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Central America

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A asked our guests: Why Honduras?

I picked our guests from Victoria, British Colombia yesterday to bring them to La Villa de Soledad. After our brief, auto introduction to each other, I blurted out: Why Honduras? (Poor Honduras has such a bad, unfair reputation, that most travelers go out of their way not to visit us, so it is always interesting and learning to listen to the reasons they decided upon visiting Honduras.)

As it turns out, Lauren has been to pretty much the rest of Central America, however for her husband Tristan this is the first time to Central America. It turns out that Tristan wanted to visit the Caribbean, and Lauren wanted to visit Central America. This basically left two options: Belize and Honduras.

For the adventure traveler, there is just so much more to see and do in Honduras than in Belize that they quickly decided on visiting Honduras. With only a week to enjoy vacations in Honduras, they decided that La Ceiba and Roatan seemed like the ideal destinations. This is of course  absolutely true. You can enjoy the best of tropical Central America around La Ceiba, especially along the Cangrejal River Valley, where hiking, zip line canopy tours, white water rafting and swimming in one of the most beautiful rivers in Central America are all possible and within walking distance of several different lodges and accommodations, including La Villa de Soledad B&B.

Cangrejal River: how do I get there?

With only a 30 minute drive from the Cangrejal River to the port facility in La Ceiba, you can catch one of two daily departures from La Ceiba to both, Roatan and Utila, and be in an authentic, Caribbean setting within one hour if headed to Utila and 1½ hours if headed to Roatan! Diving in the Bay Islands is absolutely spectacular: you see the Bay Islands of Honduras are actually on the southernmost end of the Meso American Barrier Reef, the most biodiverse barrier coral reef in the World! It also offers the best preserved conditions in all of the Caribbean, allowing you to dive in near pristine conditions. Add the fact that Utila is world famous for its affordable prices to get scuba certified and to spot the majestic whale shark year round, and Roatan is famous for its spectacular West Bay beach and you find the perfect match! The above seems sum up the answer to my why Honduras question!

About Pico Bonito National Park

Best of all, Honduras is not overrun by tourists, you will enjoy hiking in trails in peace and quiet, snorkeling and diving with small groups, and most importantly, you will discover that Hondurans  are friendly, charming people that will go out of their way to keep you safe and make memorable vacations out of your time in Honduras! Now you know why Honduras. No more reasons needed, hurry and book your Honduras trip before everyone discovers the truth about why Honduras is the best travel destination in Central America and the Caribbean!

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Are you dreaming about the perfect vacation?

A perfect vacation… We all work hard throughout the year to be able to take a much needed vacation. In addition more and more psychologists are saying that true happiness and well being is best provided by the pleasant experiences achieved during out times of travel. All this being said, it seems really important to be able to plan and enjoy the perfect vacation!

But where can we go to have the perfect vacation? Being able to visit different sites that complement each other is usually one of the top factors to take into consideration when planning the perfect vacation. But then you do not want to spend half of your vacation time traveling from one site to the other …

Nestled just off the coast of Central America, in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, you will find a beautiful small archipelago of islands known as the Bay Islands of Honduras. The largest and most developed of these islands is called Roatan. With a population of 60,000 souls, it has an international airport that is serviced by the most important US airlines, who offer flights from Miami, Atlanta, Dallas – Fort Worth and Houston.  Flying time from these gateways is less than 2 ½ hours, making it a short, easy, and most of all affordable trip.

The Perfect Vacation
Paya Bay in Roatan’s East End.

Roatan offers everything an idyllic Caribbean island is supposed to have: white sand beaches fringed with palm trees, friendly people, outstanding coral reefs that are truly healthy and unique, friendly people, beach bars and lovely island resorts. The one island drawback, the fact that it is an island and therefore somewhat isolated from other places does not apply to Roatan. You see there is a state of the art water jet catamaran ferry that runs twice daily between Roatan and mainland Central America, with a travel time of approximately 90 minutes!

