Committing to promote tourism, Honduras will sign the UNWTO Golden Book!
President Juan Orlando Hernandez has given tourism an important place in his government. This coming month of March, he will go even a step further: Honduras will sign the UNWTO Golden book. Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization will visit Honduras this coming month of March, 2015. His visit to Honduras has three distinct motives:
Above all, Honduras will sign the UNWTO Golden Book! This means that the government of President Hernandez publicly commits to tourism as an economic development tool under the promotion of sustainable tourism. This is good news for the tourism industry in Honduras, which has been left pretty much on its own for the past few years. Last year, President Hernandez signed a decree declaring that Tourism was a National Priority for Honduras; now with the signing of the UNWTO he takes his commitment a step forward and shows the community of countries that form the United Nations that he truly means business!
Besides the fact that Honduras will sign the UNWTO Golden Book, Honduras will also sign an agreement with UNWTO to establish the first UN Sustainable Tourism Observatory in the Americas! Yes, this will be the first such observatory in the Americas, and the fact that it will be established in Honduras, with headquarters in the city of La Ceiba in Atlantida, is a clear indication that Honduras believes that sustainable tourism can indeed make a difference in its quest to reduce poverty and make its economy more dynamic. To this day there are only 6 UN Sustainable Tourism Observatories in the World, 5 are in China and one in the Greek Isles.
Last, but not least, the Private Tourism sector, led by CANATURH will sign the UNWTO Code of Ethics, committing to adhere and promote the following of this code of ethics by all of its members nationwide.
Looking for the perfect Central America eco retreats?
Honduras is the most forested country in Central America and has a larger territory of protected areas that Costa Rica, which has marketed itself as THE eco friendly country in Central America. The truth is that there are many truly special Central America eco retreats to be found in Honduras, and that you should seriously consider these as your top priority.
Probably the biggest plus of visiting Central America eco retreats in Honduras over Costa Rica or any other Central American country, for that matter, is the fact that in Honduras, you will not be overrun by tourists. The last thing you need when booking into Central America eco retreats is to find that you have booked into a tourist trap!
Because Honduras fell off the tourist map a few years ago after a political crisis, you will find that there are few tourists currently visiting the country. However, all of this is now changing, as the new government has managed to turn things around and security is certainly on the rise. The truth is that Honduras is the best deal to be found in Central America.
So, if you are looking for some unique Central America eco retreats, and considering Honduras, where in Honduras should you look? The highest concentration of eco retreats in Honduras is to be found in Atlantida, the new upcoming travel destination in Honduras that is located on the Caribbean Coast and offers 7 protected area within its territory. Best of all, it is also the gateway to the Bay Islands of Honduras: Utila, Roatan and Guanaja. Roatan, by the way, is certainly the largest and most developed of the Bay Islands, and many consider it overrun by cruise ship tourists, but there are actually several truly unique eco retreats on the island that are secluded from the rat race of cruise ship passengers.
Within Atlantida, you will find that the Cangrejal River Valley is a unique eco location that is absolutely stunning. Located only 12 miles from the port facilities where the Bay Islands ferry’s depart, the Cangrejal River Valley offers a variety of top Central America eco retreats that will blow your socks off!
Here unique facilities, such as La Villa de Soledad B&B offer the perfect setting for an unforgettable escape to Central America eco retreats vacations that you will cherish for a lifetime. Activities include adventure rafting and rappelling tours, as well as zip line canopy tours; which blend into the nature tours such as bird watching, hiking trails to hidden waterfalls withing Pico Bonito or Nombre de Dios National Parks and horse back riding tours through local communities and jungle trails. You can of course, simply relax in nature, and catch up with yourself while reading your favorite book in the comfort of a hammock in one of our many cool verandahs.
La Villa de Soledad is truly a one of a kind spot, ideal for unforgettable Central America eco retreats experience!
Did you know that Honduras rainforest hotel options are amongst the best in Central America?
