My official career as a tour guide began in 2006, when a friend invited me to join the guiding staff of a brand-new all-inclusive resort in western El Salvador. Until then, I had been quietly teaching English at a school in San Salvador during the week and doing some informal guiding on weekends. From the moment I led my first group, I was hooked. That experience marked the start of an eye-opening journey across El Salvador, as I explored the country in depth to prepare myself to share its beauty with visitors.

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A year later, I earned my credential as a licensed tour guide

from the Ministry of Tourism. Through extensive training,

I deepened my knowledge of El Salvador’s history,

archaeology, gastronomy, coffee culture, indigo production,

biodiversity, and more. It was during these trainings that

I first learned about our incredible birdlife—and I instantly

fell in love with it. The rest, as they say, is history.

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Eager to learn more, I bought my first pair of binoculars and a copy of Howell and Webb’s Birds of Mexico and Central America—a book that became my constant companion. As I continued leading historical, archaeological, and hiking tours, I found myself increasingly drawn to the birds around me. My eyes and ears became attuned to their presence in every landscape.

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Revisiting national parks and natural reserves with this new perspective was a revelation. I witnessed unforgettable moments: the courtship display of a Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer at Los Volcanes National Park, a Reddish Egret “dancing” at the mouth of the Jiboa River, and Social Flycatchers raising their chicks in the National Botanical Garden in San Salvador. These moments confirmed that birds were more than a professional specialty—they had become a personal passion.

 

That passion led me to get involved in citizen science projects,

including eBird and iNaturalist. Today, I serve as the national

coordinator for eBird’s Global Big Day in El Salvador, and I

also lead training sessions for institutions and communities

on how to use the platform. Many of my efforts now focus on

environmental education for children, helping to inspire the

next generation of bird conservationists.

 

In November 2021, I had the great pleasure to host Wildlife TV Presenter NIgel Marven in his first in-depth visit to El Salvador. I have the amazing support of Morena Valdez, Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador. We traveled the country in around 7 days and he had the chance to meet most of the beautiful ecosystems of our country and our beautiful birds, some of the ones were a lifer for him. He ended up so fascinated about our country that he started negotiations to film one his documentaries in here.  Some months later I became the local producer for the first ever professionally filmed nature documentary about El Salvador.

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Looking ahead, I’m planning a video blog aimed at teaching kids—and the wider public—how to protect birds and their habitats. I have many other ideas in the works, and I look forward to sharing them soon.

I warmly invite you to join me on a birding adventure in Northern Central America. Together, we can celebrate the region’s rich biodiversity and promote a culture of conservation that helps protect these beautiful species for generations to come.

 

​​​Julio Acosta

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