Natural History

7 days / 6 nights from/to San Pedro Sula
guaranteed and daily departures with 2 passengers only

Day 1: San Pedro Sula - Copán Ruinas
In the morning your guide awaits you at the reception of your hotel to transfer you to Copan. We travel through beautiful rural countryside as we make our way to the picturesque village of Copán Ruinas. During the 3-hours drive you have the chance to obtain first information about Mayan trade routes, social and political organization, as well as theories on their mysterious demise. Upon arrival in the charming little town with cobblestone streets, white adobe buildings and red-tile roofs we check-in in our centrally located hotel. In the afternoon, we take a bird watching hike around Copán, where we have the chance to observe various bird species. Cinnamon Hummingbird, White-collared Seedeater, Squirrel Cuckoo, Linneated Woodpecker, White-fronted Amazon, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Montezuma Oropendola and many more inhabit the area. 2 overnights in Copán.

Day 2: Copán Ruinas
After breakfast we visit the legendary Archaeological Park of Copán, which consists of two main sites: the ruins and the sepulchres. One of the highlights of Copan is the amazing 63-step hieroglyphic stairway. With more than 2,500 hieroglyphs it is the longest Maya text that has been discovered so far. We also visit Las Sepulturas, a residential and burial site of the Mayan nobles. Appreciate to its full the significant number of ruins surrounded by giant trees that provide shades all over the site before we return to the town for lunch. In the afternoon we bird watch in the Rural Eco Hacienda San Lucas and the Los Sapos archaeological site. We also visit the Enchanted Wings Butterfly Garden which houses more than 40 different species.

Day 3: Copán Ruinas - Santa Rosa de Copán - Gracias
In the morning we transfer to Santa Rosa de Copán, the most important city in Western Honduras. The charming city centre, with its cobblestone streets and picturesque buildings, dates back to colonial times. We tour the town's colonial centre and visit the famous Flor de Copán tobacco factory (closed on Sundays). The factory produces about sixty very exclusive brands. During the traditional production process cigars are rolled by hand and covered by thin cedar wood, which characterizes the distinctive aroma of the Flor de Copán cigars. Nearly 50,000 handmade cigars are produced daily and sent to customers in Europe, America, China and Rusia. In the afternoon we continue to Gracias. 2 overnights in the colonial village of Gracias.

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Day 4: Celaque National Park and Gracias
In the morning we transfer to the nearby Celaque National Park. Today's hiking in the Celaque National Park leads us through typical Central American pine forests and cloud forest. Honduras' highest peak with its 2,849 m can be found here, the Cerro de Las Minas. Celaque means Box of Water in the local Lenca language. In the afternoon we discover the colonial history of Gracias with its churches and the fortress San Cristobal. In 1537, Gracias and the surrounding mountains were the setting for the last battle lead by the Lenca leader Lempira. In honour to this famous indigenous leader who resisted the Spaniards for such a long time, the Honduran currency has been named after him. Seven years after his fall, in 1544, the Spaniards proclaimed the town of Gracias as headquarters for the garrison of Guatemala.

Day 5: Gracias - Cerro Azul Meambar National Park
We transfer to the region around Yojoa Lake, which is rich in different habitat types. It is home or temporal host to a huge amount of migratory birds. Before we arrive at the park we visit the impressive Pulhapanzak Waterfalls. Our way up to the visitor's center is made possible thanks to our 4-wheel drive. The national park Cerro Azul Meambar works as a retreating area for a lot of species because of increased human activities around the Lake. Toucans, orioles, motmots, parakeets and parrots are just a small sample of the bird species living in the park. We 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. 2 overnights at Cerro Azul Meambar Visitor's Centre.

Day 6: Cerro Azul Meambar National Park
Today we explore the magnificent tropical forest types of the Cerro Azul Meambar National Park. The visitor's centre is the starting point for different trails, offering hiking opportunities of varying lengths and for people of all physical condition. The shorter hikes take you through tropical rainforest and pine forest. Longer hikes of up to three hours are needed to reach the cloud forest. We enjoy amazing views of the Lake Yojoa and discover the park's diverse flora and fauna. Jaguars, ocelots, peccary, coatis and baird's tapir are just a few of the many animals that can be found here. During a visit to Cerro Azul Meambar, a lot of people compare the region with the gardens of Eden. The landscape is marked by an innumerable amount of small brooks and waterfalls that are surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.

Day 7: Cerro Azul Meambar - San Pedro Sula
Your guide takes you back to the airport in San Pedro Sula on time. If your flight is only in the afternoon or you stay for another night in San Pedro Sula, we visit the impressive Pulhapanzak waterfalls. Enjoy the verdant forest and take a refreshing bath in the clear waters. Your guide bids farewell at the hotel or the airport in San Pedro Sula. End of your program or begin of another tour.

Services Included 6 nights lodging with breakfast Mesoamerica Travel Guide day 1-7 Transfers & entrance fees according to itinerary 19% local taxes Prices valid until 16.12.2018

Price Per Person 2 persons U$ 1179.- 3 persons U$ 949.- 4 persons U$ 859.-