We consider ourselves most fortunate in selecting Birds Colombia Experience for our Birding holiday. They answered all our questions and helped us prepare for our trip well in advance.

By the time we met Niky and Mauro at the airport we felt as if we already knew them well. From that moment on, we placed ourselves totally in their hands. Concentrating only on experiencing-photographing everything they had organized for us.

Our trust in them was very well placed! Their expertise and love for birds is superlative, added to with their love and knowledge of Colombia’s culture and ethos. Each day of our 2-week trip was meticulously organized to give us all the best experiences.

With no rush, we were at the best places, at the best times. Well prepped and with plenty of time to make the most of each place.

The high regard their peers and hospitality partners have for Birds Colombia, Niky and Mauro was obvious in every location we visited. Often even translating into additional opportunities and unique experiences for us.

Both are excellent photographers as well but while on the tour, their focus was only for us to get the best angles, the most opportunities. Having experienced other photographer-led tours, I appreciate this above all!

Our meal times, travel times were full of laughter and sharing. It was as if we were travelling with dear friends. Mauro introduced us to Colombian music during the drives between locations. Niky had a bag full of snacks always on the ready. She noticed my husband’s love for spice in his food on our first day and had a bottle of fragrant spicy chilies for him at every meal. My need for milk coffee was always taken care of no matter how remote our setting.

I am only realizing the full quantity and variety of birds we photographed now back home. To help me in sorting and identifying them all is the checklist Birds Colombia created for us from our sightings each day.

Once I finish this review, I will definitely remember a lot more points that I would have liked to highlight but I’d end here by saying, Birds Colombia Experience, Niky and Mauro you are unique and special. We’ll be back for sure because Colombia is amazing but also because we’d like to spend more time with you!

Thank you for everything 🙂

— Anuradha & Stefan

Austria

Marzo/2025

In the spring of 2024, four of us sisters joined a bird photography trip organized by Niky and Mauro, and it was a journey of a lifetime!

From Valle del Cauca to Manizales to Los Nevados National Natural Park, we trekked over mountains, through cloud-covered alpine and emerald-green rainforests, just in pursuit of some of the most beautiful birds in the world. And it’s all worth it – all the hard work turns into surprise and excitement when the lens captures those gorgeous, eye-catching moments!

You wouldn’t believe that as a newcomer to photography, I managed to capture the breathtaking beauty of the Hummingbirds with just a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L lens! “Birding savvy” come search and see, my work will tell you the answer!

Niky and Mauro are certainly world-class bird guides and top-notch photographers. They not only lead us to rare birds, but also ignite our creative passion with their excellent photography skills. Niky, thank you for capturing me raising my camera and focusing on “birding”, so that I can see the most valiant side of myself! Mauro, thank you for capturing our whole journey with your camera, letting the memories be frozen and the emotions last forever!

I will definitely come back for this kind of trip, because it let me see my true and most loving self!

— Xiaoguang Zhang

China

Abril/2024

The 2-week amazing bird exploration tour in Colombia has come to a successful end. Thanks to Martin’s careful organization and Niky & Mauro’s thoughtful arrangements and professional guide, we have seen more than 240 colorful species in just two week! Personally I feel very satisfied, I believe this is a remarkable achievement. At the same time, we also witnessed Colombia’s beautiful natural scenery along the way, including the magnificent Andes Mountains, exquisite and beautiful villas, elegant and charming mountain villages and towns, as well as the warm and friendly residents there. We taste various local delicacies, fruit and drinks with unique flavors, rest and live in various colorful rural hotels, and even have hot springs. All of this is thanks to Niky & Mauro’s careful arrangement, making this trip very colorful and full of fun. This trip also had a huge surprise for me personally: I unexpectedly met the author and protagonist of an article about the Big Year in Colombia that I translated and published online more than a year ago! —- Niky & Mauro is my idol who achieved brilliant achievements in the Big Year activity! The unexpected face-to-face encounter with my idol made me very excited and extremely happy. In short, this was a very unforgettable and colorful journey, with rich rewards in both bird watching and exotic scenery and cultural experiences, with the interesting weather in rain forest, the unique tree house, the interesting calling in Antpitta spots, the hummingbirds landing on hands, and even the ridiculous laughing from parrots! Thank you again to Niky & Mauro, to Martin, and to all the friendly and kind friends along the way.

— Liu Jianguo

China

December/2023