Lush rain forest, colorful butterflies and birds, lush tropical flora, butterfly farms, waterfalls, monkeys, endemic species, and the wonders of the ancient Maya - this unique tour offers a comprehensive overview of all the best that the Mesoamerican tropics have to offer.

Honduras is a butterfly lover's paradise. The first rains of May-June bring on an explosion of sulfurs and Kite Swallowtails in the more arid interior valleys. The north coast's humid rain forests are home to such beauties as the Royal Owl, Aurora Borealis, the Shining Morpho, and many species of Longwings. Highland areas are rich in Clearwings and Wood Nymphs, and variety of hairstreaks, skippers and metalmarks are found in nearly every habitat.

Join MEA for an opportunity to see all these beauties. You will be accompanied by a local lepidopterist as we visit key habitats, including the amazing Ancient Maya city/state of Copan. When your day is done, you will relax in great accommodations from the Casa de Café in Copan to the luxurious Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Day 1: San Pedro Sula - Copan
You will be greeted at the San Pedro Sula Airport by a MEA representative and transported directly to the lush highlands of Copan. Our Bed & Breakfast is a short stroll to the colonial downtown of this charming community. We will have a brief orientation dinner in the evening. Night: Casa de Café, Copan.

Day 2: Copan - Highlands and Butterfly Farm
After breakfast we will take a trip to the nearby highlands and then have an afternoon visit to the Enchanted Wings Butterfly House and Nature Center. Copan offers a myriad of "skippers", "clearwing", Consul electra, Pierids and Adelphas. We will also encounter many metalmarks and hairstreaks throughout our trip. Night: Casa de Café, Copan.

Day 3: Copan - Archeology Site
Today we will visit the famous Ancient Maya site of Copan. Considered one of the top five Maya sites, this was a great center of the Ancient Maya, reaching its peak in the Classic Period between 250 - 750 AD. The architecture and stone monuments are astounding in their complexity and beauty. Look forward to seeing quite a few butterflies in the protected area of the archeology site. We will then transfer to the colonial town of Gracias, gateway to Celaque National Park. Night: Hotel Guancascos, Gracias.

Day 4: Copan - Celaque National Park
Today we will get an early start and travel to the cloud forests of Celaque National Park. Celaque rises to over 9,000 feet and includes pine/oak forest in the valley and broadleaf cloud forest habitat within the park. This is the largest cloud forest habitat in Honduras and you will have a full day looking for specialists. You should compile an impressive species list for the day. Night: Hotel Guancascos, Gracias.

Day 5: North Coast - Pico Bonito National Park
From Gracias we will travel to the North Coast to the Lodge at Pico Bonito. On the way, we will visit the beautiful Lancetilla Botanical Gardens. These are beautiful gardens with an excellent variety of birds and butterflies. From the gardens we continue on to the Lodge at Pico Bonito. A member of the "Small Luxury Hotels of the World", the lodge is a luxury resort nestled in the lush rain forest of the foothills of the Sierra Pico Bonito. There are three nature observation towers, extensive footpaths, hiking trails, a butterfly farm, swimming pool, conference room, dining room and a comfortable lounge area. Upon arrival, we will have time to explore the local trails and relax on the beautiful grounds of the lodge. Night: The Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Day 6: Pico Bonito National Park
Today will be spent exploring the trails and waterfalls of Pico Bonito National Park. Trails from the lodge lead directly into the national park grounds. Our moderate to strenuous day-hike will last about four hours and will take us along the scenic "Gorge Trail", which is a ridge trail between two cascading rainforest rivers. At times four species of Morphos can be observed at Pico Bonito National Park in one day! The park is also renowned for its abundant populations of Parides childrenae ("Aurora Borealis"). We will also keep a sharp look-out for colorful tropical birds such as Lovely Cotinga, Keel-billed Toucan, and numerous parrot and hummingbird species. This area is also home to the more elusive fauna such as jaguar, puma, marguey, agouti, tree frogs, and countless other tropical species. Pico Bonito Lodge is surrounded by cacao trees, a favorite food of the agouti, which is a frequent visitor to the grounds. The flora of the area is truly spectacular with many species of orchids and heliconias. All this biodiversity adds up to lots-o-butterflies!!

