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They will take your breath away. They are so beautiful that our ancestors worshiped them. They were almost sacred. Their song makes you dream of lost paradises. They are faithful… until their death. You definitely have to see a quetzal before you die and Costa Ricans have the joy of sharing their land with the most beautiful bird in the world.
Every year, a great number of tourists travel thousands of miles just to see a quetzal. They reach the banks of Savegre River, more than 3,000 meters above sea level, in Copey de Dota, located only 76 kilometers from San José. There you can find their home: Los Quetzales National Park.
Quetzals are so beautiful, but female quetzals have different characteristic when compared to the male birds, which have a red breast; their wings and back are green and they have a crest of fine, red feathers that could be mistaken for hair. All that beauty is adorned with a spectacular white tail with two long feathers that vary from blue to green, depending on the rays of the sun.
The female bird has instead a gray breast, she does not have the same-color plumage and her short tail has black stripes.
In addition, it is a monogamous species, that is to say, that unlike other animals, they have the same couple for their entire lives. As consequence, they return to the same nest year after year, which allows to control quetzals’ growth.
Although the quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, Costa Rica has become one of the best places in the world to observe them. You just need to count on a guide who knows the area.
If thousands of people come to admire this spectacular bird, what are you waiting for?