Who we are
A native of Costa Rica, Carlos grew up chasing butterflies in the coffee plantations and rolling green hills near his home in San Jose. Today butterflies—and interactions between insects and plants – still fascinate him. Carlos studied Tropical Biology at the University of Costa Rica and then moved to the U.S. to earn a master’s degree in Land and Environmental Resource Management from the University of South Carolina.
Since the mid-1990s, he has been guiding small groups of bird watchers and nature lovers to experience the vast biodiversity of his home country. He is one of Costa Rica’s top professional naturalists, specializing in American tropical wildlife, plants and ecosystems. From hand-raising a baby sloth to leading whale watching expeditions and managing a loggerhead sea turtle protection project, his professional expertise connects personal narrative, research and conservation.
Carlos is an environmental educator and accomplished public speaker who loves to share his knowledge with trip participants. His goal is to inspire others to enjoy and revere nature as much as he does.
Ricardo is an accomplished, professional driver and experienced nature guide who will keep you smiling during throughout your adventure. In additional to his skills behind the wheel of our microbus, he spots birds and other animals and helps you identify them.
Ricardo grew up in a small Costa Rican town as the 11th of 12 siblings. His father died when he was a toddler, and at the age of 14 he started working to help his mother. By age 16 he was he was cleaning buses for a transportation company. Two years later he got his driver’s license and began taking visitors to different corners of his native land. His passion for nature and positive attitude quickly made him one of many travel agencies’ most requested drivers.
Hard work and dedication paid off: Ricardo bought his own bus and now specializes in driving small groups of nature lovers to Costa Rica’s most remote and picturesque destinations.
Federico was born and raised in Costa Rica. As an expert naturalist, he has led expeditions in Costa Rica and Panama for Lindblad Expeditions, National Geographic, Disney, The Nature Conservancy and other international travel companies.
“Fico,” as his friends call him, began working at the age of 18 as a naturalist at the Aerial Tram, a cable car system for visitors in the tropical jungle on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. What started as a part-time job to pay for college turned into a lifelong passion and full-time career. Fico progressed to leading multi-day trips for Costa Rica’s leading travel agency.
Birding is Fico’s passion, and he has spotted some of the world’s most elusive species in Brazil, Belize, Cuba and several countries in Africa.
From whale watching to botany, Fico is an all-around naturalist. But those who travel with him often say that his best asset is his great sense of humor.
