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Best of Central America

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A asked our guests: Why Honduras?

I picked our guests from Victoria, British Colombia yesterday to bring them to La Villa de Soledad. After our brief, auto introduction to each other, I blurted out: Why Honduras? (Poor Honduras has such a bad, unfair reputation, that most travelers go out of their way not to visit us, so it is always interesting and learning to listen to the reasons they decided upon visiting Honduras.)

As it turns out, Lauren has been to pretty much the rest of Central America, however for her husband Tristan this is the first time to Central America. It turns out that Tristan wanted to visit the Caribbean, and Lauren wanted to visit Central America. This basically left two options: Belize and Honduras.

For the adventure traveler, there is just so much more to see and do in Honduras than in Belize that they quickly decided on visiting Honduras. With only a week to enjoy vacations in Honduras, they decided that La Ceiba and Roatan seemed like the ideal destinations. This is of course  absolutely true. You can enjoy the best of tropical Central America around La Ceiba, especially along the Cangrejal River Valley, where hiking, zip line canopy tours, white water rafting and swimming in one of the most beautiful rivers in Central America are all possible and within walking distance of several different lodges and accommodations, including La Villa de Soledad B&B.

Cangrejal River: how do I get there?

With only a 30 minute drive from the Cangrejal River to the port facility in La Ceiba, you can catch one of two daily departures from La Ceiba to both, Roatan and Utila, and be in an authentic, Caribbean setting within one hour if headed to Utila and 1½ hours if headed to Roatan! Diving in the Bay Islands is absolutely spectacular: you see the Bay Islands of Honduras are actually on the southernmost end of the Meso American Barrier Reef, the most biodiverse barrier coral reef in the World! It also offers the best preserved conditions in all of the Caribbean, allowing you to dive in near pristine conditions. Add the fact that Utila is world famous for its affordable prices to get scuba certified and to spot the majestic whale shark year round, and Roatan is famous for its spectacular West Bay beach and you find the perfect match! The above seems sum up the answer to my why Honduras question!

About Pico Bonito National Park

Best of all, Honduras is not overrun by tourists, you will enjoy hiking in trails in peace and quiet, snorkeling and diving with small groups, and most importantly, you will discover that Hondurans  are friendly, charming people that will go out of their way to keep you safe and make memorable vacations out of your time in Honduras! Now you know why Honduras. No more reasons needed, hurry and book your Honduras trip before everyone discovers the truth about why Honduras is the best travel destination in Central America and the Caribbean!

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White Water Rafting in Atlantida: one of the truly unique activities to enjoy in Central America!

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea, and the rugged Nombre de Dios Mountains, you will find the department of Atlantida, one of the 18 departments that Honduras is divided into. Atlantida offers a magnificent territory that is abundant in nature; it actually has a total of 7 protected areas that are legally declared and part of the Honduras National Park system within its territory.

The largest of these areas  in Atlantida is Pico Bonito National Park, which is separated from its neighbor, Nombre de Dios National Park by the beautiful and mighty Cangrejal River. The river, which is born in the high, jungle clad mountains of Atlantida and Yoro descends rapidly towards the Caribbean, in one of the steepest runs you will find in Central America. It drops from an altitude of 250 plus meters to sea level in only 30 kilometers, forming small falls, drops and lovely natural pools, creating a technical run that offers class III and IV, and even an occasional class V rapid.

Here, in the heart of Central America, where Central America meets the Caribbean, you will find the best white water rafting in Central America: yes white water rafting in Atlantida is truly World Class! Best of all, is the temperature of the water in the Cangrejal River. A far cry from the normally frigid waters where good rafting can be found, water  in the Cangrejal River is delightfully pleasant, which makes white water rafting in Atlantida one of the preferred activities to be enjoyed in all of Honduras. Its close proximity to the Bay Islands of Honduras means that travelers enjoying their vacations on these lovely Caribbean Islands can easily do a day visit to the mainland for a white water rafting experience.

about rafting in Honduras

Many, though, prefer to spend a few nights in the area, to enjoy all of the adventure and nature activities available here. Most of those that do choose to stay within the Cangrejal River Valley, where there are several different lodges to choose from, including the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B.

You can choose between several different rafting outfitters that operate in the Cangrejal River Valley. Most of their guides are licensed river guides by the International Rafting Federation. White water rafting in Atlantida is an absolutely great activity that you should not pass on!

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Are you dreaming about the perfect vacation?

A perfect vacation… We all work hard throughout the year to be able to take a much needed vacation. In addition more and more psychologists are saying that true happiness and well being is best provided by the pleasant experiences achieved during out times of travel. All this being said, it seems really important to be able to plan and enjoy the perfect vacation!

