For many Guatemalans, the mention of the town of Coban in Alta Verapaz brings to mind striking scenery, misty mountaintops and dramatic cloud forests.

A scenic three and a half hour drive will take you to this town in the heart of Guatemala's countryside. The winding road offers hundreds of picture perfect scenes for the avid photographer. The highway is in good condition with frequent road signs.

The greenery becomes sparser after crossing the Motagua river and the land more arid, with an abundance of cactus and spiky low-lying shrubs growing along the roadside. Heading up from El Rancho, the vegetation changes yet again. As the elevation rises and temperatures become cooler, the vegetation becomes more lush. Tall hard woods and pine forests cover the rolling hills. The clouds hang low in the sky and touch the tops of the hills. The boughs of trees are decorated with barba de viejo, old man's beard, a type of hanging moss.

Before reaching the charming town of Coban, you'll pass the Biotopo del Quetzal. This reserve offers trails through prime cloud forest habitat that serves as home to the national bird, the resplendent quetzal. To see this reclusive bird, visitors must hit the trails as early as possible. While luck plays an important role, bird watchers can give themselves the advantage by keeping noise to a minimum and by not wearing brightly-colored clothing. Coban was founded by Dominican Friar Bartolome de las Casas and in an effort to populate the new town, indigenous people from eight outlying towns were brought in. To this day, the indigenous of each of the eight districts keep to their original traditions and dress.