Are you looking for the perfect Central America Tropical Destination?
Central America is, by definition, a tropical destination; however, not all of Central America is actually a lush tropical destination. For starters, the Pacific Coast of Central America is actually quite dry, and depending on the time of the year when you visit it, you will find it brown and gloomy or a lushy green.
The reality is that the true Central America tropical destination lies on the Caribbean coast of Central America. Most people however do not refer to this coast as the Caribbean, but rather the Atlantic coast and both are actually right. The Caribbean Sea is of course part of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea has its western geographical border with Central America.
Another geographical and political comment applies to what is Central America? Geographically, Central America includes parts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, however, politically; Central America is comprised of only 5 countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
This being said, if you are looking for a Central America tropical destination that is green, with rainforests and cloud forests and a humid tropical climate, you should look at the Caribbean Coast of Central America. For starters, Guatemala has a tiny coast on the Caribbean, so it does not really offer much in the sense of a tropical destination. El Salvador does not have a coast on the Caribbean, so this totally discards it as a Central America Tropical Destination.
This leaves us with three countries: Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Although all three have a Caribbean coast, the truth is that Nicaragua and Costa Rica are developed towards their Pacific coast, attracting the bulk of their tourism towards the Pacific, and having very little infrastructure on the Caribbean.
Honduras on the other hand, has most of its development on the Caribbean Coast, with an important natural corridor made up of protected areas and national parks that provide the backbone of a true Central America tropical destination. Best of all, this whole area is easily accessible, with three international airports located in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Roatan, all on the Caribbean. Along this area, you will find Atlantida, one of the departments in Honduras, which has two main destination hubs, La Ceiba and Tela. Both are on the coast, and both have borders with national parks. La Ceiba has the advantage of its port facilities, which is where the ferry to Roatan and Utila depart from, making it the perfect Central America tropical destination: combine the lush green tropical rainforests of Central America with the truly affordable Caribbean Bay Islands of Honduras.
Perhaps the most outstanding spot within Atlantida is the Cangrejal River Valley, a true Central America Tropical destination. Bordered by two national Parks, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks, flowing in the Caribbean sea, and providing some of the best white water in Honduras, the Cangrejal River Valley is the epitome of the true Central America tropical destination. Best of all is the easy access, the many different service providers, which include tour operators, inns and hostels, and many different nature and adventure activities. The Cangrejal River Valley is located only 6 miles from downtown La Ceiba and 8 miles from the port facilities where the ferry’s to the Bay Islands of Honduras operate.
Here, in this perfect Central America tropical destination, you will find the charming La Villa de Soledad B&B, a family run eco lodge with a boutique décor set perfectly into the tropical rainforests of Nombre de Dios National Park, and providing easy, walking distance access to Pico Bonito National Park.
Considerations for some great vacations in Honduras:
If you are planning on visiting and spending some vacations in Honduras, this means that either you have family in Honduras, are an adventurer, or you have read about Honduras and everything it has to offer. All three are valid reasons to plan some great Honduras vacations, and chances are that they will live up to your expectations!
There are many reasons for planning some vacations in Honduras, and I will allow myself to mention a few of those that I consider most outstanding:
Pristine National Parks and Protected Areas make of Honduras a great nature destination. Although eco lodges are not abundant, there are outstanding options that will surprise you and make of your Honduras vacations a great experience. Amongst the different options, you can plan on visiting Pico Bonito National Park in Atlantida, Cerro Azul Meambar near Lake Yojoa, or if you are truly in a serious adventure mode, an expedition into the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, probably the most pristine natural area in the North American Continent!
In addition to the national parks, Honduras has some magnificent cultural heritage: The Mayan Archaeological site at Copan is one of the outstanding World Heritage sites declared by UNESCO in Honduras. In addition, the Garifuna culture, the unique heritage of the ethnic group that was formed by the intermingling of African slaves and native Carib Indians has found its home in Honduras, where over 90% of the Garifunas in the World live. Their language and culture was been declared an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO.
