hotels in la ceiba

From La Ceiba to the Cangrejal River Valley

February 7, 2019

getting to La Ceiba, hotels in la ceiba, National Parks Cangrejal River Valley, La Ceiba, Lodges in La Ceiba, Saopin Bridge 0

Planning your trip from La Ceiba to the Cangrejal River Valley for a few days?

So you are passing by La Ceiba on your way towards or from the Bay Islands of Utila or Roatan and have decided to stop a couple of days to enjoy the area around the Cangrejal River. You are now trying to figure out the best way to get from La Ceiba to the Cangrejal River Valley.

If you are traveling from the Bay Islands to La Ceiba on the regular ferry service, and will stay at one of the local lodges for several night, your best bet is to contact the inn you will be staying at and have them arrange for your transfer. Many hotels, for example, La Villa de Soledad B&B will provide complimentary round trip arrival and departure transfers from La Ceiba if you are staying with them for three or more nights. If you are planning on a shorter stay, you can arrange the transfers with them. The cost should be about $20.00 US. This fee applies from one to four persons each way.

Others, such as Omega Tours Jungle Lodge have a deal with some of the local taxi drivers that will charge you a very reasonable $20 US dollars. The transfer time from the ferry terminal to your lodge at the Cangrejal River will shorter than 40 minutes.

Are arriving on a bus, or already in town, and are really on a budget? Or perhaps you are looking for a more adventurous option? You can hitch a ride to the “Saopin Bridge” over the Cangrejal River. This one of two bridges in La Ceiba that crosses over the Cangrejal, and is the one on the main CA13 highway. There is a paved street just after crossing the bridge on the mountainside of the road. This is where you can wait for a bus. The area is safe, and there are usually different persons here waiting for the bus. There are only 3 or 4 buses every day. The first one going up towards the communities departs La Ceiba at around 8:30 a.m. The last bus usually passes by around 3:30 in the afternoon.

If you miss the last bus, you can always hitch a ride in a pick up truck. There are many pick up vehicles going up into the mountains towards the villages that will give you a ride. A few of them usually charge a fee to give you a ride. It is always a good idea to ask if you owe them anything once you get off. Since you are in the back of the pick up, you will have to keep your eyes open for the lodge that you are headed towards. Make sure you knock on the side of the truck to let the driver know you are getting off. Do so even if you have communicated with him and let him know where you are going. Be on the lookout, as he may forget that you are in the truck and want a ride only to a certain point.

Getting a ride in the back of the pickup truck is a great way to get from La Ceiba to the Cangrejal River Valley. There is one drawback with this very affordable way to get to your lodge in the Cangrejal River. When the road is dry you will bite some dust. If it’s raining, you will be getting wet in the back of the pickup truck.

If you end up hiring a cab to get from La Ceiba to the Cangrejal River Valley, keep in mind that they will try to charge you as much as they can get away with! Remember that your lodge can arrange for the transfer in a cab for around $20 US. Certainly do not pay more than $30 US, unless it’s after dark. Then up to $40 would be the maximum acceptable. If you take the bus, the fare should be around 10 lempiras per person each way.

February 6, 2019

Best of La Ceiba, birding in honduras, hotels in la ceiba, safety in Honduras, white water rafting Best bed and Breakfast in the Cangrejal River, best food in the Cangrejal River Valley, best hotel in La Ceiba 0

Are you looking for Reasons to Book at La Villa de Soledad B&B?

There are many GOOD reasons to book at La Villa de Soledad B&B. Following is a list of some of the best ones…

Exclusivity!

We are a small boutique bed and breakfast. With only four rooms, they can fill up fast! This is one of the top reasons to book at La Villa de Soledad B&B when you make up your mind to travel to the Cangrejal River. We can fill up fast! The fact that we are small means that we are exclusive! You will not run into many people during your stay. As a general rule, our boutique eco lodge attracts a refined crowd. You will meet interesting educated people from around the world, and you will enjoy their company.

Location We Are Easy to Get To!

