Turquoise blue waters—this is definitely what comes to mind when talking about Honduras, a Central American country with a land area of 112,492 square kilometers. The country is surrounded by the second largest coral reef in the world, which means it is a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. It makes sense that there are beautiful beaches in Honduras, as its northern coast borders the Caribbean Sea.
Coffee lovers might have heard of Honduran coffee, which is just great. It is one of the best-tasting coffees in the world with beans cultivated in high altitudes. Honduras is also the fifth largest producer of coffee in the world, which is probably why Hondurans have perfected its taste. There was also a time when Honduras was the largest exporter of bananas in the world. That is no longer the case, but the bananas it exports are still considered of high quality.
Honduras is also part of the Mayan World, which means Mayan ruins are among the most visited tourist attractions in the country. The Copan archeological site features high-relief sculptures from the Mayan World. The area is certainly full of archeological wonders.
The country is also known for its pristine national parks. There are a number of them, too. But here are the top five of the unexplored national parks that tourists ought to take time and explore:
1. Celaque National Park
Cerro Las Minas, the highest peak in Honduras, is covered in this national park, established in 1987. The Cerro Las Minas stands at 2,870 meters tall. This mountain is part of the Cordillera de Celaque mountain range, from which the park is named after. The elevation ranges of the mountains within the park are from 975 to 2,870 meters. Most of the mountains provide a challenging terrain for those who want to do some mountain climbing, as two-thirds of the slopes have an incline of 60 degrees and more. The topography is also quite rugged.
The park is considered a cloud forest. Nine rivers within the park, supply water to more than a hundred nearby villages. But these rivers, along with the park’s forests, also provide great habitats for the animals in the park. Among the park’s most famous animals are the ocelots and pumas. There are also several Bolitoglossa claque in the park. This is a species of salamander that is only found in the mountains of Celaque.
One thing that the entire country is experiencing is illegal logging and Celaque is no exception. Deforestation resulted in a loss of habitat for some animals and birds. This prompted the National Congress of Honduras to establish the Celaque National Park for protecting the Cerro Las Minas and its surrounding areas.
2. Jeanette Kawas National Park
Originally named Punta Sal National Park when it was established in November 1994, it was later changed to honor Jeanette Kawas, an environmental activist and president of the PROLANSATE, which stands for the protection of Lancetilla, Punta Sal, and Texiguat. The organization takes on some of the responsibilities of managing parks in Honduras.
This park is in the Atlantida Department. It has a beach rich in marine resources, as well as terrestrial forms and wetlands that also provide varied ecosystems for different types of animals. There are also lagoons and rivers along the park.
Birds thrive in both the terrestrial forests and mangrove forests of the park. Among the birds commonly sighted in the park are blue-crowned chlorophonia, bushy-crested jay, Green-breasted mountain-gem, keel-billed motmot, lesser ground cuckoo, lovely cotinga, resplendent Quetzal, and turquoise-browed motmot. Mammals, too, are found in both the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The mammals are dolphins, West Indian manatees, white-headed capuchins, and howler monkeys. Among the fish species are Centropomus, gaff-topsail catfish, and tarpon. Other species of animals include turtles: green sea, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead; American crocodile, green iguana, Mexican burrowing snake, and red-tailed boa.
3. La Tigra National Park
This is Honduras’ first national park, established in January 1980. The mountains are completely blanketed with cloud forests. They provide great hiking opportunities, which is why the park has at least eight developed hiking trails. There are some monkeys within the hiking trails and other parts of the cloud forests, which are also the home to over 200 species of birds.
The lush vegetation within the park includes an abundance of bromeliads, ferns, fungi, and moss. The trees are avocado, Encino, oak, and pine. There are also a good number of ceibo trees, which are considered sacred among the Mayans.
4. Punta Izopo National Park
Also within the Atlantida Department, this park has an altitude of at least 118 meters. It comprises a small mountain, Sal si Puedes, surrounded by wetlands with mangrove forests. There are also a few nice beaches within the park, which provides a different type of attraction.
This is a great place to hike, although, there are no marked trails. But the mountain provides an easy-enough hiking area with some beautiful vegetation to see. There are also paddling opportunities because of the various water bodies in the park. There is a small lagoon that feeds off Rio Platano and Rio Hicaque. Kayaking is also the best way to spot some alligators, capuchin, howler monkeys, and various species of birds.
5. Sierra de Agalta National Park
The park is named after the mountain range in Eastern Honduras, which is very popular among adventurers. There are high mountains, refreshing rivers, streams, and marvelous waterfalls within the park. Every hiker’s walk is shaded with the large trees blanketing the mountains. Part of the park houses Honduras’ fourth highest peak, La Picchu. There is a marked trail for mountain climbers or the casual hikers. It might be advisable to hire a guide to help with the clearing of some trails, which have been covered with overgrown understories and other wild plants.
Adventurers have said that the park is the best place to encounter cloud forest mammals like the howler monkeys and spider monkeys. There is also an abundance of toucans in the forests.