Bay Islands Live Cam

It's a jungle out there. And in today's ecologically aware society that means there are endangered species which should not be endangered, diminishing rain forests that shouldn't be shrinking, and native cultures that should not be losing identities, customs, and folklore. The natural beauty of Honduras is incomparable. The country offers more forest area, Caribbean beaches and indigenous cultures than any other Central American country, and her jungled paths, wildlife, crystal falls and native peoples are wondrous, remote, and significantly in danger.

Our inland and coastal journeys require no special knowledge or equipment other than a healthy body, an open mind, and a keen sense of adventure. The level of difficulty varies from relatively easy to challenging. The experiences you bring back are beyond measure.

To be Honduran is to be a lot more than just another pretty beach. This 8 day / 7 night itinerary originates in the capital city of Tegucigalpa where we tour the shops and boutiques and sample delightful tipico fare. Enroute to beautiful mountain rimmed Lago Yojoa, home to nearly 400 bird species, we visit colonial Comayagua. An early breakfast, a boat ride, and we are off to Pulhapanzack Falls and a city tour of San Pedro Sula. The next two days are spent exploring the Mayan ruins at Copàn, then on to Gracias de Lempira, Lenca Indian territory, and home to Celaque National Park, the highest cloud forest in the country. Bring your hiking boots, a sweater, and a bathing suit for a soak in the hot springs. We even visit a cigar factory in Santa Rosa where you can pick up a box of their world famous hand rolled product. Our last night is back in San Pedro Sula - a great market, shops, and the museum.

An easy-going, ecologically oriented trip into the Cusuco Cloud Forest. From San Pedro Sula, 4-wheel drive to the park, stopping in the coffee farming village of Buenos Aires for lunch. We continue up into the park to spend the night at a campesino house (elev. 5600 ft.), then a short hike to the waterfall, swimming and a tipico dinner complete the day. Following morning, a two hour hike with our naturalist guide as we search for quetzals and toucans among the gigantic tree ferns and bromeliads. Lunch back at camp, and return to San Pedro Sula in the afternoon.

Visit five of Honduras' most outstanding natural attractions: the misty Cusuco Cloud Forest National Park, home of the Resplendent Quetzal and an array of splendid tropical foliage; Pulhapanzak Waterfall, a sacred Maya site (a grand swimming hole!); the vast, mountain rimmed Lago Yojoa (377+ bird species); Punta Sal National Marine Park, a rugged tropical forest with rocky out croppings set against the crystalline aqua waters of the Caribbean; and the Lancetilla Botanical Garden , renowned for it's collection of tropical plant species and birds. Scenic drives and comfortable mountain, lakeside and beachside accommodations enhance your stay.

The Lenca Indians of Honduras coexisted with the Maya, and today remain a truly traditional and undaunted culture. This five night tour travels it's way through colonial outposts, cloud forests, native foods, baroque churches, the famous Lenca ceramics, hot-springs, local agriculture, remote mountain villages, grand panoramas and really fine cigars. One day highlights a mountain mule-ride or hike. Comfortable hotels, community lodges, and one night cloud forest camp.

You don't have to be a cigar afficianado to enjoy this unique view of Honduran culture and economy, but if you are, you can sample the product with the catadores, the factory quality control experts, at La Flor de Copán. Here, factory workers, mostly women, still hand roll fine Honduran cigars using traditional methods and materials. We learn of the local importance of the tobacco crop by visiting a plantation and villages in the Santa Rosa de Copán area. At Quesailia, for example, tobacco has been grown by the indigenous people since pre-Columbian times, and in Dulce de Nombre, a women's co-op is attempting to improve the quality and prices of the local puros.

First there were the Indians. Then came the Spanish. What's happened in the meantime? This tour offers the opportunity to visit communities once similar and now diverse, and each intricately tied to their own traditions. We'll tour colonial Erandique, the Indian village of Santa Cruz, and Gracias, a mix of both of both cultures. Upon arriving at the colonial town of Gracias, tour the colonial historic district and then learn about the Lenca Indian culture and it's present day role in this city. Soak in the Arcilaca springs just outside of town. The following day takes us to colonial Erandique where we'll stay at a local lodge and visit the opal mines. On day 3 we hike the Lan Cueva Pintada (the painted cave) to see magnificent wall paintings portraying the daily life of ancient Lencas. Spend the night in Gracias and transfer the next morning to San Pedro Sula.

Mountain rimmed Lago Yojoa covers 175 square kilometers, is famous for it's bass fishing, and is home to nearly 400 species of birds. Closeby is the sacred Mayan site of Pulhapanzak, a grand waterfall with natural pools for swimming. From San Pedro, we'll go first to the falls for a cookout, and then on to the lake front Hotel Agua Azul where we'll enjoy the view from the deck, take a dip in the pool, and stay in comfortable cabins. Horse, fishing and boat tours are also available. After breakfast and some early birding the following morning, transfer back to San Pedro Sula. Just an hour and a half from the San Pedro Sula airport, this offers a nice alternative to an overnight in San Pedro.

One of the best values in all Honduras, this family owned dairy farm, Peruvian Paso Fino ranch, coffee and cardamom plantation has recently been retailored to meet the needs of eco-tourism. The lodge has all comforts, including air conditioned bedrooms with private baths. Meals are hearty and include outdoor barbecues as well as delicious tipico fare prepared by the same friendly staff that has been serving the Lopez family for years. A true highlight are the spectacular views as your mule climbs the forested mountainside behind the plantation. On a clear day the distant Caribbean Sea laps at an incredible shoreline dotted with Garifuna communities, and you can see cays as far away as Guatemala and Belize. And what a wonderful surprise as you descend to your camp! A lush green valley lies silent except for the murmur of the river - your perfect retreat in the rain forest!

Few societies of the ancient Maya contributed as much to religion, art, and science as did this ancient city tucked alongside a tangled river valley in a remote corner of Honduras. And virtually no site has contributed so much to the modern understanding of the great civilization that was the Maya. Since its discovery by John Stephens in 1839, Copán has been an unmolested study in archaeology. Scholars, archaeologists, and Mayanists from around the world continue painstaking investigations among crumbled walls and intricately carved stelae, and major discoveries continue with dramatic regularity.

Today Copán is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Honduran national monument. The pretty colonial town of Copán Ruinas hosts the national museum and is only a few minutes walk from the major ruins and an excellent base for exploring.