Pico Pijol National Park is a mountainous protected area in the Honduran Highlands.
Understand
[edit]The park covers an area of more than 12,000 hectares.
History
[edit]The park was established as part of the Honduras national parks system in 1987 to protect rainforests that were under increasing threats of deforestation. Coffee growers presented the biggest looming threat to the forests of Pico Pijol. The growers would clear highland forests to plant coffee fields, and would further cut trees to provide fuel for drying the coffee beans before shipment. The Honduran government has been working with growers and local communities to stop cutting the forests and alternatives based on renewable energy are being implemented.
Landscape
[edit]Flora and fauna
[edit]Climate
[edit]Get in
[edit]The nearest major city is Tegucigalpa, which has an international airport.
By car
[edit]The park is 220 km (5½ hours) north of Tegucigalpa via federal highway RN-43. Head to El Porvenir, then take the road toward Portillo de Gonzalez. You should see signs pointing you towards Parque Nacional Pico Pijol.
By bus
[edit]A Chicken bus leaves Tegucigalpa from Terminal Cristina every four hours bound for La Ceiba. he 7-hour trip costs US$15. The bus passes near the park and can drop you off near the entrance, though a better plan might be to get off in La Ceiba, find a room for the night, and take a taxi to the park the next morning.