Costa Cruises

Quetzal in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Posted by CostaRica | Costa Rica Guide | Posted on December 25th, 2009

The title of the place accurately displays the characteristic feature of this area. Located at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level, the reserve is always filled with a damp mist. This climatic feature formed the basis of origin of tiered local forests here. Starting from the ground, where there are wonderful plants and flowers, plant life tends upwards towards the sun, creating a colony on tree moss, mushrooms, and lianas.

The area with this green diversity is a place for 500 species of butterflies and about 600 representatives of the animal world, the main among them are birds.

On one of them deserves to be told in greater detail. The quetzal is one of the rarest, endangered species, which is included in all security categories and books; the second name of it is “Bird of Happiness.”

It is hard to say, if this is the bird, which everyone wants, but the ancient Mayas and Aztecs considered the bird to be divine. It was forbidden to kill, and even if the rite required her feathers, it was caught and, after removal of several pieces, enfranchised.

The spiritual aura that surrounds this magnificent bird from ancient times, made her a symbol of freedom (according to belief, if quetzal is put in a cage, its heart will break), as well as the name of the monetary unit of Guatemala. Quetzal is also depicted on the emblem of this country.

The best time to observe this bird is from April to May. At this time quetzals deduce chicks. It is quite difficult to meet this bird at any other time.

If you ever visit Costa Rica and want to see quetzals and other rare animals in the park, it will be a good idea to use the services of a guide. These people know the reserve very well, so in their presence, you will see and learn much more. This service is very inexpensive, but one should bear in mind that the park can host only 160 people a day, and this quota is usually ends by 10 am.