La Tigra National Park
Los Planes
Honduras’ first national park, La Tigra National Park is a protected mountainous area of cloud forest northeast of the country’s capital city, Tegucigalpa. It was made a national park in 1980 to protect it from deforestation and is home to a myriad of ferns, moss, fungi, and birds, including the colorful quetzal.
Hiking and wildlife spotting are the main things to do in La Tigra National Park. The park has six marked walking trails to explore, some taking you to local waterfalls as the La Cascada trail does. Those interested in wildlife have the chance of spotting animals ranging from ocelots and pumas to deer and armadillos. To save the hassle of arranging transport and navigating the park alone, opt for tours that explore the park as a day trip from Tegucigalpa.
There are two visitor centers for the park by the park entrances at El Rosario and Jutiapa.
There is an entrance fee for visiting La Tigra National Park, payable at the visitors center.
There are places for camping and small eco lodges at both Jutiapa and El Rosario if you want to stay overnight in La Tigra National Park.
One hiking trail, the La Cascada trail, connects the two park entrances.
There are only two access roads that lead into La Tigra National Park; one in the east at Jutiapa and one in the west at El Rosario. The easiest way to reach it from Tegucigalpa is to travel towards San Juancito along the RN25, turning off for the town and continuing along to El Rosario. For Jutiapa, take the V-660 north out of the city continuing just past Los Planes.
Honduras is a tropical country and since you’ll be spending your time out in the forest, you’ll want to avoid the rainy season which hits between May and October. Try to go to La Tigra National Park in the dry season between November and April, although there should be more water going over the park’s waterfalls if you go early in the season around November.
Honduras is home to 20 national parks, giving you plenty of options if you wish to explore the country’s pristine nature. Celaque National Park in west Honduras is another protected high-altitude cloud forest home to the highest peak in Honduras; Cerro Las Minas at an elevation of 9,347 feet (2,849 meters). Another option for remote hiking is Pico Bonito National Park, over in the country’s north in the hinterland of La Ceiba.
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