garifuna

January 29, 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, garifuna, National Parks, tourism in Honduras

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.

January 11, 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of La Ceiba, garifuna, Tours in La Ceiba

La Ceiba Honduras Tours: The best eco tourism option in Central America!

One of the best option to experience the best of Central America if through some La Ceiba Honduras tours. La Ceiba, Honduras is located on the Caribbean coast of Honduras, and is the gateway to the famous Bay Islands of Honduras. However, La Ceiba is much more than the gateway to the Bay Islands; it is the eco tourism capital of Central America!

There are many different La Ceiba Honduras Tours. Options range from some of the most adventuresome activities you can find in Central America, and include white water rafting, rappelling down waterfalls and diving. In addition, other options for la Ceiba Honduras tours include hiking in the tropical rainforests, sea-kayaking through mangrove canals, birding, and horse back riding to mention a few. Best of all, in most cases, there are different outfitters and tour operators that provide competitive services, allowing you to choose the best option for you.

For instance, if you are looking for white water rafting, there are three different outfitters that can provide services for you. La Moskitia Ecoaventuras, Omega Tours and Jungle River. All three of them have guides that are in the process of being certified and include rafting in the magnificent Cangrejal River, one of the most exciting white water rivers in Central America.

The rappelling down waterfalls option only has one outfitter that operates but they are top quality and attention to safety is at its highest with this operator. Another option is a zip line canopy tour that is available within the area, allowing you to fly between tree tops and get a bird’s eye view of the forest, the Cangrejal River Valley and the Cangrejal River from your vantage point.

Hiking into both Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park is easily done from La Ceiba. Actually, all of the above activities can be easily done from the Cangrejal River Valley, a relatively small area located just outside La Ceiba that offers unique La Ceiba Honduras tours to those staying within the Cangrejal River area. Best of all, different eco jungle lodges are available within the area, including the unique La Villa de Soledad, a Spanish Colonial style boutique hotel that offers easy, within walking distance access to all of the above activities!

Pico Bonito offers many different trails and magnificent waterfalls, which will make you think twice about which are the best options amongst all of the different La Ceiba Honduras tours available.

Fortunately, if you stay at one of the eco lodges in the area, such as La Villa de Soledad, you will have the opportunity to get free, first hand recommendations about which are the best La Ceiba Honduras tours for you.

Other nearby options for La Ceiba Honduras tours include the Hog Islands, known locally as Cayos Cochinos, a gem in the Caribbean that offers magnificent reefs to snorkel or dive in, as well as a chance to interact with the Garifuna culture at the unique village in Chachahuate. The Garifuna are an ethnic group which resulted from the mix of African slaves and native Caribbean Indians.

Access to the Hog Keys can be made easily from Sambo Creek using the services of a tour operator specializing in the Cayos Cochinos Tours. Another great option for La Ceiba Honduras tours in the Sambo Creek area is the hot springs and zip line canopy tour at Sambo Creek. The hot springs are located within the rain forests of Nombre de Dios National Park and offer spectacular views of the Caribbean. Relax in the natural hot water pools and enjoy the jungle, and if you wish, you can even get a massage and mud bath included in the tour price, which is actually quite reasonable.

If you like the idea of paddling through mangrove canals, sneaking up on sleepy alligators or seeing some of the truly noisy howler monkeys that are native to the rain forests of Honduras, then the perfect La Ceiba Honduras tours for you are a visit to either the Cacao Lagoon in the Nombre de National Park or to the Cuero y Salado wildlife refuge, located just a few miles west of La Ceiba. Both offer unique birding opportunities, as well as an insight to the life in the mangroves and estuaries on the Caribbean coast of Central America.

As you can see, there are many different options for La Ceiba Honduras tours that you can choose from. Make sure that you plan to spend enough days in the area to take full advantage of these opportunities, and best of all, stay at a Hotel that will give you easy access to most the activities available. Without doubt, your best bet is the Cangrejal River Valley and the cozy boutique bed and breakfast at La Villa de Soledad!

