Nombre de Dios National Park

February 6 2019

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Chatting with one of our guests this week he described La Villa de Soledad as a Jewel in the Jungle! I of course could not resist to write about this, so here I go…

The truth is that we are in the jungle and we do have a special place.

Getting to our Personal Jewel in the Jungle.

As is customary, I picked up our guests, Keith and Dana at the ferry dock. They arrived from Roatan on the Galaxy Wave ferry at 3:30 p.m. It took them a while to collect all their bags. The Ferry operation is outstanding; but they do need to work on the baggage collection. After meeting with them, we headed towards the Cangrejal River Valley. In total, we travel a distance of about 8 miles from the ferry to La Villa de Soledad.

Although a short drive, most of it is on a dirt road, which delays the arrival a few extra minutes. En route, it is normal for guests to reach a state of awe with the lush jungles and lovely river. About ten minutes after boarding the car, we are in a jungle road which follows the Cangrejal River. There is a dense forest coverage on both sides of the river. To the right is Pico Bonito National Park, to the left is Nombre de Dios National Park. It is easy to wonder where the heck it is you are headed for!

Keith shared with me that he did at one point ask himself if he had selected the right property to stay in. It seemed like we are on our way to a remote location, and the dense jungle made him think he would need to rough it out. He was looking for a nice place in the jungle, but was not particularly excited about rustic lodging!

First Impressions are Always Important!

A jewel in the jungle — Nestled in the tropical jungles of Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Parks.

After about 20 minutes up the Cangrejal River Road we arrived at our destination. A steep drive up the hill usually gets our guests wondering if the car will make it up. The truth is you do need a four wheel drive vehicle to make it up. Half way up the hill you finally are aware of the place you chose to stay in. Our lovely Hacienda style home sits on a small bluff overlooking the Cangrejal River. It also faces the lush green mountains of Pico Bonito National Park.

I love it when guests finally walk into what we call our living room and acts as the lobby for our Bed and Breakfast. High cathedral ceilings and open porches blend into the natural surroundings. They always draw some awe inspired sighs! “Wow”, and “Oh My God” are common expressions when our guests walk in.

We are proud of the photos that we have in our website, but the general consensus is that we need better photos. What we have does not do justice to our property! The truth is that we are proud of our jewel in the jungle. We love seeing the impression on our guests faces when they first arrive! It does make for great first impression! Of course, we work hard to keep that good impression throughout their stay.

So now you know… if you are looking for a special place in the tropical rain forests of Central America. Consider staying at La Villa de SoledadBed and Breakfast in Honduras. You will find that it is a true jewel in the jungle. Go ahead and book now, to make sure that you can enjoy this lovely paradise that we call home!

reasons to visit the Cangrejal River Valley

December 5 2015

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Few destinations offer so many different options for activities while you are visiting. The different options for La Ceiba day tours are such that you will certainly have a tough time deciding which ones you should take, unless of course, you have planned to spend several days in the neighborhood of La Ceiba.

As a general rule, there are three hubs in La Ceiba where you can plan on staying to have the best access the top La Ceiba day tours available: One is within the Cangrejal River Valley; a second one is in the vicinity of Sambo Creek and the last one in the area known as “El Pino” located just west of La Ceiba.

The Cangrejal River Valley offers a variety of great lodges to stay in, including the award winning La Villa de Soledad. In this area, you will find that the top La Ceiba day tours include world class white water rafting in the Cangrejal River, zip lining through the forest canopy, hiking in the rain forests of Pico Bonito National Park, horseback riding in Nombre de Dios National Park and rappelling down tropical waterfalls hidden within the jungle.

The area around Sambo Creek offers some great options nearby, such as the Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve, the Sambo Creek hot springs and zip line canopy tour and a tour of the Cacao Lagoon which is part of Nombre de Dios National Park.

Last, but not least, near the community of El Pino you can access trails into Pico Bonito National Park, visit the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Reserve and touring local organic farms that welcome tourists.

