National park · Honduras
Punta Izopo National ParkParque Nacional Punta Izopo
Enter Punta Izopo for a half‑day of hiking and kayaking in the mangroves; go March–April for peak birdwatching, avoid the rainy months (check).
- 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
45 km² (17 sq mi)17 sq mi (45 km²)
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
Mar–Apr
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.
- Caribbean Honduras ↗Ferries to Roatán and Utila leave La Ceiba in the morning and mid-afternoon only; the last boat is not a late one.
- Caribbean Honduras ↗Carry cash on the islands and the east coast; card readers fail and ATMs are few outside Roatán's west side.
At a glance
- Country
- Honduras
- Area
- 45 km² (17 sq mi)17 sq mi (45 km²)
- Park covers about 45 km² (4,500 ha) as reported; figures may vary slightly (check).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- Mar–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Tela
Punta Izopo National Park protects mangrove swamps, rainforests and estuaries on Honduras' Caribbean coast, offering birdwatching, kayaking and short jungle hikes.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland · 1996Wetland of international importance.
Size and age
45 km² (17 sq mi)17 sq mi (45 km²) · national park since 1992
Park covers about 45 km² (4,500 ha) as reported; figures may vary slightly (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Tela.
Why go
- Mangrove swamps and rainforests host diverse wildlife, including caimans and howler monkeys.
- Birdwatching peaks in March–April with colorful toucans and migratory species.
- Kayaking the Rio Tornabé estuary offers close views of crocodiles and tropical birds.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCheck
- FebCheck
- MarBirdwatching season
- AprBirdwatching season
- MayCheck
- JunCheck
- JulCheck
- AugCheck
- SepCheck
- OctCheck
- NovCheck
- DecCheck
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toucán and other tropical birdsMar–Apr · Peak nesting season. | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Howler monkeys, iguanas, caimansAll 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)
Drive 3.5 h via highway CA‑13 to the park gate; tours from Tela often use a shorter dirt road.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Tela
Drive 60 km (37 mi) (1.5 h) on the main road; a guide‑arranged dirt backroad can cut the trip to about 20 min.Drive 37 mi (60 km) (1.5 h) on the main road; a guide‑arranged dirt backroad can cut the trip to about 20 min.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Park entrance near Tela | Gate, visitor information, trailheads for hikes and kayak launches. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Mangrove swamp area | Kayak routes along Rio Tornabé and Rio Platanares estuary. | Guided or self‑guided with permission. |
| Rainforest trails | Hiking loops through secondary forest and hilltops. | Open with ticket; no guide required for short loops. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 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.
Coordinates are approximate centre of the protected area.
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 | HNL 100–120 | person | 2026 estimate; check official source |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Not allowed inside the park; stay in Tela hotels.
- Fires
- Open fires prohibited; use designated cooking facilities outside the park.
- Guides
- Not required for short hikes, but recommended for kayak trips in mangroves.
Where to stay
Near the park
Tela town hotels
Budget and mid‑range hotels within 5 km (3.1 mi) of the park entrance.Budget and mid‑range hotels within 3.1 mi (5 km) of the park entrance.
Safety
Crocodile and caiman encounters medium
Rain and slippery trails medium
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
- Park entrance and short trail are reachable by car; paths are uneven and not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Use guided kayak tours that follow permitted routes to protect mangrove habitats.
- Carry out all rubbish; do not feed wildlife.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Punta Izopo National Park?
Entry is about $5 USD per person (2026 estimate); check the latest price at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Punta Izopo National Park?
A short 2‑km rainforest loop (2‑3 h) and a birdwatching trek in March–April are the most accessible hikes.
When is the best time to visit Punta Izopo National Park?
March and April offer the best birdwatching; the dry season (Nov–Apr) is generally more comfortable.
Can I camp inside Punta Izopo?
No, camping is prohibited; stay in nearby Tela.
Do I need a guide for kayaking?
A guide is not mandatory but recommended for safety and to follow permitted routes.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Punta Izopo National Park
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