Best of Honduras

February 7, 2019

Best of Honduras Cayos Cochinos, Sambo Creek 0

Getting to the Hog Cays is Easy!

Cayos Cochinos are a pristine set of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Fortunately, they are not out in the middle of nowhere and impossible to get to. Getting to Cayos Cochinos is actually easier than you think! They are about 14 miles off the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. Cayos Cochinos are a true Caribbean Paradise! In total, there are 2 small islands and 13 tiny sandy cays. The area is under a protection status by the Honduran Government, as a National Marine Monument. This means there are rules to comply with when you visit the islands.

Sambo Creek is Offers the Best Way of Getting to the Hog Cays

There are two major launching points that provide the proper best options for getting to Cayos Cochinos. One is from the Garifuna Village of Sambo Creek, very near the city of La Ceiba. The other is from the Island of Roatan. Most people take the first option, which is much more affordable, however the boats and service are also quite a bit more basic. From Sambo Creek, getting to Cayos Cochinos will take you about 45 minutes. Because the boats are relatively small, the tour always leaves early in the morning and returns early in the afternoon, to insure they are back on the mainland before the surf gets rough.

From Roatan, you will find several different options. By far the best option is with Ruthless Roatan Charters. They offer a once a week from Roatan to Cayos Cochinos tour. Enjoy the trip in a vintage 41 foot Hatteras that has been fully refitted, and offers the classiest option as far as getting to Cayos Cochinos is concerned. The trip departs from West End at 7:00 a.m. and returns around 4:00 p.m. This is one heck of a tour!

Regardless of whether you are vacationing in Roatan or La Ceiba, a trip to Cayos Cochinos will certainly be one of the highlights of your trip. Many travelers like to experience both, La Ceiba and Roatan. If you would like to visit both, we, at La Villa de Soledad would be more than happy to help you arrange your trip to Cayos Cochinos departing from either location. Come and enjoy the magic of the tropical rain forests of Central America. , Then take a short trip to Roatan to relax in some of the best beaches in the World, in a true Vintage Caribbean Style!

February 6, 2019

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, Best of La Ceiba cangrejal river hotels, Cangrejal River Valley, Hotel in La Ceiba, La Ceiba Hotel, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park 0

Chatting with one of our guests this week he described La Villa de Soledad as a Jewel in the Jungle! I of course could not resist to write about this, so here I go…

The truth is that we are in the jungle and we do have a special place.

Getting to our Personal Jewel in the Jungle.

As is customary, I picked up our guests, Keith and Dana at the ferry dock. They arrived from Roatan on the Galaxy Wave ferry at 3:30 p.m. It took them a while to collect all their bags. The Ferry operation is outstanding; but they do need to work on the baggage collection. After meeting with them, we headed towards the Cangrejal River Valley. In total, we travel a distance of about 8 miles from the ferry to La Villa de Soledad.

Although a short drive, most of it is on a dirt road, which delays the arrival a few extra minutes. En route, it is normal for guests to reach a state of awe with the lush jungles and lovely river. About ten minutes after boarding the car, we are in a jungle road which follows the Cangrejal River. There is a dense forest coverage on both sides of the river. To the right is Pico Bonito National Park, to the left is Nombre de Dios National Park. It is easy to wonder where the heck it is you are headed for!

Keith shared with me that he did at one point ask himself if he had selected the right property to stay in. It seemed like we are on our way to a remote location, and the dense jungle made him think he would need to rough it out. He was looking for a nice place in the jungle, but was not particularly excited about rustic lodging!

First Impressions are Always Important!

A jewel in the jungle — Nestled in the tropical jungles of Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Parks.

After about 20 minutes up the Cangrejal River Road we arrived at our destination. A steep drive up the hill usually gets our guests wondering if the car will make it up. The truth is you do need a four wheel drive vehicle to make it up. Half way up the hill you finally are aware of the place you chose to stay in. Our lovely Hacienda style home sits on a small bluff overlooking the Cangrejal River. It also faces the lush green mountains of Pico Bonito National Park.

I love it when guests finally walk into what we call our living room and acts as the lobby for our Bed and Breakfast. High cathedral ceilings and open porches blend into the natural surroundings. They always draw some awe inspired sighs! “Wow”, and “Oh My God” are common expressions when our guests walk in.