If you are looking for a Honduras rainforest hotel, you will be surprised by what you will find! Honduras has some of the best rainforests in Central America! Best of all, many of these rainforests are actually protected by law as National Parks, and a few of them are actually very easily accessible! The two areas in Honduras that offer great access to rainforests are Lake Yojoa, that offers two National Parks, Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meambar (PANACAM) and Parque Nacional Santa Barbara. Of these two, however, only one has easy access to it, Panacam, which incidentally, offers a great basic eco lodge facility known as Panacam Lodge. Panacam Lodge is a great option por travelers based in San Pedro Sula and Western Honduras, as it is quite near to both of these regions in Honduras
The second option for some good Honduras rainforest hotel options is Atlantida, located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. Atlantida has a total of 7 protected areas between National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and a Tropical Botanical Garden. Atlantida has two main hubs, Tela and La Ceiba, however if you are looking for a Honduras rainforest hotel, you will find more options the area around La Ceiba. Here you will find the most famous Honduras rainforest hotel, the Lodge at Pico Bonito, located a few miles West of La Ceiba near the community of El Pino. Because of its location and the fact that Atlantida is the gateway to the Bay Islands of Honduras: Roatan, Utila and Guanaja, Atlantida offers the perfect option for those looking to spend time at the Bay Islands but still looking for a nice Honduras rainforest hotel to enjoy the exuberant tropical vegetation of Central America.
The highest concentration of Honduras rainforest hotel properties is to be found in the Cangrejal River Valley, Here a total of ten different options to choose from gives you the perfect menu to find exactly the Honduras rainforest hotel that are most suitable for you.
Settled in a class of its own, La Villa de Soledad offers first class comfort with a lot of charm, great surroundings and outstanding hospitality at extremely reasonable prices. Its strategic location offers walking distance access to trails in both Pico Bonito National Park as well as Nombre de Dios National Park. White water rafting, zip line canopy tours, waterfall rappelling and horseback riding are but a few of the many activities that can easily be enjoyed from the convenience of your comfortable and cozy room at La Villa de Soledad.
Food at La Villa de Soledad is also great, so come prepared to enjoy some of the best home cooking you will find en Central America. La Villa de Soledad is in a class of its own, and offers the perfect setting to relax in nature, enjoy some adrenalin pumping tours or hike through the tropical rainforests of Honduras. Truly, La Villa de Soledad is your best option if you are looking for an outstanding and unique Honduras rainforest hotel.
Looking for Honduras eco lodge options for your upcoming trip?
If you are looking for a Honduras eco lodge, I strongly suggest you concentrate on the department known as Atlantida, located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. The largest concentration of eco lodge facilities in Honduras is located in Atlantida.
Pico Bonito National Park, one of the most bio diverse National Parks in Central America, is home to the highest concentration of Honduras eco lodge options. This is where you will find the World famous Lodge at Pico Bonito, the only member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World in Honduras. The Lodge offers luxury facilities and service, and offers a network of trails within their private property that have become very popular for bird watching.
The other area in Atlantida where you can find a variety of Honduras eco lodge options is the Cangrejal River Valley. Here you can find a total of 10 properties, most of which fall into the category of Honduras eco lodge options. One of the most outstanding options is La Villa de Soledad, a lovely boutique eco lodge located right on the Cangrejal River. La Villa de Soledad is located in the Nombre de Dios National Park, and across the Cangrejal River from Pico Bonito National Park. Because of Pico Bonito National Park, this is probably the area with the best eco tour alternatives in all of Central America. Best of all, you can also choose from a variety of adventure tours, such as white water rafting, waterfall descents and rappelling and zip line canopy tours.
In addition, there are some truly outstanding Honduras eco lodge options in Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. Most of the top bed and breakfasts and inns in Honduras according to Tripadvisor are actually Honduras eco lodge properties, and you might find it interesting to check out the 2015 top Honduras bed and breakfasts and inns list in Tripadvisor.
Come to Honduras, stay at La Villa de Soledad B&B in La Ceiba and discover why La Villa de Soledad B&B gets raving reviews from our guests!
Are you looking for some Honduras bed and breakfast options?
