rio aviation inc.

Flying with pilot Marcos over the Big Bend country was one of the best experiences of my life and I am no spring chicken. I rate the flight near perfect. Next time I am in Big Bend country, I would love to fly with Marcos again.Ed RobinsonSt. Marys, G

This flight with Marcos was the highlight of our trip to Big Bend. There's nothing like seeing this beautiful national park from the air. Marcos has extensive knowledge of the area, and we felt very safe in his plane. This is definitely worth the price!

What a wonderful way to see the Big Bend Country! Marcos shared stories about the history and people. He knows so much about the area, and he kept us interested in everything. Our trip was a great way to see the parks, especially if you don't have lots of time for your visit. I had never flown in a plane that small, and I felt very safe.

Thank you, Marcos! He took four of us on two separate trips around the southern border of Big Bend Nat'l Park to spread my brother's ashes over the area he loved. It was a fantastic trip. To see Santa Elena canyon from the air was amazing. It's easy to see that the river eroded its way through the mesa, but the sheer majesty of the river, mountains and plains was indescribable. A nice easy flight, no turbulence,expansive views and great commentary by Marcos. We really felt like we understood the forces that built this magnificent spectacle. If you do this, you won't be disappointed.

This flight was more than just taking a ride in a plane! Marcos Paredes was a great Park Ranger and he brings all that knowledge to this experience. Marcos showed great sensitivity in helping us pay tribute to a man that we all loved. The flight was superb, showing me parts of Big Bend I would never have gotten to see otherwise.This trip is something every visitor should try to make.

Marcos took us for an aerial tour during our recent and first trip to Big Bend. I was not sure what to expect, but found him to be very professional, and someone who gave great attention to safety and proper procedures. As a longtime resident of the area and having worked as a ranger, he is extremely knowledgeable about the park, the terrain, and the history. We very much enjoyed our tour and appreciated his willingness to share his knowledge. It was a fascinating trip, and we highly recommend!

My sons, grandsons, brother, and I just returned from the Big Bend State and National Parks in which we had three flights to see many more features about both parks that you never see from the ground. Marcos showed us the actual bend in the Rio Grande River that gives the area it's name as well as telling us the history of the area. We saw the Mariscal Mine, the entire Santa Elena Canyon, the Devils Playground, El Solitario, the South Rim area,Terlingua Abajo, Tres Marias Mine, and many villages where farming is still in progress. These flights were the highlights of our yearly trip and I plan more next time. Marcos has an incredible knowledge of the area and makes it come alive for us.

Our pilot was retired park ranger and had wealth of information about the area. Well worth the trip.

This was my first visit to the area and it was definitely worth the time and expense to take this flight. Marcos is very thorough and professional in his planning and explanation of what to expect. He's was a wealth of information about the area and its history. Our flight was smooth and very pleasant, even for the two women with me who were fearful of flying! I absolutely recommend RioAviation! You'll have no regrets. And be sure to take a camera!

I have visited Big Bend many times for years, camping, hiking and driving all over the place. But seeing it from the air and having Marcos tell us about the things below gave us a completely new insight of the things that are there that we never see on the ground. He is a delight to fly with and explained so much about the history, geology, and features of the area that I can say that my knowledge of the park was greatly enhanced by this trip. Marcos is a skilled pilot and one of the safest operators I have ever flown with. I plan to do more flights with him and take my family so they can enjoy the experience too.

Unbelievable views of the Big Bend area both the State and National Parks. Marcos know the area and his narrative was superb as he explained details of the parks, rock formations, history and topography. A real "Wow" adventure!

Marcos's 30 years with the National Park Service and Big Bend and his knowledge of west Texas is a great combination for an excellent tour. He is also an experienced pilot and makes you feel at ease. A Must Do when in the area!

My boyfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Big Bend National Park. Marcos, our pilot, was informative from beginning to end, from reassuring us of the safety precautions taken before our journey to the information and history he told us regarding the formations of mesas and volcanoes and of the people who lived/live there. Overall smooth ride; views are once in a lifetime and well worth the price. It would have been impossible to enjoy Big Bend as much as we did without taking this tour. If you are looking to see a lot of Big Bend and not sure where to start, start with Rio Aviation!

Marcos is very knowledgable of the area history and geology. He is a great pilot, and gave us some magnificent views of both the national park, and the Big Bend Ranch State Park to the West. We saw site that are impossible to reach by vehicle.

Wonderful early morning flight/tour over the western section of BBNP, BBRSP and the hidden gem called The Devil's Playground. The flight was much more than a sightseeing geology tour. Owner/pilot, Marcos Paredes gave us a people of Big Bend past and present tour. He had great tales and tidbits on the folks who had and those currently living down there...a tough but beautifully inspiring land.Only downside is that our time in the air ended. We wish we could have stayed up in the sky all day!