We are proud of the photos that we have in our website, but the general consensus is that we need better photos. What we have does not do justice to our property! The truth is that we are proud of our jewel in the jungle. We love seeing the impression on our guests faces when they first arrive! It does make for great first impression! Of course, we work hard to keep that good impression throughout their stay.

So now you know… if you are looking for a special place in the tropical rain forests of Central America. Consider staying at La Villa de SoledadBed and Breakfast in Honduras. You will find that it is a true jewel in the jungle. Go ahead and book now, to make sure that you can enjoy this lovely paradise that we call home!

April 2, 2016

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, Best of the Bay Islands, Copan, National Parks, tourism in Honduras Atlantida, Bay Islands, Cangrejal River Valley, Copan, Copan ruinas, Guanaja, La Ceiba, Roatan, Tela, Utila

Honduras Travel, the New Honduras Travel Blog!

La Villa de Soledad B&B is happy to be associated to the new Honduras Travel Blog. This new site, which is the result of over 23 years of traveling around Honduras and being part of the tourism private sector in the country is yet one more effort to change the image of Honduras abroad and educate the potential traveler so that they can feel more secure and at ease when planning a trip and visiting Honduras!

This blog is meant to have a full, regularly updated section about the different destinations in the country, highlighting the different things to do, the unique National Parks to visit, as well as tips about where to stay, where to eat and how to be a better traveler within Honduras and Central America.

Honduras travel will also have regular travel posts, which will make up the blog, and share the experiences of someone who has traveled extensively throughout Central America. If you love Honduras, and feel that potential travelers are not getting a fair image of the country, pitch in, Honduras and the different tourism service entrepreneurs need all the help they can get!

Initially, Honduras Travel is offering information on the three most important and popular destinations in Honduras: Atlantida, with its hubs in the Cangrejal River, La Ceiba and Tela; The Bay Islands, including Guanaja, Roatan and Utila, and Copan, which includes Copan Ruinas and Santa Rosa de Copan. They will be expanding this initial limited information progressively, and are confident that they will soon become “The Travel Blog for Honduras”, with updated travel info on all of Honduras .

We are happy to share this breaking news with you, and invite you to visit the Honduras Travel web page and send Honduras Travel your comments and suggestions, as well as sharing the tips with your friends. They now have a facebook page as well as a twitter (@hondurastravel) account which you can follow. Surely Honduras Travel will become an important tool to market Honduras!

February 22, 2016

Best of Central America, Best of Honduras, tourism in Honduras Cangrejal River Valley, Caribbean, Central America, Roatan, Utila

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.

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!

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!

February 15, 2016

Best of Atlantida, Best of Central America, Best of Honduras Cangrejal River, pico bonito, Rafting in Pico Bonito

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.

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!

February 2, 2016

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, Best of the Bay Islands, tourism in Honduras Bay Islands of Honduras, Mainland Honduras, Roatan, Utila

Questions about Pico Bonito National Park?

This weekend I had a chance to travel to Utila for a couple of days. It was a work trip, but nonetheless, there is always time to kick back and relax. After the cold front that passed through the area the week before, the sky was clear, the ocean was calm, and traveling on board the new Utila Dream Ferry was truly a treat! Although I usually hide from the sun, as my skin does not take it very well, I could not resist traveling on the outside deck on the bow, and enjoying the scenery while feeling the fresh marine breeze blowing on my face…

And this is where my post about Pico Bonito National Park comes to be. You see, when the air is crisp and clean, you get a magnificent view of the Nombre de Dios Mountains and Pico Bonito National Park, especially from Utila, although you can also see it from Roatan. The skyline of the coast, with the rugged peaks jutting over the clouds makes you wonder about Pico Bonito National Park and everything it has to offer. Truly, a visit to the Caribbean Bay Islands of Honduras is magnificent, however a visit to the mainland to discover all there is about Pico Bonito National Park brings your visit to Honduras to a complete new level!

As seen from Utila, you can only imagine what lies within these spectacular, jungle clad mountains. From afar, you will notice that if you look towards the east, (left if you are on Utila) of the triangular shaped peak appropriately named Pico Bonito, you will see a dip in the mountains. It is precisely along this valley where the Cangrejal River, which is the natural boundary between Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks, flows towards the Caribbean.

