Spend a weekend in the capital of Honduras between the colonial villages of Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles and the reserves of Yuscaràn and La Tigra
Two or three days are enough. The time needed to visit the surroundings of the capital of Honduras and its bucolic scenery. The colonial villages of Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles, both very picturesque and offering excellent opportunities for shopping and then the reserves of Yuscaràn and especially La Tigra are ideal destinations for birdwatching enthusiasts and those who love adventures.
Saint Lucia It's a charming old Spanish mining town perched on top of the hill. Cobbled alleys and pedestrian streets wind along the slope, between colonial-style houses and shops. The main square embellished with a fountain and an English garden is an ideal place to taste a licuado (fruit juice with ice). Practically every weekend the restaurants and artesanìa (craft) shops are filled with people arriving from the capital of Honduras for a day trip.
While on weekdays the atmosphere is quiet. All to be admired is the fantastic view of the surrounding hills covered in pine forests and of the capital of Honduras Tegucigalpa, which rises in the valley. Of artistic interest is the 1572th century church located on the slope of the hill, inside the Spanish paintings and the Cristo de Las Mercedes, donated to Santa Lucia by King Philip II in XNUMX. Usually the doors of the building religious are closed. And on the back you will find an office and a manager to contact.
Valley of Angeles. The other picturesque Spanish mining town next to the capital of Honduras is Valle de Angeles which is located 8 kilometers from Santa Lucia and which has a characteristic historic center (partly restored to its original appearance) which dates back to the 4th century. In front of the ancient church there is a square with a fountain which is illuminated every evening. Some of the streets closed to traffic today are pedestrian streets. The annual fair takes place on October XNUMXth.
Along the streets there are many artesanìa shops, where it is possible to buy valuable handcrafted Honduran souvenirs at lower prices than in Tegucigalpa, also beautiful pieces of craftsmanship on sale such as those in hand-worked leather or various products of the country such as the juncos of Santa Barbara , village drums, ceramics and terracotta.
In Parque central there is the House of Culture which can host art exhibitions and at the entrance to the city there is the Museo de Santa Maria de los Angeles which displays historical photos of many places in Honduras. From Valle de Angeles you can reach the Golondrinas waterfalls: the excursion is challenging, but worth it (two hours up and one hour back and the path is well signposted). At the entrance to the city there are some recreational parks with restaurants, swimming pools and football and volleyball fields. Various excursions can be organized in the parks.
But the real pearl of the surroundings of the capital of Honduras is undoubtedly the Tigra National Park. Which embraces 238 kilometers of uncontaminated nature, cloud forest and dry coniferous forest, rivers and waterfalls and many wild animals that do not like contact with humans, such as pumas, armadillos and agouti (a rodent the size of a rabbit).
There are over 350 species of birds, Parque de al Tigra is the most suitable place for birdwatching in all of Honduras. The luckiest will be able to admire the quetzal which stands out for the color of its plumage with blue shades. The flora is also magnificent: leafy trees, climbing plants, lichens, ferns, colorful mushrooms and thousands of orchids.
Accessibility and the presence of paths sorted by different difficulty criteria are some of the factors that make the park successful, especially for day trips, but those who choose to stay overnight can find a place in the campsite. Watch out for temperature changes and appropriate clothing: you will also have to defend yourself from the very annoying mosquitoes.
I sentieri that intersect in the forest there are 8 and they are all simple to follow. The main one (Sendero principal) connected Tegucigalpa with the mines in the area. It is the most direct route through the park. And it extends for 6 kilometers from Jutiapa to El Rosario. The first two kilometers are covered on a dirt road occasionally used by park maintenance teams; it then descends for 4 kilometers between abandoned mines, small rivers and splendid valleys, and the easiest path and the busiest one.
Then there is the La Cascada path which takes its name from the 40 meter waterfall which is very scenic in winter, from October to February, but which has a reduced flow rate in summer. And among the most beautiful is the La Mina trail which starts from the El Mirador panoramic point: along this route you can also admire beautiful waterfalls. Perched on the face of a mountain is the village of Yuscaràn made up of winding cobbled streets and whitewashed buildings, with many possibilities for excursions in the surrounding hills. Behind Yuscarán there is the beautiful Yuscaràn biological reserve which embraces three mountain peaks almost 2.000 meters high.