Honduras also offers an authentic Caribbean setting at the Bay Islands of Honduras. This small archipelago is actually at the southeastern tip of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, considered the most bio diverse barrier reef system on planet Earth! The lovely Bay Islands, which include Utila, Roatan and Guanaja offer a unique opportunity to explore some of the best preserved coral reefs in the Caribbean! Does this sound like the perfect setting for some great vacations in Honduras?
One of the most overlooked areas by visitors coming to Honduras is the department of Atlantida. Located on the North Coast (Caribbean coast) of Honduras, Atlantida is the perfect hub for your vacations in Honduras: It gives you direct access to Pico Bonito National Park, which is undoubtedly the grand daddy of all national parks in Honduras. Its easy access to the Bay Islands of Honduras is another plus that has to be taken into consideration. There are many different Garifuna Villages in the close neighborhood of La Ceiba, and soon with the new airport in Copan Ruinas, you will be able to fly directly from La Ceiba to Copan Ruinas, thus making La Ceiba the ideal hub for the perfect vacations in Honduras!
Within La Ceiba, make sure you include the Cangrejal River Valley in your plans for the perfect vacations in La Ceiba. The Cangrejal River offers direct access to Pico Bonito Trails, Pico Bonito Waterfalls and some of the best white water rafting in Central America and the Caribbean. As such, I can state that the perfect vacations in Honduras must include a stay at the Cangrejal River Valley. La Villa de Soledad is a lovely eco lodge on the Cangrejal River, where you will enjoy all the comforts of modern life in a pleasant natural environment with many different nature and adventure activities nearby. Come relax in nature and enjoy the perfect vacations in Honduras at La Villa de Soledad.
Following is a list of my favorite top ten places in Honduras:
Having lived in Honduras for over two decades, and made a living by putting together a travel guide about what to do; where to go; where to stay in Honduras, I consider myself an expert on travel in Honduras. I have explored most of the country, discovered truly beautiful places and am happy to share with you my list of top ten places in Honduras that you should visit.
Although the list does not have any particular order, I feel compelled to start with the spot that I found to be number one on the top ten places in Honduras to visit:
1.- The Cangrejal River Valley. This unique area, located just outside of La Ceiba, on the Caribbean Coast certainly deserves to be in the top ten places in Honduras that you must visit list. Nestled between Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park, the Cangrejal River Valley offers a wide array of options for both the tourist looking for some eco tourism activities as well as those seeking some adventure activities, such as white water rafting or rappelling down waterfalls and canyons. Best of all, there are several different eco lodges where you can stay and enjoy nature with all the modern comforts, including some high speed internet service. Topping the list is La Villa de Soledad, which was just awarded the number one position as the best bed and breakfast and Inn by Tripadvisor!
2.- The Bay Islands of Honduras have long been on the map and are regularly visited by the traveler looking for a unique Caribbean spot where to spend a few days. In my personal opinion, the most beautiful of the Bay Islands of Honduras is Guanaja. This island, which is harder to get to than its sister islands of Utila and Roatan, also tends to be pricier, because of its more remote location, however, I can assure you that this lovely Caribbean gem deserves to be on the list of top ten places in Honduras to visit. There are no roads in Guanaja, and there are no big resorts either. Lodging facilities are usually small and family run, and offer access to breathtaking views and the possibility of interacting with the friendly population of the island. If you are looking for a place to stay, there are several that I can mention, starting with Rolands Garden Guesthouse, La Giralda and Grahams Place. Each a small friendly hotel with diverse atmosphere.
3.- Cayos Cochinos, also known as the Hog Keys, offers a unique and rare opportunity to experience a truly pristine Caribbean. Not only does it have some of the best preserved coral reefs to be found in the Caribbean, it also offers the opportunity to meet and interact with a Garifuna community that still lives much like they did over 200 years ago when they first arrived to Central America. The Garifuna community, which has been declared World Heritage Culture by the UNESCO. There are not many lodging options in Cayos Cochinos, the exclusive Turtle Bay Ecoresort offers diving packages, and the Cabanas Laru Bella in the in community of East End offers friendly, clean service in a community owned facility.