The Cangrejal River Valley is probably the most unique tropical rainforest area within Central America. Its scenic setting, together with a variety of different lodges and activities are to be found, making it a prime spot to look for a hotel in La Ceiba where to stay and enjoy yourself.

If you are traveling to Roatan or Utila, make sure that you plan a couple of days to visit the Cangrejal River Valley in the mainland and learn about Pico Bonito National Park, the most bio-diverse national park in Central America!

January 25, 2016

awards, Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras Best Bed and Breakfast in Atlantida, best bed and breakfast in Honduras, best bed and breakfast in la ceiba, Best bed and Breakfast in the Cangrejal River, travelers choice award

La Villa de Soledad is awarded the 2016 Travelers Choice award and named the Best Bed and Breakfast in Honduras!

Tripadvisor, the World’s leading travel web site has recently published the list of winners or their 2016 Travelers Choice Awards. The list, which is based on the reviews that different guests have posted in the trip advisor web page concerning their travel experience, is generally considered the most trustworthy source to outstanding travel adventures. Let’s face it, you are reading what other travelers have actually experienced, not what the owners or managers are telling you about their property, which is always biased!

Achieving this Travelers Choice Award is not an easy task. Getting it several years in a row is an even harder task! With the 2016 Travelers Choice Award, La Villa de Soledad has now been awarded this recognition for three years in a row! Best of all, is the fact that we have been honored with the top position in the list of best Bed and Breakfast in Honduras for two consecutive years! This is living proof that a family run operation can excel in service and personal attention, and that making guests feel at home and part of the family is truly the best way to go! At La Villa de Soledad we are proud to work together as a family to welcome guests at our home and provide the best of Honduran hospitality.

As a family, we want to thank all our guests, and especially those that have taken the time to post a review about their stay at La Villa de Soledad. Your comments are an important part of our business! Sharing your experience helps us keep up the good work, make corrections when necessary and entice other potential guests to come and visit our little part of the World! Come and visit the scenic Cangrejal River Valley and enjoy the magical rain forests of Atlantida in Central America.

We are committed to continue working hard to stay in position number one for the best bed and breakfast in Honduras! Thank you for your support!

January 5, 2016

Best of Honduras, National Parks rain forest, rainforests in honduras, sounds of the rainforest

Ever wonder what the true sounds of the rainforest are?

There are many different sounds of the rainforest. Perhaps the most traditional sounds from the rain forest are those that are offered to us when we visit a Disney-like rainforest attraction, or those that the movie producers give us when we go to the cinema to watch a Hollywood picture that takes place “in the jungle”. These sounds, usually emulating a variety of noisy insects, the singing and chirping of different variety of birds, the sounds of howler monkeys in the tree canopy and even the occasional roar of a large wild cat, such as a jaguar or a puma.

There is no doubt in our minds that these are the sounds of the rainforest, but are they really the most traditional sounds of the rainforest?

By coincidence, I live in the rain forest. Of course, I do not live in the middle of the Amazon, not even in the middle of the Moskito Coast, considered the largest tract of pristine tropical rainforest in the North American Continent, but believe me; I do live in the rainforest. Our lovely home is La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast, a unique home that is within the Nombre de Dios National Park, facing the Pico Bonito National Park and only 6 miles from civilization: the city of La Ceiba, on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. So with that said, you will probably give me the benefit of the doubt as far as my knowledge about the sounds of the rainforest…

Sure, I hear the sounds of civilization, such as a truck passing down the nearby road, and even the sound of my telephone ringing. Heck, I even have a TV in my room, but even then, I am comfortably located in the rainforest, and believe me that if there is one sound that is truly indicative of the rainforest, it is precisely that: the rain! Heck, it rains a lot in the rainforest. And when it rains, the bugs, and the birds and the animals usually keep quiet, and it is only the rain you can hear as it falls on the leaves, as the rainwater flows down the mountain towards the creeks and rivers, as you hear the volume made by the water flowing down the rivers increases its sound… Such is the case with us as we listen to the beautiful Cangrejal River as it flows past our property. Yes there is no doubt in my mind, the true sounds of the rainforest are those created by the rain itself… They are soothing, they give life to the rainforests, and yes, they can get you soaking wet… Welcome to the rainforest. Come and enjoy the sounds of the rainforest in our spacious porches, where you will hear and see the rain, but will not get soaked to the bone. Sip a freshly brewed cup of coffee or a glass of rum while you enjoy the magic of rainforest. Come and relax in nature with us at La Villa de Soledad B&B!

