Overlooking the grounds of The Lodge at Pico Bonito.— Photo: Courtesy The Lodge at Pico Bonito

Little-known Honduras provides beautiful natural scenery and a great introduction to Neotropical birding, plus specialty birds like the endangered Honduran Emerald, Lovely Cotinga, and Keel-billed Motmot, all while based at one comfortable lodge with excellent food.

We've done it again. We've found a great place for birders to spend a week at a lovely lodge with a wonderful selection of tropical birds within reach.

Situated on the edge of Pico Bonito National Park, the Lodge at Pico Bonito is considered one of the "Small Luxury Hotels of the World." Birds and butterflies abound throughout the grounds and along its trail system, representing a broad array of tropical species. The tantalizing Lovely Cotinga is a regular sight here, while the rarely-seen Keel-billed Motmot is found well up-slope in the forest above the lodge. During the night, the calls of the Great Potoo, and Black-and-white, Mottled, and Vermiculated Screech-owls are frequently heard, while by day trogons, toucans and aracaries, tanagers, oropendolas, and more are regular visitors to the garden. Neotropical migrants are common and diverse.

Using Pico Bonito as a base, we will also visit the very birdy Lancetilla Botanical Gardens and the thorn-forest of the Aguan Valley. The latter site gives us a chance to see a very different and unique environment, home to the endemic Honduran Emerald. An added bonus is our visit to the marshes and mangrove-lined lagoons of the Cuero y Salado refuge, aboard a late nineteenth century narrow-gauge train.

Lovely Cotinga— Photo: David Wolf

Scenic Honduras is a comparatively little-known country, yet one that is gradually emerging into a first-rate travel destination. For the naturalist, it is a glorious place, full of birds and tremendous natural scenery.

An optional pre-trip/post-trip will visit the town of Copan Ruinas, whose archaeological site is one of the most renowned in the Mayan realm. At a leisurely pace, we will discover the birds in a wide array of habitats found in the vicinity, visit a variety of archaeological sites, and sample the diverse cuisine.

Accommodations are luxurious, with excellent food; only one lengthy drive (3 hours one-way) and long day; mostly easy walking (except for one or two optional hikes along relatively steep forest trails); mostly warm temperatures throughout.