Costa Rica’s major tourist areas draw hundreds of thousands each year.  Everyone wants to see the Arenal Volcano, the monkeys of Manuel Antonio National Park, or surf the friendly waves of Tamarindo beach.  Being in the travel business sometimes it is hard to convince folks to go “off the beaten path.”  But let me tell you, just off of that path one can discover little corners that are so intensely full of nature that they almost seem surreal. One of those places is San Gerardo de Dota.  There is a popular beach spot for surfers known as Dominical on the Southern Pacific coast.  One of the ways to get there is to take the highway that crosses right over the top of one of Costa Rica’s highest mountains, Cerro de la Muerte at 3,451 meters (11,322 feet).  Just as you reach the highest point on the highway you take a detour down into a valley that is known as the Valle de las Quetsales (or valley of the Quetzals).  This is the absolute best location that exists in the country for viewing the Resplendent Quetzal, a threatened, rare and extraordinarily beautiful bird.  The Resplendent Quetzal was considered divine, associated with the “snake god,” Quetzalcoatl by Pre-Columbian Central American civilizations.  The Quetzals are “high-ground” birds that love to feed on the many “aquacatillos” in the valley (a certain variety of tree that produces a fruit that these birds love).  To a bird watcher, to get a chance to spot and photograph a Quetzal is like having a dream come true and there are few places in the world better to achieve this than San Gerardo de Dota.  Once I was coming back from the beach with my kids and we decided to take the detour to San Gerardo.  It was the middle of the day, which is not the best time to see the Quetzals (better early in the morning).  We saw a tourist group with a guide staring up into the trees just off the narrow dirt road that takes you down into the little village. We stopped and sure enough up in the aguacatillo tree was a Resplendent Quetzal.  We even managed to get a photo (see link below) of the bird (although his back was turned towards us).  I guess the thing I love most about this little secret corner of Costa Rica is its amazing tranquility.  The only sound you will hear is the wind blowing down from the mountains that tower above the valley and whistling through the trees and the crystal clear river that meanders through this amazingly picturesque spot.  There are a number of places to stay like Dantica or Savegre Mountain Lodge.  The trout fishing is fantastic and even if you don’t fish, you can sample trout in one of the local sodas.  There is also a Christian camp with a “ropes course” called La Cumbre.  Bring a jacket because the place is chilly even at mid-day and at night, downright cold.  If you are considering a trip to the Southern Pacific coast, I highly recommend taking the route over Cerro de la Muerte and stopping in San Gerardo de Dota for a night or two.  It is a great way to get a firsthand view of what Costa Rica’s is all about, pura naturaleza!

Click to View My Personal Quetzal Photo!

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