Jeannette Kawas National Park (Punta Sal)

Punta Sal peninsula and beaches

The heart of the park: a jungled peninsula surrounded by pristine golden-sand beaches and turquoise waters.

Punta Sal is the geographic feature that gives the park its popular name: a mountainous peninsula covered in tropical jungle that juts into the Caribbean, bordered by some of the most beautiful and solitary beaches in Honduras. Getting there is already an experience: most visitors sail from Tela or from the community of Miami, on a boat trip that hugs the coast and lets you spot dolphins, seabirds and, with luck, manatees in the calm waters. Once on the peninsula, the beaches follow one another separated by rocky outcrops. The golden sand, the clear water and the backdrop of intact jungle create an almost deserted setting, very different from the more crowded beaches of the Caribbean. There are sectors ideal for swimming and others, rockier, perfect for snorkeling. Excursions commonly include a lunch with a sea view and free time to rest under the trees. The peninsula also preserves traces of its past: fishermen operated in its waters and coasts and, according to local tradition, even pirates sought refuge in these coves. Today what dominates is protected nature. Getting there: by boat from the Tela pier or from Miami, with a tour operator (there's no practical land access). Best time: morning, with a calm sea. Tips: bring biodegradable sunscreen, water, a hat, footwear for rocks and respect the park rules (leave no trash, don't extract corals or shells).

ℹ️ Distance: West of Tela (about 35 km); reached by boat from the Tela pier or from the community of Miami · Best time to go: February to May, calm sea; leave early in the morning · Entry: L 30 (protected-area fee, PROLANSATE, 2025); usually included in the tour price · Duration: Full day (6 to 8 hours with navigation)

Jungle trail and monkey spotting

A walk through the peninsula's tropical forest, where you can see howler and white-faced monkeys and abundant wildlife.

One of the great reasons to visit Punta Sal is the chance to venture into the humid tropical jungle that covers the peninsula and observe wildlife in freedom. Excursions usually include a guided walk along a trail that crosses the forest, connecting beaches through the interior and letting you see up close the park's biological richness. The undisputed star is the howler monkey (mono congo), whose deep roars can be heard from a great distance and are unforgettable. You also see white-faced monkeys (capuchins), coatis, iguanas, land crabs and an enormous variety of birds: toucans, herons, pelicans, frigatebirds and many more species. The local guide points out tracks, sounds and the flora along the way, from giant trees to medicinal plants. The trail also crosses areas where the jungle meets the sea, offering spectacular views of the coast. It's a walk of light to moderate difficulty, with sections of roots and slopes, ideal for combining with the beach and snorkeling time of the same day. Getting there: it's part of the sea excursion to Punta Sal. Best time: in the morning, when the wildlife is most active. Tips: closed shoes with good grip, repellent, water and staying quiet so as not to scare the animals. Never feed the monkeys.

ℹ️ Distance: On the Punta Sal peninsula (part of the sea excursion) · Best time to go: Morning, with the wildlife most active · Entry: Included in the full-day tour (L 660-699, 2025) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours of walking

Snorkeling on the coral reefs

Clear waters with coral reefs and multicolored fish next to the peninsula's rocky beaches.

The waters surrounding Punta Sal form part of the great Caribbean reef system and hold patches of coral very accessible for snorkeling, especially in the rocky stretches between beaches. It's one of the central attractions of the excursion: the water is usually warm and clear, and all you need is a mask, snorkel and fins to discover an underwater world full of color. Among the corals swim angelfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors, surgeonfish and whole schools of little silver fish, plus sea urchins, starfish and, with luck, a sea turtle or ray. The shallow depth of many sectors makes it an activity suitable even for those with little experience, always under the guide's supervision. The operators bring the snorkel gear (mask and tube) included in the price of the classic tour. As with any reef, the rule is to look without touching: corals are living, fragile organisms that take years to grow. Getting there: in the beach area of Punta Sal, during the excursion. Best time: days with a calm sea and good visibility (February to May). Tips: biodegradable sunscreen (chemical filters harm the coral), don't stand on the coral, don't touch or feed the wildlife and respect the guide's instructions.

ℹ️ Distance: Waters and reefs of the Punta Sal peninsula · Best time to go: Calm sea and good visibility (February to May) · Entry: Snorkel gear included in the tour (L 660-699, 2025) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours

Laguna de los Micos and mangroves

A maze of mangroves and calm waters within the park, a paradise for birds and a refuge for manatees.

