Pulhapanzak Waterfalls: how to get there, prices and the history behind this place in Honduras

At Pulhapanzak waterfalls, you can have fun with the activities it offers, as well as learn about its history and curiosities. Here we tell you everything.

Pulhapanzak Falls is one of the most visited tourist attractions for its rich history and its waterfalls of white, crystal-clear water.

This impressive 43-meter-high waterfall is located just 17 kilometers from Lake Yojoa , in a small village called San Buenaventura. Upon arriving at the village, you must walk about 300 meters to reach the private spa where the Pulhapanzak Waterfalls are located .

There are buses that travel between the two communities on a completely paved road, however, if you are traveling from San Pedro Sula , you must take the road that leads to the town of Rio Lindo and from there to San Buenaventura. But if you are traveling from Tegucigalpa, you must go to the end of the lake and then take the detour to the left, towards Peña Blanca.

Prices of activities you can do at Pulhapanzak Waterfalls

• Spa.
• Canopy.
• Archaeological Site (you can see pre-Hispanic remains).
• Area for playing soccer.
• 6 cabins so you can relax surrounded by nature.
• Restaurants with different exquisite dishes.
• Trails.
• Natural pools to swim and cool off.
• Camping areas.
• Children’s games for the little ones at home.
• The viewpoint where the falls are.
• Cave tours at the foot of the waterfall.
• River tubing.

The fun river tubing will captivate your attention; this is a ride, on a float, on the fast and powerful river for approximately two hours.

Prices vary according to the activity you choose to do at the falls. The entrance fee for adults is 120 lempiras, children over 5 years old, 80 lempiras, and children under 5 years old do not pay entrance.

The canopy costs 550 lempiras, the tour behind the Falls 400 lempiras, river tubing 550 lempiras and camping 200 lempiras.

Main curiosities of Pulhapanzak Falls:

•     The name “Pulhapanzak” means “white water” and comes from the Nahuatl language, however, other studies suggest that it comes from other native languages ​​and means “white water river, waterfall, White River slide.”

•     Walt Disney was inspired by Pulhapanzak Waterfall to create the Jungle Book. He was very detailed in his drawings and that is why he traveled to Honduras to personally adapt it.

• At Pulhapanzak Falls, you can still see evidence of volcanic rocks. You can see stones from millions of years ago. The community of San Francisco has even used them to make some kind of fences. 

• Very close to the site there are craters, the largest being Cerro Babilonia with a diameter of one kilometer and the second crater with an approximate diameter of 500 meters.

• They are considered the most beautiful waterfalls in Honduras and Central America, due to their white, crystal-clear waters.

• The impact of the water with the bottom of the waterfall generates a cloud of dew that can rise up to 50 meters above ground level.

• In 2011, it was recognized as the Wonder of Honduras.

History of Pulhapanzak:

History takes us back to how this beautiful waterfall in Honduras was created. According to scientists, this impressive waterfall was formed thousands of years ago by a volcanic eruption: rivers of lava flowed through it, which is now a wonderful waterfall of white water.

Pulhapanzak Falls has been a national park since 1976, when it was acquired by Hector Sabillon Cruz, former mayor of San Pedro Sula, from his grandmother. Since then, the site has been renovated to become one of the largest tourist attractions in Honduras.

Discoveries they have made at the falls:

With both locals and local guides, you can discover the interesting history of the archaeological remains that have been found at the so-called Pulhapanzak Archaeological Site. It is believed that the remains found in the area could have been the center of an ancient culture that preceded the Mayans.

Upon reaching the parking lot of Pulhapanzak Falls, you can see 4 columns showing a clear pre-Hispanic urban construction system, and in the center of them, there is a main square. This gives the impression of having been the economic and social center of the ancient community.

You can see the ancient stone paths that lead from the main square to the pools that form the Rio Lindo, which shows that the ancient inhabitants made the most of the natural resources that the place offered to satisfy their basic needs and for recreation. You can also see small pieces of pottery and other objects found, which are studied by archaeologists.

The archaeological site of Pulhapanzak was recorded within the framework of the Yojoa Lake Basin Archaeological Project led by Dr. George Hasseman in 1990, belongs to the pre-Hispanic period and belongs to the late classic period (600 AD – 900 AD).

The Pulhapanzak Falls are located outside the Maya area, however, it is possible that it was a culture closely related to the culture that originated the settlement of the Los Naranjos Archaeological site.