Over the last decade or so, Honduras has been focusing its efforts one eco tourism. Maybe they are just jumping on the bandwagon that made Costa Rica so popular, or maybe they just trying to make a buck. Either way, a number of extremely beautiful preserves and parks have been popping up all over the country. One such park is the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve.
The park is located in the La Moskita rain forest. Yes, that translates as ” the mosquito rain forest.” better still is that it is located on the Easter coast known as the mosquito coast. The rain forest takes up most of the eastern Honduras and Western Nicaragua. In late 1980 the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The only downside to visiting the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is that its not cheap or easy. Tghe easiest way is to find a direct flight from La Ceiba and Tegucigalpa into Palacios. One you make it to Palacios you have to make your way down the Mosquito Coast by boat or plane to Rais Ta. From there, you have to take a five hour boat ride to Las Marias.
The upside to all this travel and the expense involved is that its well worth it. nowhere else in Honduras can you experience the beauty of the rain forest in such a primitive way. Once you make it to the park, a guide will greet you and help you dicide on what types of tours and adventures best suit your wants. There are a number of things to do from animal hikes, to intense jungle hikes, to simple boat rides down the river.