Jungle Xpedition Tours, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Eco Tours and Travel in Central America, Tour Guides in Honduras

Top 5 NEW things to do at Cusuco National Park

jcarlos — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:49:58 +0000

Orion Waterfall

Tourism has had a great effect on the development of a new hot spot destination in Honduras. This has brought hope back to the people that the villages will be able to profit from their services and not agriculture. With time activities have bloom and created fresh new things to do at the park. Excellent reviews of tourist visiting the area have helped the quantity of travelers looking for adventures in San Pedro Sula.

Many activities are available on the zone but this are the new ones I most like. You can also check out more activities at our preview blog of ¨Top 10 things to do at Cusuco National Park¨

Waterfall rappelling: The national park has the availability of adventure sports! We just discovered a new route which takes you to a venture that you´ll end up loving. To get to the rappelling spot you need to hike through a fresh pristine pathway which starts to pump up the adrenaline. In the jungle you gear up with knee pads, harness, jacket, and a GoPro Hd helmet camera to film your experience! Start with 10 meters of diagonal rappelling through the jungle, the sound of Orion waterfall and a 35 meter fall makes this spot a unique experience. Most people stay 5 minutes hanging from the rope to watch this spectacle. Are you up for it?

Night Hikes: Just because the day ended it doesn´t mean that activities will get slow. Once the jungle camp is finished we get ready for a walk in one of the country´s most interesting destination. The jungle wakes up at night and the sound of millions of animals becomes a magical orchestra. Slowly hiking with head torches looking for animals next to the pathways we find a diverse range of biodiversity. Strange looking bugs of all shapes and colors sharpen the night with the bizarre way of nature´s evolution. Amphibians, salamanders and snakes follow in the list of fauna found. Up in the trees animals look at you with the same weird sensation you stare at them.

Bird Watching: After spending the nighttime sleeping in your tent you are wake up with the sound of singing birds. Just walking across the camp becomes an exhibition of different species. The beautiful singing of these animals, the sound of every tree branch touching each other with the soft winds and the smell of the morning fresh moist everywhere makes you think how amazing our world is.

Try the HIGH quality / traditional / organic coffee: The perfect way to start a new hiking day is the famous cup of coffee. Farmers of the area don’t have money to invest in chemical fertilizers so they figure the way to make their coffee just amazing with traditional techniques. Called ¨Café de palo¨(coffee of tree) It has few days of being cut from the tree, can´t get fresher than that! The villagers pay much attention on how their coffee is prepared and will be aware of your face with the first try.

Bond with the village: After spending a day or two with the villagers and their family people start getting attach to them and their way of life. It´s impressive how they can have so little and be so happy. One of the things I must enjoy is seeing how foreign cultures interact and relationships are born. My biggest goal is to show the world how our people live all the social factors of our society. We are just one people, the Human race and we are meant to be united and work together for the development of all societies. Remember that one person can change the world and the life of thousands of people. Keep in mind that everything you do today has an impact on the future. What´s the impact you want to make?

Hope you have a good weather to check the sea of clouds!

JungleXpedition Tours

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Adventure travel –

jcarlos — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:38:20 +0000

Daniela Zavala from Diaries Of a Back Packer made this awesome video review of Cusuco National Park.

Meet the Backpacker

About Daniela Zavala
The Backpacker

I am a former journalist turned public relations manager. Although I have a nine-to-five job and a comfortable lifestyle at home, I am a nomad at heart, making every new place I visit my home.

Back in 1997, I was afraid of traveling on my own, but when my first backpacking trip to Europe with two friends fell through, I had to make a decision: stay at home, or go by myself. Holding that ticket for a Madrid flight, I didn’t know that I would make a decision that would forever change my world perspective and continue to empower and inspire me. I decided to go on my own.

Every year I change my BCBG high heels for hiking boots and my Armani dresses for cargos and t-shirts. My only travel companion is a battered backpack that has been with me since that first trip.

In more than 10 years of solo traveling, I have had all sorts of experiences from the road. But I am not your typical tourist, traveling only the “safe” destinations or just visiting the touristy sites. During these journeys, I have seen the lives of many people of all nationalities, ethnicities, and religions up close. I have experienced their kindness, but also their brutal struggles between life and death.

Since that first trip in 1997, I was never the same. The places I visit and the people I meet on the road continue to have a deep impact on me, the way I see the world, and the way I live in it.

Henry Miller’s quote describes my experience best: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

For fellow travelers, I hope my website is helpful.

For those who are afraid of traveling alone, I hope it inspires you to take the first step.

For those who—for whatever reason—cannot travel, I hope to take you on a journey to these far away lands through my writing and images.

Enjoy!

Daniela

Contact: mdzavala@diariesofabackpacker.com

Travel to Honduras – Preview of Daniela Zavala

jcarlos — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:37:34 +0000

DiariesofaBackpacker.com is a website dedicated to world travels. There, Daniela offers a deep insight of the countries she visits through her diaries, feature stories, photos and video reports, all while providing useful travel information. Come and join me in this adventure around the world!!!