After our hike we will have some down time to relax poolside and to sip a cool drink before meeting with our nature guides to review the flora and fauna we observed during the day. There is an optional guided night time interpretive nature walk on the lodge grounds. Night: The Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Day 7: Zacate Waterfall Hike
In the morning we will drive to the eastern end of Pico Bonito National Park for a hike to the beautiful Zacate waterfall. This hike is a good workout, and the cool waters of the natural pools at the base of the falls will be a welcome and refreshing reward at the end.

Day 8: Depart for home

Accommodations Listing
Casa de Café, Copan, 2.5 Star, charming B&B, a few blocks from central square, beautiful veranda, colonial style.
Hotel Guancascos, Gracias, 1.5 Star, comfortable, nice restaurant with good views, strategic location and best place in town.
The Lodge at Pico Bonito, 4 Star, small luxury lodge of the world member, spectacular setting, beautiful grounds and cabanas.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
By signing up for this tour, you will be directly providing financial support to the vital conservation work of our local hosts, Foundation Pico Bonito National Park and the Honduran Ecological Network for Sustainable Development.

This is a trip to one of the more spectacular areas of Mesoamerica. It provides the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and solitude of some of the most pristine protected areas remaining in our hemisphere. Viewing wildlife in the rain forest can be frustrating. With the thick vegetative cover, one must proceed patiently and cover an area thoroughly. The probability of seeing toucans, trogons and parrots is good; the probability of seeing a jaguar or tapir is poor (but we may see some sign). For orchid, bromeliad and heliconia enthusiasts, we can guarantee numerous sightings (plants are nice that way).

It is not a particularly rigorous trip but will involve some moderate to strenuous walking and hill climbing. This tour should only be taken by persons who are in good health. The trails are in very good condition. However, there is a limestone base and loose rocks are common. Light weight hiking boots with strong ankle support are recommended.

Honduras is a developing country and basic infrastructure is often at a level less than what we are used to in the United States. While our accommodations are very good to excellent, all with air-conditioning/ceiling fans, hot water, and in spectacular locations; there will be limited access to international phone service, faxes and e-mails. Meal service is leisurely, arrival and departure times subject to change, and everything can be subject to an overall inefficiency we do not encounter in the US. It is, however, a wonderful, vibrant culture and people are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Relax, you are on vacation!!

WEATHER:
The weather, depending on our location, will vary from warm and sunny to cloudy, misty, foggy or rainy. We can expect daytime temperature highs in the mid 80s to low 90s in the lowlands, and the highlands around Copan can be a bit cooler, with highs in the low 80s and 60s at night. Precipitation is one of the key factors in creating the rain forest ecosystem and we can expect heavy rain any day even in the dry season.

TOUR SIZE:
This tour will be limited to a maximum of 14 participants and a minimum of 8 participants.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
A US passport valid beyond your anticipated date of return to the US and tourist card (available on flight) is required. Currently no visas or immunization certificates are required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Honduras for details.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS:
The fee for the tour is $2,198 per person based on double occupancy from San Pedro Sula. Single rates are an additional $550. This includes all food, three meals per day, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8; all lodging for 7 nights during the tour; ground transportation; and guide services provided by the tour leaders and local conservation professionals. It does not include international airfare, departure tax, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, passport fees, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the group does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement may have to be charged. An additional pick-up/drop-off fee may be charged for arrivals and departures from regularly scheduled international flights.

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS:
For comprehensive information please contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the Internet at www.cdc.gov or by phone at 404-332-4559. The CDC information is a comprehensive listing of any disease reported in a particular region or state. Honduras is included with Central America. We have not had any problems with diseases. Please consult a health care professional with any questions.

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORIES:
Currently there are no travel advisories for traveling in Honduras. You will be updated on any significant developments that pertain to our trip. http://travel.state.gov

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made eighty days or more before departure date, the deposit less $150 is refundable. If cancellation is made between seventy-nine and sixty days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fifty-nine days or less before departure date, no refund is available except for amounts recoverable through our agents. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance which you will receive upon registration.

If the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA) cancels the tour or the tour must be postponed during a time period starting seven days before tour departure and /or through the duration of the tour, MEA will refund all money recoverable through our agents, not yet spent and/or all refundable deposits. MEA reserves the right to cancel, postpone or suspend any tour based on the judgment of MEA, its staff and representatives, in order to insure the safety of our guests.

RESPONSIBILITY:
MEA, and/or their Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour. The right is reserved to decline, to accept, or to retain any person as a member of the tour. Baggage is at owner's risk.