Paco Madrigal
Co-founder and master-guide of Cotinga Tours, Paco Madrigal was raised in the lowland rain forest of Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. Paco has over 15 years experience guiding both bird watching and natural history tours throughout Costa Rica. As a child, the rain forest was his backyard playground. He learned about the diverse local plants and animals from his father who had learned from his father. Paco became the first resident naturalist guide at the nearby Selva Verde Lodge tropical reserve during his adolescence. In 1989 he was selected to participate in the first 4 month intensive training course for naturalist guides, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund and the Organization for Tropical Studies.
In view of Paco's tremendous aptitude and passion for sharing his experience of Costa Rica's bio diversity, the owners of Selva Verde Lodge brought him to the United States to study English and Ornithology at the University of Florida. He graduated with honors for having the highest grade in his class from the University's English Language Institute.
Upon returning to Costa Rica, for the following 5 years, Paco worked for the renowned Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) at La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui. His primary responsibilities included directing the environmental education program, assisting scientists with a vast array of field studies, attending to V.I.P. visitors, and leading tours of both amateur and professional naturalists-predominately bird watchers. In July of 1997 Paco was invited to participate as guide in the American Birding Association/American Field Ornithologists (ABA/AFO) Congress held in Costa Rica.
Paco's unique and profound understanding of tropical biology coupled with his desire to share the natural history of Costa Rica inspired the creation of Cotinga Tours. His personalized style of sharing his knowledge with visitors is a quality they came to depend on and has led to a devoted following of repeat clients.
Paco remarks, "There is no better satisfaction than to witness the joy experienced by clients when they see a Sunbittern, a Three-wttled Bellbird, Tinamous, Quetzal, a Brown-throated three toed sloth, or orchids in bloom for the first time!"
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