Bird-watching in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for high-adrenaline activities such as zip-lining and white-water rafting and climbing active volcanoes – so at first the thought of bird-watching might sound a bit lame. Until, that is, you spot an elusive baby quetzal in the cloud forest.

The brightly coloured quetzal is considered one of the world’s most beautiful birds – it was a sacred symbol of the ancient Maya, symbolizing freedom (since it cannot survive in captivity). The Guatemalans even named their currency after it, though you’d be hard-pressed to spot one there or in other parts of Central America. Thanks to the disappearance of its habitat, the quetzal is in danger of extinction.

The best place to spot one is in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve in Costa Rica, run by a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research and education. So far, they’ve identified 400 species of birds, 490 species of butterflies and 300 species of orchids – not to mention tapirs, jaguars and ocelots. You might even be lucky enough to spot the neon-orange golden toad, which is found in this region.

If that’s not enough excitement for you, try a guided night hike, which involves walking through the cloud forest after dark with a flashlight in search of nocturnal creatures such as snakes, tarantulas and walking sticks, as well as porcupines, two-toed sloths and toucans.

At 4,600 ft above sea level, the town of Monteverde (which means green mountain) is located in Costa Rica’s Cordillera of Tilarán on the continental divide, split between the Pacific and Caribbean – and that leads to cloudy, misty weather conditions. It’s a mountainous region covered in lush cloud forests, which are similar to rainforests but at a higher altitude. The best time for bird-watching is December through April, but you can spot birds year-round. Most mountain lodges have guides for hire, many of whom are remarkably adept at spotting hidden wildlife, such as the elusive quetzal.

Photo Copyright @ 2009 VH Media