Searching for the Quetzal
You'll be given a chance to spot a resplendent quetzal - the national bird of Guatemala - on this tour. The tour includes bird watching at the Refugio del Quetzal.
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 4:30 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
You do not have to go far from Quetzaltenango to explore one of the sanctuaries of Guatemala’s national bird. This tour takes you to the Refugio del Quetzal, a reserve that is about 1.5 hours outside Quetzaltenango.
The reserve is set an an elevation of around 6,000 feet (1,830 m) and is populated with humid forest. The forest here protects a number of birds, including the Azure-rumped Tanager, Blue-throated Motmot, Emerald-chinned hummingbird, and Emerald Toucanet.
The reserve supports a population of resplendent quetzals. The breeding season, which ranges from February to May, is the best time of year to see them. Guides accompany travelers along a short, 0.5-mile (1 km) loop trail through the forest (there are also smaller trails that lead to other spots in the reserve that you may hike on too). You're given binoculars to help you spot the birds.
Attraction Visited
Biotopo de Quetzal, also known as Biotopo Mario Dary Rivera, is a 2,580-acre (1,044-ha) protected area that’s about an hour from Cobán. While you may or may not see the namesake bird, the reserve’s convenient location makes it a good place to stop and explore the region’s dense cloud forests.
Read more:Biotopo del Quetzal
What to Bring
Comfortable clothes and shoes, rain jacket, camera, and snack.
What's included
Transportation, local guide (birdwatcher), entrance fees, and breakfast.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Similar things to do
This hike through the tree canopy of the Atitlan Reserve will give you a bird’s eye view of an exciting environment. Atitlan Reserve is shaped by the three volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlan. Pristine Lake Atitlan and the surrounding grounds of the reserve offer more natural beauty than you can capture with a few snapshots. To get the most out of this scenery, get a view from the top.
This hike through the tree canopy of the Atitlan Reserve will give you a bird’s eye view of an exciting environment. Atitlan Reserve is shaped by the three volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlan. Pristine Lake Atitlan and the surrounding grounds of the reserve offer more natural beauty than you can capture with a few snapshots. To get the most out of this scenery, get a view from the top.
