Wilderness Experience

Cusuco and Cerro Azul Meambar National Park

Honduras

An easygoing ecological journey into the Cusuco Cloud Forest in search for quetzals and toucans among the gigantic tree ferns and bromeliads. We continue our encounter with nature in beautiful mountain rimmed Lago Yojoa, the epicentre of Honduran ornithological studies, looking for snail kites, toucans, kingfishers or any of the 400 different species around this area.

The Itinerary

Day 1:
Meet with your guide at the lobby of your hotel. Overland transfer with 4x4 vehicle to Buenos Aires, a coffee growing community in the damp-ing zone of the Cusuco National Park. In Buenos Aires we make a brief stop to taste the locally grown coffee and take a walk in the village followed by a typical Honduran lunch. We then continue through magnificent landscapes until reaching our camp. On the way, the ecological transition from a mixture of tropical broad leafed and pine forest, to the tropical cloud forest. We enjoy a hike through the magnificent surround-ings before enjoying a typical dinner. Overnight Cusuco Visitors Center.

Day 2 & 3:
Days to explore and appreciate the magnificent biodiversity of the cloud forest. With some luck we may spot a variety of wildlife such as tou-cans, monkeys, tapirs or the resplendent quet-zal. Huge tree ferns - up to 20 meters tall, the highest in all Central America - are typical for Cusuco and give the impression of being in a Jurassic world. From March to May one of the typical early morning sounds of Cusuco National Park is the monotonous call of the resplendent Quetzal, the mystic and holy bird of the Aztecs and Mayans. The charm of Cusuco does not only come from the nature, but also from the quit and harmonic life in the 38 surrounding coffee towns. Overnights Cusuco Visitors Center.

Day 4:
We will break camp after breakfast. Our journey continues through a scenic drive to the Lake Yojoa. The region around the Yojoa Lake is rich in different habitat types; it is home or temporal host of a huge amount of migratory birds. Cerro Azul Meambar works as a retreating area for a lot of species because of increased human activities around the Lake. Toucans, Turkeys, Motmots, Parakeets and Parrots are just a small sample of the species living in Honduras. Over-night Cerro Azul Meambars Visitors Center.

Day 5 & 6:
Explore the magnificent tropical forest types of the Cerro Azul Meambar National Park. The national park is one of the main protected areas around Lake Yojoa, which is fed by the small rivers of the surrounding mountains. We will hike to the interchange zone between the tropical rainforest and the tropical cloud forest enjoying impressive views of the lake. Visit Pulhapanzak Waterfall, an important ceremonial and cultural site for the early Maya. The fresh clear water invites us for a refreshing bath. Overnight Cerro Azul Meambars Visitors Center.

Day 7:
After breakfast overland transfer to San Pedro Sula on time to connect to your international departure flight or your domestic flight to the Bay Islands. End of the program or extension of your stay with another of our itineraries.

General Information

Rated: Easy

Tour Tariff - Private Departures
N° of Participants	2	3	4
USD	$ 810	$ 606	$ 535
EUR	€ 673	€ 503	€ 444
GBP	£ 454	£ 339	£ 299

(*) Price last updated on 27 February 2004. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
Guaranteed with only 2 passengers

Included:
* 6 nights lodging in NP visitors centres
* Full board until breakfast day 7
* Transfers, excursions according to itinerary
* Expedition and safety equipment
* Bilingual guide
* Entrance fees and local guide
* All taxes

Not included:
Meals not mentioned, personal expenses, tips and beverages.