout the trip. We of course had many highlights during the trip, such as Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe after three attempts, Rufous-necked Wood Rail bathing in the road up close, Spectacled Bear was another highlight and of course having Jocotoco Antpitta up close was pretty special. The day trip to Salinas was most enjoyable and we picked up some nice birds in the surrounding areas too. It’s probably an area that needs a few days to explore properly and seems to have a lot of potential. I had just over 730 birds for the trip, of which 332 were lifers, so am pleased with that.

Good time. Suggestions: Reverse the islands stays. Awful long last day. Also, since everything is so controlled by the Galapagos park rules, plan for some alternatives - such as we had 6 snorkeling adventures and there was really no alternatives (I would have rather climbed the volcano one morning). Guide was great.

I, along with 8 other friends, went on a nature/birding tour of Ecuador with Xavier Muñoz, in February, 2024. It’s difficult to give adequate praise for Xavier and the whole experience. He arranged for us to visit and stay at absolutely extraordinary places throughout the two weeks. Condors, spectacled bear 40+ hummingbird species, giant otters - on trails and lodging from the rain forest to the cloud forest to the high Andes. There are also intangibles that require mention. Xavier made sure that every person in the group had good views of everything, and he kept watch of everyone’s physical conditions, alert to any limitations. And clearly he knows all the side roads, off the beaten path, that hold the truly rare natural wonders For Xavier (pronounced Ha’ vee air), one quickly finds that this is not so much a job as a calling. He is passionate about all things natural and he is driven to preserve the beautiful and varied treasures of his native Ecuador…. and also to share them with people from around the world. He has identified patches of land that are home to rare species and purchased them, aiming to add to the property and create additional refuges. And he is unfailingly good natured, enthusiastic. He carries an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Ecuadorian – biological, historical, cultural.. None of this surprised me, since we went on a Neblina trip with him to Brazil’s Pantanal region a year and a half ago. That too, was delightful and mind-blowing. If you have been concerned about the recent press coverage of violence, especially in Guayaquil, don’t let that keep you from going. In the first place, nature tours don’t go to that region. In the second place, the danger is no greater than going to Philadelphia or Chicago or Los Angeles. One uses common sense precautions, and Xavier has his eye on the safety and well-being of all those with him. I’ve been to Ecuador more than a dozen times since 1974, and this year, as always I found it to be a delightful, beautiful, bucket-list place. Friendly and polite people who greet friends and strangers alike. Spectacular views and delicious, varied traditional foods. Go to Ecuador, and go with Xavier’s Neblina Forest Tours. Denny, retired Professor of Biological Sciences