Our Guides

Founder and Operator
David MacKay has led guided travel experiences since the late 1980s, beginning with bicycle tours for Backroads in Berkeley, California, where he later became Operations Manager.

He founded Solipaso Tours in 1996, initially focused on operating tours throughout Mexico. The work has since expanded into birding-focused journeys across Mexico and beyond, including Central and South America, with continued expansion into Europe and other regions.

David has lived and worked in Mexico since 1994. He is also part owner of El Pedregal, a hotel and retreat center in Álamos, Sonora.

Lead Guide
Carlos González leads most of our trips across Mexico and is based in the field throughout the year. His enthusiasm for the natural world is consistent and infectious.

He began with a strong academic interest in entomology, which soon shifted toward birds and broader avian ecology. He has since worked in a range of field roles in the United States with nonprofit and government organizations focused on bird populations, distribution, and movement.

Carlos is the eBird regional reviewer for Sonora and organizes the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for Hermosillo, Sonora, a role he continues to coordinate each year.

He is equally comfortable guiding serious birders and more casual travelers, and brings a steady, field-based approach to sharing Mexico’s birdlife and natural history.

Driver and Logistics Partner
Rafa supports most of our trips as driver and logistics coordinator, handling a wide range of field operations that keep journeys running smoothly.

He manages pre-trip provisioning, helps prepare field breakfasts and lunches, and brings steady support to day-to-day logistics in the field, all with a strong sense of humor and calm presence.

Over time, Rafa has also developed strong birding skills and regularly assists guides in locating and identifying species in the field.

He is the owner of Donají Tours, our primary transportation partner in southern Mexico.

In Oaxaca City, his family also runs La Casa de Mami, a neighborhood restaurant where visitors are welcomed like family.

Field Leader and Birding Guide
Kip Miller has shared his enthusiasm for birds and birding for over 30 years as a tour leader and birding event coordinator. He has organized and led trips across the United States, Canada, Central and South America, and Africa, including tours to Belize, Ecuador, and Kenya.

He has also assisted David MacKay on multiple trips in Mexico, bringing strong organizational skills and field experience to expedition logistics and guiding support.

Kip is known for his dry sense of humor and steady presence in the field.

Birding Guide
Vernon Campos is a highly respected birding guide and avian expert based in Costa Rica, with extensive experience throughout the country. He maintains a very active guiding schedule and has led a wide range of specialized birding tours for many years.

There are few regions of Costa Rica he has not birded extensively, and he is widely regarded for his deep field knowledge and consistency in the field.

Vernon has led Costa Rica trips with us since 2014 and has since expanded his work to include the Pantanal and southern Amazon in Brazil. He is also scheduled to lead upcoming tours in Ecuador and Colombia.

He is known for his calm, easygoing style, strong organizational skills, and a consistent ability to get clients on birds even in challenging conditions.

Driver and Field Support
Basilio García is one of our key drivers and tour assistants on many trips throughout southern Mexico. He has worked with Donají Tours, our main transportation partner, for over 10 years.

He supports a wide range of field logistics, helping with trip setup, coordination, and daily operations on the road. His care and consistency in the field make him an essential part of keeping trips running smoothly.

Basilio also takes pride in preparing field breakfasts and lunches, bringing a strong sense of hospitality and attention to detail that helps keep groups well fed and ready for full days of birding.

Birding Guide
Colin Dobson has extensive experience leading field trips for major organizations including the Illinois Ornithological Society and the Illinois Audubon Society, where he developed strong skills guiding larger groups in varied field conditions.

He has also led numerous bird walks and field trips for the Champaign County Audubon Society, along with pelagic and regional trips through his own guiding company, Scissortail Adventures.

His background in field guiding, combined with broad bird knowledge and a strong commitment to continued learning, gives his guiding a consistently engaged and energetic style. He is focused on sharing both established knowledge and ongoing discoveries with participants in the field.

Colin also brings strong communication and teaching experience through presentations and outreach, along with a practical comfort using technology and social media in support of field education and trip coordination.

Marketing and Field Support
Christine Jenkins first joined us as a tour participant, where her enthusiasm for birds and the natural world quickly stood out. Her clear way of sharing that interest and her steady engagement in the field made her a natural fit for our team.

She now supports us on the marketing side, helping share Winging It (formerly Solipaso) more broadly and connect our work with a wider audience. She also assists on select field programs, including our Monarch butterfly tours in central Mexico, where she brings particular knowledge and interest in monarch ecology.

Christine has a strong focus on Monarch butterflies and participates in related field work and festivals, including events such as the Morro Bay Birding Festival.

She continues to split her time between field participation and communications support as part of the team.

San Blas boat guide

Trusty vessel