Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tegucigalpa
A MEA representative will meet you at the airport and check you into our hotel, the Plaza San Martin. We will have a brief orientation dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Tegucigalpa to Bonanza
Today we drive by 4X4 vehicle to the edge of the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve. We will head eastwards from Tegucigalpa to Bonanza, a village located in the buffer zone of the Reserve. We spend the evening in Bonanza.
Day 3: Bonanza to Warsaka
Another day heading into the wilderness. Mules will carry our gear as we walk through frontier areas, over rugged terrain, and past the homesteads of recent Mestizo colonists. After approximately 6 hours, we will arrive in Warsaksa, at the headwaters of the Plátano River. Here we will visit the El Higerito archaeological site, an interesting ruin complete with a central plaza and ceremonial center. We camp along the river.
Day 4: Warsaka to Put-In
After a hearty breakfast, we continue hiking to Lancetillal, an unusual archaeological site consisting of several conjoined plazas with multiple stone monuments and petroglyphs. We will camp at the raft put-in for the night.
Day 5: On the river to Cave Creek
After breakfast our guide, Jorge Salaveri, will give a safety presentation and then we are off on the river! Today we will paddle through class II and III rapids surrounded by virgin rain forest and visit the site of Rio Malo, a village with cobble retaining walls and stone pavements still visible. Tonight we camp at Cave Creek.
Day 6: On the river to Los Metates
Today features a hike to a large and mysterious cave with a subterraneous creek and evidence of ancient ritual activity, including the deposition of stone artifacts. After lunch we continue by raft down river until we reach the Camalotal River and the fascinating site Los Metates, a small village with thousands of miniature stone artifacts.
Day 7: On the river to El Subterraneo
Today, after paddling on smooth waters, we arrive at El Subterraneo, a spectacular narrow gorge of massive rocks which extends for nearly a mile down stream. It will require our group's resolute effort and strength in order to navigate the Class III rapids and traverse this rough area in one portage. The El Subterraneo area offers great possibilities for wildlife sightings.
Day 8: On the river to Pomokir
We continue through rapids below El Subterraneo and make two gear portages of about 300 yards each. After a strenuous day we will continue on calm waters for about 3 hours until we reach Pomokir camp.
Day 9: On the river to Cuyamel Creek
You are deep in the heart of the wilderness now. Today is a 5 hour paddle on gentle water and some currents through a very remote zone. There is plenty of wildlife and amazing flora here. Camp at Cuyamel Creek.
Day 10: On the river to Island Camp
We continue downstream through a few rapids, passing the eerie petroglyphs of "Walpaulbantara," carved into the rocks by ancient artists. Again, this deep in the wild there is a high possibility of seeing unusual wildlife, amazing butterflies, and spectacular birds. Camp at Island camp.
Day 11: On the river to Las Marias
You will see more ancient art today as we paddle past the petroglyphs of "Walpulbansirpe." We are entering Miskito/Pech (indigenous communities) territory as we continue towards the village of Las Marias, and today you will have your first contact with Indians along the river. After days of camping, tonight you will sleep in thatched roof houses in the community of Las Marias and enjoy food served by a local family.
Day 12: On the River to Palacios
Today we continue down river in a motorized dug-out canoe until we reach Raista, a Miskito village located in Ibans Lagoon. We will lunch at the lagoon and you can relax on the white sand beaches and swim in the Caribbean Sea. In the afternoon, we continue to Palacios, an old English settlement with still visible earthworks, cannons, and historic cemetery.
Day 13: Palacios to Tegucigalpa
After breakfast we fly to La Ceiba (50 min.), from which point there are connecting flights to Tegucigalpa. Night: Hotel Plaza San Martin, Tegucigalpa
Day 14: Depart for US or other destination
Background Information on the Region
La Moskitia & Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras
This region is referred to as La Moskitia, and is a very sparsely populated area, inaccessible by road and home to the largest tract of virgin tropical rain forest in the North American hemisphere. A good part of this area is protected by law under one of three distinct zones: The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, the Tawahka Anthropological Reserve and the Patuca National Park. The area is populated by several indigenous groups, of which the Pech, Tawahka, Garifuna and Miskitos are the most predominant. Its uninviting name comes from the Miskito natives and not from the abundance of mosquitoes, although these are unquestionably inhabitants of the area! The Moskitia actually is an international region, as part of it is Honduras and another part in Nicaragua.
