Luis was an excellent guide. Spotted many species on this day trip - We had an excellent day of birding with Luis and would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone interested in spotting many of the almost 2,000 species of birds that have been reported in Colombia. The farm/plantation he took us to offered a variety of habitats that offered us the opportunity to spot a variety of birds; I would emphasize, though, that as long as there was light enough to see Luis was already calling out birds even as he drove. If birding is your thing or if you are interested in starting, definitely consider going with Luis Zuñiga and Horses Cartagena. Arranging the day trip was relatively straightforward. Initial contacts were made via email and subsequent interactions were on WhatsApp. Luis had sent us sent us information as to the appropriate clothing to wear for birding (avoid bright colors) to avoid wearing/using fragrances. This was a long day starting with a pick up at 0500 and ending close to 1500. Luis picked us up at Plaza de la Trinidad near our lodging. he was accompanied by his daughter, Maria. Luis gave us his perspective on the history and development of Cartagena as we drove through the city and then outside past the port and the oil refinery. He also related how he changed from his previous career to that of running a ecotour company from their family home on Isla Barú, beach horse-riding trips on the mainland and now birding tours around the region. Soon after dawn, there was enough light for Luis to start scanning the roadside and the adjacent meadows for birds. He was intent at finding a Northern Screamer for us, and find when he did. There were several other birds. The many cattle egrets didn’t rate a mention, but we also spotted Limpkin, Rufescent Tiger heron, and I notes a Ringed kingfisher on the power or telephone lines (and would again on our way back). He took us to his preferred location eco-Lodge, a farm that was also now accepting a few visitors as well as small birding groups like ours on their property. We had a very pleasant Colombian breakfast washed down with freshly brewed coffee. The birding continued the moment we stepped out of the car; Ruddy Ground dove on the ground and a Caribbean Hornero in the tree. After a hearty breakfast washed down with Colombian coffee, of course, we set out. We covered a lot of ground, literally. We explored tropical forest, river banks, date palm plantations, large ponds, and marshy areas. As Luis had warned us many of the paths were very muddy, but we also hiked on graded roads and well-worn paths as well. Of course Luis spotted and called out more birds than I actually laid eyes on let alone was able to photograph. He was adept at mimicking some bird calls to see if any birds would react and show themselves. While the majority of our sightings were “Lifers” there were also some familiar winter migrants already in the area. We spotted a male Prothonotary warbler; we’d seen these warblers before, notably in Ohio’s Magee Marsh. On the other hand the Summer tanagers - both male and female - we lifers for us; we had been unsuccessfully watching out for them in the US and it took a trip to Colombia for us to finally see them. Other migrants known to us were waterfowl. An appropriately solo Single sandpiper was picking its way across a muddy trail we were on; we’d spotted them before in the Midwest. On the way back to Cartagena we passed the marshes near La Boquilla and spotted a small flock of Short-billed dowitchers; we’d seen the species just 3 months earlier along the shoreline of Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba. We always knew of the great distances that some migratory birds would have to fly but it was always an awesome experience to encounter these intrepid travelers at the extremes of their travels and not just while they traveling through the Midwest. One mild disappointment was that for all the reported 163 hummingbird species in Colombia we never spotted any this day. We did see a fair number of raptors, however, beyond the Yellow-headed caracara many of which we had already seen in the city. We observed Crane hawk, Gray-lined hawk, Gray-headed kite, Snail kite, and Roadside hawk. Watching a pair of the Roadside hawks flying tre to tree was exhilarating. They deserve a better name, though. There were small piles of snail shells on the side of the road along the marshland where we spotted the Snail hawk We spotted avifauna familiar to us from Costa Rica. It was a thrill to see the Keel-billed toucan, the archetype of its species relatively close. We had seen one only at a distance in Costa Rica. It was good to see Mot-mots again. Same with the Crested oropendola which, like its counterpart in Costa Rica (Montezuma) like to intermittently hang upside down. Speaking of familiar-looking, the Red-crowned woodpecker (Carpintero habado) had a striking resemblance to the Red-bellied woodpecker we frequently spot in our area. The most striking bird of our outing may have been the male Crimson-crested woodpecker, his flame-colored head truly eye-catching. Luis was determined to find us another bird - as determined he had been to show us the Northern Screamer - called Black-capped donacobius, known locally as Cucarachero de Laguna. It took awhile but he did get to show us the donacobius towards the end of our time at the farm. Luis issued a lot of instructions prior to the outing (eg no bright-colored clothing, strong perfumes, sturdy footwear). Be prepared to hike uneven ground in hot and humid weather. I recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat for the sun and perhaps bringing a small super-absorbent towel for perspiration. Be sure to stay hydrated. As always is the case when searching for wildlife in their natural habitat bring lots of patience. I strongly recommend Luis and Horses Cartagena for any birdwatching trips in the area. We came with a clean slate, happy to see whatever avifauna Luis could find for us, but he would be happy to help you search for any particular species if you let him know ahead of time.