Our location might seem remote, but we are easy to get to! This means that you won’t spend lots of time trying to get to your hotel room. We are happy to provide meet and greet and transfer service from La Ceiba to La Villa de Soledad. Arriving by bus to La Ceiba? We will meet you at the bus terminal! If you are arriving by ferry from the Bay Islands, we will do the same! Arriving at the La Ceiba Airport? We will be happy to meet you and transfer you from there.

If you are staying three or more nights, we will provide these transfers on a complimentary basis! Otherwise, we charge you a service charge of $20 US each way for your party of one to four persons. Regardless of where we pick you up, you will enjoy the 30 to 40 minute transfer to our beautiful Spanish Hacienda Style Inn.

Many Nearby Activities…

about rafting in Honduras — White Water Rafting in the Cangrejal River

Once at La Villa de Soledad, you will be surprised at the variety of activities that are available here. Best of all, many are within walking distance from your hotel room! Hiking across the swing bridge into Pico Bonito National Park is just a five minute walk from your room. The put in for World Class white water rafting in the Cangrejal River is a short fifteen minute walk. A zip line canopy tour at Jungle River is also within 15 minutes walking! Best of all, the swimming in the river is awesome! Simply put, there are so many things to do in La Ceiba that you need to plan on spending several nights here!

If you are into bird watching, then this should be one of the reasons to book at La Villa de Soledad! Enjoy great birding from the comfort of our open lounge. Heck you can even do bird watching while you lay in a hammock! Take a hike out on our trails and see how many different birds you spot! The amateur birders will go nuts with the many keeled billed toucans around out lodge! This is one of the top eco lodges in Honduras.

Great Sleeping

At night you will be lulled to sleep by the murmur of the Cangrejal River as it races towards the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. Early in the morning, the chatter of birds will me music to your ears! There is nothing like waking up in a comfortable bed in a beautiful natural setting! We are a bed and breakfast, and we strive to serve you a memorable breakfast to help you start your day well! The aroma of fresh brewed gourmet Honduran coffee will help you jump start your day. Fresh tropical fruits, many from our gardens are a main ingredient in all our breakfasts. Eggs and toast are also part of your breakfast. This is certainly one of the best deals in La Ceiba!

Outstanding Food

Although we do not actually have a restaurant, our guests rave about Soledad’s cooking. Soledad, your host (my wife) is a lovely Honduran lady who is always happy. She loves to have guests rave about her cooking. You will be hard pressed to find better home cooked meals elsewhere in Honduras! She only cooks for her guests and family. This is not a service that is available for walk-ins. So you will love to taste her meals! Many say that this is the best food in La Ceiba!

But perhaps you would like to have lunch or dinner elsewhere. There are two different restaurants within walking distance that you will enjoy.

Fantasitic Hosts

Last, but not least, John, your hosts (me) is bilingual and bi cultural. You will find that I can join your conversation on just about any topic. I am knowledgeable about travel through Honduras and Central America. Besides being an Innkeeper at La Villa de Soledad, I am the editor of Hondurastravel.com. This is an online travel guide and blog about Honduras. I can provide great tips about every destination in Honduras. I also have a travel guide and blog about Nicaragua called Nicatips.com.

Safety

There are many reasons to book at La Villa de Soledad B&B. They are all good, and they will help you have a memorable experience while in Honduras. Oh, and if you are wondering about whether it is safe or not at the Cangrejal River Valley, we sleep with our doors unlocked! We have lived here for 7 years and never had a problem. Neither have our neighbors. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and book your rooms with us!

February 21, 2016

Best of La Ceiba, Honduras Art, hotels in la ceiba Honduras art, Jorge Restrepo, unique honduran artists

Artwork by Jorge Restrepo

At La Villa de Soledad B&B we are proud to promote local artists who have distinguished themselves as leading painters in Honduras. We have slowly gotten together a collection of unique artwork that we are proud of. Not only does it help give a special sense of place to our inn, it also complements what we consider it good taste in our décor throughout our Bed and Breakfast.

Jorge Restrepo was actually born in Colombia, but worked for many years as a scholar at the Escuela Panamericana de Agricultura, also known as Zamorano. The greens and blues in Honduras inspired his work, which we proudly display in the hallway around our interior courtyard. The painting that we have is titled “Honduras” and truly represents the different shades of green and blue you will find throughout this beautiful country we call Honduras.