But where can we go to have the perfect vacation? Being able to visit different sites that complement each other is usually one of the top factors to take into consideration when planning the perfect vacation. But then you do not want to spend half of your vacation time traveling from one site to the other …

Nestled just off the coast of Central America, in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, you will find a beautiful small archipelago of islands known as the Bay Islands of Honduras. The largest and most developed of these islands is called Roatan. With a population of 60,000 souls, it has an international airport that is serviced by the most important US airlines, who offer flights from Miami, Atlanta, Dallas – Fort Worth and Houston.  Flying time from these gateways is less than 2 ½ hours, making it a short, easy, and most of all affordable trip.

The Perfect Vacation
Paya Bay in Roatan’s East End.

Roatan offers everything an idyllic Caribbean island is supposed to have: white sand beaches fringed with palm trees, friendly people, outstanding coral reefs that are truly healthy and unique, friendly people, beach bars and lovely island resorts. The one island drawback, the fact that it is an island and therefore somewhat isolated from other places does not apply to Roatan. You see there is a state of the art water jet catamaran ferry that runs twice daily between Roatan and mainland Central America, with a travel time of approximately 90 minutes!

Pico Bonito National Park: how to get there & What to expecto
Roatan Ferry arriving in La Ceiba

This means that getting to from Roatan to the coast of Central America is a “piece of cake” Within less than 20 minutes from the port in La Ceiba, you can find yourself in a true tropical paradise, where the rain forests of Central America are within majestic, green clad mountains, with cristal clear rivers and creeks rushing towards the nearby Caribbean. Truly the setting for the perfect vacation: Tropical paradise and Caribbean beaches… What more can you ask for? The Cangrejal River Valley offers outstanding lodging facilities, such as La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast, a lovely, unique boutique hotel in the forests of Nombre de Dios National Park.

The Perfect Vacation
Aerial View of the Cangrejal River Valley

The setting in the mainland is ideal for white water rafting, zip line canopy tours, hiking in the rain forests and bird watching, amongst many other activities. Go ahead and plan the perfect vacations, come to Honduras, and have the vacation of a lifetime!

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Are you looking for the best hotel in La Ceiba?

There is no doubt that the best place to stay in La Ceiba is the Cangrejal River Valley. Here you will find the best of nature, the best of peace and quiet and the best activities to enjoy. This being said, you will also find the best hotel in La Ceiba!

La Villa de Soledad B&B, the best hotel in La Ceiba

La Villa de Soledad B&B is the best Hotel in La Ceiba! Who says so? Check out what our guests think on tripadvisor. You will find that we consistently get raving reviews about our location, our service and our facilities. The setting is absolutely stunning, the facilities are comfortable and cozy, the service is friendly and hospitable, and the activities that you can enjoy are many a varied.

We can truly say that coming to La Ceiba, and not staying in the best hotel in La Ceiba is a real mistake, especially when it is son affordable! Our low season rates, which span from August 30 till December 16th are only $75 US per room in double occupancy and including taxes and tips! Now if that is not a deal what is?

La Villa de Soledad B&B is such a good deal, that visiting the nearby Bay Islands of Utila and Roatan, and not stopping in La Ceiba for a couple of days to relax in best Hotel in La Ceiba is truly an unforgivable mistake.

Best Hotel in La Ceiba

La Villa de Soledad offers direct access to two National Parks, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios, great natural swimming areas in the Cangrejal River, and best of all outstanding hospitality and knowledge of the area. Best of all the bilingual innkeepers will go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable and satisfied. Come, discover the Cangrejal River Valley and some of the best kept secrets in Central America at the Cangrejal River Valley in La Ceiba!

Do yourself a favor, do not pay attention to what the travel warnings and the press have to say about Honduras. Check out the different comments that fellow travelers have put up as reviews in the diverse properties around the Cangrejal River. You will find that the area is safe, peaceful, and relaxing. Pamper yourself by visiting La Villa De Soledad B&B, the best hotel in La Ceiba!

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Looking for Great Central America Travel Blog?

Despite the fact that there are a lot of travelers visiting Central America, there are truly very few up to date Central America Travel Blog pages out there! Central America is visited by many different travelers, from luxury to adventure seeking tourists. Some are backpackers on a budget; others may have no budget at all as they follow their quest for truly unique, unforgettable vacations.

Although many different travel bloggers have come through Central America over the years, and written about, their information is many times way outdated. So what do great tips on outdated information lead to? Well you never know… There is no doubt that there is a need for an updated Central America travel blog.

