If I had to list the best 100 days of my life, I would put all eleven days I spent with William Orellana on the 2018 Hummingbird Quest on that list. I will qualify that with the admission that I am an absolute hummingbird fanatic. My very well-planned tour of Honduras in search of birds to photograph was nothing less than phenomenal. I was able to capture many species, four of which are very difficult to find much less photograph. William knows the various Honduran territories so well that he was able to take me to areas where I was almost guaranteed to find a certain species. He has an impressive ability to spot perched hummingbirds, and he once even knew where a particular bird would land on a particular tree. This is an unbelievable advantage to a photographer and allowed me to obtain some of the finest photographs of the female Wine-throated Hummingbird in existence. The rare Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird is actually a regular visitor to the garden he planted at his own home! I met some incredible people in Honduras that love hummingbirds and are doing everything they can to preserve their habitat. These people are trying to teach both the children and adults of Honduras how important it is to conserve the beauty of their country for the birds and ultimately for themselves. The people are warm and friendly, and I always felt welcome everywhere I was taken. Both William Orellana and Katinka Domen love Honduras and will do anything and everything to send their clients home with the memories of a lifetime. Would I go back? Is tomorrow too soon?

We visited Honduras last year for a hummingbird photography tour and were left with the feeling that there was much more to see and do. So we soon signed up for another, longer tour with Beaks and Peaks this year. We wanted to visit some different places as well as visiting a couple of our favourites from last year. Our tour started in Tegucigalpa and we then worked our way west to Copan and then north to the Caribbean coast where we stayed on Guanaja. We visited various different birding habitats and saw some great birds. This year we managed to get much better views of the wine throated humming bird, and saw a whole range of mot mots and trogons, American migrants and local rarities. We enjoyed every place we stayed for different reasons. We enjoyed our breakfasts with local families, views of migrating swallows, swifts and hawks, walking round the town of Gracias with William, and visiting the ruins of Copan. At no point did we feel threatened or unsafe, and neither did we see any trouble or experience any issues. The security issues in Honduras seem to be vastly overstated. Honduras is a great birding destination, with friendly people who have a passion and enthusiasm for their country. We stayed in some truly excellent accommodation, particularly La Villa de Soledad as an example. Once again we enjoyed Guanaja both birding and snorkelling – the island really is like paradise and there are some great people who looked after us well. It was a great way to finish holiday. I would highly recommend Beaks and Peaks as a birding tour operator. Whilst we stuck to our overall itinerary William took account of local conditions and how we felt to ensure that we got the best out of every day. William was keen to show us his country of which he is immensely proud and share his absolute passion for the birds. He always tried his best to get us onto a bird .... but there is always one to go back for. We enjoyed each and every minute of our holiday and will always remember it

We took part in a 10 day tour starting in Tegucigalpa and ending in Pico Bonito Lodge, nr La Ceiba. From start to finish the tour worked as planned. Accommodation was generally very good with just one night where the accommodation was basic - we were told about this - and some nights where the accommodation was very good - at Panacam Lodge and Pico Bonito. Throughout the tour our guides William and Katinka were attentive to detail and very easy to get along with - nothing was too much trouble. We particularly enjoyed early morning breakfasts in the field, often with local food which was a nice touch, it was very good. We even had one day when in the middle of nowhere we had take out pizza - I'm not sure how they did it, but it was lovely, a nice change. We had no upset tummies as there was always hand cleaning gel available. From a bird watching perspective this tour is exactly as per the title, and we went to some lengths to see different and more specialised birds in more challenging locations, as well as some easier feeder visits. Of the just over 40 hummingbird species available in Honduras the trip recorded 31 in 10 days! We really enjoyed visiting Guanaja - the whole experience of the flight, short boat ride and laid back feel on the island. The whole experience was so good we have already booked to go back to do some more general birding!! Cannot wait.