Jorge Restrepo studied drawing and painting at the academy of art, Jesuit School in Medellin, Colombia, Jorge had six individual exhibits in Honduras, Dominican Republic and El Salvador, as well as nine collective exhibits in France, the United Kingdom, the United State, Honduras, Colombia and Brazil. His paintings are collected in different countries. Jorge Restrepo left Honduras a few years ago to return to his native Colombia, but left an important legacy of art in Honduras. You can see more of Jorge Restrepo’s unique artwork at his webpage: http://jorgerestrepo.com/Gallery.html

La Villa de Soledad B&B is one of the few hotels outside of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa to feature original art in our public areas as well as our rooms. If you appreciate original artwork, come and stay with us at La Villa de Soledad B&B and become familiar with our art collection.

January 26, 2016

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The Best Rated Hotel in La Ceiba:

Hotel rating systems can be deceiving. In Honduras, for example, the last time that an official hotel rating process took place was during the government of President Ricardo Maduro, which was about 12 years ago. During that time, many new hotels have opened their doors and many of the top rated hotels have been seriously lacking in maintenance due to the drop of tourists visiting Honduras after the wrongly called coup that ousted then President Zelaya.

Taking this into consideration, the effort, which only included 5 hotels in La Ceiba is completely useless at this time. A lot has happened in these short 12 years, and social media, travel communities such as tripadvisor, and OTA’s such as Booking.com have each established a system with reviews that encourages the traveler to rate hotels and tourism services and share his experience with the community. These new tools are now the best way to determine which is the top rated hotel in La Ceiba.

Based on Tripadvisor, the best rated hotel in La Ceiba in the bed and breakfast category for 2016 is La Villa de Soledad B&B. With over 100 reviews, La Villa de Soledad has an astonishing 98 rated as excellent and 2 as very good.

Another good source for rating of properties are the online travel agencies, such as booking.com. They have the added benefit of being able to insure that all comments are legit, by allowing only those clients who purchased a room through them to make comments and rate a property. The best rated hotel in La Ceiba on booking.com is La Villa de Soledad once again, with an impressive rating of 9.9. So if you are looking for the best rated hotel in La Ceiba, you should certainly consider staying with us at La Villa de Soledad B&B, a family run bed and breakfast located in a lovely eco friendly setting right on the Cangrejal River, just minutes from downtown La Ceiba and within walking distance of a variety of different and nature and adventure activities that will knock your socks off!

Book now and insure you have a room reserved for your vacation at the best rated hotel in La Ceiba!

January 6, 2016

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Top Reasons to Travel to Atlantida:

Atlantida, the destination in Central America that offers the best National Parks in Central America, and the friendliest people in the region d is also the Gateway to the Bay Islands, the most popular Caribbean destination in Central America is probably the most complete destination in the Central American Isthmus.

You see, it is hard to get so many things into one single destination. This alone is certainly one of the top reasons to travel to Atlantida.

But here is a short list of a few other reasons to travel to Atlantida:

It is easy to get to! You can fly from the major gateways in the USA nonstop to San Pedro Sula and or Roatan International airports. From there you are just a short distance from the main hubs in Atlantida: Tela and La Ceiba.

Many people in Atlantida speak your language: English. You see, Atlantida began a swift development over 100 years ago, with the arrival of two competing US based fruit companies: United Fruit Brands (Chiquita Banana) and Standard Fruit Company (Dole). These companies brought in many English speaking executives and workers, and the locals also were quick to learn this second language. In addition, the proximity to the English speaking Bay Islands of Honduras has always encouraged locals to learning that second language!

There are a total of 8 protected areas within Atlantida. Of these, 7 are easily accessible to travelers. These areas are so diverse, that you will have a blast visiting the different habitats, and learning more about how they interact. They include rugged mountains completely covered with tropical rainforests, marine estuaries surrounded by mangrove forests, with both fresh and salt water canals, ideal for a diversity of land and marine life; and finally marine sanctuaries with some of the best preserved coral reefs in the Caribbean. You can choose between visiting any one of these or better, yet: all of them!