December 29, 2014

Best of La Ceiba, garifuna, National Parks, Tours in La Ceiba Garifuna, Guanaja

Presenting La Ceiba Honduras Eco Tours, the perfect Eco destination in Central America!

There are few places on earth where you can find a wider array of nature related activities than La Ceiba Honduras. La Ceiba Honduras Eco tours options include hiking in a tropical rain forest and snorkeling in some of the most pristine coral reefs in the World. You can also choose between World Class white water rafting or waterfall descents by use of rappelling techniques. Birders will be absolutely stunned at the huge number of tropical birds that can be easily seen in the area.

Canoeing or kayaking through lagoons with mysterious mangrove canals where both howler and white faced monkeys can be found and easily spotted is another option. La Ceiba Honduras Eco tours even includes the option for horseback riding through remote communities and jungle trails or some mountain biking through back roads and mountain trails.

With over 8 protected areas within the department of Atlantida, and four of them within a few minutes of La Ceiba, the options for eco tours in La Ceiba are practically endless. The key to enjoying the most from available La Ceiba Honduras eco tours is where you stay. Obviously, you will want an eco resort that is close to most of the options available. The best option is to decide on staying within the Cangrejal River Valley, a lovely area that is located just between two different National Parks, Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park.

The area is so spectacular, that several bloggers have written wonders about it. Shivya Nath, the winner of the indiblogger awards in 2013 wrote about her brief visit to Honduras how she was impressed with the beauty and safety of the Cangrejal River Valley Area: http://the-shooting-star.com/2014/11/20/honduras-we-travel-to-realize-everyone-is-wrong-about-other-countries Shivya was in Honduras in November 2014, and spent time in both the Cangrejal River Valley and the unique island of Guanaja, truly a gem in the Caribbean.

And speaking of Guanaja, I just had breakfast with some folks that produced a local film titled “Una Loca Navidad Catracha” (A crazy Honduran Christmas) They are in the process of producing another film this time about Easter Week that will be filmed in La Ceiba and Guanaja. Looking forwards to seeing how they present the variety of La Ceiba Honduras Eco tours in their film!

December 26, 2014

Best of Central America, garifuna Atlantida, Central America, Honduras

Are you planning your Central America Vacations?

Here are some good tips to plan the best possible Central America Vacations: First of all, decide what countries you want to visit. Keep in mind that although geographically Central America is made up by 7 countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize and Panama, there are two which are very different and have never really been part of Central America from a political point of view. Belize was a British Colony, and never shared any history with the rest of Central America. Although it has the advantage of English being the official language, it is a World apart from the traditional charm of Central America. Panama, was actually part of Colombia until its independence, so politically it was light years away from the rest of Central America, which was part of the viceroyalty of New Spain, whose headquarters were in Mexico City. 100 years of Panama under the tight influence of the USA because of the Panama Canal has made it a different country from the real Central America.

Considering the above, there are really only 5 Central American countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Your Central America vacations can be very different, depending on where you decide to go. Costa Rica for one is the by far the most popular destination in Central America. This also means that you will find yourself in a tourist trap with thousands of over tourists trying to visit the exact same places and attractions as you are. If you like crowded vacation destinations, tourist traps and long lines, then Costa Rica is your destination! However if you are looking for some authentic Central America vacations, I urge you to look beyond Costa Rica: Guatemala has the advantage of its Maya heritage, and if you go beyond the bustle of its busy capital city, you will surely find many charming colonial towns and villages full with that special Maya heritage. El Salvador is relatively small and quite developed, and although it is the best connected country if you are looking for airlift, it is also the one with least natural attractions to offer.

That leaves only two countries: Nicaragua and Honduras. Both are great destinations, with a lot to offer both historically and naturally. Nicaragua is a land of lakes and volcanoes, with lovely colonial cities and friendly people. It is mostly developed along the Pacific coast and has become a very popular destination for surfing. If surfing, volcanoes and colonial cities are your cup of tea, then Nicaragua is probably your best option for some memorable Central America vacations that are tailored to your preference. For complete information on Nicaragua, visit Nicatips.