Keep in mind that these three areas are actually fairly close to each other, so you can easily stay in the Cangrejal River Valley and visit Cayos Cochinos or Cuero y Salado as options for your La Ceiba day tours.

We at La Villa de Soledad invite you to book with us, and we will be more than happy to help you arrange the different available La Ceiba day tours that are more interesting to you. We will do it helping you get the best deals and using your vacation time wisely. Come and enjoy the different La Ceiba day tours with us!

December 3 2015

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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.

November 19 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of La Ceiba, tourism in Honduras, Tours in La Ceiba, World Heritage sites in Honduras Cangrejal River Valley, Chachahuate Cay, Garifuna, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park

Community Tourism in La Ceiba, great alternatives at a magnificent value!

Few Central American destinations offer such a great variety of options for community tourism as does La Ceiba! You see, La Ceiba is right on the Caribbean Coast of Central America, and is the gateway to the Bay Islands of Honduras. La Ceiba is the capital of Atlantida, the new up and coming destination that offers the most extensive alternatives for Honduras Travel!

The Garifuna culture is one of the brightest highlights in Atlantida, and for that matter, all of Honduras. This unique, Afro Antillean culture has been given the status of Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO. There are several places within the destination where you can experience the Garifuna community tourism in La Ceiba: The Garifuna villages of Corozal, and Sambo Creek are located only a few miles east of La Ceiba. You can easily drive to these communities and experience first hand the highlights of Community tourism in La Ceiba. For a more complete experience, consider traveling to the Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve, a unique National Park that offers a pristine Caribbean setting with the added benefit of boasting the most authentic Garifuna community in the World: Chachahuate.

This small community lives on a tiny cay, with the same name: Cayo Chachahuate of Chachahuate Cay, a sand bar where you will find rustic cabins made of wood, thatched palms and a lively Garifuna community all set in a white sand beach completely surrounded by the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea!

For those looking for a full immersion in the Garifuna culture, you can even plan on staying on the very primitive and Spartan accommodations in Chachahuate, or you can also plan on staying at the Cabanas Laru Beja in East End, another small Garifuna community in the Cayos Cochinos, which offers much better facilities.

Cayos Cochinos is located a few miles off the coast of Sambo Creek, and can easily be seen from the mainland. Travel time to Cayos Cochinos is a mere 40 minutes is a motor boat, making a trip to the Hog Cays very easy!

Other options for community tourism in La Ceiba can be enjoyed in the Cangrejal River Valley, in the vicinity of the community of Las Mangas. Here you can visit a small rural community, sleep in their community owned cabins, and enjoy a series of hiking tours around Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks. Visit a grass roots community organization, Guaruma that offers computing and environmental education to local kids, who will personally give you a tour through some of the trails they maintain!

Community Tourism in La Ceiba truly offers many different alternatives! Come and stay with us at La Villa de Soledad B&B and have a memorable experience interacting with the local communities!

August 8 2015

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A long time dream has come true for the three white water outfitters that provide white water rafting services in the Cangrejal River: Their local guides have finally received all the necessary courses and have passed the different exams with flying colors. The result: The International Rafting Federation issues guide certification cards to Cangrejal River guides!

This milestone has been achieved thanks to the effort of the Chamber of Tourism of La Ceiba and funding from the IDB bank who is promoting a sustainable tourism destination in Atlantida. After several different courses, including first aid and swift water rescue, the International Rafting Federation sent a group of Costa Rican instructors who found that the Cangrejal River was a truly astonishing place offering world class white water rafting.

This milestone that is achieved when the International Rafting Federation issues guide certification cards to the Cangrejal River guides, insures that the quality of the service provided by the three different tour operators that offer rafting service is now up to par with international standards.

