The first protected area in Honduras, Parque Nacional La Tigra was established as a reserve in 1952 and declared a national park in 1980. It covers 23,571 hectares across the top of the mountains above Tegucigalpa, of which 7,571 hectares form the core zone. A visit to Parque Nacional La Tigra makes for a refreshing day trip from Tegucigalpa.

Because of the proximity to the El Rosario mines, the forests in La Tigra were heavily logged around the turn of the 20th century, so only a few patches of primary cloud forest remain. The mining company cut a dirt road across the mountain from El Rosario to Tegucigalpa, which exposed the heart of the forest for the exploitation of its precious woods for use in mines and surrounding villages.

In spite of the depredations, La Tigra has recovered into a healthy cloud forest and offers a good opportunity to admire the flora and fauna, especially for those who don’t have the time or desire to venture farther afield to Celaque, Sierra de Agalta, or other, better-preserved forests.

Being a drier cloud forest than many others in Honduras, La Tigra is also an opportunity for bird-watchers to view species not easily seen elsewhere in Honduras, such as the blue-and-white mockingbird, rufous-browed wren, garnet-throated hummingbird, and wine-throated hummingbird, as well as the ever-popular resplendent quetzal.

La Tigra has a well-developed trail system, enabling casual hikers to enjoy a day or two wandering about the woods at their leisure, without fear of getting lost—one of the principal reasons for the park’s popularity. Several mines are along the dirt road, some blocked off and others still open. If you want to go exploring, take good care and be advised the mines are usually full of water. Between the Hondutel towers and Rosario, the road has been allowed to deteriorate and is now no more than a wide footpath.

Besides the road, there are seven well-marked footpaths in La Tigra ranging in length 600–6,600 meters. Unsurprisingly, these offer more opportunity to spot wildlife and enjoy the atmosphere of the forest. Though the dirt road does reach the highest accessible point in the park—Rancho Quemado at 2,185 meters—the views are limited by trees. The best spot to catch glimpses of the valleys below is next to the Hondutel towers on a ridge above the road. The shortest loops are near the Jutiapa visitor’s center. The waterfall is closest to El Rosario and requires a fairly good fitness level to negotiate the steep inclines.

Other peaks in the park include Cerro La Estrella (2,245 meters), Cerro La Peña de Andino (2,290 meters), and Cerro El Volcán (2,270 meters). Some of the most pristine stretches of cloud forest remain in the region south of the trails, around Cerro El Volcán, but unfortunately, the area is off-limits to visitors.

Practicalities

The entrance fee for Parque Nacional La Tigra is a tad high at US$10 per person (US$1.50 for nationals and residents). There are cabins with very basic rooms at both entrances to the park, charging an exorbitant US$25 per person (children US$10 pp), or you can pitch a tent at either Jutiapa or El Rosario for US$7.50 per person, the only two places camping is allowed. To reserve a space, contact Amitigra (tel. 504/238-6269, www.amitigra.org, amitigra [at] cablecolor [dot] hn), the nonprofit that maintains the park.

For a last-minute reservation at the visitors center at El Rosario, try contacting Melvin, the young caretaker, directly, at 504/9865-7016. As with Cusuco near San Pedro Sula, you’re paying for the proximity to a major city and a well-maintained, though modest-sized, network of trails. Some backpackers have had luck showing up at El Rosario, pleading poverty, and negotiating a discount, but don’t count on it.

Spanish-language guides, some with limited English as well, knowledgeable about the plants and animals of the park, can be hired at the visitors centers at either side of the park for US$5–15 depending on the length of the trip. Guides should be arranged in advance, again through Amitigra.

Getting to Parque Nacional La Tigra

If you are traveling by bus, the best way to see

The first protected area in Honduras, Parque Nacional La Tigra was established as a reserve in 1952 and declared a national park in 1980. It covers 23,571 hectares across the top of the mountains above Tegucigalpa, of which 7,571 hectares form the core zone. A visit to Parque Nacional La Tigra makes for a refreshing day trip from Tegucigalpa.

