The Quetzal Biotope is located two hours from Guatemala City, along the Coban Highway. This site still has its original vegetation with arborescent ferns and showy orchids, and is the habitat of the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), and of many other birds which are characteristic of the cloud forest. Inside the Biotope there are crystalline streams and waterfalls. You can take either one of the two discovery walks which go into the cloud forest, without the need for a guide.

Location: Municipal district of Purulhá, Department of Alta Verapaz
Area: 1,022 hectares (CONAP, 2006)

TOPOGRAPHY
The topography of the Biotope is very broken and its altitude varies from 1,600 to 2,300 m.a.s.l. It includes the Quisis (about 2,300 m.a.s.l.) and the Carpintero (2,100 m.a.s.l.) mountains which join towards the east to form part of the Sierra de las Minas (Garcia, 1998).

CLIMATE
In this region of Guatemala it rains almost the year round. The rainy season begins in May and ends in January, with June and July being the rainiest months. From October through January there is a constant drizzle, locally known as the “chipi-chipi”. The driest months are March and April. The temperature varies between 14º C. and 20º C and rainfall is around 3,700 mm per year (Ponciano, 1978). Around noontime, the mountains become cloud covered.

VEGETATION
The forest is made up of a great variety of trees, bushes, lianas, epiphytes, mosses, lichens, hepatics and mushrooms. The dominant trees are the ilexes and “lauráceas” (relatives of the avocado tree). On the mountain toops there are pine associations. On the summit of the Carpintero mountain there is a bamboo species (Chusquea sp.) which is much used for basket weaving, for which reason it is called the basket reed. The underbrush consists of arborescent ferns of the Cyathea genus, which can reach up to 12 meters (36 feet) in height, of palms of the genus Chamaedorea and bushes of the Melastomataceae family. The trees are full of bromelias and orchids (García, 1998; Ponciano, 1978; Ponciano, 1991).

GETTING THERE
Take the Pan American Highway (CA-9) from Guatemala City. When you arrive at El Rancho (85 Km), take Highway CA-14 to Cobán (turn left). On the right, at Km 160.5, you will find the entrance to the Biotope. The highway is paved and in good condition. The Biotope is 4.5 Km south of Purulhá and 50 Km from Cobán. Site Map(Use the zoom)
If you are going by public transport see Bus Companies. The drive takes about 3 hours.
Admission fee:
• Guatemalans Q. 5.00
• Foreigners Q.20.00 (US$3)
Visiting hours: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM every day.

BIRDING SPOTS
The adventure of seeing the Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), begins at the entrance to the Quetzal Biotope. Early in the mating season (April) you can observe these birds in groups, after which they pair off, make their nests and later their young appear. The best places to watch them is from the road across the Biotope and the area of the Visitor Center.

Right by the side of the road there are some trumpet's tree and wild avocado trees where the quetzals show up around 7:00 AM to feed on the fruit of these trees. Other birds, such as the Blue-crowned Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia occipitalis) and the Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasimus), also visit these trees. The toucanet is easy to locate because of its characteristic sound.

In the parking area, you can see the Azure-hooded Jay (Cyanolyca cucullata), with its turquoise cap, the Unicolored Jay (Aphelocoma unicolor), the Black-throated Jay (Cyanolyca pumilo), and the Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus). The latter is endemic of the north of Central America and is frequently taken for the Unicolored Jay, which is usually more silent.

In the lower part of the Biotope you will hear the “Guardabarrancos” or Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis) and, when going up the mountain, the “Pito Real” or Slate-colered Solitaire (Myadestes unicolor), whose metallic songs are clearly audible when you hear them together.

The Biotope has two discovery walks, Helechos (Ferns) and Musgos (Mosses), which go into the cloud forest. Helechos is a short 2-kilometer trail and Musgos is 4 Km long. The Common Bush-tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus) and the Golden-browed Warbler (Basileuterus belli) are quite abundant on both trails.

