Our 8 days with Cole Wild in Colorado [Colorado Grouse Tour, April 2015] were amazing. We toured the whole state and experienced magnificent scenery. Cole showed 7 of us all the grouse and prairiechickens and ptarmigan, as well as rosy-finches and prairie birds like Mountain Plover. Plenty of other critters too. Cole was not only a talented and knowledgable observer, but also a great driver and he was tremendously patient in attending to our various needs.
--Paul Roisen, Iowa
We had a fabulous time on the trip [Tropical Costa Rica, April 2015]. It was so much fun to be in all the different locations with such an enthusiastic and fun loving guide…Noel’s skills far exceed any other birder I have ever birded with. Keen eyesight and phenomenal hearing all made for quick sightings and then his deep knowledge of all the birds added depth and understanding in a way I never thought possible…Thanks again for the best trip ever.
-Gregg Goodrich, Colorado
It was a great trip [Jamaica, January 2015]….Dwayne [Swaby] was excellent, all we could ask for in a guide. I had 37 lifers on the trip and they were all memorable birds. Green Castle Estate was a comfortable, safe and clean place to be, part Jamaican, part resort, great birds and trails. Thanks again.
--Tom Ewert, Kansas
I have nothing but great things to say about Peter Herrera [Belize Custom Tour, April 2014]. We had a terrific experience.
-–Amy Hahn, Colorado
I just want to update you on our trip to Costa Rica [April 2014]. In a word it was terrific! Noel was a terrific guide…best we have ever had. His knowledge of birds and their songs was unbelievable. He was relentless in his pursuit of birds for us, often until 8 pm looking for owls. We did spot 6 different owls due to his persistence. He had a great sense of humor and his command of English was perfect. Johnny the driver was also wonderful. We felt very safe with his driving especially with the curvy roads and fast traffic we encountered.
Selfishly, it was nice to just have 5 people on the trip. Plenty of room in the van and easy to manage on trails and with the scope. I applaud you for having a max of only 8 people. The other tour participants turned out to be wonderful partners and we all got along famously.
The accommodations were fine. We certainly didn’t expect 5-star lodges, but the Savegre lodge was by far the nicest. Our room at Cerro lodge had a lousy shower that didn’t have hot water and sprayed everywhere but on oneself, but that was a minor annoyance. Overall, a great trip that exceeded our expectations.
I can’t think of anything that I would suggest to improve this trip. By the way, we saw 328 species.
--J. Fedrizzi, Colorado
I am now back in Australia and sorting through the bird list of the nearly 400 new species of birds I saw on the three weeks in Costa Rica [April 2014]. What a great trip, the guiding with Noel, was excellent, all went very well, wonderful participants, accommodation and activities well suited to the weather. The extension of the week for me, was even better, got some detailed and excellent views of birds previously seen, and nearly 80 more species Johan was a wonderful guide. So many thanks for your organization and planning on my behalf.
--Louise Muir, Australia
The Guatemala-Tikal [March 2014] tour went way beyond my expectations. It was one of my best trips ever! I would say the trip was perfect in every way. I loved the great energy, passion, care and knowledge that both Claudia and Knut showed about birding, nature, Guatemala.
--Karen Hopf, Colorado
I love all your information. You are very thorough without being overwhelming. Information is presented well and it is very inviting as well as important! I am very excited [for upcoming tour to Guatemala in 2014]!
--Karen Hopf, Colorado
My trip to Guatemala [December 2013] was the birding trip of a lifetime. It was relaxing and fun and I was astonished by the number of birds I was able to observe in 6 days. Our guide, Knut from Cayaya Birding, was fabulous! He had keen senses and in-depth knowledge of the local birds. He was able to get a scope focused on hard-to-see birds in a flash! The trip was very well organized and went smoothly, despite weather-related flight cancellations that got us to Guatemala City a day later than originally planned. I definitely plan to go on another birding trip through Quetzal Tours in the near future!
--Melannie Hartman, Colorado
Thank you once again for another fantastic day (July 27, 2013) of birding with Quetzal Tours (Nick Komar), this time in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. This was the fourth tour I’ve taken with your company and each one has been outstanding. I thought it was wonderful that even while we were focused on finding birds we still managed to see Bighorn Sheep, Moose, and more than a dozen other mammals. A bonus!
I’m sure every professional guide is good at bird ID, and most are probably good at finding birds too. But in my experience what sets Quetzal Tours apart is the fact that your guides are really great people, fun to spend a day with, and helpful. Instead of making me feel dumb when I misidentify a bird, they patiently explain how to correctly identify it. I’ve noticed that experts and novices alike really enjoy your tours, and I think that is easier said than done. Bravo! Looking forward to the next time.
--John Shenot, Colorado
Sally and I just wanted to express our pleasure and appreciation for the Southeast Arizona tour of the week past. Richard Fray was knowledgeable and professional which were the expected attributes but beyond that he is diligent, hard working, determined, affable and obviously delights in sharing his abundant expertise and in expanding not only the count lists but the local history and science of his adopted home. We have no hesitance whatsoever in recommending Richard to all prospective clients.