There are more and more options for travelers looking for Honduras bed and breakfast options versus large hotels. It is easy to understand why: you feel at home and welcome in a bed and breakfast, and not just another client as you feel in a larger hotel. Furthermore, many of the Honduras bed and breakfast inns are actually managed by their owners, who in many cases are the innkeepers of the property! This means personal attention by the owners, and that translates into comfort and the feeling of home away from home.
So which, would be the best way to determine which are the best Honduras bed and breakfast properties? Perhaps the most objective way of approaching an answer to this question would be to ask the different guests that actually stay at Honduras bed and breakfast properties what they think. Best of all, you do not even have to go out and find these guests, as many of them actually put up reviews in their tripadvisor accounts. Based on the comments from these travelers, tripadvisor recently issued the 2015 Travelers choice awards, and they actually differentiate between Honduras hotels and Honduras bed and breakfast. The results of this tripadvisor evaluation can be seen here.
As you can see, the list offers Honduras bed and breakfast options in different destinations within the country, with some being in the big cities, such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and others being in the Bay Islands of Roatan and Utila, the tropical jungle paradise of Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks just outside of La Ceiba and in Copan Ruinas.
La Villa de Soledad B&B was awarded the Travelers Choice awards for the second year in a row this year, and was honored by being placed in the first place for Honduras bed and breakfast! We invite you to visit La Villa de Soledad and experience for yourself the perfect combination of some of the best Honduras hospitality and the magnificent surroundings of the Cangrejal River Valley, which include Pico Bonito National Park as well as Nombre de Dios National Park.
Following is a list of what we consider a few of the reasons to stay at La Villa de Soledad. They are not arranged in any particular order, and many of them reflect our core values as a family run bed and breakfast.
1.- Safe, Family Atmosphere
Safety is always a concern when you are away from home. You want to get to know new places, experience new adventures, learn new things and see life through a different lens, but you certainly don’t want any serious risks involved. At La Villa de Soledad you will find an oasis of safety that will help you relax and enjoy to the max. Knowing that you are staying with a family makes you feel like you are a part of a family, where you are meant to be. When traveling abroad, staying at a place where you have a feeling of belonging makes your stay so much more pleasant! Safety is certainly one of the better reasons to stay at La Villa de Soledad.
2.- Great Wi Fi
Our location is relatively remote, and being in Central America, you will find that wi fi is not readily available just anywhere. That is why having access to fast wi fi is a true luxury. At La Villa de Soledad B&B you will enjoy feeling in a remote location and yet having fast access to wi fi. Hi speed internet access should not be a luxury in this day and age, and at La Villa de Soledad B&B we offer it on a complimentary basis to all of our guests. We are hooked up to a fiber optic cable, so our internet is fast and consistent!
3.- Direct access to two national parks.
Located right between two National Parks, La Villa de Soledad B&B offers direct, walking access to both, Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park. This is tropical rain forest territory at its best! Trails to both parks are easily accessible from your comfortable rooms. Exthe trails, hike to hidden waterfalls, go in search of that elusive bird you need to checklist or simply relax in your hammock and enjoy the forest from the comfort of our spacious, cool verandahs! Accessibility to two national parks is certainly of of the reasons to stay at La Villa de Soledad!
4.-Adventure activities available at your doorstep
We are all adventurers to a certain degree, but lets face it, if you have traveled to Central America, your adventure strain is stronger than most. Fortunately, you will find several different adventure activities that you can truly enjoy while staying at La Villa de Soledad. World Class white water rafting, zip line canopy tours and rappelling down waterfalls are all available within walking distance of La Villa de Soledad. Certainly good reasons to stay at La Villa de Soledad!
5.- Nature activities available at your doorstep.
If you are considering visiting Honduras and the Cangrejal River Valley, there is no doubt that you are looking for nature. There are few places that are better suited for vacations in nature than the Cangrejal River Valley. Being right in between two national parks means you can choose from a variety of trails, hike up to waterfalls hidden in the tropical rain forests and have a great birding experience!
6.- The perfect atmosphere to relax in nature and reconnect with your soul.
Sometimes, what we really need is a chance to disconnect with the world and re connect with ourselves. You need some peace and quiet, some tranquility… You need to listen to the sounds of nature and simply not be bothered. There are few places as perfect as La Villa de Soledad to simply relax in nature and reconnect with yourself. Come and see it for yourself. However, I must warn you, you may not want to leave! This has to be one of the most important reasons to stay at La Villa de Soledad!
