LAS VERAPACES - Guatemala - page 435

Another lodge on a private forest reserve is Posada Montaña del Quetzal (Km. 156.5
on the road to Cobán, tel. [phone] or 2332-4969, reservaciones@ hposadaquetzal.com,
www.hposadaquetzal.com , $36-46 d), where you have a choice of staying in standard
rooms or family-size bungalows. There are firm beds and an on-demand hot-water heater.
Theroomscanbemoldy,whichiscommoninthesecold,humidparts.Therearetwoswim-
ming pools, a Ping-Pong table, and a trail leading to a waterfall 30 minutes away.
Getting There
Any bus heading along the Cobán-Guatemala Highway can let you off at the biotope,
though be sure to let the driver know you're getting off here. The entrance is at Km. 160.5.
Return to HIGHLIGHTS
PURULHÁ AND VICINITY
As you continue along the road toward Cobán, the next sizable town is Purulhá. Though
the town itself is unremarkable, there are several important stops on the biological corridor
along the road in the vicinity of town and farther east from the town itself.
Reserva Natural Privada Montebello
This private nature reserve and restaurant (tel. [phone] or 7953-9215) sits along Km.
164 of Highway CA-14. The specialties are a tasty chicken stew and traditional pastries. A
small shop sells locally made handicrafts and there are nature trails for hiking amid several
pleasant streams crisscrossing the property.
Accommodations
AtKm.166.5, Reserva Natural Privada Country Delight (tel.[phone],countryde-
[e-mail],7A.M.-7P.M.daily)isaquaintfamily-runinnandcafé.Thedelicious
homemade food includes sandwiches, breads, cookies, and cakes. There are also smoked
meats for sale. Rooms in the main house with tiled floor, cable TV, large, firm beds, taste-
ful decor, and private hot-water bath go for $45 d. Bungalows range from $30 for a unit
accommodating two people to $100 for a large, six-bed cabin. Camping in a covered area
with cooking facilities, shower, bathroom, and a common area with Ping-Pong table, foos-
ball table, and swimming pool is a great value at $7 per person. Bonfires and nighttime
lightning bug shows between April and June are among the fun activities available.
The restaurant and lodge are on Country Delight's own private reserve, but there are
also other reserves adjacent to the property: Reserva Natural Privada Llano Largo and
Reserva Privada Santa Rosa. Combined, they are roughly the same size as the Quetzal
Biotope. The lodge can arrange visits to both.