PARQUE NACIONAL DE SIERRA DE AGALTA

Covering an area of 69,500 hectares, the national park is home to unique flora and fauna, as well as the largest concentration of indigenous Pech people in Honduras. The Cordillera de Agalta includes the Susmay, Babilonia, Sierra de Agalta, Malacate and Carbón mountains. The dry forest is staggered from 300 to 800 m, then passes through a transition zone before reaching the tropical forest (around 900 m), a humid temperate zone (900 - 1,400 m, abundance of liquidambar) then cloudy (1,400 - 1,700 m, numerous epiphytic plants); the highlight of the show is at the summit, a forest of dwarf trees, lichens and mosses beaten by the winds, between 1,700 and 2,354 m in altitude (notably 5 m high pines). The fauna is incomparably rich: 470 species of birds have been recorded, including the toucan and the famous quetzal. White-headed monkeys, spiders, jaguars, ocelots and two-toed sloths abound, as do 230 species of butterfly. In short, this park is much less visited than Celaque in the west of the country or La Tigra around Tegucigalpa, yet it is considered by hikers to be the country's natural "must-see", and any serious adventurer should include at least a partial visit on their agenda. To get there, the two preferred access points are Dulce Nombre de Culmí (hospedaje Kevin; US$4 a double) north of Catacamas (a few buses a day until early afternoon) and Gualaco on the road between Juticalpa, San Esteban, Corocito and Trujillo. To tell the truth, Gualaco is a much more interesting and safer base; the cowboys of Dulce Nombre are not always reassuring and the trails not always very well marked. In Gualaco, we recommend hiring a guide (less than US$10 per day). Find out more at the visitors' center in the village (Codehfor). The Olancho Ecological Group can also provide some information. Both offices are located near the gas station. Hotel Calle Real offers basic but clean rooms at very low prices. The only recommended place to eat is comedor Sharon. As for transport, there are several buses to and from Juticalpa; at least two buses to San Esteban, El Carbón and Corocito (one goes on to Trujillo, the other to La Ceiba). An excursion to remember.