4.- The majestic Mayan Archaeological site at Copan Ruinas is certainly one of the top ten places in Honduras. Although the Archaeological Park is one of the two World Heritage Sites that Unesco has declared in Honduras, Copan Ruinas is much more that Archaeology, it is one of the most charming, friendly towns in Central America. The unique Macaw Mountain bird park, a bird sanctuary calls this town home, and has been working on re populating the Copan Valley with the Scarlet Macaws, much like it was in the glorious days of the Mayan civilization in Copan. Hotels are abundant, and there is something for every taste. My favorites are Hacienda San Lucas, Hotel Marina Copan and La Casa de Café B&B.
5.- Comayagua, the old colonial capital of Honduras has a lot of colonial history and charm to offer the visitor, and certainly deserves being in our list of top ten places in Honduras. Located about 100 km. North of Tegucigalpa, Comayagua has two great museums, 4 colonial churches and very friendly people. The community has bet on tourism as one of the pillars for the development of the city, and it shows. Many hotels, some in lovely old colonial homes have opened in recent years. Comayagua is has become famous in Honduras for its Easter Week celebrations, where the city’s streets are decorated with colorful and elaborate, handmade sawdust carpets that mark the route for the different religious processions that take place during this week.
6.- Roatans East End is a world apart from the tourist packed cruise ship passengers that make the West End of the island seem like a tourist trap during the days when cruise ships are in port, which is usually Monday through Friday. The East end offers view to lovely Caribbean communities, such as Calabash Bight, Oakridge and Jonesville. Camp Bay Beach, which in my opinion competes with West Bay as the loveliest beach on the island is pretty much deserted and yours to enjoy. There are several hotels in the area where you can stay, including the unique Paya Bay Resort, which has its own private beach. If you want to enjoy the authentic Roatan, then consider staying on the East End of Roatan, which is the one that deserves to be in the top ten places in Honduras list!
7.- The colonial city of Gracias is located in Western Honduras, and has a lot to offer: Access to Celaque National Park, which is home to the highest peak in Honduras; some great hot springs just outside of town; great colonial towns and the history of one of the oldest cities in Central America. Gracias is certainly in mi list of the top ten places in Honduras. In recent years, many different hotels have sprung up and are offering a variety of options for lodging. In my opinion, the best option is the Hotel Guancascos, however more elegant options include the Posada de Don Juan and the http://www.realcaminolencahotel.com/web/. All three are within walking distance from Central Park in Gracias.
8 . Lake Yojoa is the largest, and really only natural lake in Honduras. It is located between San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, and is surrounded by two national parks: Parque Nacional Santa Barbara and Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meamber. It is a popular weekend spot for the locals, and there are many different places where you can stay. The most popular spots are the D&D Brewery, located on the far side of the lake, past the town of Pena Blanca, on the road towards the old mining town of El Mochito. The other recommended hotel is Honduyate, where you can enjoy a great pool, access to boat rentals and unsurpassed hospitality.
9.- Amapala is located on the Isla del Tigre, Tiger Island, in the Gulf of Fonseca, and is the largest of several islands that Honduras has on the Pacific. Amapala is a small sleepy town, without much going on, however it is a pleasant and very picturesque town with a lot of history. Accommodations are basic, but you will find several different hotel options on the island. La Casa de Las Gargolas Bed and Breaksfast is one of them. Another basic, but functional property in town is Mirador de Amapala. You will not see many tourists in Amapala, but it still is one of my favorite spots in Honduras, and therefore, I am adding it to my top ten places in Honduras list.
