After the amazing day yesterday photographing the Resplendent Quetzal and various hummingbirds, is it all over? After all, has the best has already occurred? At least we thought…

Today, the early morning, after breakfast, was spent touring the gardens and greenhouses of Savegre Lodge in San Gerardo de Dota for the purpose of practicing macro photography. This lodge is hosting our group for three nights and days during the tour. 

Of course, Dan and I were drawn to the hummingbirds.

And then we were off to Los Quetzales National Park and Cerro de la Muerte. Los Quetzales, one of Costa Rica’s newest national parks, covers 12,355 acres encompassing three types of highland tropical forest and 14 different ecosystems. More than 116 species of mammals can be found here of which two dozen live only in this secluded area (endemic). The terrain ranges from mountains to lakes of glacial origin. Cerro de la Muerte is the third highest peak in Costa Rica, standing over 11,000 feet, and crowning the continental divide along the Talamanac Mountain Range. The area exhibits the typical vegetation of tropical regions above treelined, mainly formed by shrubs and short plants, all adapted to cold temperatures and high levels of UV rays, and known as Sub Alpine Paramo.

On the return to the lodge for lunch, our program manager spotted a Resplendent Quetzal sitting on a tree limb adjacent to the mountain road. Everyone got to observe the bird and make photographs.

Further down the mountain road, these idyllic scenes illustrated the pure beauty of the area—a great way to end the day.