Cerro de Zapote
Easy. One day. 1 guide. Jungle hike.
There is so much to do in the Biosphere Reserve! Tours through the indigenous communities of the La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance allow travellers to view beautiful natural environments. Travellers have the opportunity to engage in authentic cultural exchanges with the indigenous communities of Belen, Raista, Brus Laguna, Yamari Savannah Cabanas, Plaplaya, Batalla, Les Marias. These cultural activities include storytelling, dancing, drumming, singing, and craft making. Travellers can also kayak, swim, hike, and canoe to explore the land and waters of the biosphere.
Tour operators
La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance
A collection of six indigenous communities that provide ecotourism products and services within the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve. All of the ecotourism enterprises that are a part of La Ruta Moskitia are 100% community-owned and operated, and therefore all of the financial benefits of La Ruta Moskitia go directly to local communities. This organisation distributes packaged tours within the Biosphere Reserve including transportation to the reserve, lodging, food, drink, tours through the indigenous communities, and hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor opportunities! Awards and recognition of The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance includes the World Travel and Tourism Council's Tourism for Tomorrow "Investor in People" award in 2008, the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award "Best Park or Protected Area" in 2007, and the Conde Nast Traveller's coveted Green List in 2006. Also, La Ruta Moskitia was recognised as one of National Geographic Adventures "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth.", and recommended by Lonely Planet and Outside Magazine.
Trips departing from Las Marias for the independant traveller
As an independant traveller one will be sought out by the "sacaguias", the head guide upon arriving in Las Marias. He charges a one time organising fee of 100 lempiras. They have a rotating guide system so that everyone in the village can take their turn at making a days living as a guide, usually they will want to send 3 guides for most overnight adventures. The prices here are fixed and there is no use negotiating or trying to be accompanied by less guides. Try not to circumvent the head guide, as that is the way the whole community has decided to organise things and trying to arrange other deals would create conflict withing the community.
Pico Dama.
Difficult but not for the usually fit. 2 days. Djungle hike. Leaving from Las Marias. travel up river in a "pipante" for one two hours before reaching Quebrada Suawala. From there you hike towards the peak that as you get closer, the road turns a bit slippery and steep. Sleeping is in permanent cottages along the way. Costs about 3000? Lempiras.
Pico Baltimore
Intermediate. 2 days. 2 Guides. Jungle hike. Departing from Las Marias one walks to a nearby peak that offers great views of the whole area.
Travelling down the Rio Platano
There is a tour operator that offers a 14 day raftride through the whole reserve. This is the only way of getting access to the deeper parts of the reserve. They enter the park from the south.
Walpaulban Sirpi
Intermediate. 1 day. 3 guides. rivertrip. Travel up river in a pipante. See the doubleheaded crocodile petroglyph among other things. Also a 40 min djungle hike with a cool tree platform.
Walpaulban Tara
intermediate. 2 days. 3 guides. rivertrip. This one can be customized to several smaller djungelhikes as one goes in pipante past the first petroglyph to this las set of rock cavings.
Cerro Mico
2 days. 3 guides. jungle hike. Travel up river in a pipante to the mouth of Quebrada Sulwala. Do a hike and see the treeplatform. Go see the forst petroglyphs. Stay a night at Don Bernardo. Hike up to Cerro Mico. 2400 lempiras.
Village trail
2-3 hours. on your own or with a guide to hear all the village fresh gossip.
Also ask for Agua Muerta or Sendero Lomriz.
All prices exclude your own accomodation and food, usually about 200 lempiras per day.
Those who come here in search for the archaeological secrets beyond the petroglyphs will have to arrange a special deal, that probably will come at a pretty hefty price. The head guide does not offer any tours to the fabled "White City". Stories of it include well preserved bright white stone buildings, of unknown origin far up the river Platano. One has to remember though that this site has not been excavated or barely even noted by archaeologists, making it a very susceptible to unscrupulous souvenir hunters and ignorant tourists. Don't touch anything, and make sure that the guide taking you also respects the great importance and cultural value of the place. One of the few people in town who knows of its position is Don Luis at the Los Angeles hospedaje, although he himself never has been there.