10.-Tela is last, but not least on my list of top ten places in Honduras to visit and enjoy. Remember that the list was put together without any particular order! Tela is a pleasant sleepy town that is located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. It is famous for its beaches, although its first claim to fame comes from having been the headquarters of the United Fruit Brands local subsidiary in Honduras: The Tela Railroad Company. The company, which still produces and exports the Chiquita Bananas in Honduras originally had its headquarters in Tela, and shipped most of its produce through this port. One of the many legacy’s from the old Banana days is the magnificent Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, an experimental garden where tropical fruits from around the world were brought in and planted to see if it would be feasible to produce from a commercial point of view. This is where the first African palm trees where grown, as well as where rambutan and mangosteen trees were first planted in the country. Tela is also home to two beautiful national parks: Jeannette Kawas, also know as Punta Sal, and Punta Izopo National Parks. It is also home to the most ambitions centrally planned tourism development in the country, Indura, which has one of the best signature designer golf courses in Central America.
I hope my list of top ten places in Honduras helps you plan your vacation to Honduras and get to the best, most unique places in this beautiful country of Central America!
Every year, Tripadvisor comes up with a list of which the top Honduras hotels are. Although there are many different business owners that have a love – hate relationship with Tripadvisor, there is no doubt that this online travel community has a lot of influence on millions and millions of travelers around the world.
For people in the travel industry, the list of hotels, attractions, restaurants and other travel related activities that tripadvisor rates does not have any sense at all. The fact is that tripadvisor is a community page where anyone can post a review and share his travel experience with the rest of the community. This all seems fine unless of course, you take into consideration that us humans are much more liable to be subjective than objective when grading the quality of a specific service. This being said, the 2015 tripadvisor top Honduras hotels list is more the result of a subjective grading rather that a true objective process. If you consider that many of us travel seeking new and pleasant experiences, rather than for a perfect room, then the subjective evaluation is even more important the an objective one!
This year, for a second year in a row, La Villa de Soledad B&B has been awarded the Travelers Choice Certificate. We are the only bed and breakfast in La Ceiba that was distinguished with this honor and are proud to have been honored with this distinction thanks to reviews that our guests have shared about our small little piece of paradise. This means that independently of our unique location, comfortable rooms and cozy atmosphere, our service, hospitality and personal interest in the wellbeing of our guests have paid off!
Perhaps even more significant is the fact that La Villa de Soledad B&B is number one on the Tripadvisor best B&B and inns list for top Honduras Hotels! We are honored to be part of this list and of course committed to keep up the good work to stay in this position throughout all of this New Year that we are just beginning.
We congratulate all of the other B&B and Inns in Honduras that are on this list, especially to my friends Angela and Howard Rosenzweig at La Casa de Café in Copan Ruinas, Rodger Harrison at Hacienda La Esperanza in Copan Ruinas, Sandra & Jimmy Pinel from Casa el Meson B&B in San Pedro Sula, Roland Rumm at Roland’s Garden Guesthouse and Reyna Padilla at Casa Las Lomas B&B. Keep up the good work and hope to see you all on the list in 2016! Nice to be on the Tripadvisor 2015 top Honduras hotels list huh?
Are you looking for unique Honduras boutique hotels to stay in during your visit to Honduras?
By definition, boutique hotels are small, with each room being different, each decorated in a unique way and with local arts within them. They are also located in unique locations, and offer an upscale service with attention to detail. Because of this, Honduras boutique hotels are few and spread apart.
Having traveled throughout Honduras for over 21 years, and knowing just about everybody in the industry, I can say that I am one of the more knowledgeable travelers within the country, and can actually produce a list of the very few Honduras Boutique Hotels that you can find in the country.
Tegucigalpa Boutique Hotels
Starting with the capital city, Tegucigalpa, there are two hotels that I can include in the list of Honduras boutique hotels: Hotel Portal del Angel and the Hotel Casa Xochicalco. The first is located in the central Colonia Palmira, just a couple of blocks from the Boulevard Morazan, considered the upscale shopping and entertainment distict in Tegus. The hotel has 23 suites, each decorated with magnificent hand carved furniture made with Honduran mahogany, considered the finest in the World. Hotel Casa Xochicalco is a small bed and breakfast located in the upscale El Hatillo district, which is up the mountain from downtown Tegucigalpa and offers some of the best views of the city. The building was constructed in 1948 by a renowned Mexican architect, and has a unique charm and elegance to it. Truly a great boutique hotel in Tegucigalpa.
