Ecotono Birding
Ecotono Birding
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With Ecotono Birding you will meet the most beautiful, richness and unknown areas for birds close to Sevilla and Tarifa (Cadiz). In our half or full day guided tours you’ll enjoy wild nature in the surroundings of Seville. We custom the tour to your preferences: birding, photography, walks, interesting species, etc… let us know what do you want and we’ll make your guided tour.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
133 reviews
Excellent
131
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Jane
2 contributions
Feb 2020
I intended to bird watch two days during a month trip to Seville. By the middle of day one in Donana, we added a third day so I could go over to Tarifa and the Straits of Gibraltar. Rafa picked me up on time, arranged nice but local places for us to have lunch and generally ensured a great experience bird watching in southern Spain. Even though it was too early for the spring migration we did see several migrating birds including Lesser kestrels, black storks, four species of owl and spotted crake. Over the three days we had over 125 species of birds which was wonderful for the time of year. I have bird watched in South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Rafa is a superb and knowledgeable guide for birds and mammals. When next I am back in Spain I will call him to decide where we go next.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Many thanks for you review Sandra. For me it was a pleasure to guide you through Doñana and Tarifa, I really enjoyed your fascination for birds and nature. We hope to see you next year!
Have nice days in Seville!
All the best
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Curious107943
3 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Matu is amazing. We had a full day tour down the river and onto the estuary salt flats near Cadiz. Saw lots of amazing birds and Matu is very knowledgeable, friendly and Covid safe. Would highly recommend. My son bought me the trip for our honeymoon present having been on a similar fantastic tour last year. Saw lots of birds I’ve never seen before. Thank you!
Written October 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jill1230
Singapore, Singapore236 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
My husband and I went with Rafa for a birding trip at Braza del Este on 14 Dec 2019. We saw so many different species of birds and many of them were lifers for us. Rafa was knowledgeable and an expert in the field. We were very blessed to have him as a guide. Highly recommended if you are keen on birding!
Written December 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you very much for your review, it was indeed a great day, I will never forget the massive flock of Glossy Ibis and Storks just near us! For me it was a pleasure to guide you in Brazo del Este, one of the best spots in Sevilla but barely known by birders.
Enjoy birds!
All the best
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeff B
Milford, CT49 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We're a couple of retirees who have birded in a number of places around the world -- I've been birding for 20 years, she's only gotten fully into it the last two years or so. We had a great day with Rafa in the northern part of the Donana -- the natural park area. Saw 53 species, most new to both of us since we have birded very little in Europe. Rafa has had an interesting birding career, speaks excellent English and was extremely well informed on what's going on logistically in the area, where the birds were, how to pace the day and how to think about some of the cultural realities in Seville. He was also flexible on starting and ending time, which was important because we got going quite early in order to beat the heat on this particular day. All in all, just what we hoped for our first tour of an Andalusian hot spot and strongly recommend. We're currently planning to do another excursion with one of his associates in Tarifa as well.
Written June 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Many thanks Jeff, it was a pleasure to show you Doñana and its wildlife. We had a really nice day indeed, we skip the heat and control the pilgrims :) You will enjoy Tarifa area, landscapes and birds are superb. looking forward to meeting you next time!
All the best
Rafa
Written June 6, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JeffMoh
Cypress31 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
We had a great day's birding with Blanca, who picked us up and dropped us off near our hotel in Seville. (Our hotel was in a pedestrian street.). She was an excellent guide and very good company also. Thanks to her keen eyes and ears, we spotted over 50 species, including several that were new to us. Next time we go to Andalucia, we will certainly contact Ecotono Birding again.
Written March 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you Jeff, it was a pleasure guiding you!
Written March 28, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian B
4 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
I recently had to travel to Seville for work, and my (brilliant) wife coordinated a birding tour with Ecotono Birding for me.
Short story is that Ecotono did a great job. Long story is below...
I visited in Feb. I am what might be referred to as a "casual" birding enthusiast. On vacation I always enjoy birding and love to have a guide, but i won't cry if I miss a particular endemic species. For me, getting outside, enjoying the chance to see beautiful places is just as important. Birding helps me slow down and enjoy what there is to see. But I do want to know what I have seen.
I also hate short reviews that don't say "why" they liked or disliked something, so here is what I liked:
- prior to excursion, I was not sure how whether I would have half day or full day availability, and also had other questions. Econotour always replied within a day (note: I live in Canada, so there is a bit a time zone issue. . Prompt communication like this is really impt to me. I am always amazed at places that do not respond promptly.)
