A must for those interested in Honduras' diverse wildlife and ecology, Cuero y Salado is a coastal manatee and wildlife refuge where the Cuero and Salado Rivers meet the ocean.
The refuge contains over 13 square kilometers of tropical wet and mangrove forests. Monkeys, sloths, caimans, crocodiles, iguanas, and turtles are common sights together with over 350 species of birds.
The refuge's most famous inhabitant is the elusive and endangered West Indian Manatee with an estimated population of 50 individuals.
Getting there is half the adventure. After a short drive from the Lodge, you will travel in a small motorized train or a pushcart called a "burra" along the narrow-gauge railway that leads through pastures and coconut plantations to the mouth of the Salado River. You will tour the wildlife-rich estuaries in a small motorized skiff or if you prefer a hand-paddled canoe.
For wildlife viewing, this trip is best started in the early morning. Lunch is provided back at The Lodge.
Manatee refuge boating trip - $70 per person with lunch.