Pico Bonito National Park: how to get there & What to expecto
Roatan Ferry arriving in La Ceiba

This means that getting to from Roatan to the coast of Central America is a “piece of cake” Within less than 20 minutes from the port in La Ceiba, you can find yourself in a true tropical paradise, where the rain forests of Central America are within majestic, green clad mountains, with cristal clear rivers and creeks rushing towards the nearby Caribbean. Truly the setting for the perfect vacation: Tropical paradise and Caribbean beaches… What more can you ask for? The Cangrejal River Valley offers outstanding lodging facilities, such as La Villa de Soledad Bed and Breakfast, a lovely, unique boutique hotel in the forests of Nombre de Dios National Park.

The Perfect Vacation
Aerial View of the Cangrejal River Valley

The setting in the mainland is ideal for white water rafting, zip line canopy tours, hiking in the rain forests and bird watching, amongst many other activities. Go ahead and plan the perfect vacations, come to Honduras, and have the vacation of a lifetime!

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Have you ever had the opportunity of waking up in the rainforest?

We all dream, at some time or another of an adventure in the dense jungles of the world and getting a chance to experience what life would be like in the rainforest. Some of the most pristine rainforests in the World can be found in Central America, and believe it or not, some of these are actually fairly easy to get to. I happen to live adjacent to a magnificent rainforest located on the Caribbean coast of Honduras, in Central America.

Waking up in the rainforest is truly an experience to enjoy, and even though I have had the opportunity of living here for over 6 years, believe me, it just doesn’t get old! For starters, I get to fall asleep lulled by sounds of Cangrejal River, which is under 100 yards from our beautiful bed and breakfast. From the beds in each of our rooms at La Villa de Soledad B&B, you can hear the soothing sound of the river as it crashes against the boulders in its race to the Caribbean Sea, located 8 miles downriver. Although the sound of the river lulled you to sleep, you will quickly become aware of it when you wake up in the early morning. And I say early morning, because here, in the tropics the sun rises early. In the summer months, we have the first rays of light before 5 a.m., however it gets dark early, by 6:30 p.m. it will pitch black!

Relocate to Central America

One of the first things you will notice upon waking up in the rainforest is the birds. Yes they all start singing quite early! At times, it’s almost a natural symphony, as different species of birds all pitch in to celebrate a new morning in the rainforests of Central America! One of the regulars every morning at La Villa de Soledad B&B are the keel billed toucans!

La Ceiba Accommodations

Of course there are different ways of waking up it the rainforest: You could have hiked a full day to a remote location and pitched a tent in makeshift campground. But on the other hand, you could pamper yourself and stay at a jungle eco lodge at the edge of a National Park, and sleep  in a great orthopedic bed, under a comfortable ceiling fan and with moskito nets in the windows to keep those little critters at a safe distance. Getting up in the morning and walking into a shower with a generous amount of water pressure providing both hot and cold water is certainly an added benefit that you will enjoy. And how about walking out of your room and finding some freshly brewed coffee from the mountains of Honduras waiting for you to help you get your day started on the right foot?

waking up in La Ceiba

Spending a night at La Villa de Soledad is the perfect way of waking up in the rainforest and loving every bit of it! Check out our availability and make your reservation now! See you soon at our lovely lodge at the Pico Bonito National Park in La Ceiba, Honduras. Just a word of warning: you might just get attached to waking up in the rainforest!

 

Central America Vacations

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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.

Central America Vacations

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.

Central America Vacations

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!Best Central America vacations.

The Cangrejal River is born from some of the densest tropical rain forests in Central America

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One of the highlights of Honduras is the fact that the some of the best tropical rain forests of Central America are located in this country. Without doubt, the abundance of this unique habitat is especially large along the Caribbean Coast of Central America, which is much more humid than the Pacific coast of Central America. The tropical rain forests of Central America where probably the main reason why the Spanish Conquistadors kept away from the Caribbean Coast and settled along the more friendly climate along the Pacific Ocean,  thus, most of the important cities in Central America are either on the Pacific Coast or the highlands of Central America. Cities such as Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, Leon, Granada, San Jose and Panama city are all along the Pacific Coast region which offers a  much drier climate, where life was easier without the excess of bugs, diseases, and poisonous snakes you find in the jungles of the Caribbean Coasts.