San Pedro Sula Boutique Hotels
In my opinion, San Pedro Sula has the following Honduras boutique hotels: Hotel Boutique Isabella and Hotel Casa del Arbol Galerias. The Hotel Casa del Arbol is located in the upscale Jardines del Valle neighborhood, and offers 26 rooms, each decorated with art made by local Honduran women and made exclusively for the Hotel. Decoration is minimalistic, and rooms are comfortable, spacious and fresh. Service is outstanding and this is certainly one of the best hotels in San Pedro Sula. The Isabella boutique hotel is located in the Los Andes District of town, and is an exclusive hotels with only 12 rooms and a gourmet fusion cuisine restaurant.
Copan Ruinas Boutique Hotels
Copan Ruinas offers three different properties, each unique in their own way. Hacienda San Lucas is a centennial rural home turned into a delightful Honduras boutique hotel, with a unique feeling to it. Service is outstanding, and the history of the sight, which is adjacent to the Mayan Ruins of Copan and has a fantastic view of the old Copan Acropolis make it truly spectacular.
The Casa Rosada bed and breakfast is another lovely property, with a lot of charm, a true old world feeling and bedrooms decorated with the best of taste.
Last, but not least in Copan is the Yat Balam Hotel, a 4 bedroom property located in the heart of town, with easy access to all the restaurants and bars in Copan Ruinas.
La Ceiba Boutique Hotels
La Ceiba, located on the Caribbean port of La Ceiba has two different boutique hotels, the Lodge at Pico Bonito, which is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World is located in the lush Pico Bonito National Park. The hotel was built with a lot of respect to the environment and offers lovely stand alone and duplex cabins that are spread around within the tropical rain forest of the park.
The other Honduras boutique hotel in La Ceiba is La Villa de Soledad, a unique bed and breakfast located in the majestic Cangrejal River Valley. This hotel earned two different tripadvisor awards in 2014 and is one of the exclusive hotels in La Ceiba. Rooms feature original art from some of the most distinguished Honduran artists, and are pleasantly appointed with a door leading out the the great outdoors of Nombre de Dios National Park.
Are you planning your own tailor made Central America Adventure trips?
As you probably know, despite the fact that Central America as a region is not that big, the truth is that distances within Central America can be quite big. Although flying can shorten some of these distances, there are not many airports or scheduled flights within the region, and those airlines that do provide services can be quite pricey. Traveling by road is not easy either. Roads in Central America are famous for being narrow, with potholes and usually have very poor public transportation available. The infamous chicken bus surely became famous in Central America!
Because of this, finding the right region where you can truly have an adventure of a lifetime is important. Would it not be perfect if you could plan Central America adventure trips in a relatively small area where you could find it all? White water rafting, rappelling down tropical waterfalls in the dense tropical rain forests of Central America, paddling your own sea kayak through mangrove canals or hiking in the forests to hidden and secluded pristine waterfalls; interacting with a unique ethnic group whose culture has been designated World Heritage by the Unesco or diving in the reefs of the most bio-diverse barrier coral reef in the World…
… believe it or not, these activities, and many more, are located within a relatively small area in the heart of Central America. The area, is somewhat unknown, it is called Atlantida, which is the name of the legendary lost continent where ancient civilizations flourished, and offers the perfect combination of tropical rain forests, white sand still pristine Caribbean Islands and friendly people.
Atlantida is a department located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras, and is actually the main gateway from mainland Honduras to the World famous Bay Islands of Honduras. You see, it is possible to plan the perfect Central America Vacation trips and make your trip an adventure, instead of spending your adventure time travelling between the adventure sights.
