Private tour in Quito Santiago S
5.0
(18) reviews
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
Santiago S.
5.0
Guide rating
37
Reviews
Tours delivered
18 hrs
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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
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Santiago S.
Wake up with some of the most fabulous views, as the sun rises over the western Andean slopes. Once you get in this unique tropical Andean ecosystem, hummingbirds will take your full attention. We'll visit reserves located at different elevations, all of them are locally owned and managed, and benefit the community providing an alternative to forest exploitation by promoting conservation and sharing the treasures that the cloud forest hides. Bird feeders will bring otherwise elusive species to very close distances, allowing you to photograph them and enjoy their unmatched beauty. The reserves in the area offer an amazing mixed setting of waterfalls and hikes through a lush green forest that will allow you to have a day of deep connection with nature. This is a second home for me, and I would like to share my expertise as a naturalist, birder and photographer to admire the most emblematic species of the cloud forest.
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.
Santiago 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.
Santiago was an incredible guide for our day in mindo. He is very knowledgeable about the bird life in the mindo area and very familiar with the reserves we visited. Santiago was very flexible in helping us design a customised itinerary for the day and in doing so provided us with a very unique experience. Santiago gave us the time we needed in each reserve and the tour was not rushed and was there time to really enjoy the bird life at close hand. We were able to spend time with the hummingbirds at the feeding stations and then walk further into reserves where Santiago was able to identify birds from their calls, song and appearance. I would highly recommend Santiago if you are interested in visiting equador and want a personalised experience of its wildlife. We had stops for breakfast and lunch in two really lovely restaurants, food and location for both were excellent.
If you are a photographer or birder, this is the trip for you. Santiago is friendly and very knowledgeable on the flora an fauna of the area. He has some great spots. We saw more different species of birds than I can count. Highly recommended if you want a day out of Quito. If I had more time, I would have gone again.
This was an absolutely fantastic day! Santiago was excellent communicating with us before the tour and arrived promptly at our hotel to meet us. He is an extremely knowledgeable guide, speaks perfect English and was enjoyable company throughout the day. He made excellent suggestions to customize our itinerary. We loved everything we saw, which included viewing of hummingbirds, butterflies, an outstanding tour and sampling at a chocolate factory and an absolutely wonderful spot for lunch in Quito. We loved this tour!
Had a great time exploring part of Mindo Cloud Forest. Santiago was an amazing guide with a lot of knowledge and passion- definitely recommend.
-Pick up at your hotel at 7:00 am -Head out towards Alambi cloud forest reserve (1 hour drive) - 8:30 Alambi Reserve Hummingbird Garden. Bird feeders will bring otherwise elusive species to very close distances, allowing you to photograph them and enjoy their unmatched beauty. -Drive towards the Mindo area. I make this tour totally flexible according to your main interests. I have several options to offer you, from birding and photography experience at different reserves, hikes through the lush green cloud forest with the chance of visiting waterfalls, ride on a cable car to admire the vast forest from above the trees, or for the more adventurous spirits you can visit the canopy zip-lines. A butterfly or chocolate farm tour is also available if you want to relax and take it easy. -Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant -Drop off at your hotel around 4:30 pm * A visit to an Andean Cock-of-the Rock Lek can be added in the afternoon upon request. This extends the time of the tour, and implies an additional cost.
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Private SUV vehicle For groups larger than 3 passengers, a customized tour can be arranged that includes transportation in a mini van plus driver
Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
Pick up from your hotel or accomodation in Quito or airport area. Please provide full address
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8 hours
1
8 hours
1
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