Our Guides

Daniel Uribe - Restrepo

Colombia

Daniel has been chasing birds since he was 9-years old, growing on a farm in the Central Andes of Colombia, with his bedroom walls covered with colorful prints of John James Audubon’s birds. Daniel graduated in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science and has pursued bird and nature photography as his main passions in life. His images can be seen at www.danieluribe.com .

He is co-founder of the Sociedad Caldense de Ornitología (SCO) based in Manizales. Dedicated mainly to conservation and sustainable development projects, Daniel has consulted for many of the most prominent environmental organizations in Colombia and currently assists private nature reserves in Colombia in the establishment of agritourism and ecotourism services.

Sergio Ocampo - Tobón

Colombia

Sergio is a birding and nature guide with much experience in Colombia, having registered more than 1200 of the nearly 1900 bird species found in Colombia. Sergio is President of the Colombian Birdwatching Network and co-founder of the Colombian Association of Ornithology.

Sergio is the Executive Director of Fundegar (a not-for-profit environmental NGO) and enjoys teaching young and adults the hobby of bird-watching. He is in charge of a migratory bird station located at Rio Blanco Nature Reserve in collaboration with WWF Colombia and has assessed the Colombian government in its efforts to promote Colombia as a top birding destination. Sergio is an experienced horse rider, speaks English and has traveled extensively throughout Colombia searching for endemics and rare birds.

Diana Balcázar - Niño

Colombia

Diana has loved birds even before she was born! Her enthusiasm and care for clients and friends, and her knowledge of the birds and places of her region, has made Diana an indispensable collaborator for our tours birding the Bogotá plateau and surroundings.

Diana has been chasing birds in firm since 1998 and has become a full-time guide that combines birds, nature and culture. Trained formally as a Social Communicator, Diana is keenly interested in all aspects of culture. She is a prominent writer and environmental educator, having written four booklets on birds for kids. She is the author of a book entitled Birds of my city covering the birds of Bogotá. Diana lives in Bogotá, speaks English fluently and has guided birding tours throughout the country, mainly in the Eastern and Central Andes, Chocó and the Eastern plains (Orinoco region).

Waly Naranjo

Colombia

After hiking and climbing the tallest peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Waly Naranjo safely settled down for the birds more than 15 years ago when he was managing recovery programs for wild fauna in the Caribbean coast. Trained as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, Waly combines bird guidance with his two other passions in life: computers and nature conservation.

Waly designed and manages DATAves - the database for the Red Nacional de Observadores de Aves (RNOA) – Colombia's Birdwatching Network. He fathered the RNOA’s Discussion List, which has become the most active forum for birders in Colombia. Waly registered three new species for Colombia and documented the expansion in the distribution of many Caribbean species. As a recordist, Waly has gathered an extensive collection of bird songs and is a certified birding guide, much devoted in the training of Colombians in birdwatching, conservation and nature exploration. Very knowledgeable of the Guajira geography and Indian cultures, Waly is the best guide for running a tour in Northern Colombia.