I joined William from Beaks and Peaks for a Hummingbird Photography Quest. I arrived and departed from Honduras on slightly different days to the other guests for various reasons, and William could not have been more helpful in making sure I was immediately made to feel safe and welcome when I arrived. The hummingbirds we saw were incredibly beautiful, and there was ample time allowed to get used to the habitat and behaviour of each species, and to photograph them in different lights. I am a birder as well as a photographer, and William made sure that I saw (and photographed!) plenty of other species as well as the hummingbirds we were searching for. Both William and Katinka are wonderful, highly skilled and friendly guides who do their utmost to make you feel welcome in Honduras, and to ensure that each individual on the trip gets what they want out of the tour. I cannot recommend Beaks and Peaks highly enough, and Honduras is an unexpected delight to visit.

We had a blast celebrating my children's graduations from high school and college (2 different kids each with something to celebrate) with a family trip to Honduras led by Beaks and Peaks (BP). I had indicated to BP that I wanted an equally divided trip of culture, adventure and wildlife and that is exactly what we got! None of our group of 4 had ever been to Honduras before and I feel like Katinka with BP did an excellent job of personally touring us around the country and leading us on her own right - additionally she used local guides when available to communicate directly to us the history and biology of the areas we were visiting. We experienced overnight stays in 5 different locations of the country where we were able to learn about the mixing pot of civilizations that settled Honduras as well as the wildlife that typified the mountainous country. I believe that we were exposed to about 70 new species of birds and at least 4 new species of mammals during our trip. Additionally, we created some awesome memories (and photos) from our many adventures on the lakes, rivers and mangroves as well as the forests, cloud forests and jungles that we visited. I would highly recommend a trip to Honduras with BP and I suggest telling them specifically what you want to experience and let them do the planning.

I'll be honest: going into this fourteen-day-trip, I had very little idea of what to expect. Information on Honduras is hard to come by. Friends visiting Central America skipped it, heeding warnings on crime. And not being particularly interested in birds in a company of friends that are, in a country that's supposed to be birders' paradise, worried me. Luckily I can say all my doubts and worries were unfounded. Honduras is paradise for birders and non-birders alike, if you know where to look. And Beaks and Peaks' Katinka and William make sure you'll know! Beaks and Peaks arranged a busy schedule for our group of five, making sure we'd get to see as much of Honduras' delights as possible in the short fourteen-day-period. We started in Copan, visiting the pitoresque town and the overwhelming Mayan archeological site. We found the Honduran Emerald, had a strenuous hike in the Celaque national park and an informative guided stroll through Gracias. We learned how coffee is produced and how it should taste at the Finca Santa Elena. We kayaked the magnificent lake at Yojoa, walked the Quetzal trail in the nearby mountains and watched the sun set over the lake. Hundreds of hummingbirds greeted us at Rio Santiago. We boarded the only operating train in Honduras to get to a fantastic mangrove forest, the habitat of howler monkeys and all sorts of kingfishers and waterbirds alike. Pico Bonito national park rewarded us with views and waterfalls after a second serious hike and the neighbouring Rio Cangrejal had us rafting downstream. And to top it all off, our stay ended at the gorgeous island of Guanaja, where we snorkeled the reef, swam in the Caribbean sea and had a picnic under a waterfall. Having visited Honduras, seen its spectacular sights and met its warm and welcoming people, I'd more than recommend it to everyone interested. And if you do, please consider Beaks and Peaks as your tour operator. Katinka and William don't only have great knowledge when it comes to birds, they know the country, they love it and its people. Their business isn't exploitative, but caring, cultivating and sustaining. There's an inner drive there to show us, you, what it is that made them fell in love with Honduras. And honestly, after two weeks, it's impossible to disagree.