A magnificent white water river: the Cangrejal, which rushes rapidly from the high mountains of Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks on its way towards the Caribbean Sea. Here, in the Cangrejal River Valley, you will find a variety of different lodging options, such as the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B. Come and see it for yourself!

A port facility with regular ferry service to the Bay Islands of Utila and Roatan, both unique, and yet so very different between themselves! You choose which you prefer to visit, or better yet, visit them both!

Atlantida is a safe destination. Thousands of tourists visit it regularly, both to stay and explore Atlantida as well as on their way to the Bay Islands.

Traveling to and from Atlantida within the region is easy and affordable. With an international Airport in La Ceiba, the port facilities that give you access to the Bay Islands, and good paved highways that provide easy access to the region, there are also several different bus companies and tour operators that offer services between the area, including regular connections towards Antigua Guatemala, and Leon Nicaragua.

I believe the above are all good reasons to travel to Atlantida! You will find that you will Atlantida offers a great variety of activities and lodging options to choose from. It will certainly become a highlight of your trip to Central America.

December 27, 2015

Best of La Ceiba, hotels in la ceiba Bay Islands, Cangrejal River, La Ceiba, Roatan, Utila

Most travelers that come through La Ceiba do so on the way to the Bay Islands of Roatan or Utila. Because of this, very few of them actually overnight in La Ceiba. They are in such a hurry to get to the Honduras’ famous Caribbean Islands that they never figure out what they are missing out by not staying overnight in La Ceiba and explore the surroundings.

Without doubt, the nicest and most versatile area within La Ceiba is the Cangrejal River Valley. This area is only 10 km. (6 Miles) from town and offers great lodging, outstanding eco and adventure activities and friendly bars and restaurants where you will meet other travelers who will gladly share their travel experiences with you.

You see, the first thing you will learn if you do decide to overnight in La Ceiba in the Cangrejal River Valley, is that you will need at least two, probably three nights to take full advantage of all there is to do there. Most of all, you will be happy that you did decide to overnight in La Ceiba, because a stay at the Cangrejal River Valley will easily turn into one of the highlights of your visit to Central America.

I have yet to meet a traveler who was disappointed by the beauty, charm and diversity available within the area. I have, however met many a traveler who was sorry they did not plan on a longer stay in the Cangrejal River Valley, so make sure you leave some time to enjoy the area!

Amongst the different activities available are white water rafting, zipline canopy tours, hiking in the tropical jungles, horseback riding, mountain biking, and some truly spectacular bird watching. You will find the crystal clear and temperate waters of the Cangrejal River too tempting to resist and have the time of your life swimming in the natural water pools within the river.

Best of all are the variety of lodges available. La Villa de Soledad B&B is one of the most popular and truly beautiful lodges in the area. Come and stay with us and find out why we get raving reviews from our clients!

December 3, 2015

hotels in la ceiba, tourism in Honduras Cangrejal River Valley, La Ceiba, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park

Looking for the best small nature hotels in Honduras?

Honduras is one of the great nature destinations in Latin America. The fact that is located right in the heart of Central America, that narrow isthmus of land that connects both major American continents, and right on the Caribbean coast provides for a rich biodiversity and lush tropical vegetation.

Considering the above, it is no surprise that the Caribbean Coast offers the perfect setting for some of the best small nature hotels in Honduras. An area where you will find a variety of protected areas and national parks as well as some of the most beautiful and pristine jungle mountains in the Americas, including the famous Pico Bonito National Park. It is here, in this area known as Atlantida, where you can find the best small nature hotels in Honduras! Best of all, they are all easy to get to via the port city of La Ceiba, which is the gateway to the Bay Islands of Honduras.

Without doubt, the most famous of these small nature hotels is the Lodge at Pico Bonito, located just west of La Ceiba. The Lodge, a member of the small luxury hotels of the World, is truly a unique property where you will enjoy great bird watching, outstanding food, and great service. However, there are many other properties that easily qualify as some of the best small nature hotels in Honduras nearby.

Take for example, the Cangrejal River Valley. In a small area you will find different alternatives that include community owned lodges, charming and award winning boutique hotels and lodges and even a set of villas within a beautifully manicured tropical setting.

