Eco adventure in Honduras
Central America has slowly been carving a place in the world travel market as an eco adventure destination. While it is true that Costa Rica has been the leader in this process, other countries in the region have followed suit, and are now being considered as great eco vacations destinations. Such is the case of Panama and Belize, however, there is no doubt in my mind that the least known, yet most attractive eco destination in Central America is Honduras! Eco Adventure in Honduras offers many different facets, but most experts agree that the hub for the best eco adventures in the country is the Caribbean Port City of La Ceiba.
La Ceiba is the capital of the department of Atlantida, a rich, extremely bio diverse region that is nestled between the rugged Nombre de Dios Mountains and the idyllic Caribbean Sea. Within this department are a total of 8 protected areas, some are National Parks, others Wildlife Refuges, and there is even a Tropical Botanical Garden and a Marine Monument with some of the best preserved reefs in the Caribbean! La Ceiba is also the gateway to the remote, pristine area that Honduras shares with Nicaragua on the Caribbean, known as the Mosquito Coast, a name that it gets from the original natives: the Miskito Indians.
Within Atlantida, there are two outstanding hubs from where you can plan your eco adventure in Honduras: The Beach City of Tela and the seaside city of La Ceiba. The first is famous for its beaches, the second for its mountains, as well as for being a hub from where travelers take their maritime transportation from mainland Honduras to the Bay Islands.
This second option, La Ceiba, has a massive, iconic mountain on its backside, Pico Bonito, which rises virtually from sea level to over 8000 feet very abruptly. Pico Bonito, part of the Nombre de Dios Mountain Range in Honduras, is the most rugged and steep area in all of Central America. It is probably also the most bio diverse geographical area in Central America, with some of the most inaccessible tropical rain forests in the North Western Hemisphere. It is here, where you will find one of the best spots in Central America for an eco adventure in Honduras: The Cangrejal River Valley. The Valley is tucked away between two protected areas, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks. There are a total of 10 small hostels, inns and bed and breakfasts, 4 tour operators and many different activities, all of them related to nature and adventure. Best of all is the fact that this perfect area for an Eco Adventure in Honduras is located only 9 kilometers, the equivalent to less than 6 miles from the City of La Ceiba. This makes this lovely valley a perfect combination for travelers that are headed towards the World Famous Bay Islands of Honduras. Both Roatan and Utila, and to a lesser degree Guanaja, are in the bucket list of places to go to for many travelers that are visiting Central America, and most of them will end up passing through La Ceiba on their way to the islands, presenting the perfect combination for a beach and dive vacation with an eco adventure in Honduras at the Cangrejal River Valley! For more information on the Cangrejal River Valley, visit www.cangrejalriver.com or facebook page www.facebook/cangrejalrivervalley
