August 4-11, 2006: Honduras Ecotourism Documentary Project

The twice-cancelled project due to Hurricane Wilma and a change in governments, is now confirmed for August 4-11, 2006. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Barker at 954-262-8303.

All those photographers holding tickets will be updated, but you must call Dr. Barker to reconfirm your participation at 954-262-8303.

There are additional openings for photographers wishing to travel to Honduras. Call Dr. Barker.

Draft Itinerary for Wild Spots Trip to Honduras

August 4-11, 2006

Group 1 – Roatan/Cayos Cochinos (6)

Sherrer Charles

Dluhos Bill

Brown Frederick

Smith Sarah

Weatherby Douglas

Weatherby Cindy* (Leader)

Group 2 – La Ceiba/Tela (6)

Brooks Dean* (leader)

Lafauci Joe

Campbell Maureen

Baker Judi

Grant Jim

Whiting Ted

Group 3 – Lago de Yojoa/Lenca Trail/Copan (8+Murphy)

Brockwell Jennifer Lillian

Staswi Debbie

McQueen Elizabeth

Peabody Marshall

Garcia Damien

Goldstein Alan

Villalobos Marlon

Barker Barry (leader)

(Murphy Vicente)

Day 1

WildSpots group of 20 photographers arrives at Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula at 3:45 PM on TACA Flight 391. Entire group transfers to hotel in San Pedro Sula for overnight. IHT will brief the group in the evening.

The photographers will divide into 3 groups:

Group 1 – Roatan/Cayos Cochinos

Group 2 – La Ceiba/Tela

Group 3 – Lago de Yojoa/Lenca Trail/Copan

Day 2

Group 1 departs San Pedro Sula at 8:00 AM in minibus, arriving in La Ceiba at 10:30 AM. The group will then take a 20-minute drive up the dirt road to El Naranjo in the Rio Cangrejal watershed to take landscape shots of Pico Bonito National Park on the far side of the river. Group leaves El Naranjo at 1:00 PM, returning to La Ceiba at 1:30 PM for lunch. Group drives to municipal dock (called the Muelle de Cabotaje) at 2:15 PM for 3:00 PM departure on 2-hour Galaxy ferryboat trip, arriving in Coxen Hole at 5:00 PM. Group transfers to hotel. Overnight in Roatan.

Nota para IHT: los fotógrafos expresaron su deseo de hospedarse en CocoView Resort en French Harbor por la facilidad que ofrece de poder bucear sin límite desde la playa, logrando así más horas fotografiando los arrecifes.

Group 2 departs San Pedro Sula at 7:00 AM in minibus for a 2-hour ride, arriving in La Ceiba at 9:00 AM. Check-in to hotel. Group departs at 10:00 AM for afternoon photography in the rain forest at the Rio Zacate entrance to Pico Bonito National Park - 6:00 PM return. Overnight in La Ceiba.

Group 3 departs San Pedro Sula at 8:00 AM in 22-passenger bus (Toyota Coaster), arriving at Lago de Yojoa (Lake Yojoa) at 9:00 AM. Check in at Hotel. Visit Los Naranjos, Pulaphanzak Falls, Motel Agua Azul patio for birds. Overnight in Lago de Yojoa.

Day 3

Group 1 dives. Overnight in Roatan.

Group 2 rises early for day trip to Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge. Sites and activities include entry ride on narrow-gauge railway motorcar or people-pushed flatcar, small boat tours of the mangrove canals with bird life and monkeys, beach walking, possibility of accompanying a local fisherman in a small dug-out canoe. Late afternoon return to hotel. Overnight in La Ceiba.

Group 3 explores Lago de Yojoa area. It is possible that the group can split up with the help of local NGOs AMUPROLAGO and/or Aldea Global. One group goes to the mountain village of San Luis de Planes on the northern flank of Santa Barbara National Park. Another group might stay around the lake, or visit Cerro Azul Meambar National Park on the east side of Lago de Yojoa with someone from Aldea Global. Overnight in Lago de Yojoa.

