The Celaque visitors center, some nine kilometers from Gracias at the base of the mountain, has just been entirely redone. Located at the edge of the forest next to the Río Arcágual, this is a very peaceful spot to relax, and plenty of easy day hiking is possible nearby, along the river. There are restrooms and cold-water showers, as well as a barbecue pit, if you’re inspired to lug food and fuel up the mountainside. There is currently no charge to enter the park, but once a tollbooth gets installed at the entrance, it will be US$2.50 to enter and an additional US$2.50 to stay the night.

Getting to the Celaque Visitors Center

To get to the visitors center from Gracias, arrange a ride (US$15) with one of the two guide companies or at Hotel Erick to the last gate blocking vehicles from entering the park, from which point the visitors center is another half-hour walk.

Or you can start walking from Gracias and hope a pickup truck comes by. It’s about a 2.5-hour walk from Gracias to the center by the road, or a bit less by a trail leaving the road just outside Gracias, which follows along a stone wall and rejoins the dirt road to the visitors center near a school.