Cerro Azul de Copán National Park Voyage Tips and guide

Not to be confused with Cerro Azul Meámbar in Central Honduras.

Cerro Azul de Copán National Park is a protected natural area in the western Highlands of Honduras. The park conserves an environmentally vulnerable cloud forest reserve. The park is also known for its hiking and mountaineering opportunities on the 2,285 meter high peak that gives the park its name. The park is remote and difficult to access, which helps preserve its pristine cloud forests.

The park covers an area of 15,460 hectares.

The park was created as part of the Honduras national parks system in January 1987.

The park is mountainous rain forest with its lowest point at an elevation of 1,800 meters and its highest point being the peak of Cerro Azul de Copan. Thermal springs can be found in the park, indicating that volcanic activity is ongoing beneath the surface. Limestone caves are found in many areas of the park. The cave systems are generally not deep or complex and can be entered without special equipment (though normal precautions apply, and hiring a knowledgeable local guide would be prudent).

More than 200 bird species have been identified in the park, along with several hundred plant species. Various types of trees make up the dense canopy, including oaks and sweetgums. In the areas with persistent cloud coverage, epiphytes cover the trees, including orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and lichens. Areas of the park are covered in pine groves, with 6 of the 9 species known to grow in Honduras.

Due to its remote location, few people visit the park, making it an excellent habitat for wildlife. The resplendant quetzal can be seen during its mating season in April and May. Other tropical bird species found in the park include emerald toucanets, highland guans, various hummingbird species as well as tanagers and warblers. Mammals found in the park include tapirs, pumas, margays, and several kinds of monkey including spider monkeys and howler monkeys.

Cerro Azul de Copán has a tropical climate similar to other mountainous regions of Central and northern South America. It is cooler and wetter than lowland areas at the same latitude. Highland areas of the park have average temperatures of 12 to 18 degrees Celsius though higher elevations can approach freezing temperatures during the coldest months of December through February. The park receives 2,000 to 3,000 millimeters of rainfall each year and the moisture of the enveloping clouds adds to the wet conditions. The wettest months are June through November. Drier weather can be expected from February to April.

The park is 10 kilometers northeast of the El Florido border crossing. The nearest city is Santa Rosa de Copán, 28 kilometers from the park.

There is no fee to enter the park.

Hike.

• Copán Ruinas
• Santa Rosa de Copán