January 3, 2016

Best of Honduras, tourism in Honduras emerging destinations 2016, Honduras, tourism 2016

Tourism has always been an important part of economic growth in Honduras. By 2008, tourism occupied the third place as far as generation of hard currency for the country, and growth, both in numbers of visitors and actual currency spent in the country had been on the rise at over 8 % per year, however after the political crisis in 2009 that resulted in the ousting of then president Manuel Zelaya Rosales, and the subsequent rise in drugs coming through the country which spiraled the homicide rate in Honduras, tourism went “to pot” and practically disappeared. The international press did not help much either, as they kept publishing horrific editorials about safety in Honduras.

So you will say, the title is Honduras 2016, what does all of the above have to do with this? You are right, I was trying to put things in perspective of where we are to explain what we expect in 2016. One of the leading travel portals in the Internet, tripadvisor, recently published a list of the top 10 islands to visit in the World. Guess what, Roatan, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras came out in third, yes third place! This is above Santorini, Greece, Bali and Bora Bora just to name a few!

In addition, CNN just published a list of emerging destinations for 2016. Believe it or not, Honduras is not only on the list, but is the only Central American country in it and the only other Latin American region included is the Patagonia!

CNN’s article specifically mentions the Bay Islands of Honduras and the dense jungles of Pico Bonito. It’s a shame they have never been to the Cangrejal River Valley, adjacent to Pico Bonito because I am sure they would have mentioned that too!

We have our hopes that these two publications mentioned above will help drive the resurgence of tourism in Honduras. Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez has declared tourism is a national priority, and has effectively reduced the murder rate in over 20%. Much work still lies ahead, but one thing is for sure, things are going in the right direction and for Honduras 2016 seems like a great year ahead.

Take advantage and visit Honduras, and heed the recommendations made above, visit the Bay Islands of Honduras and combine your trip with a quick two a three day jaunt over to the mainland to visit Pico Bonito National Park. Consider staying within the Cangrejal River Valley at the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B; you will be glad you did!

Things to do in Pico Bonito National Park

November 26, 2015

Best of Honduras, hotels in la ceiba, Tours in La Ceiba boutique Hotels, boutique hotels in Atlantida, boutique hotels in La Ceiba, Hotels in Honduras

Looking for special boutique hotels in Honduras to stay in?

Honduras might be a small country many people have never heard about. It might also have a bad reputation that it does not stand up to, but it certainly has many beautiful, unique destinations and some truly special boutique hotels to stay in.

Perhaps the most famous of all boutique hotels in Honduras is located in La Ceiba, capital of Atlantida, the new upcoming destination that you should not miss. The Lodge at Pico Bonito is located just a few kilometers outside of La Ceiba, and offers a beautiful setting within Pico Bonito National Park. But there are several other boutique hotels in Honduras that you can find in La Ceiba and surroundings. Take for example, the Cangrejal River Valley, an absolutely gorgeous area located only 5 miles from downtown La Ceiba! The Cangrejal River, which gives its name to the area, is a beautiful river with crystal clear waters, with a steep slope dropping towards the Caribbean and offering a spectacular white water arena, where you will need to paddle hard around huge boulders and hold tight as your rafting guide helps you negotiate 5 and 6 foot drops into calm natural pools.

Here you will find that the Cangrejal River is actually a natural boundary between two national parks: Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks. This means you get to visit two national parks in one tour! Best of all, there are several boutique hotels within the Cangrejal River Valley. One of them is the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B a unique, family run hotel that offers some of the best service in town! La Villa de Soledad is located within easy walking distance to different attractions, including white water rafting, zip line canopy tours and hiking in Pico Bonito National Park.

But of course there is a lot more to Honduras than Atlantida! You can find a selection of outstanding boutique hotels in Honduras in places such as Copan Ruinas, San Pedro Sula, Roatan, Tegucigalpa and many other cities. If you are interested in checking these out, check out a new Honduras travel blog that offers up to date information regarding all the above destinations and much more!