The Highland Guans or “Pajuiles” (Penelopina nigra) are very noisy and easy to locate early in the morning and their displays are very interesting. The males perch on a horizontal branch, extend their wings and then drop them. At the beginning, the sound you hear is an ascending whistle, followed by a sound similar to that of a breaking branch.

Along the way, you can watch tanagers eating the small purple fruit of some plants of the melastomataceae family or else a Mountain Trogon (Trogon mexicanus) when he visits the wild avocado tree.

In the lower parts of the Biotope you can find the Violet Saberwing (Camylopterus hemileucurus). There are humming birds, such as the Garnet-throated Hummingbird (Lammprolamia rhami) and small ones such as the Wine-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ellioti). The latter is one of the smallest in Guatemala and measures only about three inches. You rarely see it, but in the mating season (April) it becomes more visible, particularly in open areas. You can get as close as half a meter from them without their becoming frightened.

You will be able to hear the song of the Barred Forest-falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) which is smaller than the Collared Forest-falcon. You may be able to watch the flight of the Barred Parakeets (Bolborhynchus lineola), which are the size of a house sparrow.

The Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) also visit the Biotope. The Black-vented Oriole (Icterus wagleri) distinguishes itself because of its spotless black wings. In the closed areas, which are covered with abundant vegetation, you will find a number of species of woodcreepers, including the Spotted Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus erythropygius).

One of the most difficult birds to find are the thrushes, since they hide in the underbrush. The Spotted Nightingale-thrush (Catharus dryas) is an excellent songbird. The Chestnut-capped Brush-finch (Atlapetes brunneinucha) stays quite close to the ground, but since it moves constantly, it is difficult to see. The Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo (Vireolanius melitophrys) and the Scaled Antpitta (Grallaria guatimalensis) are easier to hear than to see. The latter, along with other birds, pursues ants.

SERVICES

The Quetzal Biotope
Facilities: parking, area for food preparation (grills, tables, benches), bathrooms, souvenir shop, quetzal’s museum, orchid nursery, two discovery walks and a conference room.

LODGING

HOTEL	TELEPHONE	RATE(SINGLE)	FACILITIES
Posada Montaña del Quetzal Km. 156.5 on Coban Highway reservaciones@hposadaquetzal.com	2332-4969 2360-3463 5800-0454	US$18 room US$27 cabin	P, R, Pa, Hw
Country Delight Km. 166.5 on Coban Highway	5514-0955 5709-1149	Q165 (US$22)	P, R, Pa, Hw sauna, lagoon, discovery walk 1km
Ram Tzul Km. 158 on Coban Highway Ramtzul@intelnet.net.gt	2335-1805 (in Guatemala for reservations) 5908-4066	Q244 (US$32)	R, Pa, Hw store, walk to the Rubel Chahim waterfall (more than 70m high)
Park Hotel Km. 196 on Coban Highway www.parkhotelresort.com	79520807 79520809/10 79520831	Q230 (US$30)	R, Pa, Hw

* P=Pool, R=Restaurant, Pa= Parking lot, Hw=Hot water (Using current exchange rate Q7.67/US$1)

ALTERNATIVES
Cobán
This city is the Capital of the Department of Alta Verapaz and an excellent starting point for visiting nearby towns and tourist attractions, such as the orchid farm and seeing a coffee plantation in operation. Its cathedral and convent are a magnificent example of Colonial architecture.
Access: From the Quetzal Biotope continue along Highway CA-14 to Coban, going through Purulhá, for about an hour (50 Kms).

Chilasco Waterfall

SUGGESTIONS
• The best time of the year to see Quetzal birds is from March through June.

• Locate the “guarumo” and “aguacate” trees, and the wild blackberry bushes when they are in fruit, as these are the strategic points to watch birds such as the toucans, mountain guans, trogons, quetzals, etc.

• Bring your rain coat. It rains most of the year in the form of constant drizzle, locally known as “chipi-chipi”.