Guatemala 2018

Tuesday6thNovember

After this quick stay in the deeply Mayan city of Chichicastenango, we hit the road west to reach the city of Cobán. 5 hours of driving to cover during the day through more or less mountainous roads.

2 hours after our departure, we are desperately looking for a place to have lunch. An unexpected small restaurant called El Chapincito, which doesn't look like much, seems to be our last chance. The owner then presents us with pieces of meat at the bottom of a cooler... We accept the meal, we are hungry! Well, we had a very good idea because it's chicharrones, marinated pork with a succulent taste, all accompanied by grated radishes for the occasion. A treat! 

The winding roads gain a little height, as does the landscape. The mountains of the Sacapulas region superbly enhance the journey!

The roads sometimes become dirt tracks, but never in these lands will our Kia Sportage fail us.

Wednesday7thNovember

Waking up in our room at Hotel Casa Semuc. We are in Cobán, a large city where we haven't planned to stay. So we resume the itinerary that will take us to Lanquín in the afternoon. On the way, we will make a nature stop at the "Rancho" or Biotopo del Quetzal.

This biotop is one of the places where it is possible to see a "resplendent quetzal" (Pharomachrus mocinno), the national bird of Guatemala, visible on the flag, and which gave its name to the national currency. Alas, it is very rare to see this bird in the wild... And obviously, no suspense, we will not have the chance to come face to beak with it, nor to glimpse its long caudal feather which can reach 50 cm...

So not much to put under the lens, except for a Common Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus flavopectus)

Or a Spotted Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes affinis).

One of the local guides is on the lookout, but nothing works, the conditions are not optimal for the quetzal to come out for a walk here... But the walk in the humid tropical forest is nevertheless very pleasant.

Past 11 AM. We leave the quetzal to continue the road to Lanquín. Lunch at D'Candelaria restaurant.