If you are looking for those special Central America Adventure trips, make sure you plan on visiting Atlantida, the magnificent destination that marvelously combines Central America with the Caribbean. Discover secret gems, like the Cangrejal River, where you will find charming boutique hotels, such as La Villa de Soledad, and have the adventure of your lifetime in magnificent natural tropical settings. Come and Relax in Nature, and reconnect yourself with the important things in your life!
Getting to Atlantida is easy, you can fly into the San Pedro Sula International airport or directly to the Roatan International Airport. From San Pedro Sula you can either take a bus from the airport to La Ceiba using Hedman Alas bus company or you can fly directly to La Ceiba; from Roatan, you can take the Galaxy Wave ferry to La Ceiba or you can catch a short flight to La Ceiba.
It is no secret that Honduras offers the best diving in Central America. The magnificent Bay Islands of Honduras offer diverse options to help you have the most memorable Central America dive vacations ever. Although there are actually 6 main Bay Islands: Utila, Roatan, Helene, Morat, Barbaretta and Guanaja, only three actually have tourism infrastructure and services to offer: Utila, Roatan and Guanaja. Each of these islands is different, and depending on what you are looking for, you will certainly find the perfect fit for your own tailor made Central America dive vacations!
Utila is the closest to mainland Honduras, and has a reputation to be the most affordable place in the world to get scuba certified. Although it generally has made a name for itself as a destination for a younger crowd, it does have a couple of more isolated hotels that offer a quiet, eco resort setting that you will thoroughly enjoy if this is what you are looking for. In any case, the truth is that Utila is a great party place and best of all, it is truly affordable. Geographically, Utila is very flat, with only a small hill, called Pumpkin Hill rising up from the main island. The hill is actually an extinct volcano, and can be climbed fairly easily. There are two main communities on the islands, Utila town, located on the main island of Utila, and the Utila Cays, a much smaller, fishing community that can only be reached by boat.
Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands is also the political center of the department of the Bay Islands. Although by far more developed that its sister islands, Roatan still has many very beautiful pristine places and beaches if this is what you are looking for. Most of the dive shops are located on the western end of the island, either in the Community of West End or on West Bay Beach. This is the more developed part of the island and certainly the touristiest. Lodging options for your Central America dive vacations here is ample, and you will find from high end resorts to hostels. The same can be said for the diving outfitters, there are many different options, and you can shop around and see which your perfect match is. Roatan is a long, hilly island, which measures a total of 60 km. in length. There is a main road that traverses the island from tip to tip, with most of it being paved. The eastern end of the island is the less developed.
Guanaja, the furthest from the Mainland, is probably the most beautiful; however it is also the most expensive because it is more difficult to get to. In addition, there are no cars on the island, so getting around is strictly a boat thing! There are not many resorts on the island, and those that are here are usually small family run operations. Some of them provide diving services, but they can all help you arrange for a dive vacation. If you are looking to get scuba certified, then Guanaja is probably not your best choice, but if you already have your diving certificate, then Guanaja can well prove to be the best spot for some magnificent Central America dive vacations.
One of the advantages of the Bay Islands as a Central America dive vacations destination is its proximity to mainland Honduras. Access is easy between the Bay Islands and the city of La Ceiba, considered the eco tourism capital of Central America. You should plan on spending a couple of days in the area around La Ceiba to complement your Central America dive vacations with a bit of adventure or eco tourism. The best area for this is the Cangrejal River Valley, where you can have the adventure of your lifetime rafting down the Cangrejal River, hiking in the tropical rain forests of Pico Bonito National Park or simply laying in a hammock and relax in nature. La Villa de Soledad is a lovely boutique bed and breakfast located adjacent to the Cangrejal River and is a perfect combination for your Central America dive vacations.
Are you planning your Central America Family Vacations?
Central America is a great family vacation destination, and every year, tens of thousands of families plan Central America Family Vacations in the region. Officially, there are only five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Belize, although geographically in Central America, has never been politically a Central American country, and neither has Panama.
