In March 2009, I went on an organized bird trip to Colombia with Manu Expeditions led by Barry Walker. The local guide on this trip was Luis Eduardo Urueña. I was very impressed by the efficient way in which he organized all the necessary factors to make the trip a resounding success logistically, including transport, accommodation, meals, paying of bills etc. In addition, he proved to be an outstanding bird guide in the field with acute hearing and knowledge of the many local bird calls. He also had an amazing ability to spot the birds even when they were perched in the thick rainforest canopy. There is no doubt that his skills contributed greatly to the enjoyment and success of the tour.

I understand that he and his future wife, Andrea, who also accompanied us for part of the tour and his herself an experienced ornithologist, are now planning to set up their own tour company Manakin Nature Tours. Based on my recent experiences, I will be very happy to use the services of this company when I return to Colombia.

Back in September of 2007 I ventured into Colombia when no one else would go with me. I extended an invitation to numerous friends who refused to accompany me out of fear. What an eye-opening tour it was!    It turned out to be one of my most memorable (and SAFE) birding adventures. I always felt safe!  In addition to all the species of birds and butterflies that I added to my life lists, I had the great good fortune of being guided by Luis Eduardo Urueña whom I recommend with unabashed enthusiasm to all would-be travelers to Colombia.  He has years of experience and is extensively knowledgeable not only about the birds but about his country Colombia. He pays attention to detail. He is persistent, efficient, and fun to be with. If you`re interested in aspects of nature other than birds, he will make sure you have an excellent tour, be it butterflies, orchids, or whatever.

And, by the way, he even does a great tour of Bogotá City!

In March 2009 I had the opportunity to travel for almost three weeks with Eduardo (Luis Eduardo Urueña), who was guiding with Barry Walker a Manu Expeditions birdwatching tour in Colombia, as I was learning more about tour opportunities in Colombia.

To start with, Eduardo`s "other job" at the time was as a biologist, and while that was not directly relevant, it is an important aspect because the training and knowledge he has gained as a biologist with ProAves add greatly to his ability to plan and conduct a birdwatching tour.

During our travels, Eduardo had many roles, and in general the trip ran very well because he did them very well.  I would comment specifically on several of those roles:

Finding and Identifying Birds:  Eduardo was expert in the areas we visited in the Magdalena Valley, and thoroughly competent at the reserves we visited in the three cordillera of the Andes.  And he was very proficient at getting what we found in a telescope.

Handling Logistics: Eduardo was extremely good at making the steady stream of minor-but-vital logistical arrangements needed on a daily basis, including 4WD vehicles and even horses to reach remote birding areas.

Improving and Changing the Itinerary:  Based on recent field experience, Eduardo had learned of some better opportunities and he did not stick with the status quo.  Instead he raised the possibilities, and was flexible about making changes to alter the itinerary in useful ways.

Behind the Scenes:  Obviously, given Colombia`s history of internal strife, security is on the minds of visitors.  While birding, one bumps into Colombians who are surprised to encounter foreign birdwatchers; Eduardo interacts easily with the locals to explain our presence.  Further, he stays informed about security issues through his network of local contacts.

The Little Things:  Eduardo understands that a little cooler in the vehicle with a couple of Diet-Cokes helped keep me happy, and he knew who thought 10 a.m. was not too early for a beer, and so forth.  It makes a difference.”
 I look forward to traveling with him again.

I`m writing you to say how much I enjoyed being with you on the May 28, 2009 Colombia Victor Emanuel Nature Tours birding trip. You are likeable person with your engaging smile and personality.  I also observed you having friendly and enjoyable relations with all you came in contact with.  On the tour you were an excellent guide. You were truly a professional.  I benefited greatly from your ability to locate and assist me seeing the bird. You’re clearly spoken and knowledge of the English language enabled me to easily communicate with you. I found you not only knowledgeable of birds but of the flora and wildlife as well.  This birding tour went smoothly getting to places, eating, and lodging. Luis you handled exceptionally well the logistics for our accommodations and travel. Steve Hilty, our Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, leader guide made the comment to me how well you handled the logistics for this tour. Certainly Steve Hilty would know how important this is given his vast experience of leading tours. Luis I appreciated you taking care of those problems regarding our comfort. If a problem occurred you quickly took charge and took care of the matter.  You always seemed to want us to have the best memory of our Colombian birding experience

I spent the month of December 2008, in Columbia this past year and had an absolutely amazing time!  My guide Luis Eduardo and his wife Andrea were both fantastic people to spend a couple of days exploring the jungles and cloud forests of this amazing country.  We saw an incredible diversity of avifauna during our time together and Luis Eduardo was great at identifying each new species that came into view.  We were able to call in some more difficult to see understory species which I certainly never would have been able to see on my own.  I would certainly recommend both Luis Eduardo and Andrea to anyone wishing to visit this beautiful country and get off the beaten track to find some super rare birds and hard to reach places.  I hope to return soon and get out for some more excellent birding and nature trekking!

I visited Colombia in December and January 2007-08 and was lucky enough to have Luis as a guide for most of that period.  I found him to be an extremely skilled guide, finding birds and identifying them on the slightest flicker or squeak, just what is needed from a great guide.  In addition, our party was of mixed ability and he showed a great deal of patience with us all.  The tour went perfectly, with a great deal of credit to Luis.

As a member of VENT tour of the Rio Magdalena Valley and the Santa Marta Mountains I had the pleasure of getting to know Luis Eduardo Urueña.  I found Luis to have excellent eyes and ears.  He was swiftly able to locate calling birds with an amazing accuracy.  Besides his skills in birding he was also able to make the group members feel comfortable at all times.  He was always there exactly when you need help and sometimes when you did not know that you needed help.  I would recommend Luis to anyone as a guide for any birding in Colombia.  His birding skills and pleasant personality make him an ideal guide for an expert or a beginner.

I led four Victor Emanuel Nature Tour trips to Colombia this year (2009), our first trips since 1986, and Luis Eduardo co-led all of these trips with me. Just having the opportunity to return to Colombia and get into the field again was terrific, but having Luis Eduardo along as a co-leader was absolutely marvelous. His youthful energy, great eyes and ears and spotting ability, and eagerness to help everyone see the birds, and to look after their comfort, was invaluable.  Equally impressive was his ability to handle an array of complicated logistics flawlessly, including  meal and picnic arrangements, hotels, rounding up 4-wheel drive vehicles, horses, or whatever the situation required.  Furthermore, Luis and his trusty cell phone (his list of contacts looked like a small phone directory), were able to overcome all the inevitable little emergencies that arise when traveling in remote regions.  And best of all, he seemed never to have met a stranger, mingling perfectly with rural and urban countrymen alike, and always staying up-to-the-minute on issues ranging from security (important in Colombia) and road conditions to the best birding spots.

I certainly plan to have Luis co-lead with me on future VENT trips— and what better recommendation is there than that?