Parque Nacional Montaña de Celaque/ Celaque National Park, Honduras

Although not much visited and therefore practically pristine, Celaque National Park is one of the premier parks in Honduras and boasts the country's highest mountain at 2,849 meters as well as a magnificent cloud forest on the high plateau. Celaque has genuine primary growth of towering trees covered with vines, ferns, and moss, all forming a dense canopy that completely blocks sunlight to the environs below. There is very little undergrowth between the trees, and everything is dripping wet even when it's not raining. Celaque means "box of water" in Lenca; eleven major rivers begin on Celaque's flanks.

The park covers 266 square kilometers, with 159 square km in the core zone above 1,800 meters. Although treacherously steep on its flanks, Celaque levels off in a plateau at about 2,500 meters, which is where the true cloud forest begins. The plateau has astounding flora, quetzals, trogons, toucans, hawks, and a host of other bird specied (150 identified species in all), as well as the more rare mountain mammals such as jaguar, armadillo, and tapir. Quetzal sightings are commonplace in Celaque, particularly on the hillside leading up to the highest peak.

For more information on Celaque, contact Proyecto Celaque, a major project funded partly by the German government to help protect the park and to work with the area's inhabitants. The officials there are very knowledgeable on guides, possible climbing routes, and potential new visitors' centers planned for El Naranjo and El Paraiso. The central office of Proyecto Celaque is in Santa Rosa de Copan.

Contact Information
Telephone and fax: 662-1459