Cusuco National Park

Cusuco National Park is a cloud forest reserve in the Merendón mountains about 40 km west of San Pedro Sula. The park protects one of Honduras's most biodiverse ecosystems: epiphyte-laden forest at elevations above 2,000 metres, home to resplendent quetzals, spider monkeys, tapirs, and an extraordinary diversity of amphibians. Birders consider it one of the best accessible sites in Central America.

Access requires a 4WD vehicle to reach the park entrance village of Buenos Aires; organized tours from San Pedro Sula are the easiest option and include transport and a guide. The main trails are well-marked and range from gentle walks to more demanding hikes toward the higher peaks. The cloud forest is often misty even in the dry season, giving the landscape an otherworldly quality. Early morning offers the best wildlife viewing.

things to do sight
A story
Cusuco is one of the few cloud forest reserves in Central America accessible as a day trip from a major city. The park gained international attention in the 2000s and 2010s as the site of Operation Wallacea, an annual research expedition bringing scientists and students from around the world to study biodiversity. Their surveys documented hundreds of species new to science, including several amphibians found nowhere else.