La Tigra, the first national park in Honduras, is a worthwhile day excursion from Tegucigalpa. Numerous birds live there in addition to creatures including pumas, armadillos, and agoutis.
You might even be able to see the rare quetzal with any luck. This bright bird with a long tail is both the national bird of Guatemala and an important figure in the mythology of Central America.
Also there are dense woodlands, ferns, bromeliads, and a great variety of orchids, even if no animals are to be seen.
However, despite having such unusual vegetation and creatures, La Tigra receives very few tourists from abroad. Due to its accessibility, most visitors either avoid Honduras or limit their travel to Copan and the Bay Islands. Additionally, because there are so few tourists, it might be challenging to locate information on La Tigra National Park online, particularly if you don’t know Spanish.
We have put up a guide to help you visit this national park off the main path. For all the information you need for your upcoming vacation, keep reading.
Visit La Tigra National Park:
La Tigra is easily accessible from Tegucigalpa.
You should first travel to Parque Herrera. Only a few blocks separate this park from Parque Central, and a pedestrian zone connects the two.
The buses departing for La Tigra are located at the northern end of Parque Herrera, in front of the Teatro Nacional Manuel Bonilla. Ask around for buses departing for Jutiapa, which is the name of the last stop. If you ask around, you’ll get the right answer.
Monday through Friday, buses depart at 7, 9:20, and 10:30 a.m. The schedule is different on Saturday and Sunday, and the buses depart at 8am and 10am.
Even though the distance is only about 20 km, the trip takes an hour because you’ll take a chicken bus. Be prepared for winding roads and numerous stops along the route. The bus will eventually make a U-turn, and everyone will disembark. You must exit at this location as well because it is the last stop.
La Tigra National Park interior:
You must pay an admission charge of approximately $10 once you get at the park’s entrance, which can be made in dollars or lempiras. Additionally, a park map and details on how long each path takes are available here.
A guide can occasionally be hired as well. Although they’re not always accessible and the majority of guides only speak Spanish, if you have the chance to hire one, it will be well worth it. A local can assist you in identifying animals even if you don’t speak Spanish.
During the two months I spent traveling throughout South and Central America, a guide showed me 95% of the wildlife I encountered. I would have missed out on a lot of sloths, anteaters, and monkeys if I hadn’t had one.
FACT: The cloud forest in La Tigra National Park is renowned. As a result of the routes’ elevation, which can exceed 2270 meters, the vegetation and fauna up here are distinct from those in the lower jungles.
You may find an approximate walking time for each path on the map and on the signposts located throughout the park. Take them as a rough approximation, but don’t be shocked if you hike faster than that.
Our trail led us upward through a forest that transitioned from dry woods to a cloud forest with lots of ferns and moss, and then it led us back downhill. Unfortunately, the only animal we encountered along the route was a gecko, despite the fact that I’m sure there were many others around that we just missed. However, as I previously stated, it makes sense to inquire about hiring a guide if you want to see animals.
How to prepare for a visit to La Tigra National Park?
Insect repellant is the most important item you should bring inside the national park. Only five minutes had passed since we started our walk when a swarm of mosquitoes assaulted us.
You also need to make sure you have enough water. Although there are stores near the park’s entrance, there are no vendors allowed inside the park. You will be perspiring because the trails begin with an ascent, so you should bring extra water to stay hydrated.
Also think about bringing your own snacks. We brought a lunch, and we ate it in the middle of the forest on a bench. It far outshines the café beside the front door.
In addition, we suggest the following things:
- A pair of relaxed walking shoes
- Rain poncho (after all, this is the cloud forest)
- Camera, together with extra batteries
- Power bank
- Light jacket or sweater is recommended because La Tigra is higher than Tegucigalpa and the shade might get chilly.
- Sunscreen
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