The cloud forest
Moss, ferns and mist.
quapan — CC BY 2.0 · Konjiki1 — CC0 · Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA — CC BY 2.0 · ggallice (Geoff Gallice) — CC BY 2.0 · Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA — CC BY 2.0
Biotopo del Quetzal is a mountain reserve in Baja Verapaz, created in 1976 to protect the quetzal, Guatemala's endangered national bird. It covers over a thousand hectares of cloud forest, one of the easiest places to reach for anyone wanting to walk beneath dense forest draped in moss and ferns. Mario Dary Rivera founded it and it officially bears his name. It ranges from 1,500 to 2,300 m on the slopes of the Quisís and Carpintero mountains, often in mist and damp. Pine, oak, giant ferns, orchids and bromeliads grow here, and 58 animal species have been recorded in the reserve. Marked paths climb among mossy trees, water runs through small streams, and some points look out over long green valleys. One visit does not guarantee seeing a quetzal, as they are shy, and early morning is the best time to try. You may also come across colourful frogs, butterflies and other forest birds. It is 33 km in a straight line from Cobán and lies on the road between the capital and Cobán, making it a handy stop. It is best to arrive when it opens in the morning, with good shoes and a rain jacket, as paths are slippery and the forest is damp. Stay on the paths, do not use flash with birds and do not feed the animals. Leave early from Cobán, or plan to eat nearby.
Moss, ferns and mist.
Shy, seen in the morning.
Climbing among the trees.
Purulhá, Baja Verapaz
No, it is rarely seen, and early morning is the best chance.
Good shoes and a rain jacket, as paths are slippery.