cultural activities

February 24, 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of Central America, Best of Honduras, Best of La Ceiba, cultural activities Gran Carnaval Ceibeno, La Ceiba Carnival

Why plan a visit for the La Ceiba Carnival 2015?

La Ceiba, the capital of de department of Atlantida is located on the Caribbean Coast of Central America, and is world famous for its Carnival. The upcoming La Ceiba Carnival 2015 will take place in the month of May, which may sound strange, as a Carnival per se is usually celebrated in the days leading to Ash Wednesday. The truth is that in the case of the La Ceiba Carnival 2015, the dates are set to honor the patron saint, Isidore the Labourer, also known as Isidore the Farmer (San Isidro Labrador) whose day is celebrated on the 15^th of May. This year, the dates for the La Ceiba Carnival 2015 will be from the 9^th of May to the 23^rd of May, with the big celebration being precisely the Carnival itself on the Saturday the 23^rd of May.

The La Ceiba Carnival 2015 includes a full day of activities. During the day, a big parade with floats, horse parades, local school bands etc, will march down the main avenue of La Ceiba, Avenida San Isidro, where they will briefly stop in front of the City Hall to pay their respects to the city mayor and other authorities. Traditionally, the parade ends just before dusk, and within minutes, the parade scene gives space to a series of different bands that are playing live music. These bands are some of the best national musicians, who will alternate throughout the night with international artists that are always part of the grand event.

As always, hotels are fully occupied for this busy weekend, when travelers from throughout Honduras, as well as from Central America and beyond come to the city to have a blast. Because of this, I fully recommend that you book your rooms in advance if you are looking to coming to enjoy the La Ceiba Carnival 2015.

Although it’s true that the city gets packed, and to a certain degree, overcrowded, that does not mean you should avoid a visit to La Ceiba if you do not like crowds. The Cangrejal River Valley, an area that is located just 6 miles from town, offers a serene natural environment, where you will not even know that there is a big party going on downtown. The sounds of the river flowing hurriedly towards the Caribbean Sea, the birds singing and generally the sounds of nature will be all that you will hear.

If you want to party, then the La Ceiba Carnival 2015 is perfect for you, however if you want peace and quiet or nature and adventure you can get both in La Ceiba just a few miles apart. If you are looking for nature and adventure, do not overlook La Villa de Soledad B&B a lovely property that was just awarded the top Honduras Bed and Breakfast title by Tripadvisor. Come and relax in nature at La Villa de Soledad B&B!

November 29, 2014

Best of Atlantida, cultural activities Copan Prize, Gracias, La Moskitia Ecoaventuras, Lempira, O Big Mama, Premio Copan, Premio Copan 2014

Copan Prize 2014

Tonight is the big night for the different candidates that were nominated for the Copan Prize 2014. The Copan Prize 2014 is taking event in the lovely colonial city of Gracias, in Western Honduras. The town, which was founded in 1537 is the home town of President Juan Orlando Hernandez, Constitutional President of Honduras for the 2014 to 2018 presidential term.

The Copan Prize is meant to be recognition for personal efforts and investment in the tourism industry of Honduras has been issued every year since 2002, and today is the twelfth edition, is usually a big celebration for all those related with the tourism industry in Honduras. President Juan Orlando Hernandez is scheduled to be at the event, which is taking place at the Fortress of San Cristobal, an important landmark in the city of Gracias. The winners of the Copan Prize 2014 will receive the recognition from the hands of President Hernandez himself!

Today there are two candidates from Atlantida that have been nominated for the Copan Prize 2014: Chef Zenia Paz in the Individual Category and the Palma Real Resort of La Ceiba for the Institutional Category. Since the Atlantida destination brand was just presented to the media this week, an effort is being made to use this event to promote the destination brand.

As part of that effort, some of the previous winners of the Copan Prize from the Atlantida region are converging here to promote the fact that the recognition has been awarded to many entrepreneurs and businesses from Atlantida. Mr. Jorge Salaverry from La Moskitia Ecoaventuras, Ms. Lina Martinez from O Big Mama Casabe, and John Dupuis, founder of Honduras tips travel guide, and owner of La Villa de Soledad B&B, are all past winners of the prize and will all be present at the event. Others may still show up in time to be at the ceremony.

Our best wishes go out to the Copan Prize 2014 from Atlantida. We certainly hope that yet another Copan Prize will find its home in Atlantida! For a list of Copan Prize winners, visit www.canaturh.org

November 15, 2014

cultural activities

Calaguala or “Jungle Juice”

We recently had a couple of guests from Colorado, yes, I’m referring to you Rani and Michael, who went for a walk and came back with a bottle of Calaguala or “Jungle Juice” they had purchased in Artesanias Saravia, a small handicraft workshop just up the road from La Villa de Soledad. Both of them sat in our spacious lounge enjoying the concoction they sipped elegantly out of our wine gobblers. They enjoyed their Calaguala or “Jungle Juice so much, that they went back for another bottle the next day!

So I can only imagine you are now wondering what the heck is that Calaguala or “Jungle Juice” I are talking about? It is a fermented product, known locally as “Chicha” which can be produced from different sources, such as pineapple, and calaguala amongst others. Calaguala is is type of fern that grows naturally in certain palm trees in the jungle. It has a small, hairy root which is used to produce the Calaguala, which besides having a certain level of alcohol because of natural fermentation, there are also a series of medicinal properties that have been attributed to the chicha de Calaguala or “Jungle Juice”. Reputedly, it is good to control uric acid, respiratory allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, herpes and acne.

The ingredients of Calaguala or “Jungle Juice” are quite simple, Calaguala roots, water and brown sugar loaf, which is a square like loaf of sugar that is the result of the first process to produce sugar. It is then left to ferment for several days, and the process can continue for a long time by simply adding more water and sugar to the brew over time as you slowly consume it.

If you are interested in tasting Calaguala or “Jungle Juice” during your visit to La Ceiba, visit the Cangrejal River Valley, better yet, come and spend a couple of nights at the Cangrejal River Valley and stop by Artesanias Saravia, they are friendly folks who produce nice hand carved wood handicrafts. You can also purchase a glass or a bottle of Calaguala or a bottle with all of the herbs necessary to produce your own guifiti, this way, you can fill it up with your favorite rum.

The Calaguala or “Jungle Juice” is part of the rural folklore of Honduran and Central American people, come and experience it at La Villa de Soledad.