If you look at a Map of the region to plan your Central America Family Vacations, you will find that one country is located right in the middle of Central America: Honduras. You will also note that Honduras has a coast on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. If you check the map out a bit more in depth, you will find that the only Central American Country who has more development on the Caribbean Coast is Honduras. Honduras has yet another huge advantage: it is not overrun by tourists, so you can enjoy some truly authentic Central America family vacations in this lovely country. Honduras is also the only Central American country with four, yes four, international airports. This makes it easy to travel by air and shorten distances between the different destinations within the country. The airports are located in Tegucigalpa (the capital), San Pedro Sula (the main gateway), La Ceiba (the ecotourism capital of Central America) and Roatan, (the most outstanding Caribbean destination in Central America!). Last, but not least, traveling through Honduras is far less expensive that it is to do so in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Panama. In Central America, only Nicaragua is as affordable as Honduras is!
I guess your next question will be: If Honduras is such a great option, why is it not so popular and overrun by tourists? The unavoidable truth is that Honduras has a terrible reputation abroad, and most tourists simply overlook the country and erase it from their plans. But is Honduras really as unsafe for tourists as the travel warnings claim it is? No it is certainly not. If you read through the lines, the warnings do clearly say that tourists are not targeted. Furthermore, most of the murders that have put Honduras on the map as “the murder capital of the World” are gang on gang related and happen in the big cities, not the sites tourists visit. The general consensus from travelers visiting Honduras is that it is a lovely, affordable and friendly country, that they have not felt unsafe or threatened. The vast majority are truly happy they planned their Central America Family vacations to include Honduras.
What should be the destinations within Honduras that you should include when planning your Central America family vacations? There is a lot to see and do in Honduras, but you might not have time to see it all. Make sure you include at least three sites within Honduras: Copan Ruinas, La Ceiba and the Bay Islands.
One of the top attractions within Copan Ruinas, in addition to the archaeological site is the Macaw Mountain bird park. The park is educational, fun and absolutely beautiful! All of the family, from adults to children will love to interact with the lovely tropical macaws and parrots that live at this unique park. Plan on spending at least half a day here, but don’t be surprised if you end up spending the whole day or even returning the day after for more of this wonderful experience.
For the second destination we suggest to plan your Central America family vacations, make sure you visit the coastal city of La Ceiba. In addition to being the gateway to the Bay Islands, it is also full of eco tourism activities, including some adventure sports, such as white water rafting. The best area to stay in La Ceiba is the Cangrejal River Valley, a unique spot that is nestled between two national parks, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios. Although there are several different options where you can stay there, I wholeheartedly recommend staying at La Villa de Soledad B&B a Family run hotel that is extremely family oriented and where you can feel at home with your family.
Finally, after enjoying some time exploring the Mayan Ruins of Copan and interacting with the macaws at Macaw Mountain bird park, and enjoying the eco tourism activities around La Ceiba, you will need some time to relax and enjoy, and what better option that the white sand beaches and turquoise waters you will find in the Bay Islands of Honduras. Probably the best family spot in the Bay Islands is West Bay Beach in Roatan.
You now have complete information to plan your perfect Central America family vacations in the best destination in Central America: Honduras. Expect a great time, un-crowded attractions, affordable prices and friendly service. You will certainly enjoy your family vacations in this lovely country that is still authentic and has no tourist traps where you can have a disappointing experience! Honduras, the upcoming Central America family vacations destination!
Planning a trip to Honduras and trying to figure out which are the Honduras Travel Highlights you should not miss?
There are many unique places that make up the top Honduras travel highlights that you should not miss! Most tourists enter the country by land from Guatemala into the border town of Copan Ruinas. Copan Ruinas is home to the unique and magnificent Mayan Archaeological site of Copan, one of the top sites in the Maya World. Copan Ruinas, however offers much more than a top archaeological site, and is truly one of the top Honduras travel highlights that no traveler to the country should miss out on!
