National park · Honduras
Montaña Santa Bárbara National ParkParque Nacional Montaña Santa Bárbara
Enter Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park: pay the entry fee (check), hire a guide for L200 per day, hike the unmarked trails to the 2,774 m summit; best to go in the dry season (Nov–Apr) to avoid rain‑slick paths.
- 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
121 km² (47 sq mi)47 sq mi (121 km²)
approximate
Established
1987
Best months
Apr, Nov
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
- 121 km² (47 sq mi)47 sq mi (121 km²)
- The park covers 12,130 ha (≈121.3 km²) as stated in the source; no other figures found.
- Established
- 1987
- Best months
- Apr, Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park protects the entire Santa Bárbara mountain, Honduras' second‑highest peak (2,774 m). The remote cloud‑forest hosts >400 bird species, orchids and mammals such as jaguar, and offers challenging, unmarked summit hikes.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1987.
Size and age
121 km² (47 sq mi)47 sq mi (121 km²) · national park since 1987
The park covers 12,130 ha (≈121.3 km²) as stated in the source; no other figures found.
Why go
- Remote cloud‑forest mountain with diverse birds, orchids and mammals.
- Second‑highest Honduran peak (2,774 m) offers high‑altitude views.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanDry season, cooler temps
- FebDry, good hiking
- MarDry, warm
- AprEnd of dry season
- MayStart of rains
- JunRainy, trails slippery
- JulRainy, possible storms
- AugRainy, mud
- SepRainy, cooler
- OctTransition to dry
- NovDry, clear
- DecDry, cooler
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honduran emerald hummingbirdMar–Sep · Endemic, prefers cloud forest. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| JaguarAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Colorful parrots, toucans, trogonsAll 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
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Summit area | Highest point, cloud forest, panoramic views. | Reachable via unmarked trails; guide recommended. |
| Lower slopes | Pine‑dominated montane forest, karst formations. | Open; trails unmarked. |
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.
Approximate central coordinates; exact gate location varies.
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 | Free | person | Exact fee not published; check at gate |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Guided hike no permit
Park rules
- Guides
- Hiring a local guide is highly recommended for safety and navigation.
- Camping
- Only permitted in designated areas; check with park staff.
- Fires
- Open fires prohibited; use stoves.
Where to stay
Near the park
Peña Blanca town
Basic guesthouses and hostels; 15 min drive to park gate.
Safety
Steep, unmarked trails high
Rain and mud 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
- Gate area reachable by vehicle; trails are steep and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Hire local guides to support community income.
- Carry out all waste; do not disturb wildlife.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park?
Entry fee is not published online; expect a small charge at the gate (check on arrival).
What are the best hikes in Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park?
The summit hike (≈6–8 h round‑trip) is the main route; other unmarked trails lead to cloud‑forest viewpoints and birding spots.
When is the best time to visit Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park?
The dry season (Nov–Apr) offers clearer trails and better wildlife viewing.
Do I need a guide?
Guides are not mandatory but strongly advised for safety and navigation on unmarked trails.
Is camping allowed?
Camping is only permitted in designated sites; verify with park staff.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park
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