Cusuco National Park
To start, Cusuco National Park is located west to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. the cloud forest has 2 zones. The core zone and the buffer zone. The core zone is the area where the forest is most dense and virgin, and it’s more protected. The buffer zone surrounds the core zone; it’s the area where mountain villages settled.
The huge diversity of activities you can do in Cusuco National park is amazing. I will give you top 10 I most like. Our guide from junglexpedition tours showed us the way.
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1) 4×4 truck experience!
To get to national park, you have to get with a 4×4 vehicle. San Pedro Sula, has a elevation of 120 meters above the level, and the highest elevation of the park is at 2200 meters above sea level. But the truck can reach till the 1800!. While you drive up you can see the astonishing views of the mountain valleys. Plus, you can feel the elevation changes. As you go up it gets colder and all the geographical terrain changes.
2) Stop at “Caritas Observation Tower” at Naranjito village.
Caritas is a NGO that brings a lot of help to the mountain villages surrounding Cusuco National Park. It starts with the only bilingual (Spanish – English) school, for the mountain villagers children at a very low price.
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A chicken farm, this creates meat and eggs at a lower price because middlemen are eliminated. A rabbit farm, for meat + a lot of nice things to help develop the villages.
3) Get some traditional Honduran food at “Buenos Aires village”.
Buenos Aires is the last village of the mountain. It holds the entrance to the national park. Here you can get very delicious meals at “Toucan restaurant” or “Quetzal restaurant”. The villagers from here are amazing; they have protected the biodiversity of the park since before it was protected by the government.
4) Visit “Toucan Waterfall”.
To get to this astonishing waterfall, you have to hike for one and a half hour. While you walk you get to see different traditional/high quality/conservation coffee farms.
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The waterfall has 4 falls; you can only get to see the 4th one when you get there. Swimming in the cold water is something you can’t miss!
5) Hike to “Golondrinas Waterfall”.
This trail is bit more complicated, hour and a half of a more difficult terrain. At this hike you have a denser cloud forest trail. The environment is different from Toucan Waterfall; the canopy of the trees is closer and a more mystical look. Hidden inside this forest, the waterfall looks as if it’s in a cave and creates a Jurassic environment.
6) Check out “Quetzal Waterfall”
Departing from the Visitors center of the National Park, one of the easiest trails allows you the chance to be close to the core zone.
7) Mountain biking
Once over there, mountain biking trails are remarkable, 6 kms of downhill from Base camp to Buenos Aires Village, and 9 Km of mostly horizontal and downhill to Naranjito Village.
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This tour can last around 2 to 3 hours of marvelous views.
Camp at one of the different location.
Recreational camping is something with a lot of potential. Being alone with nature makes this destination an exotic place to be. The cold climate makes this a cozy experience and because there is no electrical energy the only thing you’ll hear is from nature itself. There is no more than 5 mm of difference between all the stars in the sky.
9) Stay at the Eco-Lodge.
The Honduran government helped to create the Eco-lodge at Buenos Aires Village. With solar panels it’s eco friendly. The capacity for accommodations is five double rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and an incredible balcony view.
10) STAY FOR MORE THAN A DAY!
I just said 10 things to do at the park, but the options are way more.
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Caves, more than 10 trails, more villages, mountain rappelling and abseiling, etc. Come to Honduras, its an amazing country with a strong culture.
Well there you have it my fun time in Cusuco National Park a definite must see!!!
by Johnb42