Last, but not least is Honduras. In my opinion, the country offers the best authentic Central America vacations! From the magnificent Mayan Ruins at Copan, to the world famous Bay Islands of Honduras, the country offers magnificent national parks, the best beaches in Central America and friendly people. Sadly, Honduras has been tagged as the murder capital of the World, an unfair tag that does not reflect the reality for most of the country and its friendly, charming people. Honduras is actually one of the safest tourist destinations in Central America for tourists. The average Honduran is friendly, helpful and will go out of his way to help tourists who might need help. Honduras also has 4 international airports that allow easy access to the different regions of the country. Perhaps the most outstanding destination in the country is Atlantida, with is a small department (equivalent to a state or province) that is located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. Atlantida has a total of 8 protected areas within or adjacent to its territory, offering some of the best tropical rain forests in all of Central America. Wildlife refuges with mangrove canals and lagoons, as well as some of the most pristine reefs in the Caribbean can be found within Atlantida. Best of all, is the Garifuna culture, designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO can be easily found within the area. If you are looking for some outstanding Central America vacations, look no further, visit Atlantida in Honduras, here you will not be overrun by tourists, and you will fine authentic eco lodges and fantastic beaches, as well as some of the best reefs in the world just a short distance away in the Bay Islands. For complete information on Atlantida and Honduras visit Honduras.travel and Honduras.com.

Atlantida offers unique lodging, such as La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast. Come and experience it for yourself! You will have the best Central America vacations ever!

December 18, 2014

Best of Atlantida, Best of La Ceiba, garifuna, hotels in la ceiba, National Parks, Tours in La Ceiba Cacao Lagoon, Cangrejal River Valley, Corozal, Garifuna Communities, Jutiapa, La Ceiba, National Parks in Honduras, Nombre de Dios National Park, Nueva Armenia, Sambo Creek

Planning a trip to Nombre de Dios National Park?

The Nombre de Dios National Park is one of the youngest national parks in Honduras. It was declared a Park by the National Congress of Honduras during the presidential period of Ricardo Maduro, who administered Honduras between 2002 and 2006.

Nombre de Dios National Park is located in the department of Atlantida, on the North Coast of Honduras between the municipalities of La Ceiba and Jutiapa, and includes the Garifuna Communities of Nueva Armenia, Corozal and Sambo Creek within its limits, as well as the Cacao Lagoon that is located within the municipality of Jutiapa.

From the tourist’s point of view, the Nombre de Dios National Park offers many different options. Perhaps first and above all we should put emphasis on the Garifuna Culture. This unique culture has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO giving it a unique and outstanding position. There are three different Garifuna communities located within the Nombre de Dios National Park: Corozal and Sambo Creek, which are both within the municipality of La Ceiba and the Garifuna community at Nueva Armenia, which is within the municipality of Jutiapa. All of these communities have fishing outposts in the nearby Cayos Cochinos, where Chachahuate is the most colorful of all Garifuna communities in the World.

Another of the crown jewels of Nombre de Dios National Park is the Cacao Lagoon. This small lagoon offers a combination of mangrove and tropical rain forests, which are teeming with wildlife. You can easily see both howler and white faced monkeys from the comfort of your boat or kayak as you tour this lovely tropical lagoon.

Another unique activity within Nombre de Dios National Park is a visit to the hot springs just above Sambo Creek. Although there are many different hot springs within the park, those located just above Sambo Creek offer the best facilities, which include a zip line canopy tour that sends you flying over the hot springs from tree top to tree top!

The hot springs create small natural pools that cascade town the natural ravines, providing a unique natural setting that blends in beautifully with the walkways, decks and massage huts where the massage services are provided.

Last, but definitely not least, the Cangrejal River Valley, which is shared between Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Park offers a variety of lodging options, which include the unique La Villa de Soledad B & B jungle eco-lodge. Here you will find a combination of adventure and nature activities, which include white water rafting, horseback riding tours and, rappelling down waterfalls and of course hiking.

