Since I got to Honduras, I have been wanting to visit La Tigra, a national park just North of the capital. It took me nearly two years, but I finally got there!
After three great weekends in Orocuina and the surrounding countryside, it was time to get away and do a little exploring. Matt, a volunteer doing his practicum with the Association, and I decided to spend a weekend in the ¨big city.¨ Here´s the weekend in a nutshell:
Friday: Spend the morning connecting with health center staff before hopping on a bus to Teguc. After running some quick errands for the Association, we were on a mini bus to Valle de Angeles for souvenir shopping and a relaxing coffee break with rosquillas and honey- yum!
From there, we found a cheap hotel and headed to dinner with friends in Teguc. Of course, I forgot my camera, but it was a great night of barbeque and anafre, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggeaton, and karoake!
Inside La Tigra
Saturday: We headed up the mountain to La Tigra! About an hour ($20) taxi ride through pine covered hills later, we arrived at Jutiapa, the last small town before the visitor´s center. The park was only a 20 min walk, and there was a fantastic eco-lodge and cafeteria at the trailhead.
We checked in and headed straight out onto the trail! A two hour hike through beautiful cloud forest and we arrived at a 70+ foot waterfall!
The ecolodge where I stayed! ($15 per night includes a bed, blanket, towel and hot water shower)
¨La Cascada¨
It was beautiful, and a great place to take a break. Almost as soon as we sat down, it began to rain. While Honduras is currently in its canicula (short dry period when farmers harvest and replant crops), we were in the ¨rain¨forest. Our plans for taking the long route back were stiffled, but I have to say that walking through the rainforest during a thunderstorm is possibly one of the coolest things I have yet to experience! The sounds of the rain hitting the upper canopy and the sound of running water forming small streams along the path, coupled with bird calls and the distant sound of muffled thunder was better than any homeopathic cd.
I quickly learned why this altitude rainforest is called the cloud forest, as a layer of mist rolled in through the trees and the temps dropped. I arrived back at the lodge, muddy, wet and cold, but still in awe of my surroundings! The rest of the afternoon was spent under the covers of my bed; donning just about every piece of dry clothing I owned and venturing out only for instant soup and hot coffee! After unsuccessfully soliciting extra blankets, we decided to take matters into our own hands and split a bottle of blackberry wine to warm up. (The wine was actually really yummy, grown and produced locally within the park... and had no hangover after effects!)
Showing off my well placed mud stains
Sunday: We had planned to get up early and hike, but night storms left the trails (and our shoes) soaked. Instead, we decided to head down to Jutiapa and see what there was to see. Our first initiative was coffee and it was found at a little house right above the soccer field. From there, we spent the rest of the morning watching soccer games until the bus to the city showed up. The sticky heat of Choluteca was welcomed as I slowly peeled off the layers.
Mist rolling onto the field from the surrounding forest during the day´s first game
While we didn´t see any Tigers (in ¨La Tigra¨) was a great weekend! La Tigra was beautiful and left me wondering why more people don´t visit! (A $1 bus ride, straight to the entrance and clean, inexpensive lodging with hot water- what not to love?) Here´s hoping these next few months bring lots more hiking and exploring!!
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