The resplendent quetzal is the bird people fly to Costa Rica to see, and plenty of them go home without a sighting. Finding one comes down to three things: the right valley, the right months and an early alarm.
The resplendent quetzal lives in Costa Rica’s highland cloud forests, roughly 3,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level. The most reliable place to see one is San Gerardo de Dota, a river valley in the Talamanca mountains about two hours south of San José, where quetzals are present year-round. Monteverde is the next-best bet. Your odds are highest from about February to May, when pairs are nesting, and in the first hours after sunrise.
This guide covers where and when to look, how to improve your chances, and the quetzal facts people search for most: what the bird looks like, what it eats and where it lives.
| Quetzal in Costa Rica | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Species | Resplendent quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno |
| Habitat | Highland cloud forest, about 3,000 to 10,500 feet (900 to 3,200 meters) |
| Best place | San Gerardo de Dota and Los Quetzales National Park |
| Best months | About February to May, during nesting |
| Best time of day | Early morning |
| Size | 14 to 16 inches, plus male tail plumes that often add about 2 feet |
| Status | Near Threatened |
| National bird? | No. It is Guatemala’s; Costa Rica’s is the clay-colored thrush |
Where to go
Where to See Quetzals in Costa Rica
San Gerardo de Dota and Los Quetzales National Park
This is the place to go if seeing a quetzal is the point of the trip. San Gerardo sits in the Savegre River valley at about 7,200 feet. The turnoff is near kilometer 80 of the Inter-American Highway, south of San José on the climb over Cerro de la Muerte, and from there a steep, winding road drops about 9 kilometers into the valley. Lodges and local guides keep track of active nests and fruiting trees, and many offer early-morning quetzal walks.
Los Quetzales National Park protects the forest above the valley. Its entrance is at about kilometer 76 of the same highway, and it opens daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are sold online only, through SINAC, the national parks system; at last check, non-resident adults paid $11.30 including tax. Our guide to buying national park tickets on SINAC walks you through it.
Monteverde
The cloud forests around Monteverde, including the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and nearby private reserves, are the other classic quetzal spot. Sightings take more patience than in San Gerardo, but Monteverde makes sense if you are already going for its hanging bridges, night walks and other wildlife. Our list of the best hotels in Monteverde helps you pick a base.
Other highland forests
Quetzals also live in the cloud forests around Poás Volcano and in the Barva sector of Braulio Carrillo National Park. Sightings there are less predictable, so treat a quetzal as a bonus rather than the plan.
| Where | Your odds | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| San Gerardo de Dota | Highest; quetzals present year-round | Travelers who want a quetzal above all else; plan at least one night |
| Monteverde | Good in nesting season, with patience | Travelers combining quetzals with a broader cloud-forest stay |
| Poás and Barva | Lower and less predictable | A chance sighting on a trip near San José |
When to go
Best Time to See a Quetzal in Costa Rica
- Season: Quetzals breed from about February into July. February to May gives the best odds, because nesting pairs stay near a known tree, males call and display, and the parents take turns on the nest.
- Rest of the year: In San Gerardo, you can see quetzals in any month. Elsewhere, birds move to somewhat lower elevations outside the breeding season, following fruiting trees, and become harder to find.
- Time of day: Go at dawn. Birds are most active early, and cloud forests often fill with fog and rain later in the day.
The dry season, roughly December to April, also brings easier mountain driving and firmer trails. For the bigger picture, see our month-by-month wildlife calendar and our guide to the best time to visit Costa Rica by region.
Spotting tips
How to Improve Your Odds
- Hire a local guide. Guides know which nest and feeding trees are active this week, and many carry a spotting scope. It is the single biggest factor in seeing one.
- Stay the night. A day trip from San José can work, but sleeping in the valley puts you on the trail at first light without a predawn drive.
- Watch the wild avocado trees. Quetzals feed heavily on small wild avocados, called aguacatillos. A fruiting tree is the best place to wait.
- Look for the tail. The green plumage disappears into the canopy, and quetzals often sit still for long stretches. The long tail plumes hanging below a branch usually give a male away.
