Birding Tours to the American Tropics
Bird & Wildlife Photo Tours

BIRDING TOURS

Our birding tours are carefully designed to maximize species count by visiting diverse habitats, altitudinal zones, and locales while still maintaining a reasonable tour pace. Every tour is led by an expert birding guide and usually also a professional bird photographer, unlike all other birding tours on the market. Detailed information about each tour is available on our tour pages, accessible from the menus above, by clicking the sidebar link, or by clicking on the links below. Our tour pages include dates, pricing, complete description, checklists, target bird lists, and more. At the start of each tour we provide an annotated checklist that identifies target species, likelihood of seeing target species, where each species can be seen, and often species abundance.

BIRD/WILDLIFE PHOTO TOURS

Our bird photo tours are intended for nature photographers interested in capturing images of a wide diversity of birds and other animals. We go into the field to photograph forest and open country birds in addition to hummingbirds and garden birds found around lodge verandas. We also photograph other wildlife when opportunities arise. Every photo tour is led by professional bird photographer Laura Fellows, whose work can be found throughout our website, and co-led by an expert birding guide whose role is to find subjects for our photography. Since we began offering photo tours, other birding tour operators began doing the same. The difference is that our tours are led by both a professional photographer and an expert birding guide, unlike virtually all other bird photo tours on the market. Laura's expertise will help you improve your techniques when photographing birds under challenging conditions. Detailed information about each tour is available on our tour pages, accessible from the menus above, by clicking the sidebar link, or by clicking on the links below. Our tour pages include dates, pricing, complete description, photos, checklists, and more.

UPCOMING BIRDING TOURS

	COLOMBIA 2012 Colombia Endemics & Specialties Tour Jan 20-Feb 5, 2012 (17 days, 16 nights) Price: $5325; (Single Suppl $175) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2012 Costa Rica Hotspots Tour Feb 4-12, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Click for Tour Details
	PANAMA 2012 Panama Hotspots Tour Feb 26-Mar 7, 2012 (11 days, 10 nights) Price: $3375; (Single Suppl $350) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2012 Costa Rica Hotspots II Tour Mar 10-18, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2012 Summer Costa Rica Tour Jul 7-15, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Click for Tour Details
	BRAZIL 2012 Brazilian Amazon Tour Aug 31-Sep 9, 2012 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	BRAZIL 2012 SE Atlantic Endemics Tour Oct 26-Nov 11, 2012 (17 days, 16 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	ECUADOR 2012 Western & Eastern Andes Tour Nov 25-Dec 8, 2012 (14 days, 13 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	GUYANA 2013 Guyana Rainforest & Savanna Tour Jan 19-Feb 2, 2013 (15 days, 14 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2013 Costa Rica Hotspots Tour Jan 26-Feb 3, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	PANAMA 2013 Panama Hotspots Tour Feb 24-Mar 6, 2013 (11 days, 10 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2013 Costa Rica Hotspots II Tour Mar 16-24, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details

UPCOMING BIRD PHOTO TOURS

	COSTA RICA 2012 Southern Costa Rica Photo Tour Jan 21-29, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2425; (Single Suppl $175) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2012 Costa Rica Highlights Photo Tour Jan 28-Feb 5, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Click for Tour Details
	PANAMA 2012 Panama Canal Zone & Chiriqui Photo Tour Feb 18-26, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2750; (Single Suppl $275) Click for Tour Details
	GALAPAGOS 2012 Galapagos Islands Photo Cruise Jun 9-18, 2012 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $4950; (Single Suppl $1800) Click for Tour Details
	ECUADOR 2012 Western & Eastern Andes Photo Tour Nov 16-25, 2012 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	COSTA RICA 2013 Costa Rica Highlights Photo Tour Jan 19-27, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	PANAMA 2013 Panama Canal Zone & Chiriqui Photo Tour Feb 16-24, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Click for Tour Details
	GALAPAGOS 2013 Galapagos Islands Photo Cruise Jun 8-17, 2013 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $4950; (Single Suppl $1800) Click for Tour Details

 

WHY TRAVEL WITH US

We offer a personalized travel experience meant to be enjoyable as well as birdy. We are happy to answer all your questions by phone prior to the tour without subjecting you to a phone menu, and we take care of all your travel needs while on tour. All calls are answered by Laura or Jim, not by a clerk or order taker.

We travel in small groups. Smaller groups allow everyone to see more and miss less. We limit our tours to 8 participants maximum with the exception of Galapagos cruises, and many depart with fewer than the maximum.

All our birding and bird photo tours are led by expert guides. Our guides live and guide where we travel year-round, so they are always current on where the special birds can be found. They are adept at finding even the most secretive birds.

Our bird photo tours are co-led by professional bird photographer, Laura Fellows, who offers expert advice for anyone who asks both before and during every tour. Competing companies sell photo tours with the claim that although they're not expert photographers, they know how to put clients in front of the birds. In our experience every expert birding guide, including ours, knows how to put clients in front of the birds. The difference is that even the more advanced bird photographers can learn new techniques and get better photos by traveling with an expert photographer. Laura's skills are evident by viewing her body of work, both on her gallery pages and on the country pages of our website, and she has helped many of our clients get better results. Almost anyone with a long lens can get the occasional great photo, but it's another matter entirely to get many great photos on a single tour. Laura has been doing just that for years and is happy to help participants do the same.

Because we have low overhead, we can offer our tours at an economical price without sacrificing the quality of the experience. We don't travel in large groups, we don't stay in the cheapest accommodations, and we don't scrimp on land transport. Nevertheless, our prices are typically similar or lower than comparable tours offered by other North American tour operators.