--Dave and Sally Crouch, Indiana
I had soooo much fun [Southeast Arizona tour]. Richard Fray is an encyclopedia of bird knowledge - just amazing. I got 42 lifers and a bunch of great memories.
--Jeanne Howell, Colorado
We had a marvelous time with Forrest [Luke, private guide for Northwest Colorado], a gentleman and a scholar. When husband Ian said it was the best day of his life I reminded him of our wedding day 41 years ago. He backpedalled by saying he said it was ONE of the best days of his life. Thanks for organising this for us.
--Alison Muirhead, Australia
I had the time of my life on the Southeast Colorado Weekend [May 2013]... Nick is absolutely fabulous. It felt really easing going and went at the pace I enjoy. The highlights were overwhelmingly awesome and went beyond my expectations ...This was a trip I'll remember for the rest of my life...
--Austin Hess, Colorado
The tour to southeast Colorado [May 2013] was the highlight of my birding life. That is really saying something since I have been birding since the last millennium and have had many great experiences on guided trips. Nick [Komar] is flexible, accommodating, and amazingly organized which makes for a great foundation for a stress free tour. Of course, it is the birds that really count. Nick is a fabulous guide. He has a sharp eye and is very good at patiently pointing out those pesky warblers, vireos, and otherwise elusive birds. We saw over 150 species; I have 11 new life birds and took great pictures of all of them.
--Judy Sanborn, Colorado
Thanks for another great day birding! [Early Spring Migration day trip]
--Sandra Winkler, Colorado
This was perhaps the most satisfying and pleasurable birding excursion I've ever been on....I can't say enough good things about Señor Ureña.
--Fred Bouchard, Massachusetts
Thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. It exceeded all my expectations. The places we visited, the accommodations, food and transportation were excellent, and the numbers of species seen [385] was astounding. I cannot say enough about our guide Noel Ureña. He is amazing. He is enthusiastic, so very knowledgeable about the birds and where to find them and his talents to recall bird sounds is truly a gift. Thank you again for the memorable trip.
--Sharon Hackleman, Texas/Honduras
Some feedback on our trip [Tropical Costa Rica]. Noel is super! He was so patient, and did a great job addressing the individual needs of all 8 of us. He made sure all of us saw every bird the group came across. He is funny and very friendly. He was very persistent in finding birds for us; we were really impressed how dedicated he was. His ear is truly amazing.....He has an uncanny ability in this regard and it was so important in finding birds in the dense jungles...We consider the trip very successful. We birded from 6 am to 7 pm and went owling about half the nights.....Overall we had a fantastic time and can’t wait to do it again!
--David & Michelle Starrett, Missouri
The trip [Tropical Costa Rica] was fantastic and Noel is the BEST. He is a wonderful guide and so much fun. I can’t say enough good things about him.
--Liz Pruessner, Colorado
It was another excellent trip [Winter Owls day trip]. We saw four owl species: Long-eared, Short-eared, Great Horned and Eastern Screech. Scott [Rashid] was informative and fun.
--John Shenot, Colorado
Just wanted to say thanks for the Guatemala birding trip. It was absolutely fabulous and Knut and Claudia were great. Can't wait to go on another one.
--Sandra Winkler, Colorado
This [Guatemala – Tikal tour] was a very amazing trip--Claudia and Knut were so amazing and we all loved their skill, friendliness and warmth! We saw around 215 bird species. It was a great trip! Glad you put this together for the six of us!
--Ann and John Reichhardt, Colorado
We enjoyed the Nicaragua tour greatly, This was our 15th nature-oriented trip to Mesoamerica. On this trip we were both pleased with the variety of locations that we visited and satisfied with the accommodations.The food was all good and plentiful; the food at Barola was exceptionally good. Together Georges and Lili are satisfactory field leaders; we would go on another trip led by them. We are glad to have had this introduction to Nicaraguan natural history.
--Kent and Marcia Minicchiello, Washington D.C.
Andrew [Spencer, private guide] was impressive: very knowledgeable and pleasant to be with. I would recommend him to anyone with an interest in Colorado birding and natural history. He was great with butterflies, and for me (a rank but interested amateur lepidopterist) that was an added bonus.
--Robert Ridgely, Vermont
Thanks for such a great day yesterday [Eastern Plains Migration Hotspots day trip]. You [Nick Komar] are a really talented field trip leader.
--Nora Jones, Colorado
I was MOST impressed with Knut Eisermann's skills, knowledge and initiatives that have promoted birding and conservation in Guatemala....TOP NOTCH guide, lodges, locales - both he and Claudia Avendano [Guatemala Highlands tour].
--Ruth Stewart, Vermont
We had previously visited and birded Costa Rica and Mexico. We wanted more, including a bit of culture along with wildlife-watching. We connected with Cayaya [Guatemala Highlands Tour with Tikal extension] through Quetzal Tours, whose director we know and trust. This method of booking worked very well, without a hitch.
--Linda Andes-Georges, President, Boulder County Audubon Society