Being an expat who has lived in Central America for over 25 years, and speaking fluent Spanish, I have started a Central America travel blog for Honduras under the web page for my bed and breakfast: La Villa de Soledad. I used to be the owner and editor of Honduras tips, a travel guide of Honduras that has become an important tool for travelers visiting Honduras. Although I sold the publication and its rights five years ago, I am still very much in touch with the travel reality of Honduras, and because I own and operate a boutique bed and breakfast with my family, still have a hands on feel for tourism in Honduras. Feel free to ask questions request tips about travel throughout Honduras. I try to put up a daily post in my blog, so you may find that what you need to know is already there!

John Dupuis author of two central america travel blog pages

I have also traveled extensively throughout Nicaragua, and have set up a web page with up to date travel information. Feel free to check it out and ask any questions about Nicaragua if you have any that are not already answered within the blog! I sincerely hope that my Central America travel blogs are useful to you!

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Honduras Offers Unique Beats and Rhythm in Central America!

When you think of Latin America, the sounds, rhythms, and beats are usually those of mariachi songs, ranchero music, corridos and perhaps some boleros. This is generally the same for all of Mexico and Central America. However when you come to this little country in the middle of Central America, you will find that things are different. Yes, in Honduras, unique beats and rhythm in Central America offer you a different, happier perspective that will get your body up and dancing to the beating of drums.

You see, Honduras has the largest Caribbean cultural influence within Central America. The Garifuna people, who are originally a mixture of African blacks and Carib Indians from the island of St. Vincent, have been present in Honduras for over 200 years. They brought their own culture, their own music, their own style of getting a good party going. Moreover, they have the music within themselves. It is incredible to see young kids take over an empty can or bucket, turn it around and transform it into a drum with their incredibly prodigious hands! Truly, all they need is an old bucket to get a party going!

Honduras is famous for its “punta” rhythm, which is created with a lot of percussion from drums, and danced with a very erotic movement of the hips. The most famous Honduran song is probably “Sopa de Caracol” or translated, “Conch Soup”. The song, with its punta rhythm is a truly Honduran expression that will get any Honduran around the world up and dancing within seconds!

Truly, Honduras, offers unique beats and rhythm in Central America that makes it the liveliest party in the region! Nowhere else will you get experience this unique festive mode that in the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. The city of San Pedro Sula, as well as the port cities of Puerto Cortes, Tela, La Ceiba and Trujillo are all perfect scenarios to join the party and learn how to dance to the rhythm of Punta.

Rhythm in Central America

If you are on your way to the Bay Islands of Roatan or Utila, take a few days off to stay in La Ceiba, and visit one of the nearby Garifuna villages; both Corozal and Sambo Creek offer a friendly, safe environment to visit and learn more about this unique culture, which has been awarded the status of Intangible World Heritage by the UNESCO. Plan to stay a couple of nights at La Villa de Soledad B&B where we will be happy to help you arrange a day tour to the Garifuna Villages. The Tranquility at the Cangrejal River Valley is perfect to relax after a day of partying with the Garifuna people!

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Looking into getting scuba certified in Honduras?

Is Honduras really the place to go to get scuba certified? The answer is a definite yes! Getting scuba certified in Honduras is easy, affordable and most of all fun! Honduras has actually carved itself a name in the diving world as the most affordable place to dive and get certified in the world.

You will probably ask me, how can a country in Central America be so outstanding to get scuba certified? Well, if you look at a map, things will start to make sense… fast!

First of all, Central America is bathed by the Caribbean Sea! Second, Honduras is the one country in Central America that is most developed on the Caribbean coast, most of the other countries are more developed on their Pacific coast. And third, Honduras is the only Central America country that actually has a small archipelago on the Caribbean; the Bay Islands of Honduras. The Archipelago has 6 islands and many tiny cays, this without counting the Hog Cays, or Cayos Cochinos, which consists of two small islands and 13 sand cays.

Of the 6 main islands that form the Bay Islands of Honduras, three are permanently inhabited, Utila, Roatan and Guanaja. All three offer unique and very different experiences to the traveler, each including diving. So you will ask, how should I go about getting scuba certified in Honduras?

There is no doubt that the most popular, most affordable, and probably the most fun is the island of Utila. There are over a dozen dive shops in Utila, and they all offer PADI courses from open water diving to different advanced courses. The Dive shops all have small hostels and inns where they offer special deals to the travelers that book the scuba courses with them, making your stay and certification truly affordable.

