…a delightful excursion through the northern half of Honduras, a perfect tour for those with an appreciation for nature and if you are a birder, this is your tour

Day 1

Airport or Hotel Pick Up and Copan Ruins

Julio Tours Central America will pick you up from your hotel or airport and we will begin our drive through the tropical country side ending up close to the Guatemalan border. Greeted by a family of macaws we begin our guided tour at Copan Ruins. This is a Mayan ruin dating back to the early classic period c.250 to 900 first discovered by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Originally home to 20,000 people with a land mass of 100 hectares, this dynasty was ruled by at least 16 Kings beginning with Yak Kuk Mo who originated in Tikal. In 1980 this site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. This historical site is filled with stone temples, pyramids, stairways and plazas including a court for the game of pok a tok.

After you have learned all there is to know about Copan we will head up Hacienda San Lucas. Restored by hand using original materials in 2000, this beautiful 300 acre eco lodge is owned by the Cueva family and sits atop the hillside overlooking Copan. During the restoration over 4,600 trees were planted creating a tranquil sanctuary, a perfect place to dine, relax and watch the sun set at day’s end before tucking into bed.

Day 2

Nature Walks, Macaw Mountain and Copan City Tour

After breakfast we will have the morning to explore the eco lodge in search of the spotted oriole, cinnamon hummingbird, mot mot and the white throated magpie jay, to name a few. Be sure to wear neutral clothing to match the environment for optimum viewing.

With a quick change of clothing we head over to Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve. A grassroots organization originating out of Roatan Island by Mandy Wagner who made it her mission to house unwanted or abandoned tropical birds, Macaw Mountain was handed off to Lloyd Davidson who moved to the mainland in 2001 and with dedication and hard work formed this remarkable reserve. Here we will have hands-on experience with a variety of large birds. Get out your camera for lasting memories with these magnificent animals. Take a dip in the refreshing pool or sip some fresh coffee from local beans, a perfect way to wrap up the morning.

The afternoon will find us in Copan City, a colorful quaint little community. Enjoy a glass of wine or fresh juice with your lunch and unwind from the morning activities in the Hotel Marina Copan. This fine hotel caters to those who appreciate attention to detail. After lunch there is time for a little shopping and a stroll down the streets where we can interact with the locals until we return for our last night in Hacienda San Lucas.

Day 3

Highlands combinations of birds and landscape

After breakfast check out of Hacienda San Lucas for 3 hour drive to the highlands of center honduras stopping at El garden de colibries Celaque a great place to see sparkling tailed woodstar, Azure crowned hummingbird and some other birds after this stop enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in the city of Gracias and continue to El Consejero natural reserve to see White eared hummingbird, Rivoli’s hummingbird and others our day will end at La Casona mountain hotel to spend the night

Day 4

Gorgeous Fulvous Owl could be filmed.

Early we start to go up to the cloud forest in our quest to find Fulvus Owl, Blue throated motmot, Blue and white mockingbird and Resplendent Quetzal breakfast along the way.

Late in the afternoon we will departure to Panacan Lodge in the Lake Yojoa area checking into the Panacam Lodge located in Meambar Blue Mountain Park. This 79,000 acres of protected land is nature’s paradise and is diverse in different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and trees. Along with over 7 kms of trails there are also two bird watching towers that offer excellent views and provide a perch for spotting birds. Toucans, woodpeckers, swifts, hummingbirds and hawks are all common in this area.

Day 5

Panacam, Honduran emerald and Tela

We will work off those breakfast calories with a hike. You can choose according to time and difficulty. Our day will continue in a quest to find a unique and endemic hummingbird Honduran Emerald, then we travel north to a Caribbean seaside town. This area is inhabited by the people of the Garifuna culture. An interesting culture to say the least. The language is a mix of French, English and Spanish and in 2001 UNESCO proclaimed the language, dance, and music of the Garifuna as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. We will enjoy dinner in a typical Garifuna restaurant and check in for the night at Hotel Playa Bonita.

Day 6

Hummingbird reserve at Rio Santiago

After breakfast check out and continue to La ceiba along the way we will stop at Rio Santiago natural reserve were we can find Long billed starthroat, green breasted mango, Rufous tailed jacamar, sun bittern and many others birds in an untouched rain forest reserve

Our day will end at El cangrejal riverside hotel

Day 7

Return to San Pedro Sula end of Tours

Your Tour Includes

transfers to and from your hotel, 6 nights hotel, all transportation, all admission costs for excursions, 6 breakfasts

50 % deposit must be paid in advance in US dollars through Western Union and remaining will be collected during the tour.

Please Note – Although this tour has time limits and restrictions Julio Tours is committed to giving you an experience you will never forget. We are always open to your suggestions and will do our very best to accommodate any special requests you have. This is “your” tour and it is our honor to have you as our guests.