For those traveling by air, the main airport in Honduras is at San Pedro Sula. The most important US airlines fly here, such as Delta, American, United and Spirit. Central American airlines, such as Copa, Avianca and Aeromexico also fly here. San Pedro Sula is not one of the Honduras highlights, however it is a great base from where to visit the top Honduras highlights!
Next on our list of Honduras travel highlights that you should not miss is Atlantida. Translated to English, this would be Atlantis, and it is located on the Caribbean coast of mainland Honduras. Atlantida offers a total of 7 unique protected areas, and has the highest density of National Parks within all of Central America. In addition, the Garifuna Culture, which has been declared as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the UNESCO thrives in this area. The two main cities in Atlantida are Tela and La Ceiba, and each offer a great variety of options, from beach vacations to adventure and nature experiences. One of the top Honduras travel highlights is located very near La Ceiba: “The Cangrejal River Valley”. This unique and magnificent area is nestled between two national parks, and offers some of the top eco hotels in Honduras. Hiking, rappelling, white water rafting, bird watching, are but a few of the many options all located within walking distance of your eco resorts in the area. Here you can find the cozy La Villa de Soledad B&B a unique, friendly inn with a great location, easy access and tons of things to do and enjoy.
La Ceiba has another big plus to it: It is the gateway from mainland Honduras to the Bay Islands, another of the top Honduras travel highlights that you must visit during your travels throughout the country. From La Ceiba, you can easily travel to all three of the Bay Islands, Utila, Roatan and Guanaja. The first two are accessible by both air and sea from La Ceiba, and the last only by air.
Other Honduras travel highlights that you should try to visit if you have time are Lake Yojoa and the old colonial capital of Honduras, Comayagua. Lake Yojoa is located in the heart of Honduras, and is a gateway to two national parks, as well as fishing and sailing. Comayagua, located not far from Lake Yojoa offers museums, old colonial churches and the charm of Central America that many people are seeking during their travels.
Remember, Honduras might not be the travel hot spot in Central America, but it offers you the true Central American experience without the traveling crowds. If you are allergic to tourist traps, then you will love Honduras!
Honduras has almost 112,500 square kilometers, roughly the size of the state of Ohio in the USA or the country of Bulgaria in Europe. Approximately 40% of Honduras’ territory is protected by law and has the status of National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and other protected status. Because of this, there are many different areas within the country where you can find mainland Honduras Eco Resorts.
The area with the highest density of protected areas in Honduras is the department of Atlantida, located on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Here a total of 7 protected areas, plus the Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve, offer many options and perfect locations for mainland Honduras Eco Resorts. Most of these eco resorts are either within the Pico Bonito or Nombre de Dios National Parks. Without doubt, the highest concentration of mainland Honduras eco resorts can be found within the Cangrejal River Valley, which is nestled between Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios. Here, you can find the lovely La Villa de Soledad B&B one of the coziest of all mainland Honduras eco resorts. With a Spanish Hacienda style architecture, it is located within Nombre de Dios National Park and the easy access to Pico Bonito National Park make of it a true gem. Its proximity and easy access from the Bay Islands of Roatan and Utila also make it easy to combine with a vacation in the islands!
Another area where you find a high concentration of National Parks is around Lake Yojoa. Here two different National Parks, Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meambar, and Parque Nacional Montana de Santa Barbara offer, together with the lake, a unique area where you can find several unique mainland Honduras eco resorts. Within Lake Yojoa, you will find the unique D&D Brewery, a unique eco resort that offers great tours to the nearby national parks, as well as the Panacam Lodge, located within the Cerro Azul Meambar Park.
Last but not least, one of the most unique mainland Honduras eco resorts, is Hacienda San Lucas, located in Copan Ruinas. This unique hotel offers outstanding service, great views and the experience of an eco – archaeological destination that you will find hard to duplicate.
Remember that you will not only find great mainland Honduras eco resorts, these will not be overcrowded with tourists, and your eco tourism vacation will be a true eco experience! Honduras, the best kept secret about Central America!
