Montevelde. quetzal!

Yes, it is possible to see a quetzal. Not common, but possible. You best chances are if you (a) go in the morning (b) hire a guide and (c) pay attention.

I haven't heard of Quaker village. The town of Santa Elena in Costa Rica, though, was founded by Quakers a few centuries ago. Santa Elena is where most people stay when they are visiting the Monteverde and Santa Elena cloud forests.

What other kind of suggestions/ideas do you want?

Just to keep the legends straight Santa Elena was founded by ranchers and farmers almost a century ago and a group of Quakers settled nearby in 1951 starting a dairy and cheese production. The Quaker community is focused around the friends meeting house and there is a small history museum near Cerro Plano (between Santa Elena and the Monteverde Reserve).

The best place to see Quetzals in Costa Rica is not surprisingly in the little known Quetzales National Park (formerly Los Santos Forest Reserve) south of Cartago. Talk to Jorge at Mirador Quetzales where they have a money back guarantee on sightings during the mating season but a pretty good chance other times.

I stand corrected!

Good information. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully the good folks at Lonely Planet will read this thread and update their own guidebook with the CORRECT information.

Cheers

Feb is best time to see them during mating season.
In that area the best chance of seeing quetzals is at nearby Cerro de Muerte!

The Quakers don't see themselves a tourist attraction and they don't walk around dressed like the guy on the breakfast ceral boxes!!

SANTA ELENA is the town/village in the area known as MONTEVERDE

If you check out my blog and search this forum for 'Monteverde' you'll find plenty of suggestions for activities and tours!

Hello Natsuco,

As Ray (poster nr. 2) explained very well the best place to see the quetzal is along the "Cerro de la Muerte" south of Cartago. The Mirador de Quetzales is a good places with reasonable rates to see one of these beuatiful birds. If you want to see them more/very close you must visit San Gerardo de Dota, in our opinion the place to see this bird.

Have a nice time in Costa Rica!!
jan & ili

Hi, I know that in San Gerardo de Dota 2 hours form San Jose you can see the Quetzal.
Enjoy your trip.
Cinthya
www.jardintropicalbandb.com

We have seent the quetzal in Monteverde (in the reserve) in February and also - much better siting - in San Gerardo de Dota - near the Savegre Lodge property -- in May. Nesting season and elevation are important in gauging where you're most likely to see them at various times during the year. We have also seen them in the mountains near Boquete in Panama in February.

As #1 and 5 says, that's your destination for Quetzal bird, KM 47 on the Interamerican 45 minutes by bus. Cheers.