Refugio de Vida Silvestre Punta Izopo

Visible around the bay to the east of Triunfo [1] is Punta Izopo, Tela Bay’s second largest protected area, covering 112 square kilometers, of which about half is a buffer zone and half is a supposedly untouchable nuclear zone. This refuge is much less frequently visited than Punta Sal [2] but has similar ecosystems and wildlife; the swamps and waterways stretching into the jungle south of the point are superb for watching birds and animals.

Inside the reserve’s boundaries are the small Río Plátano (not to be confused with the river of same name in the Mosquitia) and Río Hicaque and the larger Río Lean on the point’s eastern side, as well as kilometers of swamps, lagoons, and estuaries. Several small settlements are also located inside the boundaries of the reserve, including Hicaque, Las Palmas, Coloradito, and the intimidatingly named Salsipuedes (“get out if you can”).

The easiest access to Punta Izopo is by kayak with Garífuna Tours in Tela [3], which charges US$27 per person for a day trip. Trips normally start by driving in on a dirt road east from Triunfo to the Río Plátano, where you put the boats in. Conversely, it’s possible to find boats in Triunfo to take up to 10 people on day trips for US$30.

A low-budget option is to hunt around Triunfo for a local willing to rent you a dory (US$7 a day would be a reasonable amount for a two-person wooden boat with oars) and then paddle out to the point with a companion. Don’t try it alone, as it’s a lot of work to fight the waves. Once at the point you can hang out on the beach or walk around the point (beware the hordes of sand flies), or cross the low sandbar into the Río Plátano or Hicaque and paddle up the waterways.

Bear in mind that a visit to Punta Izopo is best made approaching by land, as trees and debris can block access to the river mouths that lead into the park from the ocean.