OUR COMPANY

Neblina Forest is an ECUADORIAN company established in 1994 to promote Ecuador's avifauna and its wilderness, and by extension South America's, throughout a variety of bird watching tours. We are the only nature tourism company in our country able to offer a fully Ecuadorian / South American staff of birding and nature guides.

However, after six years of running nature and birding trips throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, we expanded our range of operations by opening an office in Santa Cruz, BOLIVIA, and by operating cultural and birding tours to PERU. In recent years, we added BRAZIL, GUYANA and COLOMBIA to the group of countries Neblina Forest visits.

Currently, we are offering a variety of birdwatching and cultural tours in Ecuador (including the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands), Peru (Machu Picchu), Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guyana and Colombia. We have the firm conviction that Nature in these countries and the set of packages we offer to explore them will fulfill the needs of nature lovers in general and bird watchers specifically.

OUR MISION

We provide top-notch PERSONALIZED service at a reasonable price. We feel this is the way to build long-term relationships with our clients.

Our leaders are residents of the countries where we operate. All have at least three years of experience, have traveled extensively and know the sites better than anyone. As a company our policy is to scout new areas, monitor the classic birding sites and constantly develop new interesting destinations.

When you travel to a foreign country such as Ecuador, Peru or Bolivia you expect a trouble-free trip, and this is best achieved by using the services of Neblina Forest.

OUR STANDARDS

Our company has invested in a top-of-the-line toll-free number which rings in Quito, making your communication with South America fast and direct. We will be happy to answer all your logistic and birding questions as well as coordinate your reservations, flights and itinerary details directly with you.

Maximize the value of your money.

ACCURATE, DETAILED TRIP DESCRIPTIONS.- You will understand the true value of our packages when you read our tour descriptions.

You will also find some brief information about the places and destinations you will visit. Finally, you will know exactly what is included and not included in the price.

Late Booking - As a resident company in each country, we are in the priviliged position of providing reservations on short notice.

CUSTOMIZED SERVICE.- We understand that more and more travelers want to build their own itineraries according to their group. This is the reason why we are flexible in creating and providing customized packages

15 YEARS

The next April, 2010, Neblina Forest Birding Tours will have their 16 years of age.

The name Neblina Forest was created for the lodge I ran in Mindo back in 1991 / 1993. When I closed the lodge and theplace was sold to its current owners (Sacha Tamia Lodge) the name prevailed for those clients and friends (more friends than clients) who continued to trust my presence in their birding vacations in Ecuador.

Prevailed for those clients and friends (more friends than clients) who continued to trust my presence in their birding vacations in Ecuador.

prevailed for those clients and friends (more friends than clients) who continued to trust my presence in their birding vacations in Ecuador.

The current Neblina Forest personnel gathered last night. Wine and cheese, laughs and memories were the note of the evening..

We have seen in these 15 years, changes that need to be recorded. Back in 1991 at the Neblina Forest Lodge, people in the valley of Mindo were few and had a very simple life. It was a superb area for birds back then, with only two lodges, mine and El Bijao. That was it.

Birders made a big difference to this area when the visits increased thanks to the fact that new lodges appeared and now a group of Vent or Wings could do an overnight. This changed the way the locals saw their economy and the forest started to be protected and new accessible cock-of-the-rock leks popped into the tourism map.

But the way things have developed in the meantime is truly staggering. To start with, there seems to be a new lodge around every corner and each one has banks of hummingbird feeders pulling in not only the common species but quite a few rare ones. This is true not only in Mindo but throughout Ecuador.

The other big development, of course, is the feeding of antpittas developed most famously by Angel Paz on his private reserve. Practice that has been now learnt by others in the Jocotoco

Foundation with the Jocotoco Antpitta, and San Isidro with the White bellied, and Chestnut crowned Antpittas.

Fifteen years ago, who would have told us we would see this kind of "show" right in front of us in the middle of the trails. For starters, there were no trails.

Anyhow, all this remembering and admiring just how far we have gotten has made me thankful for people like Lelis Navarrete who came into our lives in 1995 and has opened so many new venues like our trips to Brazil; expanded on Xavier's dream to bird Peru as we do today, expanded on Bolivia which is one of the richest destinations and has given us the best of name as a company.

Kelly McIntyre my oldest daughter who in her short stop in our office in Quito gave it order and discipline now inherited by my wonderful girls: Sue, Danni and Monica.

My son Tony McIntyre whose financial scrutiny gives our office a security and order.

The guides of Neblina Forest: Gustavo Canas, William Perez, Alejandro Solano, Adolfo Downs and Bruno Lima. These people are the faces our clients see as Neblina Forest. These are the people who make it everyday the best day for birding.

Who study hard and strong. These are the young men who work to show the birds to our most demanding clients.

These are the best birders of the Neotropics!

Last but not least I have to recall that back in 1993 I had the blessing of meeting the wonderful man who is now my beloved husband, Xavier Munoz, without whom this Neblina Forest dream would not had been possible.

He is in the office day in and day out (when not leading a group or two) and gives me the free time I now enjoy to prepare for the next best 15 years of my birding life.

Happy Birthday Neblina Forest!

OUR TEAM

Testimony