National park · Honduras
Cerro Azul Meámbar National ParkParque Nacional Cerro Azul Meámbar
Enter Cerro Azul Meámbar for a day hike on the Sinai Trail (4‑6 h, steep) or a short walk to the Miradores overlooks (≤30 min); pay the entry fee at the Panacam Lodge gate.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,942 km² (1,908 sq mi)1,908 sq mi (4,942 km²)
approximate
Established
1987
Best months
Apr–May, Nov–Dec
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Honduras ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Honduras's migration authority or a Honduran consulate; the CA-4 agreement with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua can make your permitted stay count across all four.
- Honduras ↗Transit San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa by day and with pre-arranged transport; do not use public buses between cities.
- Honduras ↗Do not travel to Gracias a Dios (La Mosquitia) except with a specialist operator; several governments advise against all travel there.
- Honduran Highlands ↗Move between towns by day only; night driving on highland roads is not worth it.
- Honduran Highlands ↗Carry lempiras in cash outside Copán Ruinas and Tegucigalpa; cards work in hotels, not at roadside stops.
At a glance
- Country
- Honduras
- Area
- 4,942 km² (1,908 sq mi)1,908 sq mi (4,942 km²)
- ≈4,942 km² (494,200 ha) as reported by park data (check).
- Established
- 1987
- Best months
- Apr–May, Nov–Dec
- Permits
- For some areas
Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park protects cloud‑forest on the Sierra Pijol, offering marked trails, bird‑watching towers and on‑site lodging at Panacam Lodge.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1987.
Size and age
4,942 km² (1,908 sq mi)1,908 sq mi (4,942 km²) · national park since 1987
≈4,942 km² (494,200 ha) as reported by park data (check).
Why go
- Well‑marked cloud‑forest trails ranging from easy overlooks to a challenging high‑altitude hike.
- Over 700 bird species, including resplendent quetzals, with bird‑watching towers.
- Panacam Lodge offers on‑site lodging, restaurant and easy access to the park.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry season, cooler nights.
- FebDry, pleasant.
- MarDry, good birding.
- AprEnd of dry season, clear skies.
- MayStart of short rains, still good hiking.
- JunMore rain, trails muddy.
- JulFrequent showers, humidity high.
- AugRainy, trail conditions variable.
- SepRain tapers, cooler.
- OctDry, comfortable.
- NovDry, ideal for wildlife spotting.
- DecDry, cooler evenings.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resplendent quetzal, keel‑bill toucan, many other birdsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| White‑faced monkeys, peccaries, tapirs, armadillos, bats, pumas, jaguarsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From San Pedro Sula (SAP)
Car or bus to La Guama (≈85 km (53 mi)), then moto‑taxi to park gate (≈20 min).Car or bus to La Guama (≈53 mi (85 km)), then moto‑taxi to park gate (≈20 min).
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Tegucigalpa (TGU)
Car north on CA‑5 (≈170 km (106 mi)) to La Guama, then moto‑taxi.Car north on CA‑5 (≈106 mi (170 km)) to La Guama, then moto‑taxi.
2.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Panacam Lodge area | Visitor centre, restaurant, lodge, entry gate and short Miradores trails. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Sinai Trail corridor | Long, steep trail to high points of Sierra Pijol. | Open; guide recommended for safety. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Central coordinates from Wikidata; lodge and trail points approximated from map data.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Panacam Lodge gate) | Free | person | check |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Fires
- No open fires; use designated grills at the lodge.
- Guides
- Recommended for Sinai Trail; mandatory for any off‑trail travel.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins at lodge and camp.
- Drones
- Not allowed without park authority permission.check
- Camping
- Only in the designated camping area; no wild camping.
Where to stay
In the park
Panacam Lodge
Rooms with private bathrooms, restaurant and brewery.
Near the park
La Guama town
Budget hotels and guesthouses about 20 min by moto‑taxi.
Safety
Heat and humidity medium
Snakes and insects low
Getting lost on Sinai Trail high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Panacam Lodge area and Miradores are reachable by car with short walks.
- Sinai Trail is steep and rocky; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay at Panacam Lodge or camp sites to support park‑run services.
- Do not litter; use refillable water bottles.
- Avoid buying souvenirs made from wildlife parts.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park?
Entry is paid at the Panacam Lodge gate; the exact fee is not published online (check at the gate).
What are the best hikes in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park?
The Sinai Trail (hard, 4–6 h) offers a challenging ascent, while the Miradores walks (easy, ≤30 min) give quick jungle views.
When is the best time to visit Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park?
The dry season November–April provides clearer trails and better bird‑watching; the short rains May–June are still usable, while July–August are wetter.
Is a guide required for any trails?
A guide is mandatory for the Sinai Trail and any off‑trail travel; the short Miradores walks are self‑guided.
Where can I stay inside the park?
Panacam Lodge offers rooms and a camping area; both are managed by the park.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park
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