Things to see and do Catacamas

The national park has a unique fauna and flora, as well as the largest concentration of Pech in Honduras. The Cordillera of Agalta includes the mountains Susmay, Babilonia, Sierra de Agalta, Malacate and Carbón. The dry forest is graded from 300 to 800 m, then crosses a transition zone before winning the tropical forest (around 900 m), a humid temperate zone (900 - 1 400 m, abondance abundance) and then cloud (1 400 - 1 700 m, many epiphytes plants); the highlight of the show is discovered at the top, a forest of dwarf trees, lichens and mosses beaten by the winds, between 1 700 and 2 354 m above sea level (5 m high pine). As much as the fauna is of incomparable richness: 470 bird species were identified, including the toucan and the famous quetzal. Abondent monkeys, spiders, jaguars, ocelots and lazy paresseux with two fingers; 230 species of butterflies pond there. In short, this park is much less visited than that of the Celaque in the west of the country or La Tigra around Tegucigalpa; however, it is considered by hikers as the natural "must" of the country and any adventurer adventurer should include a visit at least partial on its agenda. Practice. The two privileged access points are Dulce Number of Culmí (Hospedaje Kevin; US $ 4 per double) north of Catacamas (some buses per day until early afternoon) and Gualaco on the road between Juticalpa, San Esteban, Corocito and Trujillo. To put it bluntly, Gualaco is a much more interesting and safer base; Dulce Number cowboys are not always reassuring and the trails not always very well marked. In Gualaco, it is recommended that a guide be provided (less than USD 10 per day). Find out more about the visitor centre in the village (Codehfor). The Ecological Group of Olancho can also provide you with some information. Both offices are located near the service station. Hotel Calle Real offers spacious but very low priced rooms. Only one recommended place for eating: Sharon Comedor (information in English). Transport question, several buses have travelled to and from Juticalpa; at least two buses for San Esteban, El Carbón and Corocito (one continues to Trujillo, the other to La Ceiba).

Located 10 km from the town near the village of Guanaja, these caves were rediscovered in 1994 if one can say, when a Honduran and North American team uncovered skulls and bones in a cavity. Archaeologists then asserted that it was a ceremonial gesture of an ancient unknown tribe, about 1 400 years before our era (other polychrome skeletons of 3000 before our era). Other caves were later updated, one of them with pictographies. The visit is very interesting, even if there are no more skulls uncovered (the little museum does not show one). On the other hand, there is a visitor centre. There is another cave, not yet officially open, that you may be able to visit with a guide, find out.

Bus from Catacamas (at 6 a. m. and 11 p. m., last return at 12 p. m., think of starting with the first bus in Catacamas). Walk around 45 min from the village to reach the entrance (accessible by car). Otherwise, a taxi does not cost more than 200 Lps (go) to caves. The path is in bad shape over the end. Note that it is possible to climb at the top of the Picucha, the highest point in the Sierra de Agalta (two days walk).