Showing 1-9 of 9 results
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Hungry Hummingbirds Photo Essay – Chelemhá Lodge, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 13 February 2012
We had a lot of fun watching an impossibly colorful male quetzal emerge from its nest in the privately-run Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve in the Yalijax Mountains of the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala. However, the color, diversity and sheer appetite of the hummingbirds drawn to the feeders on the wrap-around decks at Chelemhá Lodge were thrilling as well. See what we mean with this photo essay highlighting the hummingbird species that happily call Chelemhá home.
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Quetzals the Hard Way – Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 8 February 2012
Spotting quetzals during our time at Ranchito del Quetzal was eerily easy. All we had to do was get out of bed at first light and stumble down to the restaurant where as many as 10 quetzals at a time dutifully came out to greet us. However, our next attempt to see these technicolor birds, at Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, was much harder work right from the get-go. Getting to Chelemhá First there was the matter of getting to the privately owned and run Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, a 400 acre (172 hectare) chunk of land in the Yalijux Mountains in the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala.
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Quetzals the Easy Way – Biotopo de Quetzal, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 6 February 2012
The quetzal is Guatemala’s national bird and their money is named after it. It’s also one of the most impossible looking species on the planet. The bird has iridescent feathers that change from bright green to dark blue to nearly black as the light shifts. Its overall color scheme includes an eye-popping mix of neon green, red, blue, yellow and white. The feathers on its tiny head are like a fluffy mohawk. Strange finger-like feathers seem to wrap around from its back toward the front of its chest as if to hug the bird.
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Photo of the Day: Resplendent Quetzal – Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 23 May 2011
We’ve been very lucky to see an amazing variety of animals in the wild so far on our Journey. High on our wish list was seeing a resplendent quetzal. As the name indicates this is one of the most spectacular birds in the world. The quetzal’s tail feathers (which only the males grow) were worn in the headresses of the Mayan and Aztec Kings. The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala and is featured on all of the country’s paper money which happens to be called (you guessed it) the quetzal.
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Semuc Champey – An Extreme Sport In Itself
Blog: Viva Latin America! - 12 November 2009
From the photos, it looks like a peaceful geological spot, where you can take a few photos and maybe have a leisurely swim in one of those amazingly blue naturally-formed pools. Certainly, from the photos, it doesn’t look challenging. But you don’t just go to the natural limestone bridge. At least, I imagine you can, but [...]
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El Retiro – The Gringo Community
Blog: Viva Latin America! - 12 November 2009
Like El Panchan in Mexico, El Retiro is a little community of cabanas, hammocks and camping space set out in the middle of nowhere. It has a restaurant, a sauna (not all of Guatemala is hot, hey), hot showers, a tour organiser, wi-fi, for heaven’s sake… all set by a river on a hill surrounded [...]
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Semuc Champey
Blog: A Travel Diary from Mexico, Central and South America - 11 November 2009
Semuc Champey, in the middle of Guatemala is a place not to be missed. It is located in a valley with steep forest clad walls overlooking several natural crystalline spring water pools. There is a natural limestone bridge below which there is a 40ft waterfall flowing into the Cahabon river. As if thats not enough to keep you entertained, the river also flows through caves, which you can enter at your own risk!
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The Mission To Coban
Blog: Viva Latin America! - 11 November 2009
I’ve just re-read my post about Belize City. It was a little harsh, and I’ve thought of another pro: there is no malaria there. Good, hey? Anyway, in case you didn’t get it from that post, we were in something of a hurry to leave Belize City, and so we decided that the best thing we [...]
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Coban and a seriously classy restaurant
Blog: A Travel Diary from Mexico, Central and South America - 10 November 2009
Back in Guatemala and halfway through a long day of sitting in cramped minibuses, it was clear that reaching our favoured destination, Lanquin, was going to be a very tall order. Although Guatemala is nothing like as big as Mexico, getting around takes longer than you think. The roads have to zig-zag up and down mountains and even if they have tarmac on them, it takes a while. Plus you have to factor in stops and the sometimes agonisingly slow speed of Guatemalan life! Though this is all made up for by the stunning scenery.
Showing 1-9 of 9 results