SCHEDULED BIRDING TOURS

BRAZIL TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

	2012 Brazilian Amazon Tour Aug 31-Sep 9, 2012 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Natural Reserve Heliconia, Leticia, Chingaza National Park Click for Tour Details
	2012 SE Atlantic Endemics Tour Oct 26-Nov 11, 2012 (17 days, 16 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Intervales SP, Ubatuba, Itatiaia NP, Guapi Assu Click for Tour Details

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COLOMBIA TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

2012 Colombia Endemics & Specialties Tour Jan 20-Feb 5, 2012 (17 days, 16 nights) Price: $5325; (Single Suppl $175) Magdalena Valley, Santa Marta Mountains Click for Tour Details

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COSTA RICA TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

	2012 Costa Rica Hotspots Tour Feb 4-12, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2012 Costa Rica Hotspots II Tour Mar 10-18, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2012 Summer Costa Rica Tour Jul 7-15, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2013 Costa Rica Hotspots Tour Jan 26-Feb 3, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2013 Costa Rica Hotspots II Tour Mar 16-24, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details

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ECUADOR TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

2012 Western & Eastern Andes Tour Nov 25-Dec 8, 2012 (14 days, 13 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Tandayapa, Mindo, Papallacta, San Isidro, Wild Sumaco Click for Tour Details

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GUYANA TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

2013 Guyana Rainforest & Savanna Tour Jan 19-Feb 2, 2013 (15 days, 14 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Georgetown, Coast, Iwokrama, Surama, Rock View, Karanambu, Karasabai, Ireng River, Dadanawa Click for Tour Details

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PANAMA TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

	2012 Panama Hotspots Tour Feb 26-Mar 7, 2012 (11 days, 10 nights) Price: $3375; (Single Suppl $350) Soberania NP, Gamboa, Achiote Road, Western Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2013 Panama Hotspots Tour Feb 24-Mar 6, 2013 (11 days, 10 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Soberania NP, Gamboa, Achiote Road, Western Highlands Click for Tour Details

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SCHEDULED BIRD PHOTO TOURS

COSTA RICA TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

	2012 Southern Costa Rica Photo Tour Jan 21-29, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2425; (Single Suppl $175) Talari Lodge, Wilson Gardens, Esquinas Lodge Click for Tour Details
	2012 Costa Rica Highlights Photo Tour Jan 28-Feb 5, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2660; (Single Suppl $350) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2013 Costa Rica Highlights Photo Tour Jan 19-27, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Carara, La Selva, Talamanca Highlands Click for Tour Details

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ECUADOR TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

2012 Western & Eastern Andes Photo Tour Nov 16-25, 2012 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Mindo, Tandayapa, Papallacta, Guango Click for Tour Details

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GALAPAGOS TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

	2012 Galapagos Islands Photo Cruise Jun 9-18, 2012 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $4950; (Single Suppl $1800) Galapagos Islands Click for Tour Details
	2013 Galapagos Islands Photo Cruise Jun 8-17, 2013 (10 days, 9 nights) Price: $4950; (Single Suppl $1800) Galapagos Islands Click for Tour Details

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PANAMA TOUR SCHEDULE   Show Tours

	2012 Panama Canal Zone & Chiriqui Photo Tour Feb 18-26, 2012 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $2750; (Single Suppl $275) Soberania NP, Achiote Road, Western Highlands Click for Tour Details
	2013 Panama Canal Zone & Chiriqui Photo Tour Feb 16-24, 2013 (9 days, 8 nights) Price: $TBA; (Single Suppl $TBA) Soberania NP, Achiote Road, Western Highlands Click for Tour Details

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EXOTIC BIRDING PRICE GUARANTEE

Exotic Birding publishes its prices well in advance of departure based on its best estimate of tour costs. Lodges, transport companies, and other providers sometimes raise prices unexpectedly thereafter, which could necessitate an increase in the tour price. Should that occur, Exotic Birding will honor the published price in effect at the time deposit is received. Any subsequent increase in tour price necessitated by increased costs will not apply retroactively to anyone already registered for the tour. If for some reason the price of a tour is reduced, those signing up earlier will be charged the reduced price, not the price published at the time they signed up.

HOT NEWS "SPOTS"

This page contains hot news about noteworthy events or future plans.

January 2013 Guyana Tour - We're offering a new tour to Guyana that will include sites where we expect to see the critically endangered Sun Parakeet and highly range-restricted Hoary-throated Spinetail and Rio Branco Antbird, both of which are not included on most birding tours to Guyana. We'll also visit sites where the endangered Red Siskin was re-discovered, also not included on most birding tours to Guyana. We expect the price/night will be less than most other Guyana birding tours because we make direct arrangements with guides and lodges instead of relying on a land agent that adds their own markup to the tour price.

September 2011 Brazil Tour - We picked up 486 species in 3 weeks during our tour of SE Brazil including an amazing 83 endemics. For details check out our trip report accessed from the GENERAL menu.

Trip Reports - We've added links to all our trip reports on the GENERAL menu at the top of each page.

Galapagos Islands Photo Tours - We're now offering Galapagos Islands Photo Tours led by professional photographer Laura Fellows. Our tours in 2012 and 2013 will be in June, one of the best times of year to visit the Galapagos. For more information visit our Galapagos tour page from the PHOTO TOURS menu.

Rare Bird Sightings in Panama - Our birding tour to Panama last spring had great looks of the very secretive and rarely sighted Pheasant Cuckoo near Achiote Road. We'll be posting a photo in future. Two people saw the rare and local Black-breasted Wood-Quail in the Lagunas de Volcan area of western Panama. We also saw the elusive Zeledonia in La Amistad Heritage Park.