Because of the proximity to the El Rosario mines, the forests in La Tigra were heavily logged around the turn of the 20th century, so only a few patches of primary cloud forest remain. The mining company cut a dirt road across the mountain from El Rosario to Tegucigalpa, which exposed the heart of the forest for the exploitation of its precious woods for use in mines and surrounding villages. In spite of the depredations, La Tigra has recovered into a healthy cloud forest and offers a good opportunity to admire the flora and fauna, especially for those who don’t have the time or desire to venture farther afield to Celaque, Sierra de Agalta, or other, better-preserved forests. Being a drier cloud forest than many others in Honduras, La Tigra is also an opportunity for bird-watchers to view species not easily seen elsewhere in Honduras, such as the blue-and-white mockingbird, rufous-browed wren, garnet-throated hummingbird, and wine-throated hummingbird, as well as the ever-popular resplendent quetzal.

La Tigra has a well-developed trail system, enabling casual hikers to enjoy a day or two wandering about the woods at their leisure, without fear of getting lost—one of the principal reasons for the park’s popularity. Several mines are along the dirt road, some blocked off and others still open. If you want to go exploring, take good care and be advised the mines are usually full of water. Between the Hondutel towers and El Rosario, the road has been allowed to deteriorate and is now no more than a wide footpath.

Besides the road, there are seven well-marked footpaths ranging in length 600–6,600 meters. Unsurprisingly, these offer more opportunity to spot wildlife and enjoy the atmosphere of the forest. Though the dirt road does reach the highest accessible point in the park—Rancho Quemado at 2,185 meters—the views are limited by trees. The best spot to catch glimpses of the valleys below is next to the Hondutel towers on a ridge above the road. The shortest loops are near the Jutiapa visitor’s center. The waterfall is closest to El Rosario and requires a fairly good fitness level to negotiate the steep inclines.

Other peaks in the park include Cerro La Estrella (2,245 meters), Cerro La Peña de Andino (2,290 meters), and Cerro El Volcán (2,270 meters). Some of the most pristine stretches of cloud forest remain in the region south of the trails, around Cerro El Volcán, but unfortunately, the area is off-limits to visitors.

Practicalities

The entrance fee for Parque Nacional La Tigra is a tad high at US$10 per person (US$1.50 for nationals and residents). There are cabins with very basic rooms at both entrances to the park, charging an exorbitant US$25 per person (children US$10 pp), or you can pitch a tent at either Jutiapa or El Rosario for US$7.50 per person, the only two places camping is allowed. To reserve a space, contact Amitigra (tel. 504/238-6269, www.amitigra.org, amitigra [at] cablecolor [dot] hn), the nonprofit that maintains the park. For a last-minute reservation at the visitors center at El Rosario, try contacting Melvin, the young caretaker, directly, at 504/9865-7016. As with Cusuco near San Pedro Sula, you’re paying for the proximity to a major city and a well-maintained, though modest-sized, network of trails. Some backpackers have had luck showing up at El Rosario, pleading poverty, and negotiating a discount, but don’t count on it.

Spanish-language guides, some with limited English as well, knowledgeable about the plants and animals of the park, can be hired at the visitors centers at either side of the park for US$5–15 depending on the length of the trip. Guides should be arranged in advance, again through Amitigra.

Getting to Parque Nacional La Tigra

If you are traveling by bus, the best way to see the park in a day is to get up early in the morning to catch the 7 a.m. bus up to Jutiapa from Tegucigalpa, leaving plenty of time to hike across the park and down to San Juancito, where you can catch the last bus back to Tegucigalpa at 3 p.m.

The first protected area in Honduras, Parque Nacional La Tigra was established as a reserve in 1952 and declared a national park in 1980. It covers 23,571 hectares across the top of the mountains above Tegucigalpa, of which 7,571 hectares form the core zone. A visit to Parque Nacional La Tigra makes for a refreshing day trip from Tegucigalpa.