Come and discover Nombre de Dios National Park and stay at La Villa de Soledad B&B, your best lodging option for both Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park!

November 11, 2014

garifuna #garifunas, Garifuna, Garinagu, Roatan, Saint Vincent, Truinfo de La Cruz

Guifiti a traditional Garifuna beverage

Guifiti has come from an ancestral alcoholic beverage meant to be both a spiritual and an earthly cure to many maladies to a tourist attraction!

Guifiti is a bitter alcoholic beverage, which consists of over 20 different herbs and roots, each meant to have a specific effect on your body or spirit. The idea is that it will cure many maladies and illnesses in a natural way. It is without doubt the result of a huge cumulative knowledge that has been passed on by generations of Garifuna people. But the knowledge actually goes further back, before the Garifuna existed.

Guifiti is the result of ancestral knowledge shared between two very different and distant cultures. On one side we have the African people that were captured off the coast of Western Africa and brought to America as slaves. The boat they were on was shipwrecked in a storm off the coast of the island of Saint Vincent in the Grenadines, and many of the slaves survived, suddenly recovering their freedom in a far away land that was inhabited by a completely different culture: the Carib Indians. They became instant allies, to survive the aggressive imperialistic expansion of the Brits. The result was a new ethnic mix, the Garifuna or Garinagu people.

The Garifunas flourished in Saint Vincent, and eventually became a nuisance to the Brits, who rounded them up and shipped them off to a remote unpopulated island in the Western Caribbean, known as Roatan. This historical incident took place on the 12^th of April, 1797. The Garifunas were literally marooned on the island of Roatan by the English. Originally, the Garifunas settled in what today is the community of Punta Gorda, located on the north side of Roatan, about halfway between the East End and the West End of the island.

The Spaniards, who controlled the mainland of Central America, saw this action as a British effort to colonize the Bay Islands, which were under dispute between both European nations. As a result, they rounded most of the Garifunas in Roatan and brought them to mainland Honduras, where the first group of Garifuna established in what today is Triunfo de La Cruz, just east of the City of Tela. From this point they eventually spread throughout the whole Caribbean Coast of Honduras and even beyond, with some villages established as far as Belize and Nicaragua. The bulk of the Garifuna people however, remain in Honduras.

The knowledge of these two different cultures, created the bitter mix that today is considered part of the Garifuna heritage: Guifiti.

Guifiti is the result of herbs and roots which are put into a bottle and mixed with an alcoholic beverage. Originally it was locally produced rum, but today it can be any rum, so you can actually have a very good guifiti, which would have been mixed with a good quality rum or a cheap guifiti with some moonshine rum mix, known locally as “guaro” or “Aguardiente” which would translate into something like “burning water”. The effects can actually be very different, as cheap moonshine rum will undoubtedly produce a horrific headache the day after…

Today, more and more bars in Honduras, especially along the Caribbean Coast and the Bay Islands serve guifiti. Some of them even have what they call a guifiti challenge, which challenges you to have a certain number of guifiti shots in exchange for a “free t shirt” Evidently, the t shirt is not free, as you actually pay for a part of it with each guifiti shot you drink, however you will find that the hangover the next day comes at no extra charge!

For a genuine guifiti tasting experience, I recommend visiting a Garifuna community or an establishment owned and run by a native Garifuna. In La Ceiba, probably the best spot for an authentic guifiti tasting experience would be at “caseta Gorcha Collins” located about a block away from the Hotel Quinta Real, on one of the side streets in the Zona Viva de La Ceiba. Here “Gorcha” a famous soccer player who retired many years ago, will sell you a shot of guifiti and walk you through the experience.

Of course if you have enough guifiti you will probably meet the old Garifuna Gods soon after, but beware because you can also meet the Garifuna Devils the morning after. Guifiti is considered by many to have aphrodisiac properties and is drunk by those looking to enhance their sexual performance. Whatever the case, when in Atlantida or the Bay Islands, you should definitely taste a shot of guifiti!