The Cangrejal River offers a unique setting with crystal clear water flowing down the magnificent Nombre de Dios Mountains, home to both Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park. The river, which is loitered with huge, house sized boulders, offers a fun, technical class III + rapids in the regular commercial run. It’s easy access, only 45 minutes from downtown or the Bay Islands ferry terminal in La Ceiba makes it a must do trip for those that seek some adventure in a pristine nature environment.

There are several truly unique lodges and inns in the Cangrejal River area. Most outstanding is the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B, who has been awarded both the Travelers Choice and the Certificate of Excellence awards by tripadvisor for both 2014 and 2015.

Come and stay in paradise and enjoy the best white water rafting in Honduras and possibly in Central America!

June 30 2015

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Are you searching for some of the best Honduras birding hot spots?

Birding is becoming bigger and bigger as a niche market, and Honduras is finding its own little place in this market. One of the top Honduras birding hot spots is located on the north coast of Honduras, around the Pico Bonito National Park. Without doubt, the most outstanding Honduras birding hot spot in this area is the Lodge at Pico Bonito, as this is the area that is most visited by tourists and therefore where more bird sightings are reported. In addition to the Lodge at Pico Bonito, the Rio Santiago Lodge is also an important hot spot.

One of the areas that is becoming one of the leading Honduras birding hot spots, with a list of birds that is growing as more birders visit here, is the Cangrejal River Valley area. The area is a merging point between two national Parks, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios. You will find some really nice, and affordable lodges in the area. One of the most established businesses here is the Omega Tours Jungle Lodge. This area is already an important hot spot, according to e bird, the leading electronic bird reporting system used by birders worldwide. Over 118 different species have been reported in the area around this lodge. The list is continuously growing.

La Villa de Soledad B&B is located only 500 meters away from Omega Tours, and is another great lodge with more intimate facilities, ideal for the tourist that wants to sit down and relax in our spacious porches that have comfortable hammocks, Adirondack chairs, and sofas where you can sit back, enjoy the view and spot many birds without even having to go out and walk our gardens.

If you are looking for a unique spot to relax and enjoy your birding, La Villa de Soledad is a great option. We have a close relationship with several bilingual birding guides that are stationed in La Ceiba and will be most happy to help you arrange some birding from both, our porches as well as into the parks and out own trails within our property. Come and enjoy one of the most unique Honduras birding hot spots.

May 20 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of Central America, Best of Honduras, Best of La Ceiba best reefs in Caribbean, Cangrejal River, diving, Garifuna, Nombre de Dios National Park

Are you looking for the ideal destination for active tourism in Central America?

There is a lovely, up and coming destination in Central America that offers many different options for the active tourist looking for unique experiences. A destination that offers a variety of adrenalin pumping experiences, such as white water rafting, canyoning and rappelling down tropical waterfalls hidden behind dense rainforests protected within national parks. Where hiking and horseback riding offer faraway places with picturesque small communities nestled in the mountains of Nombre de Dios Range. Tropical beaches inhabited by the Garifuna people, whose ancestral customs have been declared intangible cultural World heritage by UNESCO. A destination where you can snorkel and dive in the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean and relax in white sand beaches while you listen to the drums beating under the rhythmic hands of the Garifuna people…

This destination, which seems like a dream come true, actually exists: Atlantida, the heart of Central America’s Caribbean is located in Honduras, and is the gateway to the World famous Bay Islands of Honduras: Roatan, Utila and Guanaja.

Reizen Magazine from the Netherlands recently published an article titled “Coast to Coast” written by photographer Fritz Meyst. The article includes information on three Central American countries: Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. In it, Meyst refers to La Ceiba as the perfect destination for active tourism in Central America.

One of the highlights of La Ceiba in Atlantida is the Cangrejal River Valley, a unique location with incredible scenery, magnificent tropical rainforests and many small businesses that offer the best of Honduran hospitality to the adventure tourist looking for active tourism in Central America. Although only 8 km from downtown La Ceiba, and 12 km from the ferry terminal to the Bay Islands, the Cangrejal River Valley offers the perfect setting for a great active tourism in Central America vacation.