The Laguna de los Micos is one of the most valuable ecosystems in Jeannette Kawas National Park: a large coastal lagoon surrounded by mangroves, separated from the sea by a narrow sandbar where the Garifuna community of Miami sits. It's a mosaic of channels, bodies of water and flooded forests that functions as a nursery for fish, crustaceans and birds, and as a refuge for the threatened Antillean manatee. Boat trips through the lagoon and its mangrove channels are a different experience from the open sea: the motor slows down and you sail slowly among the aerial roots of the mangroves, while the guide points out herons, ibises, cormorants, kingfishers, ospreys and, at certain times, large concentrations of birds. For birdwatchers, it's one of the richest spots on the Honduran coast. The brief tour of the lagoon is usually included within the classic full-day tour to Punta Sal. The lagoon is also the livelihood of the Garifuna communities that fish in its waters. Visiting the area lets you get close to their culture, their music (the punta) and their cuisine based on fish, coconut and plantain. Getting there: by boat from Tela or from the community of Miami, on the lagoon's sandbar. Best time: early in the morning for bird spotting. Tips: binoculars, repellent, neutral-colored clothing, and hire guides from the local communities, who know these channels better than anyone.

ℹ️ Distance: Western sector of the park, next to the community of Miami; by boat from Tela · Best time to go: Early morning (better bird spotting) · Entry: Included in the Punta Sal tour; exclusive birdwatching tours L 400-800 per group · Duration: 1 to 2 hours (combinable with Punta Sal)

Garifuna community of Miami

A Garifuna fishing village of palm houses on the sandbar between the lagoon and the sea.

The village of Miami is one of the most authentic and endearing images of the Tela coast: a small Garifuna community of traditional houses with palm roofs (manaca), settled on the narrow sandbar that separates the Laguna de los Micos from the Caribbean Sea. Without permanent electricity and with a way of life tied to fishing, it preserves an air frozen in time that makes it unique. The Garifuna are a people of African descent whose culture —recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity— blends African and Caribbean Indigenous roots. In Miami you can get to know their way of life, hear their drums and the punta rhythm, and, above all, try their cuisine: fresh fish, conch soup, casabe (cassava bread) and dishes with coconut and plantain. Most tours to Punta Sal pass through Miami and also through neighboring Barra Vieja. Visiting the community with respect, hiring guides and eating at the local diners, is a way for tourism to directly benefit its inhabitants and help preserve their culture and their environment. Getting there: by a dirt road from Tela or by boat crossing the lagoon; many tours include it. Best time: any dry day; combinable with the lagoon and Punta Sal. Tips: bring cash in lempiras (there aren't always ATMs), ask permission to photograph people and support the local economy.

ℹ️ Distance: On the sandbar of the Laguna de los Micos, west of Tela · Best time to go: Dry days; combinable with the lagoon and Punta Sal · Entry: Free access to the community; food at diners L 100-250 per dish · Duration: 1 to 2 hours

Lancetilla Botanical Garden (nearby, Tela)

One of the largest tropical botanical gardens in the world, founded in 1926, a few minutes from Tela.

Although it forms part of a different protected area (the Lancetilla Botanical Garden and Research Center), it's so close to Tela that it's usually combined with a visit to Jeannette Kawas National Park to round out a nature stay in the area. Founded in 1926 by the Tela Railroad Company (a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company) as an experiment station for tropical crops, it's today one of the largest and most diverse botanical gardens in the world, with more than 1,680 plant species from the five continents. Its trails run through collections of bamboo, tropical fruit trees, palms and a cloud-forest sector of its own, plus a grove of centuries-old trees. It's an excellent place for birdwatching and for understanding the banana history that transformed Tela in the 20th century. Getting there: about 15-20 minutes from Tela by car or taxi. Best time: year-round; morning for more coolness and bird activity. Tips: hire a garden guide to make the most of the tour; bring comfortable footwear, water and repellent.

ℹ️ Distance: About 15-20 minutes by car from downtown Tela · Best time to go: Year-round; morning for more bird activity · Entry: About L 100 foreigners / L 40 nationals (approximate 2025; verify on visiting) · Duration: 2 to 4 hours