I lived in Central America for roughly 3 years and during this time was never fortunate enough to see a Quetzal. This time when in Honduras I contacted William and Katinka from Beaks and Peaks on the chance of a tour to view the Resplendent Quetzal. William organized a wonderful day for myself and a friend in Santa Barbara. We had great fortune and got wonderful views of the Resplendent Quetzal among many other birds and a lovely tasty and healthy typical lunch in the community that is now helping to conserve the forest (through a project that William and Katinka are involved in). Our great experience with Beaks and Peaks didn't end there. William and Katinka were off on an adventure themselves to search for the Red-throated Caracara and offered us a chance to come along. Way into the wilderness we went, camping in a local village before an early start the following day. Again good fortune and excellent guiding came to the fore and we were part of just a select few people to have witnessed the elusive Red-throated Caracara in Honduras! Amazing! I can't thank William and Katinka enough for the wonderful organization and hospitality they offered and for such a wonderful experience in the 'Real Honduras'. I would highly recommend them to anyone wishing to go birding and exploring their beautiful locale!

I just returned from my second trip to Honduras and all I can say is that I would not be surprised if I am writing a third review in the future. Our group of ten spent 10 days at four different locations in Honduras, including William's amazing hometown of Gracias where we were fortunate to spot the Ocellated Quail and Honduran Emerald. Thank you also to El Club de Observación de Aves Tanunas. During out travels we met many different groups and individuals who are contributing to the conservation efforts and well-being of the country and people. Our trip included visits to the Abundant Life Christian School, Julio Bu's home near Esperanza where his family attracts the hummingbird I most often see in Chicago (the Ruby-throated), and the Santa Barbara La Fuente de Vida project. Our trip ran like a well oiled machine. We were greeted at the airport by William and Katinka and their love for Honduras was apparent in all aspects of the trip. We were greeted at the airport, had comfortable transportation with a wonderful driver, and shared delicious traditional meals and hospitable accommodations Safety was never a concern and we all witnessed the beauty and possibilities Honduras has to offer. Our trip – Honduras' Birding Highlights – was amazing! William and Katinka made sure everyone had a wonderful trip. Their knowledge of Honduras and guiding skills are impeccable. I was amazed at how many new birds I added to my Honduras list. Thank you William and Katinka. Love from Chicago, IL

The birds were fantastic on the trip to Honduras in January 2018, as arranged through the Cayuga Bird Club Beaks and Peaks Birding and Adventure Tours of Honduras. The two of us were met at the airport in the capitol, Teguicgalpa by Katinka Domen, one of the Beaks and Peaks owner/guides. We travelled for 11 days from cloud forest to the Caribbean Sea, then a third member joined us for the Lake Yojoa Birding Blitz. It is not easy to point to a single highlight—there were so many. We started the trip with a hike at La Tigra National Park, a high elevation cloud forest. We saw white-faced quail dove, mountain trogon, mountain thrush, several wrens, brushfinches, and a blue and white mockingbird, among others. The unusually cold and windy weather made us go to a lower elevation sooner than planned. We then went to the northern coast to see birds in forests, gardens, mangroves and at the beach. Collared and semipalmated plovers, magnificent frigate birds, many herons and egrets, kingfishers, trogons and a great potoo delighted us. We were interested in having the time to take photographs, and the birds and the guides were obliging. An agami heron in an area with mangroves on the north coast gave us a half hour to photograph it. Resplendent quetzals in the mountain near Lake Yojoa feed on the fruits of a tree that shades a coffee plantation. We spent a morning with two quetzals, and male and a female. The owner of the area has planted 500 trees of the three species that quetzals utilize in the area, as well as rescuing a great number of orchids from land that was being cleared. Motmots and trogons are very good at posing for photographs, as are hummingbirds and honeycreepers at feeders. Our area shares many species of birds with Honduras, but Honduras has more than twice as many species overall. The only species wholly endemic to the country is the Honduran Emerald, a small hummingbird of dry forests. The Lake Yojoa Birding Blitz attracted 40 Honduran birders from birding clubs around the country and five from the US. It was held at Panacam Lodge in a national park near the largest body of fresh water in the country. Three days of intensive birding in this biologically rich area yielded sightings of over 300 species. Evening meetings included testimonials about the number of life birds seen. One of our members had the record with 55 lifers on his first full day in Honduras. Many of the participants were young birders, some of whom had done a course in forestry management sponsored by the US Forest Service. The enthusiasm and the energy in the group were contagious. Plans are to make this an annual birding festival, with the aim of attracting more birders from outside the country. I attended the final segment of the trip with William Orellana, the other Beaks and Peaks owner/guide, and a couple from Washington state. We travelled to the western side of the country to the town of Gracias and the Mayan ruins of Copan, with a combination of birding and interesting cultural tours. Scarlet macaws at the ruins were a big hit, as were white throated magpie jays and more views of the Honduran emerald. We felt safe at all times. Many infrastructure projects, including improvement to the main roads and a new airport, are in progress. The couple running Beaks and Peaks are dedicated to expanding tourism and conservation in the country. On many of our trips we were joined by local birders. The grassroots conservation initiatives, like the quetzal trees, hummingbird gardens, and birding trails that we enjoyed, ensure future birding opportunities. We share a lot more than the birds that migrate between our areas; getting to know some of the local people gave the trip an added depth and a connection with the country.

