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Tour guide in Quito Santiago S.
Quito, Ecuador
Spanish, English, Portuguese
Tours Delivered,
Since Feb 12, 2019
20.0
Hours, Avg. response time
I'm Santiago S., your private tour guide in Quito
Guide #33728
My name is Santiago, and I was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. I am a licensed national tour guide with over 22 years of experience in ecotourism, birding, wildlife photography, and natural history interpretation. My passion for nature began early, and it eventually led me to begin my guiding career at the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve in northwestern Ecuador, where I served as the resident guide and gained my first experience in responsible tourism. Since then, I have guided tours across a variety of ecosystems throughout South America, including the Galápagos Islands, Amazon Rainforest, Andean highlands, and coastal regions of Ecuador. Beyond Ecuador, I also work as a wildlife photography guide in Brazil (Pantanal and the Atlantic Forest), Patagonia (both Chile and Argentina), Colombia, and Peru, where I lead tours focused on capturing iconic species such as jaguars, pumas and other rare wildlife in their natural habitats. I’m the co-founder of Neotropical Nature and Birding Trips, a company dedicated to promoting responsible travel as a means to support conservation and community-based tourism. Through our tours, we aim to share the magic of nature while contributing directly to local initiatives in environmental education, sustainable development, and habitat preservation. In addition to guiding, I’ve participated in scientific research and conservation projects throughout Ecuador, including bird banding and nest monitoring programs in the Chocó bioregion and Galápagos. I’ve also worked as a resident naturalist and cultural interpreter in several Amazonian lodges and have led photography and birding tours throughout the country and the continent. Join me for an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of Ecuador and beyond. Whether you're a birder, photographer, or nature lover, I’ll help you connect deeply with the natural world and make memories that will last a lifetime. Licensed national tour guide (Ecuador) First aid response certified Capacity building in sustainable tourism and professional tour operations – Ministry of Tourism and IDB
Delivers tours starting at
Quito
Tours by Santiago S.
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Traveller reviews for this guide
37 reviews
- Todd S.June 2026
Santiago is an incredible naturalist. If you are looking for someone to go look for birds (including hummingbirds) and Andean bears in the wild, look no further. It requires a good amount of patience, but Santiago fills the time up with information about where you are and the wildlife you are seeing or awaiting.
- Janet G.April 2026
Amazing knowledgeable guide. He was very friendly and we had an amazing experience. Highly recommend for a great day. The hummingbirds were a lot of fun. We saw many amazing birds to including a several toucans. We even learned a lot. Enjoyed a sort hike, bought local coffee and had a lovely lunch.
Nancy K.April 2026Santiago was great. Helped me find and photography many birds and even Andies Bear with cubs. He was patient and flexible. I had a great tour.
April U.December 2025Tgis tour was amazing! Not to be missed. Santiago is a fantastic guide. He is extremely knowledgeable, warm and friendly, on time, and accommodating. We had a fantastic day with him.
Replied from Santiago S.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was truly a pleasure spending the day with you. I’m really glad you enjoyed the experience and that we could make the most of our time together in the field. I appreciate your feedback and hope to have the chance to guide you again on another adventure in Ecuador or elsewhere in South America!