- I was traveling for work and therefore did not have binoculars, bird guide etc. Not a problem with these folks. They had good binocs that they loaned me, a bird guide that Rafa used to show me what was what (I was not familiar with European birds) and Rafa also had his telescope that he set up every where we stopped. At this time of year, many of the birds were on the lake/marsh, and the telescope was essential.
- flexible options. I may have been lucky, but at the last minute they were able to change my half day excursion to a full day (i.e. as my travel plans changed). Made me super happy.
- local lunch options. I asked about lunch, and they suggested that we could stop at a local restaurant/bar. This kind of option always appeals to me. I don't travel to see/eat what I can get at home. I want local. Simple, but good.
- very friendly. Rafa was my guide, and I really enjoyed the day chatting with him as we explored Donana park and the surrounding areas
- knowledgeable, I like to know more than just "what is this bird". Rafa (my guide) grew up in Sevilla, so he knows the history and the area. He also has a long interesting history of studying Biology (among other things, previously with fish in Brazil - but you can ask him about that... ). Also - they really know their birds. Obviously that should be expected for a birding guide, but I wanted to emphasize that they do. A bird flies by, and with barely a glance they can identify it.
- they picked me up. I was at a small hotel, which did not have car access (old district of Seville has some really narrow streets which are too narrow for cars). They arranged to pick me up very close by at a hotel about 2 min walk away, and they sent a clear, simple map showing me how to get there. Really easy for me (i.e. map was very clear0 , and they were there on time, waiting for me (I really don't like waiting, so I was very happy they were there on time).
Sevilla is a beautiful city, but it also has a wonderful wilderness around it. As was explained to me, the Donana area is very important for migrating birds. Ecotono is part of a growing eco-tourism in the Sevilla area (they are only a few years old). As much as I appreciate the need for farming and local economy for jobs, the more people that can support groups like Ecotono that can ensure the survivial the Donana area for birds, the better for nature for the long-term (sorry for the eco-preaching...).
Short story is that Ecotono did a great job. Long story is below...
I visited in Feb. I am what might be referred to as a "casual" birding enthusiast. On vacation I always enjoy birding and love to have a guide, but i won't cry if I miss a particular endemic species. For me, getting outside, enjoying the chance to see beautiful places is just as important. Birding helps me slow down and enjoy what there is to see. But I do want to know what I have seen.
I also hate short reviews that don't say "why" they liked or disliked something, so here is what I liked:
- prior to excursion, I was not sure how whether I would have half day or full day availability, and also had other questions. Econotour always replied within a day (note: I live in Canada, so there is a bit a time zone issue. . Prompt communication like this is really impt to me. I am always amazed at places that do not respond promptly.)
- I was traveling for work and therefore did not have binoculars, bird guide etc. Not a problem with these folks. They had good binocs that they loaned me, a bird guide that Rafa used to show me what was what (I was not familiar with European birds) and Rafa also had his telescope that he set up every where we stopped. At this time of year, many of the birds were on the lake/marsh, and the telescope was essential.
- flexible options. I may have been lucky, but at the last minute they were able to change my half day excursion to a full day (i.e. as my travel plans changed). Made me super happy.
- local lunch options. I asked about lunch, and they suggested that we could stop at a local restaurant/bar. This kind of option always appeals to me. I don't travel to see/eat what I can get at home. I want local. Simple, but good.
- very friendly. Rafa was my guide, and I really enjoyed the day chatting with him as we explored Donana park and the surrounding areas
- knowledgeable, I like to know more than just "what is this bird". Rafa (my guide) grew up in Sevilla, so he knows the history and the area. He also has a long interesting history of studying Biology (among other things, previously with fish in Brazil - but you can ask him about that... ). Also - they really know their birds. Obviously that should be expected for a birding guide, but I wanted to emphasize that they do. A bird flies by, and with barely a glance they can identify it.
- they picked me up. I was at a small hotel, which did not have car access (old district of Seville has some really narrow streets which are too narrow for cars). They arranged to pick me up very close by at a hotel about 2 min walk away, and they sent a clear, simple map showing me how to get there. Really easy for me (i.e. map was very clear0 , and they were there on time, waiting for me (I really don't like waiting, so I was very happy they were there on time).
