WILDLIFE
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Quetzal walking tour in Costa Rica
You could easily devote a whole trip to Costa Rica’s birdlife, but the star of the feathered show is arguably the resplendent quetzal. Both genders are beloved for their iridescent plumage in shades of green that range from lime and ultramarine to rich emerald. The males are defined by twin tail feathers that cross in a wishbone arch. As they’re a bird of the cloudforest, your best opportunity to see them is in and around the sleepy hamlet of San Gerardo de Dota. On an early morning walk with a birdwatching guide, you’ll often spot them feeding on the fruit trees lining the village roads before you’ve even entered a reserve. There’s also the chance to see a supporting cast of other species, including silky fly-catchers, peg-billed finches and coppery-headed emerald hummingbirds, all endemic to the area. Resplendent quetzal
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Bear watching in Japan
You might not have Japan on your radar for top wildlife experiences, but therein lies its beauty. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is home to just 5% of the country’s human population. With wild, open grasslands, primeval forests and vivid-blue caldera lakes, it’s Japan’s final frontier, where bears roam and sea lions thrive. Shiretoko National Park, a volcanic peninsula circled by a single road, is capped with thick alpine forest. You can take a boat cruise which hugs the steep cliffs of the coastline, the bluffs giving way to rocky beaches where brown bears come to feed, rest and play. From the boat, you can watch at a respectful distance, binoculars to hand. It’s also possible to cruise further along the coast, from the nearby town of Rausu, where the ocean floor plummets to a deep-sea valley. The warm water attracts humpbacks, minkes and orcas, as well as sea lions.
Contact your local independent travel agent
Bears in Shiretoko National Park, Japan
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