- Bring binoculars and layers. San Gerardo runs about 55 to 64 degrees F, and the higher park can drop to the low 40s. Our guide to compact binoculars and our Costa Rica packing list can help.
Identification
What Does a Quetzal Look Like?
The male has an iridescent green head, back and wings, a bright crimson belly, a short fluffy crest and two long green plumes that trail behind him in flight. Those plumes are not true tail feathers but extra-long feathers that cover the tail. In Costa Rica they typically run 13 to 34 inches.
The female is plainer: a bronze-green head, a grayish breast, red only under the tail and no long plumes. Both sexes have a body about 14 to 16 inches long and weigh roughly 7 ounces.
Facts
Quetzal Facts: Range, Diet and Nesting
- Where quetzals live: Mountain cloud forests from southern Mexico to western Panama. Costa Rica and western Panama have their own subspecies, slightly smaller than the northern one, with shorter plumes.
- What they eat: Mostly fruit, especially from the laurel family, which includes wild avocados. They swallow the fruit whole and bring up the pit later, which spreads the trees through the forest. They also eat insects, frogs, lizards and snails, and chicks are fed mostly insects.
- Nests: Holes in rotting trees, either dug by the pair or taken over from woodpeckers. The female lays one to three pale blue eggs, and both parents incubate them for about 17 to 19 days. When the male sits on the nest, his plumes often stick out of the hole.
- Predators: Hawks, hawk-eagles and owls take adults. Toucanets, jays, weasels, squirrels and kinkajous raid nests.
- Conservation: Listed as Near Threatened, with an estimated 20,000 to 49,999 birds across their range. The main threat is the loss and breakup of cloud forest. Costa Rica’s protected highlands are an important refuge.
- Other quetzals: The resplendent is one of several quetzal species. The others, including the golden-headed and crested quetzals, live in South America and eastern Panama.
Name, history and national bird status
“Quetzal” comes from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, for the bird’s long, precious feathers. The Aztecs and Maya prized those feathers, and the bird is tied to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god. It is Guatemala’s national bird, appears on its flag and coat of arms, and gives its name to Guatemala’s currency.
Costa Rica’s national bird is the far plainer clay-colored thrush, or yigüirro. Our guide to Costa Rica’s national bird explains why, and our bird-watching guide covers the country’s other top birding spots.
Good to know
Quetzal FAQ
Where do quetzals live?
In mountain cloud forests from southern Mexico to western Panama, at roughly 3,000 to 10,500 feet. In Costa Rica, the best-known area is San Gerardo de Dota and Los Quetzales National Park, followed by Monteverde.
What is the best month to see a quetzal in Costa Rica?
February through May, during nesting season. In San Gerardo de Dota, quetzals can be seen year-round.
Can I see a quetzal on a day trip from San José?
Yes. San Gerardo de Dota is about two hours south of San José. Staying a night improves your odds, because quetzals are most active at dawn.
Do I need a guide to see a quetzal?
Not strictly, but it greatly improves your chances. Local guides know which trees the birds are feeding and nesting in, and many carry a spotting scope.
What do quetzals eat?
Mostly fruit, especially small wild avocados, which they swallow whole. They also eat insects, frogs, lizards and snails.
Is the quetzal Costa Rica’s national bird?
No. The quetzal is Guatemala’s national bird. Costa Rica’s national bird is the clay-colored thrush, or yigüirro.
Is the resplendent quetzal endangered?
It is listed as Near Threatened rather than endangered. Its main threat is the loss of cloud forest habitat.
Is the quetzal connected to Quetzalcoatl?
Yes. Quetzalcoatl, the Mesoamerican feathered serpent god, takes part of his name from the quetzal, whose green feathers the Aztecs and Maya prized.
The short version
For the best shot at a resplendent quetzal, go to San Gerardo de Dota between February and May, stay the night, hire a local guide and be out at dawn.
Monteverde is a good second choice. Watch the wild avocado trees, look for the hanging tail plumes and give nesting birds plenty of room.