There are many things to do in La Ceiba, and it is a good idea that you are aware of them, so that you can plan your trip in La Ceiba accordingly, and make sure you take full advantage of the top things to do in La Ceiba. Here is a short list of what I consider the bare minimum things to do in La Ceiba that you should plan on!
- White Water Rafting. The Cangrejal River is the only river in Honduras where you can do this activity. The river offers magnificent quality of water plus a unique experience based on both the abundant nature and the white water rapids that range from class II to IV. White water rafting is certainly one of the things to do in La Ceiba that you should not miss! For more information on white water rafting in the Cangrejal River, you may visit www.cangrejalriver.com where you will find a list of white water rafting outfitters.
- Zip line canopy tours. Although there are many different options to do this activity in other destinations, such as Copan, Roatan and Lake Yojoa to mention a few in Honduras, the truth is that the dense tropical rain forests of Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks are second to none. In addition, the zip line canopy tour at Sambo Creek, one of the two options in La Ceiba, offers the unique opportunity to relax in natural hot springs and get a relaxing massage in the jungle. You will not find this combination anywhere else Central America. Because of this, a visit to the Sambo Creek zip line canopy tour and hot springs in La Ceiba is number two on our list of things to do in La Ceiba!
- Hiking in the Pico Bonito Trails is our number three item in the list of things to do in La Ceiba. Just the knowledge that the same trail you are hiking in during the day is used by the majestic king of the Central American jungles, the jaguar during the nights makes the experience unreal! Pico Bonito is home to a huge list of bird species, many of which are truly hard to see elsewhere, and many of them are easily seen from the trails in Pico Bonito National Park. For more information regarding Pico Bonito National Park and its hiking options, visit www.lamoskitia.hn
- The Garifuna culture was declared an intangible World Heritage by the UNESCO a few years ago. These unique people, who have survived against all odds due to their tenacity and beliefs, live along the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The most picturesque and unique of all of their villages in located in the Hog Cays, better known as Cayos Cochinos. Here on a small white sand cay called Chachahuate, you can find the most authentic Garifuna Village in the World. Best of all, it is located in a small archipelago that is part of the Mesoamerican reef system, the most bio diverse barrier reef system in the World. Cayos Cochinos is only 14 miles from the coast of La Ceiba, and there are regular tours departing daily from Sambo Creek, one of the two Garifuna Villages on the mainland that are withing the municipality of La Ceiba. A visit to Cayos Cochinos is a must in your list of things to do in La Ceiba. Make sure you leave enough time to visit them! This is truly a unique activity that you will not be able to experience anywhere else in Central America!
- Mangrove forests and estuary lagoons are probably the least appreciated habitats in the tropics. Developers are always looking for ways to tear down the mangroves, fill in the swamps and turn them into beautiful ocean front vacation developments. These habitats are actually very important, though unappreciated. They act as a filter to keep the silt from making out to the reefs and beaches; they provide the perfect setting for an extremely diverse ecosystem, which includes manatees, caimans and crocodiles, several species of monkeys, white tail deer and even the majestic jaguar. La Ceiba has two different areas that offer the opportunity of see and interact with nature in this environment. The Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge is one of them. This protected area is located about 20 miles outside of La Ceiba, towards the west, and the access to the site is via an old, quite funky banana train that is reminiscent of the old banana republic days. Once in the refuge, a boat trip down the estuaries will allow you to see howler and white faced monkeys, crocodiles, a huge list of birds and if you are really, really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Manatee. The other area that offers a similar experience, but without the banana train and the manatee is the Cacao Lagoon which is within the Nombre de Dios National Park. A visit to either one of these two mangrove swamp areas is a must if you want to see wildlife and certainly must be in your list of things to do in La Ceiba.
There are many other things to do in La Ceiba, such as horseback riding, trekking into the National Parks, climbing to Pico Bonito National Park, and visiting communities within the park. La Ceiba is also famous for its night life, and is becoming a popular destination to come and experience concerts by famous international singers. If you are interested in any of the above things to do in La Ceiba, don’t hesitate to write to me, and I will be happy to help you out with any special requirements or information you might need.