REVIEWS
KIND REVIEWS FROM PAST BIRDERS
SHERI OOSTERVEEN
“Wow! Where do I begin?! I first read about Birding by Bus on Facebook. My first thought was I need to do one of their trips. I just returned from the Northern Colombia trip 2 days ago and have signed up for 2 more. My expectations were exceeded. Eliana thinks of everything and she has a gift for connecting people to not only the birds but also to the people. She weaves cultural experiences, incredible food and love into every moment. This tour was full of wonderful surprises all along the way! Our bird guide Roger was incredibly patient and knowledgeable, he clearly loves what he does. I am counting down the days to my next Birding By Bus tour! On a side note, I am sure all of the trips are wonderful, but Colombia was more amazing than I imagined. Eliana poured her heart into sharing her home country with us. Feeling grateful.
Update: Last week I returned from my second BBB tour, The Charm of the Andes in Colombia. To say I am in love with Colombia is an understatement. I want to see every corner of this beautiful country full of the most incredible people! Once again I am blown away! Every day I found myself wondering how the next day could possibly be as amazing! So many friendships were created during these 9 days. We shared loads of laughs and even a few tears! Not only that, I will treasure the connections made along the way with the many kind, funny, special Colombian people we met everyday whether it was someone working in the kitchen, a driver, a hotel owner, a waitress, a very localized bird guide, or just someone we passed on the street. I am already counting down the days until my next BBB tour. 6 months seems too long to wait!'“
DAN BRYANT
“My wife Deb and I had a wonderful trip on our Birding by Bus tour to the Central and Western Andes. The accommodations were excellent and afforded a visit to a part of Colombia I had never seen before. As a neophyte birder it was great to have so many birding guides (four, if one counts the driver - who was amazing as a spotter) on every outing. The serious "listers" in the group certainly met their targets with 231 species. I appreciated the chance to observe the birds' behavior in such a wide range of environs, with the terrain of the high altitude Paramo being the most memorable. Mark and Eliana showed great organizational skills and were consistently gracious and accommodating. I would recommend Birding by Bus highly.”
EMILY BAILEY
“I had an excellent time in the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska:
The Nature Immersion Tour for Women in Alaska’s Kenai (2022!) was very accessible to me as a beginner. I’m by no means an experienced bird watcher or nature enthusiast, but I never felt left out or left behind at any point. I learned something new at every birding stop and nature walk we took, and every question I asked (there were many) had answers. Our guides were patient, and excellent. There was also great flexibility around more physically demanding activities, with alternates provided and Eliana being incredibly open and receptive to people’s individual needs. I’m not a particularly fit individual, and I was never made to feel like I had to sit on the sidelines because I couldn’t keep up athletically. This meant a great deal to me – something I worry about all the time while traveling.
One of my favorite elements of the tour was the work Eliana and Marc put into knowing the people staying, eating, and shopping with. It truly felt like they knew everyone we met, and that made going to all of these places just that much more enjoyable. I felt like I was able to see, at least in part, through the lens of a local, and it made me feel at ease. All of our lodgings were super nice – clean, comfortable, and charming. It was always nice to come back to them in the evening and wind down. The food was also fantastic. There wasn’t a meal I had that wasn’t excellent, and I definitely ate way too much every time.
This was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. I was enchanted by the sights and scenery, welcomed by everyone there, and given the tools to learn more about the world around me. Alaska is life-changingly beautiful, and that is my impression from only the small part of it we got to see. I’m already dreaming of going back to Homer with my family someday. I highly, highly recommend the Alaska trip if it comes around again, and am happily looking forward to going on more tours with Birding By Bus in the future.”
ELIZABETH BRUCKHEIMER
“Had an amazing Everglades adventure with Eliana Ardila Kramer at Birding By Bus. Not only did we see tons of lifer birds but she also made sure that we saw the crocodile and 5 manatees. Even on the way back to our hotel she managed to find even more lifers for us. Eliana went out of her way to make this the most incredible experience and the absolute best way to spend my birthday! I highly recommend Eliana and Birding By Bus and hope to do another adventure with them soon!”
AMY SUMMERFELT
“Going on a Birding by Bus tour, summed up in one word, is: organized!! Every detail is planned to a T, but when a game day decision is needed, that is also handled deftly. Tours are suitable for all birding levels, from beginner to experienced. Eliana goes above and beyond to accommodate dietary needs for every meal. No matter where the group goes, from what feels like the middle of the jungle to large city, meals are prearranged to include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc., flawlessly.
Overnights and birding locations are optimized to hit endemics and Colombian birds without too much travel time in between. Logistics are handled so that birders can enjoy birding and not have any other travel-related issues to be concerned about. Eliana and Mark, Roger and even bus driver, Hermes, were expert guides who got us onto nearly all of our target birds, plus bonus birds that no one was expecting.
Eliana takes it upon herself to improve Colombian ecotourism at every turn, from donating optics, field guides and other equipment to patronizing farms, miradores and lodges that are eco-friendly. She understands the need to give positive reinforcement to even the smallest attempt to protect the environment.
Do yourself a favor and book a tour with this wonderful set of friends. You will not regret it.”
ANNIE AUSTIN
“I had such an amazing time in Inírida with Birding By Bus! Eliana and Marc organized such a fantastic trip - I was so impressed with the attention to detail, organization, and planning that went into each day. We saw incredible birds virtually everywhere we turned, visited amazing and unique ecosystems, and got to know some wonderful people. Birding By Bus also shows great respect for the local and indigenous communities - we learned about local customs and cultures, and even picked up a new word or two!
I highly recommend Birding By Bus - you'll certainly add to your life list, and you'll make new friends along the way!”
