I think it's important to distinguish several different questions here:
(1) Have any OBOL folks used the services of Mercedes Rivadeneira (and, by
implication, what do the folks who have used these services think of
Mercedes and her services)?
(2) How did people pay Mercedes?
(3) Is it a good idea to wire money to someone in Ecuador?
(4) How did people who stayed at Sacha Lodge pay Sacha Lodge?
(5) Is it a good idea to handle payment to Sacha Lodge by mailing a check
to Miami?
I'm most interested in addressing item (1), but I'll provide some sort of
response to each item:
(1) My wife and I arranged our 1999 trip to Ecuador through Mercedes. She
took care of pretty much every aspect of this trip, and everything came off
without a hitch. It was a fantastic experience! We even got to meet
Mercedes (and, as I recall, two of her children and her husband). Her
company Neblina Forest (http://www.neblinaforest.com/) has been in
existence since about 1994, and it has steadily expanded over the years. Based
on our experience, I would recommend her without any reservations. (Unless
something has changed greatly since I last dealt with her, she has little
or nothing in common with "a British guide of very sketchy background.")
(2) I don't remember how we paid Mercedes.
(3) I don't know if this is a good idea. Perhaps others can address this
matter.
(4) As I recall, Mercedes paid Sacha Lodge (using a portion of the payment
we had made to her). I should add that we had a GREAT time at Sacha Lodge.
(5) I don't know if this is a good idea.
On Sat, Jan 28, 2017 at 11:35 AM, Lars Per Norgren <larspernorgren@xxxxxxxxx
wrote:
*
I think it's a good idea to bring this up as publicly as
possible Chuck. I perceive this group to be inordinately
honest, and therefor very trusting. One subscriber to the
list reported a few years ago about a British guide of
very sketchy background who got his rental van seized
mid trip in Nicaragua. I often think of his clients who had
a once in a lifetime experience ruined, and wonder how they
managed to get home.
Lars
On Jan 27, 2017, at 5:23 PM, Charles Gates wrote:
This does not have to do with Oregon birds so I hope I'm not stepping on
any toes. We are planning a trip to Ecuador and have been asked to wire a
payment to the person who is organizing part of our trip. Our bank is
advising us not to wire money because of the potential for fraud. I would
be interested in hearing if others have used this person and how they
managed the payment. The person who is organizing the back half of our
trip is Mercedes Rivadeneira and she works for Puembo Lodge outside of
Quito.
Since I know a lot of you have used Sacha Lodge in Eastern Equador, how
did you manage that payment. They are asking that a check be mailed to
Miami. Is that how you handled your trip payment?
I don't know whether to ask for off-list responses or on-list responses.
It seems to me that this info might be helpful to many on the listserv.
--
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know
for sure that just ain't so.
Mark Twain
Chuck Gates541-280-4957 <%28541%29%20280-4957>
Powell Butte,
Central Oregon
Oregon Birding Site Guidehttp://www.ecaudubon.org/#!birding-locations/clvb
Oregon County Checklistshttp://www.ecaudubon.org/#!county-checklists/c1s34
