Tours

In Gracias, the tourist office (tel. 504/222-2124, turismo-colosuca [at] yahoo [dot] com) has developed fantastic tourist information for the Colosuca Tourist Circuit—the region encompassing Parque Nacional Celaque [1], the town of Gracias [2], and the villages of La Campa [3], San Manuel Colohete [4], San Marcos de Caiquín [5], San Sebastián [6], and Belén [7] (that’s Belén, Lempira, not Belén Gualcho [8], Ocotepeque).

The Asociación de Guías Turísticos Colosuca–Celaque has 15 community guides (with limited English) available for tours in Gracias, Celaque, and the surrounding villages. They can also arrange trips on horses. Village day trips cost US$26, and overnight trips to Celaque are US$42. They also offer day trips to La Campa [3] village with pottery-making demonstrations for US$21, a six-hour tour to a waterfall (US$16), and a four-hour tour of Gracias for US$10.50.

Tour prices exclude transportation, but the guides can arrange for service in minivan, by bicycle, or on horseback. The coordinator of the association is Marco Aurelio Rodríguez (tel. 504/656-0627 or 504/9870-8821, guiamarcolencas [at] yahoo [dot] com). Marco is the owner of El Jarrón [9] restaurant near the entrance to town, so you can also just stop by for information.

With better English, and a bit pricier but also very good, Walter Murcia (tel. 504/656-1113) can organize transport to Celaque park and guides one-day or multiday trips to the mountain and surrounding villages. He is very knowledgeable about the local area. A day trip for up to four people going to five Lenca villages near Gracias [2], including going inside the churches, which can be difficult alone, costs US$100. Celaque trips are also available.

Both guide outfits can help arrange camping gear if you don’t have any.