The Elusive Quetzal!

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We had a wonderful day in the Boquete area today. We took a collectivo van (like a public bus, but will stop where you ask on its route) up to the trailhead of the Sendero des Quetzales, which crosses the Volcan Baru's slope. It is known for being a place to see the resplendent quetzal, a rare and beautiful bird. We saw three!!! They are amazing, and I actually got a photo of one!

We also surprised a group of some large hoofed animal feeding on foliage from fallen trees. We heard a warning grunt, then hoofbeats, but didn't see the animals.

This area has the most beautiful forest we have seen on this trip...the valley follows a river upwards, with coffee plantations at first, and then jungle. There are many kinds of flowers, and dozens of different birds calling at once. We hope to come back some day and do more hiking...

We took another van ride (these rides cost between $1 and $2 a person) when we got back, up another part of the valley. And not being tired enough, we hiked up the hills opposite our hotel to the ridge above the town (a suggestion from the young man who runs our hotel). Everyone here is so nice, as they have been on this whole trip...

We are off by bus and water taxi to the islands of Bocas del Toro tomorrow...

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Photos

A Quetzal!
This was one of the three that flew past us..He is right in the middle..helps if you casn zoom in on the photo..

On the Sendero des Quetzales
A farm near the beginning of the trail..we were at 1900 meters here.

On the Sendero des Quetzales
Watching quetzals

On the Sendero des Quetzales
One of the many streams we passed...impatiens growing wild along the banks..

On the Sendero des Quetzales
One of the oldest trees left in these woods..they had apparently been clearcut awhile ago...

On the Sendero des Quetzales
Another stream..

On the Sendero des Quetzales
A wild flower that I have bought back in the States

View from the ridge above town
We asked a man walking up about the route...he showed us stairs the were a shortcut...we still climbed very steeply for about 20 minutes...unfortunately, our "guide" was drunk and didn't want to leave us...he finally went home when we started back down.

View from the ridge above town
The valley to the right is where we hiked.

View from the ridge above town
Coffee bushes..we've heard this is considered shade grown because it's so often cloudy here.

View from the ridge above town
Our hotel is the one with arched windows

Comments

[Carolyn]

Amazing Quetzal
Wow - you saw a Quetzal - how cool is that. It's got the rep of being the most beautiful bird in the world! It's a sacred symbol to the Mayans and was threatened by extinction not long ago. Not sure what the status is now but it must be good news if you saw 3 of them ~ unless that's all there is! Your photos are great Lynn - am loving your journal. It must be surreal that this is coming to an end. But we'll be glad to have you both back home. Happy Trails, Love, Carolyn