TESTIMONIALS
Margret Caruso2024-04-17Even though we are divers, the full day of bird watching trip (+ night time extension) with Joel was one of the best days of our trip. We saw more than 50 species of bird in many different ecosystems--different kinds of forests, mountains, lagoons, beach, mangrove swamp--and he navigated expertly through roads that there is no way I would have driven myself - not to mention talking us into many gated communities I am positive I would not have been able to do. My son was the avid birder on the trip, and while I enjoyed the birds, seeing so much of the island was the true highlight for me, especially lunch at a spectacular East End restaurant over the water. Not only were there hummingbirds aplenty, but we also saw a nurse shark and multiple trunk fish just from the restaurant dock in the clear water below us. It was a postcard perfect beach, and the fried whole snapper I had was delectable. We also were lucky enough to be there on Garifuna Settlement Day, and driving through Punta Gorda, and the stop we made there, was alone worth the price. After all that, I was pretty wiped out, but my son still wanted to see a Northern Potoo, which only comes out at night. Joel came back to pick us up after sunset and we saw two--as well as some additional nightlife my son was keen to see (lizards and spiders). Though this was a very long day, Joel was the perfect guide throughout. His top priority was making sure we were seeing everything he could share with us, and the day with him made us very eager to come back and do another nature-focused adventure with him. A few logistical notes: Joe l picked us up, took us to get snacks, made sure we were always comfortable, and had an outlet in his car that was clutch for battery recharging. Birding was, for us, the only reason to consider renting a car, and I am so glad we did this instead. My pictures aren't of birds-- I am sure my son will post some stunners--but just a few snaps that capture some of the beauty of the day.
Abby Glauser2024-04-17Joel is awesome! He is kind, extremely knowledgeable, and fun to hang out with! We went on a full-day birdwatching tour and went to a variety of hotspots where we saw many species that do not occur in our area - so many lifers! In addition to learning the local birds, Joel shared a wealth of information about the natural history of the island. We got to learn about local trees, reptiles, mammals, geology, invasive species, and conservation projects on the island. Whatever your interest may be, just ask! Joel's passion for nature was apparent and he shared so much with us. As nature-lovers and biology nerds, we really enjoyed exploring a new place from this perspective. We drove from one end of the island to the other, stopped at an amazing spot for lunch, and left this tour with a greater appreciation for the island. You should definitely book with Joel and also check out the amazing conservation work he is bringing to his community!
Tim Johnson2024-03-23Joel is a great guide and knows a lot about Roatan birds and birding hotspots. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
Lily J2024-03-09Joel is an awesome guide. Two in our group were novice birders and he was able to put them on the birds so they could get photos. In three hours of birding we saw over 40 species of birds, including Green-breasted Mango and Canivet's Emerald, Gray Hawk, Brown-crested Flycatcher, and Yucatan Vireo. Since Roatan is a cruise port, his tour would be an excellent excursion option and we highly recommend him.
Zachary Totta2024-02-28Joel is the dude! birdwatching is not straight forward in Roatan. there arent many official "parks" with trails, so a lot of the best spots are on private property that Joel has permission to visit, or are random little forests or canals that Joel has hunted down. in a half day we saw over 50 species! 🤩 Joel is super knowledgable, very professional, knows his birds super well, and is also a great hang! and he even found us a northern potoo! 🤯 highly recommend booking a tour with Joel
Vickie Becker2024-02-26I was delayed getting off the ship, but Joel kindly continued to wait for me. He took me to several great birding locations a short distance away. He is an excellent birder and guide. I’m only sorry we didn’t have more time.
kent woodruff2024-02-25I returned to Roatan with my wife in 2024 for another birding adventure and asked Joel if he would be willing to take us to the best places he knows on the mainland. He's busy, because he is a popular guide for the island, but we worked around his schedule for a fantastic trip to 5 amazing places in early February. We had the birding trip of a lifetime; 238 species with some stunning finds. Sun bittern, emerald toucanette, barred forest falcon, motmots, toucans, trogons, manakins, black and white hawk-eagles, king vultures, bat falcons, and 15 hummingbirds species including a gorgeous displaying wine-throated hummingbird. We met lots of good people, including Joel's friend Robert Gallardo, and some native guides way out in Gracias Adios department where we saw some cool, ancient rock art. Cultural Food Historical Ecological Artistic Together, all these aspects of the trip, made for the best bird adventure we have ever had.
Katie Van Blaricum2024-01-28Joel was a knowledgeable and safe guide for our birding trip. We had a private tour, and we visited several areas on the island. I was so glad to find someone who could help us to do some eco tourism on the island. Would recommend!
Ron Sell2024-01-28excellent guide with great knowledge of the local birds and other wildlife. I would definitely recommend Joel to anyone visiting Honduras!
Michael Schroeder2024-01-09Joel took 4 of us out for a glorious day of bird watching and exploration of Roatan's natural history. He was amazing at being able to identify warblers by call, and in their winter plumage. Highlights for the trip included Joel observing a Roatan shake-paw (a lizard that is constantly shaking its feet) and a northern potoo in the dark with his flashlight. The bottom line is that Joel knows the best spots to visit and he really knows the natural history of the area. The fact that Joel knows about all of this (plants included) and is bilingual, makes him an unsurpassed resource for Roatan. Last, but not least, Joel is a pleasure to spend a couple hours or a full day with. I hope I will get to explore more of Roatan in the future with him.
GALLERY
