Practical travel information on Health in La Moskitia

Health & safety

Dangers & annoyances

As in any large swath of rainforest or wilderness, travel in the Moskitia has a unique set of difficulties, dangers and annoyances.

First and foremost, never venture into the rainforest without a guide. Trails are faint and overgrown, and even experienced hikers can become hopelessly lost within a matter of minutes.

Traveling at night (by boat, truck or foot) can be dangerous, so avoid trying to do too much in any one day. Boats can break down, paths can be washed out, rivers can become impassable: you should always leave yourself several hours of daylight as a cushion in case problems arise. Remember that guides and boatmen – eager to please – may go along with an overly ambitious plan, assuming you understand the risks.

Likewise, avoid crossing Laguna de Ibans and especially Brus Laguna and Laguna de Caratasca late in the day – afternoon winds create large waves that can swamp or sink a boat. Though such incidents are rare, it’s even rarer for boats to have lifejackets or radios in case of an emergency. Better to plan ahead so your crossings are in the morning, even if it means having to wake up extra early or ‘losing’ an afternoon along the way.

And remember, all plans in the Moskitia are provisional. Planes, boats, trucks and buses can all be delayed for hours or days. On the same note, you may well find you want more time than you planned for. Build flexibility into your itinerary to account for unexpected changes of either sort. Changing tickets or plans is usually fairly easy, as all the towns are connected by radio.