Guatemala
Overnight we left Honduras to enter the second of three Central American countries that we are to explore this week. We dedicate just one day to the wonderful country of Guatemala, however it is filled with all that makes this country so special: spectacular ancient Mayan culture, beautiful scenery and an unbelievable diversity of wildlife. Guatemala is home to 19 different ecosystems, and contains a couple of the most famous Mayan ruins in the world.
After breakfast we boarded our buses for the hour and a half-long trip to Quirigua, an important Mayan center from the late classic period. Long under the dominion of Copan, it became the most important center of the region after the slaying of the ruler of Copan. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the conquering ruler erected the most splendid carved stelae of the Mayan world. The intricate nature of these sculptures was mind-boggling; here writing takes on a whole new meaning, where not only does it tell a tale, but becomes an art form in and of itself.
Quirigua is also a paradise for bird-watchers, as it forms a clearing in the middle of banana plantations, and is an oasis for the rich bird diversity of the area. Vultures, falcons, oropendulas, jays, tanagers, flycatchers, woodpeckers are just a few of the myriad birds that inhabit the area, creating a cacophony of sound that almost overwhelms our senses. As we wandered the paths, a distinctive, low-toned “oot-oot” sound could be heard: the call of one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the Motmot. As we pause in our tracks, a couple of odd-looking birds landed on a branch not far away: a bird with colours ranging from red to green to blue, and two long feathers extending from the tail. This tail is undoubtedly the most distinctive feature of the bird, as near the end they have bald notches where the bird has plucked the barbs away with its serrated bill, leaving just two small ovals, or rackets, of black feather at the tips. The Spanish name for these astonishing birds is “pajaro reloj,” or clock bird, as the tail hangs straight down from the perch and clicks from side to side. The ancient Maya considered Motmots to be the birds of nobility, medicine men and the brave.
Motmots are related to Kingfishers, and dig long, curving tunnels into mud banks. The pair we were watching repeatedly flew into a circular opening in such a bank, obviously bringing food to as many as four young chicks. This particular species was the Turquoise-browed Motmot, the already-astounding coloration topped by the most amazing pair of bushy turquoise eyebrows that I personally would die for!
The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring one of the sites of greatest natural beauty in Guatemala, the famous Rio Dulce that runs through the Motagua Valley and is home to an important modern Maya group, the Q’eqchi Maya, originally from the western highlands of the country; and the town of Livingston, home to an important Guatemalan minority, the Garifuna.
Overnight we left Honduras to enter the second of three Central American countries that we are to explore this week. We dedicate just one day to the wonderful country of Guatemala, however it is filled with all that makes this country so special: spectacular ancient Mayan culture, beautiful scenery and an unbelievable diversity of wildlife. Guatemala is home to 19 different ecosystems, and contains a couple of the most famous Mayan ruins in the world.
After breakfast we boarded our buses for the hour and a half-long trip to Quirigua, an important Mayan center from the late classic period. Long under the dominion of Copan, it became the most important center of the region after the slaying of the ruler of Copan. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the conquering ruler erected the most splendid carved stelae of the Mayan world. The intricate nature of these sculptures was mind-boggling; here writing takes on a whole new meaning, where not only does it tell a tale, but becomes an art form in and of itself.
Quirigua is also a paradise for bird-watchers, as it forms a clearing in the middle of banana plantations, and is an oasis for the rich bird diversity of the area. Vultures, falcons, oropendulas, jays, tanagers, flycatchers, woodpeckers are just a few of the myriad birds that inhabit the area, creating a cacophony of sound that almost overwhelms our senses. As we wandered the paths, a distinctive, low-toned “oot-oot” sound could be heard: the call of one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the Motmot. As we pause in our tracks, a couple of odd-looking birds landed on a branch not far away: a bird with colours ranging from red to green to blue, and two long feathers extending from the tail. This tail is undoubtedly the most distinctive feature of the bird, as near the end they have bald notches where the bird has plucked the barbs away with its serrated bill, leaving just two small ovals, or rackets, of black feather at the tips. The Spanish name for these astonishing birds is “pajaro reloj,” or clock bird, as the tail hangs straight down from the perch and clicks from side to side. The ancient Maya considered Motmots to be the birds of nobility, medicine men and the brave.
Motmots are related to Kingfishers, and dig long, curving tunnels into mud banks. The pair we were watching repeatedly flew into a circular opening in such a bank, obviously bringing food to as many as four young chicks. This particular species was the Turquoise-browed Motmot, the already-astounding coloration topped by the most amazing pair of bushy turquoise eyebrows that I personally would die for!
The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring one of the sites of greatest natural beauty in Guatemala, the famous Rio Dulce that runs through the Motagua Valley and is home to an important modern Maya group, the Q’eqchi Maya, originally from the western highlands of the country; and the town of Livingston, home to an important Guatemalan minority, the Garifuna.