7.- Great home cooked meals
One of the great pleasures of traveling is tasting different foods. Soledad, the innkeeper is a friendly soul with a great cuisine. Her food regularly gets raving reviews from her guests. Come and taste authentic Honduran, Mexican and international cuisine at La Villa de Soledad. The only complaint we have gotten about our food is that we serve portions that some guests feel are too big! As we say in Spanish: “barriga llena corazon content” (Full tummy equals a happy heart)
8.- Fantastic opportunity to learn more about the different options for travel within Honduras and Nicaragua.
20 plus years of traveling and writing about destinations in Honduras and Nicaragua have given me a unique knowledge based on experience. I have visited most all of Honduras and a lot of Nicaragua, and can provide candid information regarding just about anything that has to do with traveling in this part of the World. Best of all, this information is all free to our guests!
9.- Perfect climate
The temperature is always pleasant at La Villa de Soledad. You will never find it to be excessively hot or cold. Even on the hottest days of summer, the temperature is at least 2 degrees centigrade cooler that it is in town. This is because we are located higher than the city and we have a microclimate due to the tropical rain forests that surround us. The fact that the Cangrejal River flows right in front of our property also helps. We do not even have air conditioning in our rooms because truly, it is not needed.
10.- Perfect location, remote, yet so close.
They say that it is all about location, location, location. For those that believe this is true, then La Villa de Soledad B&B is absolutely perfect! Located in a forested area deep in the Nombre de Dios Mountains, and yet only 9 km from La Ceiba. Here the bustling sounds of civilization have been replaced with the murmur of the Cangrejal River flowing inexorably towards the Caribbean Sea, the chirping and singing of tropical birds and the general sounds of the rainforest. Talk about an easy to reach paradise! Yes it truly is all about location!
11.- Eco friendly environment
We are located in a protected area, and therefore the least you would expect is a project that has been conceived as sustainable. At La Villa de Soledad we have designed our bed and breakfast to take the maximum advantage of nature. Our cathedral ceilings with heat insulated roofs and cross ventilation in the bedrooms provides for cool and comfortable sleeping. All of our lighting fixtures use energy saving light bulbs, and we separate our gray waters from the sewage and recycle the gray waters to water our gardens. We also separate our garbage and recycle all of our organic trash and take our plastics and cans into a recycling facility in La Ceiba. We believe in sustainability and strive to be sustainable.
12.- Plenty of water, both, hot and cold.
I know that I am going against what I just said, but after a good strenuous hike through the rain forest you have worked up a good sweat, and are in need for a serious shower… Our showers offer the luxury of abundant water with a great water pressure. Water, hot and cold is plentiful and you will feel like you just had a shower that truly cleansed and soothed your body. Nothing like feeling squeaky clean after a bath, and you will find that our generous supply of water truly contributes to this delightful feeling!
There are many different reasons why you should visit Honduras. Here is a list of my top 10 reasons to visit Honduras.
1.- Honduras has a warm, temperate climate; it always does… You will never get snowed out or have subzero temperatures. As a matter of fact, it seldom gets below 60 degrees in all of the country!
2.- Honduras has over 100 protected natural areas. Almost 40% of its territory is legally protected. This is equivalent to more than 50% of the territory of Costa Rica. Honduras has the largest territorial surface of protected areas in all of Central America. The best preserved tropical rainforest of Central America lies in the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, on the Northeastern Caribbean coast of Honduras. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Honduras.
3.- Honduras has four international airports that are regularly serviced by international airlines with non stop service from North America. It is easy to get to ( less than 5 hours flying time from the northeast of the USA and around 2 hours from the Gulf Coast of the United States) . You can fly non stop to Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Roatan and La Ceiba!
4.- Honduras offers the best of the Central America and the Caribbean in one easy trip. Honduras is the only Central American country whose development in on the Caribbean. In addition to this, it is the only one with infrastructure for tourism developed on the Caribbean, making it truly unique. Traveling between mainland Honduras and the Bay Islands is a piece of cake, and you even have the option to do so by sea using the local ferry or by air using the local airlines!