Day 4

Group 1 dives. Overnight in Roatan.

Group 2 rises early for sunrise landscape shots of Pico Bonito National Park along the main highway. At 7:30 AM, group drives up the Rio Cangrejal watershed for landscape and rain forest river shots. Group returns to hotel at 11:00 AM, checks out and leaves for Tela, arriving in Tela for lunch at 1:30 PM. Check-in at hotel. At 3:00 PM group drives short distance to Lancetilla Botanical Garden, where photographers can split up and shoot different things (birds, trees, rain forest biological reserve, orchards, farms, etc.) Group returns to hotel at dusk. Overnight in Tela

Nota para IHT: Habría que pedir entrada gratis a Lancetilla para los fotógrafos. El grupo puede ofrecer el derecho de uso sobre las imágenes que toman.

Group 3 departs Lago de Yojoa at 7:00 AM, arriving at the town of Gracias at 10:00 AM. Check in to Hotel. Group will split up to photograph different villages and other attractions. Overnight in Gracias.

Day 5

Group 1 departs hotel at around 6:00 AM for transfer to ferry, which leaves Roatan at 7:00 AM, arriving in La Ceiba at 9:00 AM. Group is met at municipal dock by team from Cayos Cochinos Foundation. 10:00 AM boat transfer to Cayos Cochinos. Afternoon dive. Overnight in Cayos Cochinos Research Station.

Group 2 rises pre-dawn for early AM departure for Jeannette Kawas NP in boat, walking through forest and beaches, lunch of fried fish. Early PM leave in boat to Miami, tour Laguna de los Micos in boat, photograph village life, dinner in Miami. Van will meet group in Miami for return drive to Tela. Overnight in Tela.

Group 3 rises early, checks out of hotel and begins tour of town of Gracias and outlying villages. Group may split up with the help of the IHT/Spanish Govt. project headquartered in Gracias. Day trip to La Campa and San Manuel de Colohete. Time is too short in this itinerary to visit Celaque National Park. Group departs Gracias at 2:00 PM, arriving at Copan Ruinas for 4:30 PM check-in at hotel. Overnight in Copan.

Day 6

Group 1 has two options, depending on CC logistics. If the CC boat can return at 5:30 AM, arriving in La Ceiba by 7:00 AM, then the group can dive all day and overnight in Cayos Cochinos. If this is not practical, then group can dive in the AM and overnight in La Ceiba or Tela. Overnight TBD.

Group 2 makes early AM departure for Punta Izopo NP in vehicle, tour the mangrove canals in sit-on-top kayaks, take along lunch. Hike to the beach and rainforest, return to vehicle, late PM in Garífuna village of Triunfo de la Cruz, traditional dinner. Return to hotel. Overnight in Tela.

Group 3 rises early with special permission to tour the ruins beginning at 6:00 AM. (IHT must request permission from Professor Oscar Cruz and images of the ruins should be offered to the IHAH). Afternoon photo opportunities include Macaw Mountain Bird Park, the butterfly and orchid house, Hacienda San Lucas, Los Sapos site, village of La Pintada, coffee farms, etc. Many of these sites are close enough for individual photographers to split up go by taxi. Overnight in Copan.

Day 7

Group 1 departs Cayos Cochinos at 5:00 AM on boat to La Ceiba, then travels by van to SPS (making a few roadside stops to shoot morning landscapes of Pico Bonito National Park) arriving at Ramón Villeda Morales Int. Airport (SPS) at 9:30 AM, for TACA flight 390, which leaves at 11:25 AM. If logistics make spending Monday night in Cayos Cochinos impossible, then group will leave at the appropriate time from La Ceiba or Tela.

Group 2 departs Tela at 8:00 AM, arriving at Ramón Villeda Morales Int. Airport (SPS) at 9:30 AM, for TACA flight 390, which leaves at 11:25 AM.

Group 3 departs Copan at 7:00 AM, arriving at Ramón Villeda Morales Int. Airport (SPS) at 9:30 AM, for TACA flight 390, which leaves at 11:25 AM.