Trogon Lodge is located in San Gerardo de Dota, near Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica's highest peak. The drive takes approximately 02 hours from San José heading southeast in the Pan-American highway. As one drives up, marvelous views appears before your eyes, carrot & potato plantations, the country side, and on a clear day, general overviews of the Cartago Province and Valley.

Admidst dazzling flowers, showing amazing shades of colors and where centennial oak trees show their impressive roots sits Trogon Lodge, at an altitude of 7000 ft above sea level, surrounded by the unspoiled ecology of the area.

The song of the Resplendet Quetzal, in it's magical fly, is a sample of the exuberant biodiversity that lives in the area. A collage of green trees and mountains. A peaceful setting enhanced by the sounds of the river in its endless travel through the rocks, lets you fell nature and see it come alive, in a place where the mist of the scenery sets the mood for those searching to get away from it all.

 

The Canopy Tour

This new attraction at Trogón Lodge was built with two priorities in mind: to create a fun and learning experience that offers a high level of comfort to the participants. Located along primary and secondary Cloud Forest, the platforms are situated in the midst of the Lodge private grounds. The tree platforms offer 360º views, with independent and redundant safety systems. All cables and slings meet highest standards of quality and gear is top of the line, including both waist and chest harnesses (an innovation in Costa Rica), helmets and gloves. After a short walk along a private trail to the first platform, located on ground level, participants receive a safety talk and are introduced into the general aspects by our guides. First cable is 47 m. long to our second platform – Giganton. Next cable is 73 m long and crosses the Savegre River, arriving to the third platform – Aguacatillo – located on the ground and an excellent spot to search for Quetzals and others. A cable of 69m leads to Garroton – the fourth platform, continuing onto Platform five, a beautiful wooden deck on the ground.

Birdwatching

Visitors to Trogon Lodge and the area of San Gerardo de Dota, even those who are not avid birdwatchers, are amazed when they get to observe one Resplendent Quetzal (pronounced ket-sal') considered as one of the most gorgeous birds in the New World, that inhabits this area year round Con. With its metallic green plumage, crimson breast and belly and its incredible streamer-like feathers, watching a male Quetzal in its magical fly, is a unique, breathtaking experience.

Quetzals can be found in the forest of Central America, from the south of México to Panama. Scientists recognize two sub-species: Pharomachrus mocinno moccino, found in the south of México, Guatemala and some regions of El Salvador & Honduras, and the Pharamochrus mocinno costarricencis, in the south of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the North of Panamá. Of all the countries where quetzals are found, the best chance to see them in the wild is probably in Costa Rica, where elevated cloud forests harbor important populations of the species.

In the past, indigenous populations of the New World admired the beauty and grandness of the Quetzal and were frequently represented next to their Gods, in sculptures. The Mayans called the Quetzal KUKUL, it was their Holy Bird. In the Aztec mythology, there was Quetzalcoatl, "The Feathered Serpent". The nobility of these indigenous groups used the bird's long streamer-like feathers for headdresses and cloaks. Chroniclers report that they did not kill the birds for the feathers instead caught them alive, had the plumes removed, and then returned them to the wild to grow new ones.