Pico Bonito Waterfalls

Most of the Caribbean Coast of Central America is still very inaccessible, even today, in the XXI century! The eastern tip of Honduras, known as the Moskito Coast, or “La Moskitia” in Spanish, is still inaccessible by land, and can only be reached by air or sea! The same can be said for the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, where access is almost completely limited to either traveling down rivers to the coast, or flying. For example, Bluefields, the largest city in the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua does not have a road that connects it with the rest of the country, and access is only via a 3 hour boat ride down the Rio Escondido from the Community of El Rama to Bluefields. The same applies to the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and Panama, which are quite isolated to this day. This makes the Northwestern Caribbean coast of Honduras truly unique, because this area is actually quite developed.  Honduras has cities like Tela, La Ceiba and Trujillo that are on the Caribbean and that due to the rugged mountains behind them, plus the fact that most of these mountains are protected areas, still offer some of the more dense tropical rain forests of Central America.

These tropical rain forests of Central America are still in a great state of preservation, and form what is considered the Mesoamerican biological corridor, that allows for the migration of large mammals, such as the iconic Jaguar, king of the tropical rain forests of Central America, and the Antillean Manatee in the estuaries and coastal lagoons along the coast. National Parks, such as Pico Bonito National Park are not only icons, but actually provide access for tourists to visit the tropical rain forests of Central America. For the traveler that is looking to interact with the rain forests of Central America, Honduras, and in particular, La Ceiba offers the best alternative for easy access and a unique experience. Perhaps the best option for a great experience is to be found along the Cangrejal River Valley, a unique area where two national parks converge, and where you can find a variety of jungle ecohotels, inns, lodges and tour operators providing different services and experiences. For more information, you can visit www.cangrejalriver.com. If you want a chance to experience the tropical rain forests of Central America, visit the Caribbean Coast of Honduras, and stay at La Villa de Soledad B&B which is in the Cangrejal River Valley.

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Wouldn’t it be perfect if you could combine two vacation destinations in one? Let’s say a lovely beach destination, with white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters with, let’s say the tropical jungles of Central America? These are two different, very distinct destinations, but they can actually be found in one place: Honduras! Yes the heart of Central America’s Caribbean is located in the lovely, truly unique country called Honduras, which is located in the Heart of Central America and has over 600 kilometers of shores bathed by the Lovely Caribbean Sea!

Flowing towards the Caribbean, creeks and rivers like this one are common in the heart of Central America's Caribbean

The Gateway to Central America’s Caribbean is the port city of La Ceiba. Blessed with 4 national Parks, including one, the Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve which is actually a small archipelago in the Caribbean! (https://www.facebook.com/cayoscochinos.fundacion), La Ceiba is a magnificent platform to make the perfect combination of beach and reef plus tropical jungle vacation. Perhaps the best spot on the mainland Honduras, near La Ceiba to experience the true Central American tropical rainforest experience would be the Cangrejal River Valley. This area, with two National Parks, one on each side of the river, and only 10 miles from the sea, is truly the heart of Central America’s Caribbean. Here you can choose between hiking in the tropical rain forests of Pico Bonito or Nombre de Dios National Parks, raft in the crystal clear waters of the Cangrejal River, take a bird watching tour around the parks or simply relax in a hammock. You also take a one day tour to Cayos Cochinos, as well as take the local ferry to the beautiful Bay Islands of Honduras, the best kept secret in the Western Caribbean. There is regular daily ferry service between La Ceiba and Roatan (www.roatanferry.com) as well as between La Ceiba and Utila (www.utilaprincess.com).

cayoscochicnos

For these and many more reasons, I can clearly state that the heart of Central America’s Caribbean is located in the City of La Ceiba, which is the lovely country of Honduras.