Guatemala’s cloud forest is home to a feathered snake called the Quetzal. In the southern part of Lake Atitlan you can still find remnants of the cloud forest where you can see this bird.
This is a tour in search of this mystical species in its natural habitat, observing its glowing colour in the mist that covers most of the forest is a unique experience.
It is led by a guide specialised in bird watching; the objective is to look for the quetzal on a trail of approximately 3km but you can expect to see everything from toucans, birds of prey, turkeys, hummingbirds, etc.
Trail Description: The first part of the trail is Maxan cultivation (a crop used by the locals in the local cuisine). It is a downhill walk that takes about 1-2 hrs to arrive where you normally see the birds. This will be the same trail on the way back but the return is uphill.
The guide will pick you up in Mayachik at 4:30 am and the return will be approximately at noon.
The tour includes:
- Public transport from San Juan to Santiago (round trip).
- Private pick-up from Santiago Atitlán to the entrance of the Mirador Rey Tepepul reserve (round trip).
- Bilingual Authorized General Guide specialised in birdwatching.
Equipment to be used by the guide at the disposition of the participants:
- Telescope to observe the species up close.
- Binoculars, Speaker, Laser pointer, Field guide for species identification.
What to Bring:
- A jacket for the cold.
- Bring a pair of binoculars if possible (if this is not possible the guide will bring a telescope to observe birds from the telescope).
- Wear dark, non-bright coloured clothing (no white, red, yellow, shiny colors).
- Camera (camera phone camera works well when fitted to the telescope).
- Snacks / water.
Duration: 7 to 9 hours.
Price per person: Q675 for 1 person; Q380 for 2-3 people; Q290 for 4-6 people.
Optional: Private transport to and from San Juan for an additional Q200.00 which allows for a departure at 5:30 am instead of 4:30 am and more comfort.
