Pico Bonito National Park

February 6 2019

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, Best of La Ceiba cangrejal river hotels, Cangrejal River Valley, Hotel in La Ceiba, La Ceiba Hotel, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park 0

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

Best of La Ceiba, La Ceiba general information, Tours in La Ceiba, white water rafting Cacao Lagoon, Cangrejal river tours, Cayos Cochinos, Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, hot springs in La Ceiba, La Ceiba zip line canopy tours, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park, The Hog Cays

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

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.

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!

September 24 2015

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Looking for Hotels in Pico Bonito National Park?

There are actually quite a few hotels in Pico Bonito National Park. Pico Bonito Park is actually quite big, and you will probably find it hard to make your mind up about which hotel is the best for you.

There are probably at least three reasons why there are various hotels in Pico Bonito National Park: For one, the park is one of the largest in the Honduras National Park system. A second reason is that it is one of the most accessible parks in Honduras. Located just behind the city of La Ceiba, it is really easy to get from any one of the three Bay Islands: Utila, Roatan and Guanaja to Pico Bonito National Park. The last good reason is that Pico Bonito is truly a beautiful, very scenic park with outstanding wildlife, which makes it especially attractive for bird watchers.

So, if there are so many options, which is the correct one for you? The Lodge at Pico Bonito is without doubt the best established and most famous of all hotels in Pico Bonito National Park. They are a luxury, free standing operation that caters to guest who demand to be pampered and can pay for this! Spacious rooms, outstanding trails, a deluxe gourmet restaurant with prices you would expect to pay back home at an elegant restaurant, this is truly a spectacular place to stay. The Lodge at Pico Bonito has been awarded the 2015 Tripadvisor award as the top hotel in La Ceiba!

The highest concentration of hotels in Pico Bonito National Park is actually located in the Cangrejal River Valley. Here, you can find up to 10 different hostels, inns, bed and breakfasts and jungle lodges, each with their own particular charms. In this area you will find another outstanding property that has also been awarded the 2015 Tripadvisor Travelers choice as the top bed and breakfast property in La Ceiba.

Come and discover Pico Bonito and stay at one of the great hotels in Pico Bonito National Park!

September 7 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, National Parks Cangrejal River, La Ceiba, Pico Bonito National Park, Roatan, Roatan Ferry, Utila

Tips about Pico Bonito National Park: How to get there & what to expect.

One of the best known National Parks in Honduras, Pico Bonito is a true gem that many travelers miss out on. It is incredible that many tourists pass right by this national park and totally miss out on all it has to offer. In an effort to make it easier for you we have decided to put together a small note on Pico Bonito National Park: How to get there & what to expect. I truly hope that you find it useful and decide to visit this magnificent National Park, the largest in Atlantida and one of the largest in Honduras.

So let’s start with the how to get there! Pico Bonito is located on mainland Honduras, and is separated from the Caribbean Sea by a narrow coastal plain. The park is part of the Nombre de Dios Mountain Range that can easily be seen from Utila, and also from Roatan’s West End on a clear day. If you are on your way to the Bay Islands of Honduras, chances are that you will be traveling overland to the City of La Ceiba, located on the North Coast of Honduras. This is the gateway to the Bay Islands of Honduras, as the ferry service that operates between the mainland and the Bay Islands does so from La Ceiba.

If you flew in directly to Roatan, then the easiest way to get to Pico Bonito National Park is using the Roatan ferry, which has two daily departures. The passage between Roatan and La Ceiba is just under two hours. Another alternative is to fly, it is a short 15 minute flight, and there are several different airlines that provide service on this route. Personally, I prefer the ferry; it always departs on schedule and is much more reliable!

Once in La Ceiba, you have several options to get to Pico Bonito: The first is to go the community of El Pino, located about 15 miles west of La Ceiba and visit or stay at The Lodge at Pico Bonito, the premier luxury eco lodge in Honduras. IF you prefer something closer and more affordable, the you should certainly plan on visiting the Cangrejal River Valley. This area actually has a total of 10 small hotels and lodges, a myriad of activities, both for the active adventurer as well as for the relaxed naturalists that wants to enjoy some serious bird watching or simply sit back and relax in nature.

You will find some award winning properties within the Cangrejal River Valley that you will certainly enjoy, including the beautiful La Villa de Soledad, a unique boutique bed and breakfast that offers the perfect setting to relax in nature, or to set out on a seriously active adventure.

I hope you have a clear idea of Pico Bonito National Park: how to get there & what to expect! Feel free to contact us at info@lavilladesoledad.com for questions concerning Pico Bonito National Park and the Cangrejal River Valley.

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!

July 26 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of Honduras, birding in honduras, National Parks Central America, La Ceiba, Pico Bonito National Park, rainforest

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!

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!

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?

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!

June 30 2015

Best of Honduras, birding in honduras, National Parks birding in Nombre de Dios National Park, birding in Pico Bonito National Park, Cangrejal River Valley, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park

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.

March 14 2015

Best of Atlantida, Best of La Ceiba, hotels in la ceiba, National Parks Cangrejal River Valley, Honduras eco lodges, Nombre de Dios National Park, Pico Bonito National Park

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.