In her visit to Honduras she had the oportunity to know Copan, Cusuco National Park and Laguna de los micos. Some of the activities she enjoyed where mountain biking, horse back ridding, canopy, rappel, hiking, boat tours and much more.

Visit her site at: www.diariesofabackpacker.com to learn all about world travelling as a independent tourist.

Daniela Zavala of ¨Diaries of a backpacker¨ at Honduras!

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:45:44 +0000

DiariesofaBackpacker.com is a website dedicated to world travels. There, Daniela offers a deep insight of the countries she visits through her diaries, feature stories, photos and video reports, all while providing useful travel information.

Honduras had the honor of having Daniela visiting the country. She has traveled to more then 60 countries of the world. Now Honduras becomes her 61 adventure.

You can visit her website at: http://www.diariesofabackpacker.com and learn about real life experiences around the world!

Here is what she wrote about Honduras.

—

National Park Cusuco About the trip: I am sure that there are many places to visit in Honduras, however, what I liked about San Pedro Sula was its ideal location. This city is a perfect base to explore the different highlights of Honduras

Accommodation:There are many hotels and B&B in the city. I stayed at Las Posadas B&B. This is just a house with a few rooms, so book in advance. The rooms are comfortable, clean and affordable. Alex Solorzano – the owner- is very kind and helpful. Address: Colonia Universidad, 21 Calle “A” #172/ 9-10 Avenida. San Pedro Sula. Email: laposadasps@gmail.com. Phone: 95101448

Tours: Everyone knows I am not big fan of tours, but since I didn’t have much time, I decided to contact Jungle Expedition (www.junglexpedition.org) to arrange some day excursions. This is a local company that promotes eco-tourism and specializes in mountain expeditions and adventure. I strongly recommend Jungle Expedition because you will leave Honduras with an experience. Juan Carlos Paz–kind of a young Honduran version of Indiana Jones!- knows the best spots -specially in the jungle- and has the contacts to make your visit to Honduras a memorable experience. He is passionate about his country and his enthusiasm is contagious. Beyond that, Juan Carlos will go the extra mile to tailor your trip depending on your interests. More than tour guides, Juan Carlos and his team are caring hosts. For more information, email them at Junglexpedition@honduras.com. Phone: (504) 33 92 53 29

Security: As you should be while visiting any big city, you should be cautious in San Pedro Sula- but again just preventions you should take while traveling to any metropolis you are not familiar with. Despite some warning about safety in Honduras, I found Honduran people extremely kind and welcoming, and I never felt threaten or uneasy.

Money:Honduras is relatively cheap, especially compared to other countries that promote eco-tourism in Central America. The local currency is Lempira, but dollars and mayor credit cards are widely accepted. There are plenty of ATMs

COPAN: I didn’t stay in the town, but I strongly recommend stopping byLa Casa de Todo Restaurantfor some great “Baleadas” (local food similar to tortillas) and natural juices. Also, when you visit the ruins ask for Antonio Rios or “Tony Rivers” as he calls himself. He is the oldest guide in Copan ruins. Fluent in different languages, this 73-year-old guide is not only knowledgeable, but also very entertaining. May not have the energy of the younger guides, but certainly has a lot of enthusiasm to share his stories!

—

This is a tentative itinerary for a four to five day trip to Honduras that combines relaxation, adventure and culture.

Day 1: Arrival San Pedro Sula

Day 2:Day excursion to Copan (Mayan Ruins) about 2 ½ and 3 hours away from the city. There is the option to stay in the old town of Copan for the night.

Day 3:Day excursion to National Park Cusuco where you can do waterfall rappelling, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, bird watching, and the list goes on! (There is also the option to stay overnight camping in the cloud forest-strongly recommended)

Day 4:Day at the beach. I went to a beach in the coastal city of Tela, which was very isolated and not so touristy, and where you can take a boat to Punta Sal National Park. Also, you can go to La Ceiba and from there take a morning ferry to the islands of Roatan or Utila.

I strongly recommend to like her Facebook Fanpage, this way you can have a live feed of her travels!

To check out pictures of Daniela´s travels click here.

Hope for the people – San Pedro Sula / Honduras. Cusuco National Park

jcarlos — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:41:09 +0000

Honduras, Central America

A little country that can

and Will.

A little country in the middle of the continent, greatly affected by external factors in which we couldn’t´t interfere. A struggle between few has hit every person living in this land.

Our project to develop hundreds and thousands of kilometers of the north-west mountains of Honduras had to stop, most of the villagers around the area lost hope. Months of preparations, even years of learning, and looking for the best way to make an accelerated development was dump.

Now, one of our primary goal is to recover the trust of all the people we are trying to help. This is our project.

All around Honduras there is an infinity of places to discover, untouched paradises, dream looking islands, plus many more life changing destinies. There is one that has touch the heart of people around the world. Some even call it magical.

