Team
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Team
All of our staff are from indigenous and local communities, who we invite you to know
Ruth Alipaz Cuqui
Funder and director of Bird Bolivia since 2006
Ruth Alipaz Cuqui was born in the indigenous community San Jose de Uchupiamonas.
After finishing her business and administration degree, because of her connection with the nature, create Bird Bolivia to support threatened bird species conservation and their habitats, and strengthen local capacities to address birdwatching tourism in indigenous and local communities, and to promote Bolivia as an important birdwatching destination.
In 2009, together with Sandro Valdez and other 70 members of her Uchupiamona community, created Sadiri Lodge, to protect one of the most biodiverse areas of her indigenous Uchupiamona land and the Madidi National Park. Ruth also helped to establish the Red-fronted Macaw Reserve tourism program.
At present, Ruth is also a member of indigenous organizations that defends indigenous rights and Protected Areas in Bolivia, and supporting women’s initiatives that seek to solve a water crisis in her community.
Sandro Valdez
Our main guide since 2006
Sandro Valdez has born in the indigenous community San Jose de Uchupiamonas. His local knowledge converted him into a naturalist guide in the first Community Ecotourism enterprise of his community San Jose de Uchupiamonas, Chalalan Ecolodge.
Sandro found his passion for birds, that took him to participate in researches with Armonía NGO (link), that later converted him in the first Uchupiamona indigenous birdwatching guide.
To improve his skills and guiding techniques, he accompanied several international tours with their expert Tour Leaders, for whom Bird Bolivia is the ground agent.
His knowledge and experience is: he knows 94% of the birds of Bolivia, he has guided at least 30 tours though Bolivia, he has guided more than 200 people from different countries, and his knowledge contributed to create Sadiri Lodge in a very high bird diversity area, to protect his indigenous land.
Carlos Lijeron
Carlos Lijeron, from the small community Bermejo near Santa Cruz de la Sierra, is one of our most experienced drivers who has been working with Bird Bolivia since 2006, driving to all the sites and routes that we scouted to develop our programs.
He has been trained to provide safe and careful driving for the demands of birdwatching tours, and he also was trained to offer food service during our tours. His vast knowledge and experience, is highly appreciated by our guests.
Herman Lijeron
Herman Lijeron, brother of Carlos Lijeron, started to work with Bird Bolivia since 2010, and he is also known as one of our most experienced drivers, that knows all of the sites, routes, programs and services that we provide to our guests.
Benita Lijeron
Benita Lijeron, sister of Carlos and Herman, she accompanies our tours to provide food service for larger tours. Benita is also well trained in our services, sited and routes.
Bennett Hennessey
Raul Navi
Raul Navi, was trained in Sadiri Lodge first by Bennett Hennessey and Sandro Valdez. He is also from the indigenous San Jose de Uchupiamonas community, learning to became a birdwatching guide in Sadiri Lodge area converted him into one of our expert indigenous guides in Bolivia.
Raul also accompanied international tours with their expert Tour Leaders. He is guiding professionally with Bird Bolivia since 2019.
Who we are?
Deep naturalist guides
Our guides, who are the first indigenous expert birdwatching guides in Bolivia.
Goal is guest pleasure- not saving costs
We ensure giving personalized services to our guests, looking after their needs, their interests, and provide the smoothest birdwatching tours possible.
Staff trained in food preparation in the field to maximize birdwatching time
We know that your time is valuable, so we provided fresh food service while you are enjoying your birds.
Bird Bolivia does not take commission visiting conservation lodges- effectively donating those funds to the project
Our main goal is to support wildlife conservation, not making money from conservation. We support threatened bird species and habitat conservation through birdwatching.