The Honduran government in 1999 declared two new protected areas that link Río Plátano with the Bosawas Reserve in Nicaragua. The newly formed corridor covers 5 million acres and forms the largest area of protected land in Central America. In this region, we have the chance to encounter animals such as the white-faced and Howler monkeys, tapir, the giant anteater, Green Macaws, toucans and the magnificent Harpy Eagle to name a few.
Flora & Fauna
Honduras’ eastern rainforests are the most biologically diverse area in the region. La Moskitia and Rio Platano are located at what biologists call the boundaries of northern and southern ecotones. Here we can find the southern most limits of northern bird and mammal species as well as the northern most limit of Central and South American species. Some of the more notable bird species found here include the huge Harpy Eagle, Great Green and Scarlet Macaws, Jabiru Stork, Rufous Motmot, Chestnut-mandible Toucan, and the Green-and-rufous Kingfisher. Almost 500 species of birds have been identified and still counting!
Over thirty species of large mammals make their home in the area including two species of sloth, three species of monkeys, five species of big cats, tapir, and the West Indian Manatee.
In regards to the flora of the region, there are literally thousands of species including mahogany, cedar, laurel, oak and ceiba as the dominant overstory trees; with an incredible diversity of understory plants including orchids, bromeliads, and other epiphytes.
Practical Information
Our only contact with the outside world for most of the trip will be satellite phone (sorry, for emergencies only, you can’t pick up your voice mail). This is an extremely remote area. While this is not a particularly strenuous trip, it should be taken by person in good physical health and mentally prepared for the inconveniences of camping in remote areas. This trip is also one of the last remaining opportunities for many to visit a primal, pristine, and incredibly wild natural area of this size. Children 14 and older are welcome to join.
Weather: We can expect warm temperatures in the mid 80s to mid 90s with some rain. It will be the dry season so afternoon thunderstorms are not unusual, we should avoid long downpours.
Tour Size: This tour will have a minimum of 10 participants and a maximum of 18.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: A US passport valid beyond your anticipated date of return to the US is required. Currently no visas or immunization certificates are required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Honduras for details.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The fee for the tour is $2,850 per person based on double occupancy from Tegucigalpa. Single rates are an additional $250. This includes all food, three meals per day, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 14; all lodging for 13 nights during the tour; ground transportation; and guide services provided by the tour leaders and local conservation professionals. It does not include trip leader(s) tips, international airfare, departure tax, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, passport fees, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the group does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement may have to be charged. An additional pick-up/drop-off fee may be charged for arrivals and departures from regularly scheduled international flights.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: For comprehensive information please contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the Internet at www.cdc.gov or by phone at 404-332-4559. The CDC information is a comprehensive listing of any disease reported in a particular region or state. Honduras is included with Central America. We have not had any problems with diseases. Please consult a health care professional with any questions.
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORIES: Currently there are no travel advisories for traveling in Honduras. You will be updated on any significant developments that pertain to our trip. http://travel.state.gov
TOUR REGISTRATION: To register for the tour, complete the registration form and return it with a deposit of $500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due ninety days before departure. Single supplements are an additional $250.
CANCELLATION POLICY : Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made eighty days or more before departure date, the deposit less $150 is refundable. If cancellation is made between seventy-nine and sixty days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fifty-nine days or less before departure date, no refund is available except for amounts recoverable through our agents. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance which you will receive upon registration.
If the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA) cancels the tour or the tour must be postponed during a time period starting seven days before tour departure and /or through the duration of the tour, MEA will refund all money recoverable through our agents, not yet spent and/or all refundable deposits. MEA reserves the right to cancel, postpone or suspend any tour based on the judgment of MEA, its staff and representatives, in order to insure the safety of our guests.
RESPONSIBILITY: MEA, and/or their Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of the tour. Baggage is at owner’s risk.
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