Beaks and Peaks' William and Katina were diligent in choosing inspiring locales for us to see a very nice variety of birds - mostly up close and sharing the beauty of Honduras. Their flexibility and attention to details and logistics in both food and lodging were also very pleasing. The van was comfortable in all aspects and their driver amazing. We also had the honor of meeting local people and sharing their dreams for a better future. We enjoyed our guides' work ethic, efficient yet gentle guiding and sense of humor, a pleasure for everyone. I would highly recommend a return trip with them anytime. The trip was over before we knew it. If I had sharper eyes I would have seen closer to 140 new birds. What a delight!

My fiance and I loved every moment of our time with Beaks and Peaks! While on our tour, we had the amazing opportunity to see a whole GROUP of Resplendent Quetzals. We also saw beautiful Motmots and stunning Toucans, among other great species. The landscape is gorgeous and we loved that we were out for hours and didn't run into any other groups. Honduras is truly a hidden gem and perfect for people who want something more unique and exclusive. We really felt like we were a part of the beautiful nature. Our guide William Orellana was extremely professional, knowledgeable, kind, and overall fun and easy to be around! We are new to birding, but William taught us the basics with patience and humility-- plus helped our untrained eyes spot all the amazing birds! William goes beyond giving a simple tour. His passion for the birds and for conserving his country is palpable and contagious. Moreover, our tour was unique because not only were we able to see magnificent and breathtaking species, but William also taught us so much about the area and about the conservation efforts they are working on. For instance, Beaks and Peaks supports local people who are trying to prevent deforestation. One of our expeditions was not only led by William, but also by one of William's local Lake Yajoa partners, Leonel. We were able to see Leonel's house and have a traditional breakfast in his home, made by his wife. This cultural experience really complemented our visit and helped us feel even more connected to the country. It was truly special to be a part of the conservation efforts going on in Honduras. Don't miss out on seeing this beautiful country with Beaks and Peaks--You will not regret it!

I went on six field trips over the course of three days, and saw more than 200 species of birds. The range of habitats visited was great, including open lake and associated wetlands, lowland forest, and cloud forest. I got to go birding with members of most of the bird clubs in Honduras, and found out about all of the birding opportunities and conservation efforts going on in other parts of the country. I highly recommend this experience for anyone who has never been to Honduras, but wants to get a great introduction to the birds, habitats, and people in this safe, friendly country.

My experience was magical. From hiking through gorgeous forests, to meeting local guides, to being surrounded by dazzling hummingbirds while I ate my meals, this entire experience changed my life. This company is so impressive in how it seeks to improve the lives of Hondurans and the country itself by exposing visitors not only to its birds and forests, but to the culture and the people of Honduras. The guides are knowledgeable and warm, they take care of everything, including occasionally picking fruits right off the trees and feeding the guests!!! It was also significant because they keep their tours small, so everyone gets a chance to see the amazing birds through the scopes. I am definitely going back, and would recommend this company and their tours to anyone.