La Villa de Soledad B&B is one of the award winning properties in this area, and certainly qualifies as one of the best small nature hotels in Honduras. With a total of 5 unique, and distinctly appointed rooms, each with its own original artwork, private bathroom, terrace porch with hammock and direct access to the great outdoors of Nombre de Dios National Park, it is the perfect spot to relax in nature and enjoy the many diverse activities available at your doorstep.

Things to do in Pico Bonito National Park

November 26, 2015

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

Looking for special boutique hotels in Honduras to stay in?

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

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

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

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

September 28, 2015

Best of Atlantida, hotels in la ceiba, La Ceiba general information, tourism in Honduras, Tours in La Ceiba Atlantida, Honduras travel apps, La Ceiba, Tela

Planning to visit Atlantida on your next vacations?

The brand new visit Atlantida app for IOS and Android operating systems is now available for free at the Google play store and the Apple store. This visit Atlantida app is designed to give you all the tools you need to plan your next vacation to Atlantida. To download this app to your android smart phone, follow this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hr.apps.n206984407

But why visit Atlantida? Well, for one it is the most complete destination in Honduras, and possibly all of Central America! Atlantida offers outstanding alternatives for traditional beach and sun vacations, with two distinct hubs to choose from: Tela and La Ceiba. It is also an extremely complete eco tourism and nature destination, with a total of 8 national parks or protected areas to choose from, with 7 of these offering a variety of tourism services, each unique and particular that will fit into your interests: from hiking in the rain forests to kayaking through mangrove canals, diving in pristine coral barrier reefs or riding in a century old railroad track on a funky banana train, the variety is almost endless! If you are interested in adventure, then maneuvering through the white waters of the Cangrejal River, mountain biking in a remote location or horseback riding through the jungles of Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Parks.

The visit Atlantida mobile phone app also offers a complete list of hotels and lodges in Atlantida where you can stay, as well as restaurants and eateries and tour operators that you can use to arrange your package if you choose to do so through a professional tour operator.

A list of places to see and activities to do complete this new app that also allows a lot of interaction, such as setting you profile, checking into hotels and even writing reviews and comments regarding the establishment you visited or the attraction you visited and activities you enjoyed.

For a more complete resource, the visit Atlantida web site also offers a complete source of information, both in English and Spanish.

September 17, 2015

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Are you looking for the best hotel in La Ceiba?

There is no doubt that the best place to stay in La Ceiba is the Cangrejal River Valley. Here you will find the best of nature, the best of peace and quiet and the best activities to enjoy. This being said, you will also find the best hotel in La Ceiba!

La Villa de Soledad B&B is the best Hotel in La Ceiba! Who says so? Check out what our guests think on tripadvisor. You will find that we consistently get raving reviews about our location, our service and our facilities. The setting is absolutely stunning, the facilities are comfortable and cozy, the service is friendly and hospitable, and the activities that you can enjoy are many a varied.

We can truly say that coming to La Ceiba, and not staying in the best hotel in La Ceiba is a real mistake, especially when it is son affordable! Our low season rates, which span from August 30 till December 16^th are only $75 US per room in double occupancy and including taxes and tips! Now if that is not a deal what is?

La Villa de Soledad B&B is such a good deal, that visiting the nearby Bay Islands of Utila and Roatan, and not stopping in La Ceiba for a couple of days to relax in best Hotel in La Ceiba is truly an unforgivable mistake.

La Villa de Soledad offers direct access to two National Parks, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios, great natural swimming areas in the Cangrejal River, and best of all outstanding hospitality and knowledge of the area. Best of all the bilingual innkeepers will go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable and satisfied. Come, discover the Cangrejal River Valley and some of the best kept secrets in Central America at the Cangrejal River Valley in La Ceiba!

Do yourself a favor, do not pay attention to what the travel warnings and the press have to say about Honduras. Check out the different comments that fellow travelers have put up as reviews in the diverse properties around the Cangrejal River. You will find that the area is safe, peaceful, and relaxing. Pamper yourself by visiting La Villa De Soledad B&B, the best hotel in La Ceiba!