Cusuco National Park, on the north west of Honduras. A cloud forest responsible for holding the water supplies to the seconds biggest and most accelerated growing city in the country. Biodiversity levels touches the sky with the purity of the non touch environment of men cruel and vicious hands.

Visited by Operation Wallacea (http://www.opwall.com/), honored of being of Opwall few choices in the world. Even with many complications, their determination to help, researching in the branches of etymology, herpetology, birds, small and big mammals, plants, and for me the most important part; The social branch.

Being far away from society, Cusuco National Park has been forgotten by the government. This having a positive and a negative impact at the area. When it was named National Park in 1987, many rules were imposed into the villages in the buffer zone. Limiting people to have development.

Isolation has welcome a saving in the rich culture of this people. Not being touch by the powerful hands of worldwide marketing, a strong way of life keeps the hands of the hard-working villagers. Happy people who believe in hard work, family and religion. Here, there is NO military, No police, and most impressive No delinquency. Life has been saved in this island of the sky by the culture of good-hearted people.

The government forgot about the existence of most of the villages surrounding the national park. Leaving the work of social structure to this people. It’s impressive how people will always rise and help each other in hard conditions. Building their own schools, water system, medical centers, unity watched at its most dense way. Creating their local democratic system, they choose their representatives at each village. Getting together with the rest of their people to discuss matters.

Coffee, being the primary economic sustainability factor in the area ha become an opportunity for this people. Its elevating demand around the world made coffee the center of many of the activities at the villages. Having only one-crop in the year, this 3 to 4 months are the hope of many. Most of the labor and work opportunity is condensed at this months, leaving the rest of the year as a desert for dreams. Leaving no choice to lower their life expectations, costs, and most importantly their basic needs.

Globalization has divided economy in 4 sectors. Agriculture has been into a deep down slope in the last decade. Informatics and services have had the biggest impact in our society world-wide web.

Services like tourism. That’s the Key and for many people and myself the idea that would be the dramatic life changing factor. Looking at it as the big panoramic and long-term goal, it would cure-all the forgotten social aspects and save the environment. Being positive is the only way, and being exaggerated, drastic and taking strong measures.

Our work began with loading the World Wide Web, with information about this dream land. SEO, Search Engine Optimization has been our technique. letting everybody appreciate beauty of the pictures that become instant savings of that moment. Blogs, websites, channels, and more have been our target zones.

Creating logistics for the travelers to go, making the access to this place available. Hundreds and thousands of Lempiras(currency) have been spent by us to buy the cars, websites, equipment, certifications so that some day they will run alone. Be independent from us, grow by themself and have the oportunity of development.

With time the propaganda we have made has increase the income of national tourism to the park. Universities and schools are making their travel place here. It´s advantage will always be the closeness of San Pedro Sula. 15 Minutes departing from the city, you are already looking at astonishing views, being above the sky, above the clouds, the fresh air, and the strong wind blow.

A local guide, earns 120 lempiras a day for a 10+ hour work environment at the coffee farms. That’s about 6 dollars per day. Denigration will always come with a salary this low, being less than half than national minimum salary (Which is also low).

Working with tourism he can earn twice or triple for half a day. Leaving more time for the family. The potential is so big, that wasting it is just sad. Breath taking views are part of their daily life. From most of the corners of the world this place has been visited by foreigners, but few of national tourism has got here.

Tourism has an exponential grow rate that involves many sectors. Food, logging, crafts, services of many kinds, and more. Diversity of activities on this Jurassic environment is the heart of its hopefully investment.

Most of Hondurans don’t know this place exists, hidden as a treasure to be found. Exceptional experiences to come, showing the world there are no boundaries. It is in our genetic structure the thirst of learning about cultures from around the world.

Come to Honduras, Learn about our way of life. You are welcome to be here, your walk around the country, means the life of many people.

For information about the park visit:

www.junglexpedition.org

junglexpedition@honduras.com

Welcome to the JungleXpedition Experience

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:10:16 +0000

Our Goal

To promote eco-tourism in the mountains of Honduras. By doing so, development will increase in the social and economic aspects of the villages that surround Cusuco National Park. Eco-tourism also creates jobs that increase the lifestyle of many people. Every time you travel with us, you too are helping Honduras.

Junglexpedition tours specializes in mountain expeditions trips. We want you to know the hidden face of Honduras. Your safety always come first, that’s why we have specialized vehicles for this kind of terrain, Highly skilled guides, and the support of “Buenos Aires village” next to the Cusuco National Park.

By promoting ecological tourism we have no impact in the environment. Our tours are eco-friendly. We don’t open new trails inside the core zone or have a negative shock on the water sources.

We involve more than adventure tours but also educational, cultural and ecological trips. The unique part of traveling with us is the strong bonding in the social side. Ecologically, you will remember the amazing views and astonishing hikes. Socially, you will bond for life with the incredible people you meet in your expedition.

Tour Video

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:02:36 +0000