The Celaque visitors center, some nine kilometers from Gracias [1] at the base of the mountain, has just been entirely redone. Located at the edge of the forest next to the Río Arcágual, this is a very peaceful spot to relax, and plenty of easy day hiking is possible nearby, along the river. There are restrooms and cold-water showers, as well as a barbecue pit, if you’re inspired to lug food and fuel up the mountainside. There is currently no charge to enter the park, but once a tollbooth gets installed at the entrance, it will be US$2.50 to enter and an additional US$2.50 to stay the night.
To get to the visitors center from Gracias [1], arrange a ride (US$15) with one of the two guide companies or at Hotel Erick to the last gate blocking vehicles from entering the park, from which point the visitors center is another half-hour walk.
Or you can start walking from Gracias and hope a pickup truck comes by. It’s about a 2.5-hour walk from Gracias to the center by the road, or a bit less by a trail leaving the road just outside Gracias, which follows along a stone wall and rejoins the dirt road to the visitors center near a school.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/honduras/western-honduras/gracias-and-the-lenca-highlands/gracias