Because of the proximity to the El Rosario mines, the forests in La Tigra were heavily logged around the turn of the 20th century, so only a few patches of primary cloud forest remain. The mining company cut a dirt road across the mountain from El Rosario to Tegucigalpa, which exposed the heart of the forest for the exploitation of its precious woods for use in mines and surrounding villages. In spite of the depredations, La Tigra has recovered into a healthy cloud forest and offers a good opportunity to admire the flora and fauna, especially for those who don’t have the time or desire to venture farther afield to Celaque, Sierra de Agalta, or other, better-preserved forests. Being a drier cloud forest than many others in Honduras, La Tigra is also an opportunity for bird-watchers to view species not easily seen elsewhere in Honduras, such as the blue-and-white mockingbird, rufous-browed wren, garnet-throated hummingbird, and wine-throated hummingbird, as well as the ever-popular resplendent quetzal.

La Tigra has a well-developed trail system, enabling casual hikers to enjoy a day or two wandering about the woods at their leisure, without fear of getting lost—one of the principal reasons for the park’s popularity. Several mines are along the dirt road, some blocked off and others still open. If you want to go exploring, take good care and be advised the mines are usually full of water. Between the Hondutel towers and El Rosario, the road has been allowed to deteriorate and is now no more than a wide footpath.

Besides the road, there are seven well-marked footpaths ranging in length 600–6,600 meters. Unsurprisingly, these offer more opportunity to spot wildlife and enjoy the atmosphere of the forest. Though the dirt road does reach the highest accessible point in the park—Rancho Quemado at 2,185 meters—the views are limited by trees. The best spot to catch glimpses of the valleys below is next to the Hondutel towers on a ridge above the road. The shortest loops are near the Jutiapa visitor’s center. The waterfall is closest to El Rosario and requires a fairly good fitness level to negotiate the steep inclines.

Other peaks in the park include Cerro La Estrella (2,245 meters), Cerro La Peña de Andino (2,290 meters), and Cerro El Volcán (2,270 meters). Some of the most pristine stretches of cloud forest remain in the region south of the trails, around Cerro El Volcán, but unfortunately, the area is off-limits to visitors.

Practicalities

The entrance fee for Parque Nacional La Tigra is a tad high at US$10 per person (US$1.50 for nationals and residents). There are cabins with very basic rooms at both entrances to the park, charging an exorbitant US$25 per person (children US$10 pp), or you can pitch a tent at either Jutiapa or El Rosario for US$7.50 per person, the only two places camping is allowed. To reserve a space, contact Amitigra (tel. 504/238-6269, www.amitigra.org, amitigra [at] cablecolor [dot] hn), the nonprofit that maintains the park. For a last-minute reservation at the visitors center at El Rosario, try contacting Melvin, the young caretaker, directly, at 504/9865-7016. As with Cusuco near San Pedro Sula, you’re paying for the proximity to a major city and a well-maintained, though modest-sized, network of trails. Some backpackers have had luck showing up at El Rosario, pleading poverty, and negotiating a discount, but don’t count on it.

Spanish-language guides, some with limited English as well, knowledgeable about the plants and animals of the park, can be hired at the visitors centers at either side of the park for US$5–15 depending on the length of the trip. Guides should be arranged in advance, again through Amitigra.

Getting to Parque Nacional La Tigra

If you are traveling by bus, the best way to see the park in a day is to get up early in the morning to catch the 7 a.m. bus up to Jutiapa from Tegucigalpa, leaving plenty of time to hike across the park and down to San Juancito, where you can catch the last bus back to Tegucigalpa at 3 p.m. The park is closed on Mondays, and open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. other days. Visitors are not allowed in after 3 p.m.

is closed on Mondays, and open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. other days. Visitors are not allowed in after 3 p.m.

in a day is to get up early in the morning to catch the 7 a.m. bus up to Jutiapa from Tegucigalpa, leaving plenty of time to hike across the park and down to San Juancito, where you can catch the last bus back to Tegucigalpa at 3 p.m. The park is closed on Mondays, and open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. other days. Visitors are not allowed in after 3 p.m.