Testimonial

Scott Holt • May 7, 2026

We engaged RETORNO Photo Tours to arrange a private, two-week birding/photo tour for our family group of 8 (all older adults) to the Santa Marta and Bogota areas of Colombia.

by Scott Holt

Smugmug: https://scottholt.smugmug.com/Destinations/Northern-Colombia-2026



The tour was complex in that two members of the group could only stay for the first week, so we had to pass back through Bogota to get them back to the US. All of this was handled very smoothly by David. From the first interaction in inquiring about a possible trip to the end of our visit, David was always positive, engaged, and immensely helpful. As we worked on the trip, our plans were modified, the number of participants changed, the dominant interest of the group evolved, but David was always willing to work through it. Since we were primarily on a birding trip, with photography as a secondary interest, we were guided by Miguel, with the assistance of several local guides. Miguel was a great bird guide but also very good at dealing with evolving and often quickly changing logistics. We were often in remote and rugged areas with sometimes poorly developed infrastructure, but we were always looked after very well. We always felt safe and comfortable. The trip was an immense success, and I would highly recommend using David and the RETORNO company for your next Colombia birding or bird photography adventure.

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Harpy eagle nest — majestic, awe-inspiring
By Cielo Millán Álvarez May 27, 2026
"Llevo más de tres años realizando viajes icónicos por Colombia haciendo tours fotográficos de aves y naturaleza con retorno, lo que me ha llevado a conocer excelentes lugares del país donde he cumplido con todas las expectativas propuestas en las especies que hemos ido a buscar para fotografiar.
By Carlos Pache May 27, 2026
"Mi primera experiencia con David,de RETORNO, fue simplemente espectacular.
By Emil and Lily Vacek May 27, 2026
David made us feel very safe. He was a most wonderful host and we felt like we have always known him. He introduced us to his country, culture, people and, of course, all those wonderful birds he promised he would.
By Akhil Vinayak Menon May 27, 2026
“I recently joined Retorno Photo Tours on a bird photography trip to Colombia, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish.
By Gilberto López Espina May 27, 2026
"We did a trip with David and Retorno in July of 2025 and our expectations were beyond exceeded.
By Murali Subramanian May 27, 2026
"We did a trip with David and Retorno in July of 2025 and our expectations were beyond exceeded.
By Paul Janosi May 27, 2026
Colombia is a must-visit destination for bird photographers. The country offers stunning scenery, vibrant culture,and exceptionally warm, welcoming people.