Resplendent: Quetzal Season in Costa Rica
An unimaginable array of flora and fauna can be found in Costa Rica‘s jungles amid the purr of jaguars, mist of clouds, and sputter of active volcanoes.
But one creature is so vaunted that it was the inspiration for the Aztec and Maya feathered snake god: the aptly named
resplendent
quetzal. Famed ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson called it the most spectacular bird in the New World.From December to April, during the dry season, its swooping, elegant tail is the giveaway to spotting it in the thick canopy.
Sadly, the quetzal, a member of the trogon family, has become threatened, making it more elusive, and sightings of it rare. Encountering this graceful creature, even if just for a moment, offers a glimpse of living color you won’t find elsewhere.
Locals refer to the dry season as verano (summer), when road mud dries and rivers and foliage recede, making passage and spotting easier.
The bird can be found in Costa Rica’s necklace of Costa Rica’s necklace of national parks, which includes Arenal and Poás Volcano.
The quest brings you past crushed-seashell beaches, mountainous cloud forest, deep lakes, streams, and waterfalls.
It is a sublime and transformative natural experience that will stay with you long after the quetzal’s striking plumage disappears into the mist.
> Travel Facts:
- April-December is Costa Rica’s drier season and the ideal time to visit the country’s vast and varied park system.
- The eco-rich Arenal Volcano National Park features two volcanoes, Chato Volcano and Mount Arenal.
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a privately managed rain forest and home to 2,500 plant and 400 bird species, many still being discovered.
- The 12,350-acre (5,000 ha) Los Quetzales National Park is covered in clouds and mist. Experts claim it’s the easiest place to spot the quetzal; other bird species, like colibri, tanagers, and hummingbirds, also share the habitat, along with sloths, coyotes, and pumas.
This article originally appeared in the National Geographic book Four Seasons of Travel.
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- How scientists are piecing together a sperm whale ‘alphabet’How scientists are piecing together a sperm whale ‘alphabet’
- Orangutan seen using plants to heal wound for first timeOrangutan seen using plants to heal wound for first time
- What La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planetsWhat La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planets
- This fungus turns cicadas into zombies who procreate—then dieThis fungus turns cicadas into zombies who procreate—then die
Environment
- The northernmost flower living at the top of the worldThe northernmost flower living at the top of the world
- This floating flower is beautiful—but it's wreaking havoc on NigeriaThis floating flower is beautiful—but it's wreaking havoc on Nigeria
- What the Aral Sea might teach us about life after disasterWhat the Aral Sea might teach us about life after disaster
- What La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planetsWhat La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planets
- How fungi form ‘fairy rings’ and inspire superstitionsHow fungi form ‘fairy rings’ and inspire superstitions
- Your favorite foods may not taste the same in the future. Here's why.Your favorite foods may not taste the same in the future. Here's why.
History & Culture
- These were the real rules of courtship in the ‘Bridgerton’ eraThese were the real rules of courtship in the ‘Bridgerton’ era
- A short history of the Met Gala and its iconic looksA short history of the Met Gala and its iconic looks
Science
- Why trigger points cause so much pain—and how you can relieve itWhy trigger points cause so much pain—and how you can relieve it
- Why ovaries are so crucial to women’s health and longevityWhy ovaries are so crucial to women’s health and longevity
Travel
- What it's like trekking with the Bedouin on Egypt's Sinai TrailWhat it's like trekking with the Bedouin on Egypt's Sinai Trail