Alex was born in 1977 in El Valle, where he grew up surrounded by cloud forest and a wondrous variety of birds. As a child, without access to binoculars, he would instead trap birds, especially honeycreepers, for up-close views before safely releasing them.
He began working at the Canopy Adventure in 1997, where he often guided nature walks. Later, he joined the team at the Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge, quickly establishing himself as an expert guide under the mentorship of Carlos.
In 2006, he was invited by the Birders Exchange Program and Massachusetts Audubon to spend a month as an intern studying American bird diversity, behavior, and migration, as well as banding techniques. This opportunity further enriched Alex’s expertise.