DIPA Sites - Cerro Palenque

Located in the Sula Valley only 40 km from the major industrial city of San Pedro Sula, Cerro Palenque is one of the least developed sites of the PDRVC. To begin creating this archaeological park, the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH) acquired 109 hectares here in 1997. With its strategic position overlooking the confluence of the Ulúa and Comayagua Rivers, the inhabitants of Cerro Palenque controlled trade and access to the valley, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Sula Valley.

With its proximity to the major city of San Pedro Sula, Cerro Palenque is well positioned to attract large numbers of visitors and students. In addition to the ruins themselves, the landscape has been allowed to regenerate and is now covered in secondary forest. No tourist infrastructure, such as telephone, water, food, parking, bathrooms, signage or trails, currently exists at Cerro Palenque. DIPA will be working at Cerro Palenque to develop the site's first management plan.