Perhaps the most outstanding trademark of getting scuba certified in Honduras is the fact that there is a true party atmosphere within the different bars as soon as the sun starts to set. Find one of the multiple bars, such as Tranquila Bar and Rehab, which are located on the waterfront for your first beers or cocktails of the day while you enjoy the sunset.  After, you can continue on to Skidrows, Treetanic Bar or even Casa Dr. John for a true party atmosphere and challenges that will earn you a much desired t shirt after guzzling down a series of shots. Check out this video to get an idea of what to expect!

Another good option for getting scuba certified in Honduras is the island of Roatan. This is a much bigger island than Utila, so you should plan on staying in the village of West End. Here you will find many different dive shops, and although the prices are not as cheap and the variety of bars are not as wild as those in Utila, you will still find a very affordable destination with good entertainment for your scuba certification.

You should take note that most travelers heading to the bay islands in their quest for getting scuba certified in Honduras pass through the city of La Ceiba on the mainland just to catch the ferry to the islands. This is a big mistake! If you are coming this far, you should make sure you check out the Cangrejal River Valley, a truly beautiful spot that is unique in Central America. Natural scenery, great white water rafting and zip line canopy tours, hiking in the rain forests and relaxing in nature are just a few of the options you will find there.

Make sure that you do not miss out visiting the Cangrejal River Valley when following your mission of getting scuba certified in Honduras. You will thank me for having given you the tip of this beautiful area in La Ceiba. If you are looking for a place to be pampered, check out La Villa de Soledad B&B a lovely boutique property on the Cangrejal River that has been awarded the trip advisor Travelers Choice award in 2014 and 2015.

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Are you familiar with the natural aromas of Central America?

To me, an aroma is a particular smell that produces a flashback, a kind of déjà vu experience that happens as soon as our mind perceives a particular aroma.  I cannot control this flashback, and fortunately for me, the memories are always beautiful and pleasant! There is no doubt that every region of the world, every different culture, has its unique aromas…

Central America has many different aromas, and without doubt, one of the strongest natural aromas from Central America is the smell of a good tobacco cigar. It takes me back to happy, carefree times, when my Dad would pull out a cigar on a winding road as we approached our destination, it was his way of relaxing from a drive on the highway once he knew were almost there. I used to hate the smell of cigar, because we were not allowed to roll down the car windows, and therefore had to deal with both, the strong smell and smoke of the cigar and the winding curves. Miraculously, we always survived, and today, the smell of the same cigar brings back memories of those days when I was young and carefree, without any significant worries and Dad was always there to solve all problems. Honduras produces fine cigars, in two distinct, different areas of the county: the original cigar producing land in Honduras is in Western Honduras. Ever since colonial times, tobacco and cigars where produced in Santa Rosa de Copan, and to this day, La Flor de Copan produces cigars that are world renowned for their excellent quality!

The second area is in Eastern Honduras, around the city of Danli. After the Cuban revolution, several prominent families that produced tobacco in Cuba smuggled some of their Cuban tobacco seed to Central America, and set up shop in both Nicaragua and Honduras. Many of those that established themselves in Nicaragua ended up fleeing once again after the Sandinista Revolution, and ended up in Danli. Today there is a huge cigar industry that is prosperous both in Danli in Honduras and Esteli in Nicaragua. One of the secrets for the great popularity of Honduran and Nicaraguan cigars is that Cuban seed that was smuggled in the late nineteen fifties…

Another one of the natural aromas of Central America is of course rum. Although Honduras does not produce good rum, Central America is famous for its rums, and probably the most famous of all is Flor de Cana, great Nicaraguan rum produced in Chinandega, on the North Western tip of Nicaragua.

natural aromas of central america

But pardon me for digressing on the natural aromas of Central America… The fact is that I am sitting in our porch trying to write a post for my web page, and I keep getting these overwhelming bursts of aromas from our “nance” tree. Nance is a small yellow fruit with a seed inside it. Although it can be extremely sour, our tree has what Soledad, my wife claims are the biggest, sweetest nances to be found anywhere… We are in full nance season, and this only means it’s a matter of days before the entire neighborhood kids stop by asking if they can pick up the nances that are on the floor. Personally, I hate the taste and aroma of this small little fruit, but Central Americans absolutely love it! Definitely nance is one of the natural aromas of Central America that I truly dislike, however it is one of the local favorites in the region. I must confess that while I dislike the smell, I do love to see the kids having a wee of a time picking them up and eating them!

natural aromas of Central America

As I write, I am now being distracted by at least four keel billed toucans that are sitting up in the tree branches calling out for their mates…. Talk about a scandal! But that is another story for another time!

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Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad, a perfect match?