5.- Honduras is home to the unique Garifuna Culture, an unlikely ethnic group that was created with the mix of native Africans with native Carib Indians. The result is a culture so unique that it has been declared intangible World Heritage by UNESCO. Garifuna people are friendly people who live on the coast, and there are many different Garifuna Villages along the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. 95% of the Garifunas live in Honduras, so this is an experience that you cannot find elsewhere in Central America or the Caribbean!
6.- Despite the bad reputation that the international press have given Honduras as a dangerous destination, the fact is that tourist are not only welcome, but actually looked after by the local population. There are fewer crime related incidents with tourists in Honduras that there are in most of the other Central American countries. This bad reputation does have a silver lining for you as a tourist visiting Honduras: You will not find Honduras to be a tourist trap! Currently, all of the destinations in Honduras are actually with low occupancies, and you will find that almost wherever you go, you will have the chance to enjoy the sites and attractions without being overrun by tourists! Hurry and enjoy this before the rest of the World realizes how much they are missing out on!
7.- Hondurans are friendly to foreigners. They always have been. Furthermore, Honduras has traditionally been the most faithful Central American ally to the USA. Hondurans look up to the USA as a big brother to their country and are thankful for the international aid that they have received over the years.
8.- Honduras is incredibly diverse despite the fact that is a small country: The tropical Central American rainforests, the lovely Spanish Colonial cities, the magnificent archaeological site of Copan Ruinas, the best Caribbean Beaches in Central America and World class barrier reefs in the Bay Islands are all to be found in Honduras. Best of all, they are all within close reach of each other, easy to get from one to the other. The Mayan Archaeological site of Copan is the most studied and understood of all Mayan city states, and offers the possibility of touring the site with scientific information regarding this pre Colombian city, home to the most advanced native American civilization that we know of! Copan, by the way, is also a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO!
9.- If you are looking for pristine Caribbean beaches, there is no other place in Central America that is better suited for you to visit than Honduras. The Bay Islands of Honduras offer an insight to both, pristine beaches and islands, as well as to World Class resorts. There are several islands with different atmospheres and degrees of development, and you will surely find the one that is perfectly suited for you!
10.- Honduras has the highest percentage of English speaking population in Central America. Yes, there is a higher percentage of English speaking Hondurans than there is of Costa Ricans. (And the population of Honduras is almost three times that of Costa Rica) This means that chances are that you will always find someone who speaks enough English to be able to communicate with and settle your needs.
Please note that I have written about the 10 reasons to visit Honduras, and not about the destinations that you should not miss when you come here. I invite you to read my post about the top ten places in Honduras and the top five tourist sites in Atlantida for ideas about where to visit while in Honduras.
There are several La Ceiba Honduras Boutique Hotels that you can choose from!
Most of the La Ceiba Honduras boutique hotels are located in the environs of Pico Bonito National Park. Perhaps the most known and best established of them all is the Lodge at Pico Bonito, a lovely eco lodge located within the tropical rainforests of Pico Bonito National Park, a few kilometers West of La Ceiba, near the community of el Pino. The Lodge, as it is locally known, is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and offers some of the most upscale service in Honduras. It is of course somewhat on the pricey side, but if you want an exclusive high end service, this is a great option for you.
Within town, and right on the beach, you can find another truly unique property, called La Casa de Nery. This property offers only 6 rooms, plus a nice pool and spacious gardens. It is a true oasis in the heart of La Ceiba. This is the only one of the La Ceiba Honduras boutique hotels that is located in town.
You will find two more La Ceiba Honduras boutique hotels in the Cangrejal River Valley, located only 9 kilometers from La Ceiba. This area is the border between two National Parks, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks. Not only is the area close to La Ceiba, but it offers the option for different adventure and nature activities easily accessible from the same area. Las Cascadas Lodge is a very high end property in a truly unique spot, with rooms facing a lovely small waterfall and natural swimming area in a mountain creek.