Come and visit the Cangrejal River Valley, and stay at the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B. Book your room now and enjoy the best active tourism in Central America while staying with us!

March 14 2015

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La Ceiba Honduras eco lodge options are the widest in Honduras!

Yes, La Ceiba Honduras is the perfect destination if you are looking for an eco lodge in Honduras. No other destination in Central America has the amount and variety of National Parks that you will find in Atlantida and La Ceiba is the capital of this lovely destination. The abundance of options for La Ceiba Honduras eco lodge alternatives is big in Atlantida, and most of the lodges you will find in this destination are around the incredibly beautiful Cangrejal River Valley.

There are over 10 different La Ceiba Honduras eco lodge options in the Cangrejal River Valley alone, and most of these are within a short distance of each other and less than a few miles 6 or 7, from downtown La Ceiba. This is the ideal spot for an eco tourism destination, easy access to a city like La Ceiba, that has many different options to get to: land, air or sea, all the services that you would need, and best of all, a huge variety of eco and adventure activities that will allow you to get the best out of this great unique destination.

One of the top La Ceiba Honduras eco lodge properties just won the top bed and breakfast and inns in Honduras Travelers Choice 2015 award from Tripadvisor, which graded them as the best property of its kind in all of the country. La Villa de Soledad B&B is a lovely rural home, with expansive verandah’s opening out to Nombre de Dios National Park, with great views of Pico Bonito National Park and direct access to the lovely, crystal clear waters of the Cangrejal River.

La Villa de Soledad is much more than one of the top La Ceiba Honduras eco lodge options. It is also a perfect gateway to visit all of the eco attractions within Atlantida, a place where you will find firsthand knowledge from the innkeepers, who know Honduras well and will be happy to share their knowledge with you. It is a place where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of our unique natural surroundings, and where you will find time to re connect with yourself and nature. Great home cooked meals are always available to guests, and a nice selection of wines and spirits will delight your palate.

Come and relax in nature at La Villa de Soledad, a unique La Ceiba Honduras eco lodge.

February 26 2015

Best of La Ceiba, hotels in la ceiba, National Parks Atlantida, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park

Are you looking for an Eco Hotel in La Ceiba?

La Ceiba has been named the eco tourism capital of Honduras. Many actually consider it the Eco tourism capital of Central America! So if you are planning a trip to La Ceiba, to enjoy the abundant nature and eco tourism options within this great destination, it is only logical that you will be looking for an eco hotel in La Ceiba.

There are several different alternatives if you are searching for an eco hotel in La Ceiba. Most of the eco hotel in La Ceiba lodges are located within two of the national parks in Honduras, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks. Together, these two parks offer a unique setting where the tropical rain forest covered mountains offer a great view of the Caribbean to the North or towards the inner valleys to the south. Perhaps the most beautiful area within Atlantida, and the most ideal spot to find an eco hotel in La Ceiba is the Cangrejal River Valley. This valley, located right between Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park is only 6 miles from La Ceiba! Here the pristine rainforests of both national parks, together with the spectacular scenery created by the natural landscaping of the Cangrejal River provide the perfect setting for an eco hotel in La Ceiba!

La Villa de Soledad is one of the best options for an eco hotel in La Ceiba. Recently awarded the tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award for the second year in a row. Outstanding service and a great location no doubt have a lot to do with it!

With an architectural design reminiscent of an old Spanish Hacienda, La Villa de Soledad offers 5 cozy rooms with direct access to our grounds, spacious verandah’s and astonishing views. Eco activities include direct access to trails into, Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks, as well as adventure activities such as white water rafting, waterfall rappelling and zip line canopy tours. Bird watching is spectacular, with many different species seen from the comfort of your lounge chair or hammock! There is no doubt that La Villa de Soledad B&B is the perfect eco hotel in La Ceiba. Come and experience it for yourself, and relax in nature with us!

December 18 2014

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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!