After years of exploring Honduras, in search for new unique experiences for the traveler in this part of the World, I am still astonished by what I find! I was exploring the Los Micos Lagoon this weekend when I came across Los Olingos, located deep in the shores of this large lagoon. My immediate thoughts were that these two unique resorts were a perfect match! When trying to come up with the way to describe how Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad can complement each other, I recalled the old song that Frank Sinatra used to sing: love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage…. Truly, Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad go together beautifully, and offer the perfect combination of an eco adventure or an eco relaxed trip to Atlantida, “Central Americas’ Caribbean Heart”.

Getting to Los Olingos is an experience in itself: First you must get to the Garifuna village of Miami, located in the Bay of Tela, on a narrow sandbar between Los Micos Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. This is the most authentic Garifuna Village on mainland Central America, and is itself, worth a visit to get more acquainted with the Garifuna culture, which has been awarded the status of Intangible Human Heritage by the UNESCO! At the entrance to Miami, I came across a nice dock next to a shaded deck, where I was greeted by the friendly staff of Los Olingos, who after introcing themselves, led us to our boat to commence the last part of the journey to Los Olingos, a 20 minute boat ride through mangrove canals and across the huge Los Micos Lagoon.

At Los Olingos we were greeted by friendly staff who immediately offered us a glass of chilled coconut water, that had just been taken from their plentiful coconut plantation. Truly a delightful welcome. The complex consists of several historical wooden homes that were built a century ago a were part of the executive residences for the Tela Railroad Company management. The homes where purchased in Tela, and then carefully taken apart and rebuilt, completely refurbished, in their current location. Extensive porches, fine wooden details and lots of cross ventilation, you will feel like transported to time when life was much more relaxed and when nature still surrounded the communities in the world.

Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad

Los Olingos gets its name from the howler monkeys that inhabit in the adjacent forests to the property. These loud critters emit intimidating sounds, but are actually harmless and stay away from humans. For a trip to Los Olingos you should plan on at least 3 nights, to enjoy visiting Miami and Punta Sal, exploring the mangrove forests and canals, do some  bird-watching or get to know the adjacent community of Agua Blanca and its friendly people. You can also of course simply relax in a hammock and enjoy the cool breeze blowing across the lagoon…

Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad

Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad are the perfect match, they both offer a relaxing setting, but in very different environments. They are located about 2 hours away from each-other, and while at the first you will enjoy the mangrove forests, in the second you can enjoy hiking in the rain-forests of Pico Bonito National Park.  In Los Olingos you will enjoy some leisurely paddling through mangrove canals and at La Villa de Soledad you will have the opportunity to experience the best white water in Honduras, possibly in Central America and the Caribbean. The sounds of nature are magnificent at both Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad, but they are very different between each other! For the perfect nature and adventure vacation in Atlantida, plan on a week, and spend three nights each at Los Olingos and La Villa de Soledad, located on the Cangrejal River Valley.

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Are  you looking for the ideal destination for active tourism in Central America?

There is a lovely, up and coming destination in Central America that offers many different options for the active tourist looking for unique experiences. A destination that offers a variety of adrenalin pumping experiences, such as white water rafting, canyoning and rappelling down tropical waterfalls hidden behind dense rainforests protected within national parks. Where hiking and horseback riding offer faraway places with picturesque small communities nestled in the mountains of Nombre de Dios Range. Tropical beaches inhabited by the Garifuna people, whose ancestral customs have been declared intangible cultural World heritage by UNESCO. A destination where you can snorkel and dive in the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean and relax in white sand beaches while you listen to the drums beating under the rhythmic hands of the Garifuna people…

This destination, which seems like a dream come true, actually exists: Atlantida, the heart of Central America’s Caribbean is located in Honduras, and is the gateway to the World famous Bay Islands of Honduras: Roatan, Utila and Guanaja.

Reizen Magazine from the Netherlands recently published an article titled “Coast to Coast” written by photographer Fritz Meyst. The article includes information on three Central American countries: Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. In it, Meyst refers to La Ceiba as the perfect destination for active tourism in Central America.

Active tourism in Central America

One of the highlights of La Ceiba in Atlantida is the Cangrejal River Valley, a unique location with incredible scenery, magnificent tropical rainforests and many small businesses that offer the best of Honduran hospitality to the adventure tourist looking for active tourism in Central America.  Although only 8 km from downtown La Ceiba, and 12 km from the ferry terminal to the Bay Islands, the Cangrejal River Valley offers the perfect setting for a great active tourism in Central America vacation.

Come and visit the Cangrejal River Valley, and stay at the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B. Book your room now and enjoy the best active tourism in Central America while staying with us!

 

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