La Villa de Soledad, on the other end, is a beautiful Spanish Colonial style home that is family owned and run, offering some home grown Honduras hospitality, great food and the best location in La Ceiba for adventure and nature activities. Spacious verandahs, plentiful hammocks, cool breezes and the murmur of the Cangrejal River flowing towards the Caribbean Sea provide a perfect setting to relax in nature, nurture your soul and reconnect with yourself and nature!
La Villa de Soledad was recently awarded the 2015 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice award. This is the second year in a row they are honored with this distinction! In addition, they have been named number one bed and breakfast and inns in Honduras for 2015! If you are looking for La Ceiba Honduras boutique hotels that are close to nature, La Villa de Soledad is a great option! Book your upcoming vacations with them now and prepare yourself to enjoy some memorable times at La Villa de Soledad B&B on the Cangrejal River Valley.
Are you looking for the most unique and best inns in La Ceiba?
Most innkeepers will say that their inn is the best in their city. Although it might be true to them, what you really want to know is what do the different people who have visited a city and stayed at the different inns have to say. In reality, the opinion regarding which are the best inns in La Ceiba should be left to the guests that have experienced at least one night in them.
Because of this, travel web sites such as tripadvisor have become very popular, as you are not relying on the innkeeper, owner or even travel editor’s judgement, but rather on the judgement of a whole community of people. It is because of this that I will allow myself to share the following information with you, so that you can see for yourself what the different people have to say about the which are the best inns in La Ceiba.
La Villa de Soledad B&B was awarded two certificates in 2014, the 2014 Travelers Choice and the 2014 Certificate of Excellence awards. Throughout 2014 they were listed by tripadvisor as the number one bed and breakfast and inn in La Ceiba, and they were even in position number 2 for the best bed and breakfast and inns in Honduras!
So now you know, if you are coming to Honduras, a stop by the Cangrejal River Valley in La Ceiba to enjoy the number one in the best inns in La Ceiba list is a must. You get the benefit of also being in the best inn in Honduras! Come and Relax in Nature at La Villa de Soledad, and enjoy magnificent white water rafting in the Cangrejal River, a great access to Pico Bonito trails and Pico Bonito Waterfalls. La Villa de Soledad B&B truly a place you need to visit!
Yes La Ceiba Honduras white water rafting options are all at the beautiful Cangrejal River, which actually flows through the city just before it drains in the Caribbean Sea. The river might seem rather unimpressive when you cross over one of the two bridges that span over it in La Ceiba, but a short 9 km drive up the road that follows the river will give you a completely different view and perspective of the white water potential that the river possesses.
Three different outfitters provide world class category III and IV rafting with half day tours. Best of all is the fact that if you do not want to waste the 30 minute to drive up the scenic road from town to the put in. you can actually spend the night up on the river and be there early the next morning for your La Ceiba Honduras white water rafting experience.
There are a total of 10 inns along the Cangrejal River, tucked into the Nombre de Dios National Park which is on the east bank of the river. Options go from “party hostels” to deluxe boutique eco lodges. One of them, La Villa de Soledad B&B was just named the top bed and breakfast and inn in Honduras by tripadvisor!
Your La Ceiba Honduras white water rafting experience will bring you through small falls, huge, building sized boulders and incredibly lush river banks with National Parks on either side of the river. Wildlife is abundant, and river otters are often seen in the river. It is not uncommon to see keel billed toucans flying across the river, and small crystal clear creeks flowing into the river. Best of all is the fact that the water temperature is temperate, thanks in part to the huge building sized boulders that act as hot water heaters, making the water temperature perfect, so that you will actually want to get a serious splash or take a quick dip between the rapids.
Since La Ceiba is very close and easy to get to from the Bay Islands of Utila and Roatan, it is extremely easy to combine a trip to the Cangrejal River Valley from the Bay Islands. It is even possible to a one day trip without spending an overnight, however there is so much more than white water rafting along the Cangrejal River Valley that you will want to spend more time here and enjoy the surroundings. A trip to Honduras without a La Ceiba Honduras white water rafting trip is not complete. Come and experience it for yourself and discover why the Cangrejal River Valley is one of the crown jewels of tourism in Honduras!