Highlight of our trip! - Wonderful experience and a highlight of our trip! We were picked up at our hotel and driven to the reserve, which was beautiful. Our guides Sofia and Maicol were very friendly and shared their knowledge of the area and birds and other wildlife with us. We saw so many birds and other animals we hadn’t been able to see in the city. At the family’s farm, they were so welcoming and friendly and we had delicious coffee and breakfast while looking out to see more birds and even rare tamarins. At the end of the trip, Maicol shared amazing photos and the EBird list from our bird watching with us. We fully recommend this tour and thanks Sofia and Maicol for making this special for us!

A nice introduction to Colombian birds with limited time - We had only a short time for a birding tour on an overnight cruise stop in Cartagena. Luis was on time for our very early 5AM departure. The farm location had a good variety of habitats and, in the few hours we had, we found over 60 species of birds. Luis was knowledgeable about the birds and we enjoyed the tour very much. Thanks, Luis!

Incredible - Luis was a great guid! my friends and I had a great time learning about the park and all that it had to offer. It was an amazing experience!

Bird watching in Cartagena - Excellent bird watching trip with Luis….loved how passionate and knowledgeable he was about Colombia birds….definitely recommend

Amazing guides, beautiful birds! - My husband chose Colombia as his 50th birthday trip specifically to see the birds. This was the only guided tour we did and it did not disappoint!!! Luis and Sophia were amazing hosts/guides. Very timely, kind, and knowledgeable. We don’t speak Spanish and there was no language barrier. My husband added many new birds to his life list that day thanks in large part to Luis’s spotting skills! The owners of the farm we visited were so gracious to allow us on their land, cook us a great breakfast, and their many animals were an added delight. If you’re considering this trip, definitely do it! I think we were back in Cartagena around 2pm after a 5am pick up.

Birdwatches lovers your tour in Cartagena! - You get 100% of what is advertised in this tour. I am new in bird watching and before went to this tour I did birdwatching tours in two different Colombian's locations. This was the best. Luis is a guide that transmits his knowledge to the birdwatchers. I recommend very well this tour , plus the reservation through whatsApp was easy and he (Horses Cartagena Tours) uses a link payment for the tour which I found very convenient.

amazing birding tour - This was an amazing birding experience! We saw almost 70 species of birds, saw some cute sloths, and had a delicious Colombian breakfast. Luis is a passionate and dedicated birder, and a wonderful, kind, and considerate guide. I would highly recommend booking one of his birding tours during your stay at Cartagena.

Great trip to unique place! - We had a great birdwatching tour! Luiz really knows his stuff- highly recommend for getting away from all the tourist trap stuff and actually seeing nature!

Incredible birding with very knowledgeable guide - This is a phenomenal tour. Luis REALLY knows his birds. He picked me up from my hotel very early and we went to Matute nature reserve about 40 mins out of Cartagena. Luis is exceptional at identifying birds, and he kept an e-bird list to share with me afterwards, plus took photos that he also very generously shared. We stopped a couple of times: for a coffee, and later a local breakfast at the homestead (which is heaven). As well as birds, (Pygmy owl, toucan, hummingbirds, whooping motmot- 44 species altogether) we saw howler monkeys, cotton top tamarins, sloths, frogs and butterflies. After it got a bit hot we did some “birding-by-car” and saw another 30 species, including Northern Screamers, lots of herons and egrets, savanna hawk, and a yellow-headed blackbird. It was the greatest day of birding.