Quetzal and Cloud Forest Wildfile tour

• Start/ End Point: Santiago Atitlán (We can coordinate pick-up anywhere on the lake at an extra cost.)
• Hike Distance: 4 km/ 2.48 miles (total)
• Municipal Park: Rey Tepepul
• Start Time: 5:00 AM
• Max Elevation: 1,450m (4,747ft)
• Elevation Gain and Loss: 200m (657 ft) down and 200m up (657 ft)
• Hike Duration: 3 hours (1 down, 2 up)
• Total Duration: Half-day activity
• Difficulty: Easy

• 2 pax: $115 pp
• 3–4 pax: $95 pp
• 5–7 pax: $80 pp
• 8–9 pax: $70 pp
• 10 or more: $65 pp

Ati Adventures uses tiered group pricing — the price per person depends on how many people join, and it drops as the group grows. Clients can check out the Adventure Calendar to join an existing trip at a lower price, or start their own group for a preferred date by paying a 2-person minimum deposit and hopefully have other people join over the coming weeks or days. 

• A professional and bilingual bird watcher leader who will take you each step of the way
• Conservation fee that supports reforestation, clean trails, and park preservation
• Round-trip transportation to the trailhead (we’ll be riding on the back of a pick-up truck)
• Basic first aid kit
• Add a packed lunch for an extra $9

• 5:00 AM: We meet you at your hotel or a central point in Santiago Atitlán and set off toward the trailhead by pick-up truck (15–20 min ride through fresh mountain air).
• 5:20 - 7:00 AM: Our hike begins on a well-maintained ancestral trail, winding gently through the cloud forest during the Quetzal's most active hours at dawn. The path is alive with birdsong and vibrant greenery, with occasional steep and humid segments that add a touch of challenge.

• 7:00 - 8:00 AM: We arrive at a quiet clearing within the Quetzal's nesting grounds. Here we pause, scan the canopy with binoculars, and give the forest time to reveal itself — this is often when the resplendent Quetzal makes its appearance. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee or tea and your packed lunch while you wait and watch.

• 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM: The return hike brings a steady climb back toward the trailhead, retracing our steps through the forest's shifting light, with more chances to spot the Quetzal and other native birds along the way.

• 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Our pick-up truck will be waiting to take us back to Santiago Atitlán, marking the end of our adventure.

• A small backpack to carry your things
• Comfortable hiking clothes (long-sleeve and quick-dry recommended)
• Hiking boots or shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellent, and a buff
• Snacks and water (2L recommended)