China and Bulgaria. Other information Many different routes have been travelled through the years. Usually, the students chosen to take the trip are among the best in Spain, Portugal, and many of the countries that form Latin America. The selection process usually consists of an invitation to submit an original piece of historical, literary, artistic or musical work covering one of several pre-designated topics, followed by an interview. 1997 the Ruta Quetzal went to Spain and Mexico. During the 2002 expedition the Ruta Quetzal was in Panama, Costa Rica and Spain. External links Ruta Quetzal Homepage (in Spanish) Spanish culture