Sevilla is a beautiful city, but it also has a wonderful wilderness around it. As was explained to me, the Donana area is very important for migrating birds. Ecotono is part of a growing eco-tourism in the Sevilla area (they are only a few years old). As much as I appreciate the need for farming and local economy for jobs, the more people that can support groups like Ecotono that can ensure the survivial the Donana area for birds, the better for nature for the long-term (sorry for the eco-preaching...).
Written February 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thanks Ian for this wonderful and detailed comment of our day. I couldn't find better way to express our experience in Doñana. I really enjoyed the day and the birds with you. I hope you finished your work in Seville well and hopefully we can meet next time!
Kind regards and warm greetings to your wife.
Written April 10, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bushid0kid
Melbourne, Australia246 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
My friend and I rang Matu the day before and arranged for him to pick us up and drop us off from our hostel at no extra cost. We did the half-day bird watching and went to Doñana National Park where the endangered Iberian Lynx can be seen. Unfortunately it was a very foggy morning and we couldn't see past 50 metres. Despite this, Matu's enthusiasm made up for it. He pointed out a number of bird species as well as Lynx tracks and droppings.
He then took us to the marshes and we were lucky enough to see thousands of pink flamingos! We had binoculars but Matu brought out a special telescope for a more close up view. This was a very rare occurrence which even Matu had never experienced so we felt very fortunate for being able to witness this!
We were impressed with how knowledgeable Matu was with not only birds but other local wildlife in the area. He was easy to get a long with and he spoke English very well.
It was an enjoyable day in the countryside of Seville, away from the city centre and we definitely recommend it to others!
He then took us to the marshes and we were lucky enough to see thousands of pink flamingos! We had binoculars but Matu brought out a special telescope for a more close up view. This was a very rare occurrence which even Matu had never experienced so we felt very fortunate for being able to witness this!
We were impressed with how knowledgeable Matu was with not only birds but other local wildlife in the area. He was easy to get a long with and he spoke English very well.
It was an enjoyable day in the countryside of Seville, away from the city centre and we definitely recommend it to others!
Written December 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you very much for your wonderfull review, it was a magic pink-moorning I never forget the four thousand of Greater Flamingos resting in the lagoon in the best of company.
Have a nice winter,
Best wishes
Written December 4, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cwgreene
Chicago, IL282 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
This was beyond an excellent experience. Our guide was so kind and knowledgeable. We saw many more birds than we ever imagined seeing. If you are an expert or a beginner, you will have a fantastic day. Sign up now!
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Many thanks Cindy and Jim for your comments, it was a really good day in Doñana I enjoyed a lot with both of you, it's a place difficult to forget!
We hope to see you next time, enjoy your days in Spain!!
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandra Levine
New York9 contributions
Oct 2019
Our half-day with Matu was one of the highlights of a two-week trip to Spain. He is the best spotter I've ever birded with! Following our trip he sent us a list of the species we saw as well as photos he took of a magnificent flight of flamingos. He was a delightful guide. Highly recommended for birders and anyone else interested in the natural world of Andalusia.
Written October 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JanS
1 contribution
Oct 2019
We have recently spent a weekend in the hills around Andujar and asked Rafa if he would guide us as we were optimistically hoping we might spot an Iberian lynx. Rafa is a very knowledgeable and thorough guide and was just brilliant!
An expert on raptors, using his scope he located and identified all the birds and animals for us and provided a complete list of all our sightings at the end of the weekend. We will definitely request his guidance when we visit again!
An expert on raptors, using his scope he located and identified all the birds and animals for us and provided a complete list of all our sightings at the end of the weekend. We will definitely request his guidance when we visit again!
Written October 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thanks for your comment, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the two days at Andújar. I hope to see you next time to try to see the Lynx finally ;)
Written October 29, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, can I know your prices for the birding tour?
Ecotono_Birding
Seville, Spain8 contributions
Hello Chiara, thank you for contact us. We offer half and full day tours. The prices depend on the number of persons. For 2 people full day is 150€, half day 85€. We use to custom the trip to your requirements. Please visit our webpage and don't hesitate to ask any further questions.
Regards.
normansd
Oxford, England3 contributions
Do you have private car parking?
Ecotono_Birding
Seville, Spain8 contributions
Hello Norman, do you mean in our trips? We are always close to the car and in those palces where we'll take a walk we park in a secury park. Please don't hesitate to make any questions. Thank you very much.
Kind regards