From the gorgeous western highlands in Antigua, Guatemala, the families packed up in the rented 12-passenger mini-van and drove for 5 hours to the northern highlands of central Guatemala, to the Biotopo del Quetzal, a protected area specifically set aside for this national bird. These mountains are approximately the same elevation as those we had just left, seemed to be slightly wetter, with lusher forests -- all under the same mild, cool climate. We got there on Thursday, the 28th, checked into our excellent little bungalow suite at the hotel, La Posada del Quetzal, but too late to explore the Biotopo, which closed at 4pm. Thus, we took a short hike on the trails behind the hostel, Los Ranchitos, located a few kms up the road, in search of quetzales. No luck, but did experience the
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