Lagoons and petroglyphs Las Marias (6 days)

The famous Las Marias petroglyph trip combined with beach & lagoons.

Day 1

After breakfast we leave La Ceiba in a bush hopper plane. Arriving in Brus Lagoon we take a motorized dug-out canoe through the Lagoon of Brusthrough channels to Lagoon de Ibans, arriving in the village of Raista. There we have our 1st meal cooked on a typical adobe oven.

The village is on a strip of land between the lagoon and the Caribbean, a short walk will take you to the sea with views of beautiful sandy beaches for miles to the east and west. We walk along the wild empty beaches to the neighboring village, where we can find the last fridge for the next few days. Tonight we will be accommodated by a local family. Eating typical foods of the Garifuna, sleeping and staying in their rustic yet cozy, mosquito-safe guest rooms.

Day 2

After having the local breakfast (or some cereals from our own supply) we cross the lagoon and head to a small river on the other side to look for monkeys and to do a beautiful hike to petroglyphs. We will have a lunch in the jungle and return to Rais Ta to enjoy another night and great filling meals of Dona Elma’s kitchen.

Day 3

We have a good breakfast and say goodbye to our friends at Rais Ta as we head through a channel between the Laguna de Ibans and make our way to the Rio Platano. We will go up river until we reach Las Marias, a Miskito village, on the river side. The boat trip is absolutely breathtaking, so enjoy the beautiful scenery and see how people are living out here in the wilderness.

In Las Marias we are accommodated again in a nice, but rustic hospedaje. We will be eating typical food, prepared by a local Miskito family. There are no restaurants anyway! In the afternoon, local artisans will come to show us their handicrafts and goods for sale. We can take a walk through the village and meet people as well, or just hang out on the porch of our cabanas.

Day 4

We wake up early and have Miskito style breakfast or goodies from our own supply. After a little hike to the next village, (a Pech village) we find our pipantes in which local guides work us (with paddles and long poles) upriver until we reach the petroglyph site. On the way we get out of our pipantes and hike into the Jungle, to learn something about the plants and wildlife in this area.

The petroglyphs are supposedly 3000 to 5000 years old and are considered to show the way to the White City. They are a world monument, protected by the UNO. That’s the right spot for our river-lunch before we head back to Las Marias. We will spend the night in Las Marias again.

Day 5

In the morning we head back down the Rio Platano and make our way to Brus Lagoon to get another boat ride to Yamari. This wonderful place out in the Llanos behind Brus! This night is the night to see alligators. Equipped with torches we go on a short boat ride out into the mangroves. Some opportunities exist to swim and kayak in the crystal clear waters here.

Day 5

Starting early morning with a lagoon and a labyrinth of Mangrove channels (very mystic and beautiful in the first daylight). We come to Brus Lagoon airport where, after our last typical breakfast the propeller plane brings us back to La Ceiba.