Day 2: Tuesday

Leaving the vehicles at the end of the jeep trail continue on foot and with pack mules into the forests of the Cuyamel River valley. At the river's first navigable point transfer to the dugout canoe "pipante" for the journey to the first campsite at the river bank.

Bird watchers should be alert to see the endangered scarlet macaw, great green macaws, toucans and other parrots.

A two hours' journey brings you downstream to the next camp; Matamoros, located atop a river bluff, its location gives a commanding view of the river and its valley. From here onward to the Miskitocoast. Your diet consists of local balanced food with some international additions. Overnight in Matamoros.

Remark: The Matamoros campsite is run by the Patuca Foundation in collaboration with the Grupo Ecologico Olancho, GEO, a local non-governmental organization. In 1996 the Patuca Foundation received authorization from the Honduran government to manage 105 hectares of deforested rain forest in Matamoros within the Patuca National Park. Currently, Patuca/GEO are establishing the experimental, Matamoros Model Farm in this area as a means of deterring the ever encroaching agricultural front; promoting ecotourism with the campsite infrastructure as a means of generating income for local inhabitants; and have future plans to establish a Scientific Research Station in an effort to conserve the biodiversity of Honduran tropical rain forests.