pico bonito

February 15, 2016

Best of Atlantida, Best of Central America, Best of Honduras Cangrejal River, pico bonito, Rafting in Pico Bonito

White Water Rafting in Atlantida: one of the truly unique activities to enjoy in Central America!

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea, and the rugged Nombre de Dios Mountains, you will find the department of Atlantida, one of the 18 departments that Honduras is divided into. Atlantida offers a magnificent territory that is abundant in nature; it actually has a total of 7 protected areas that are legally declared and part of the Honduras National Park system within its territory.

The largest of these areas in Atlantida is Pico Bonito National Park, which is separated from its neighbor, Nombre de Dios National Park by the beautiful and mighty Cangrejal River. The river, which is born in the high, jungle clad mountains of Atlantida and Yoro descends rapidly towards the Caribbean, in one of the steepest runs you will find in Central America. It drops from an altitude of 250 plus meters to sea level in only 30 kilometers, forming small falls, drops and lovely natural pools, creating a technical run that offers class III and IV, and even an occasional class V rapid.

Here, in the heart of Central America, where Central America meets the Caribbean, you will find the best white water rafting in Central America: yes white water rafting in Atlantida is truly World Class! Best of all, is the temperature of the water in the Cangrejal River. A far cry from the normally frigid waters where good rafting can be found, water in the Cangrejal River is delightfully pleasant, which makes white water rafting in Atlantida one of the preferred activities to be enjoyed in all of Honduras. Its close proximity to the Bay Islands of Honduras means that travelers enjoying their vacations on these lovely Caribbean Islands can easily do a day visit to the mainland for a white water rafting experience.

Many, though, prefer to spend a few nights in the area, to enjoy all of the adventure and nature activities available here. Most of those that do choose to stay within the Cangrejal River Valley, where there are several different lodges to choose from, including the award winning La Villa de Soledad B&B.

You can choose between several different rafting outfitters that operate in the Cangrejal River Valley. Most of their guides are licensed river guides by the International Rafting Federation. White water rafting in Atlantida is an absolutely great activity that you should not pass on!

September 19, 2015

Best of La Ceiba, La Ceiba general information, National Parks Atlantida, Cangrejal River, La Ceiba, pico bonito

One of my favorite trails in Pico Bonito is called the El Mapache Trail. Its name, which means the raccoon trail, has more to do with a person that with a raccoon. You see, one of founding fathers of this park, Gerardo Rodriguez, passed away tragically in a car accident during a work trip to Olanchito, on the backside of Pico Bonito. Gerardo was nicknamed “El Mapache” and in his honor, it was quickly agreed that the trail should be named after him, and that it was more than appropriate that it be named after his nickname.

The El Mapache trail is located in the Cangrejal River area, and access is easy through the Pico Bonito National Park Visitors’s Center, located at km 8.8 of the La Ceiba to Yaruca dirt road. Once having registered and paid your entrance fee to the park, it is time to cross high over the Cangrejal River in a magnificent 400 foot long suspension bridge, much like those that you see in the Indiana Jones movies. The trail leads through a moderate to steep trail towards the magnificent “El Bejuco” waterfall, which falls over 200 feet down a cliff on its hurried way towards the Cangrejal River. The El Mapache Trail is open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. You certainly do not want to be in the trail after that time, because in Honduras, it gets dark quite early, and in the winter months, it will be pitch black before 6:00 p.m. You can, on the other hand, pre arrange to visit the El Mapache Trail earlier in the morning. This is easy if you are staying at one of the hotels in Cangrejal River Valley area, such as La Villa de Soledad B&B, which has won several awards from tripadvisor due to the outstanding reviews from their guests.

The Cangrejal River area is one of the highlighted areas for the new Atlantida tourist destination. For more information on the area, you can visit: http://visitatlantida.com/en/destination/atlantida/the-cangrejal-river-valley/ We invite you to come and stay at La Villa de Soledad B&B and experience that different activities available for your enjoyment!

December 12, 2014

Best of La Ceiba, hotels in la ceiba, National Parks Atlantida, Cangrejal River, Nombre de Dios National Park, pico bonito

Pico Bonito National Park

Pico Bonito National Park is one of the largest national parks in Honduras. Located in the departments of Atlantida and Yoro, the park is in one of the most rugged terrains in Central America: the Nombre de Dios Mountains. These mountains run parallel to the Caribbean Sea, and rise vertically from sea level to over 8,000 feet above sea level, forming a seemingly impenetrable green fortress. The park takes its name from the iconic triangular shaped peak called Pico Bonito. The peak was not conquered until the 1960’s and even today few people have made it to the top of this iconic landmark in La Ceiba. An expedition to the peak and back takes between 5 and 7 days, and if you are really up to this experience, I suggest you contact La Moskitia Ecoaventuras (www.lamoskita.hn) to arrange the expedition for you.

Pico Bonito National Park borders are the Rio Santiaguito on the Western end of the Park and the Rio Cangrejal on the Eastern side of the Park, to the North the natural limit are the coastal flatlands between the sharp rise of the mountains and the sea, and to the south the general natural border is the Aguan Valley, a fertile valley that is located on the opposite side of the Nombre de Dios Mountains.

Because of is abrupt change in altitude, Pico Bonito National Park probably has the highest bio diversity in Central America, as it starts with a tropical rain forest on the northern lowlands that eventually turns into a tropical cloud forest in the upper elevations, then into a midget forest on the top, and the backside becomes a very dry tropical forest. The park is home to the majestic Jaguar, the largest feline in the Americas, as well as to other endangered species such as the wild pecari, the largest mammal in Central America.

Pico Bonito National Park is also home to some of the most beautiful tropical birds in the world! Keel billed toucans are an easy sight, and birds that are elusive, such as the lovely cotinga, an absolutely beautiful little blue bird are commonly seen in the area.

Fortunately, it is quite easy to find lodging in Pico Bonito National Park and surrounding areas. Perhaps the most accessible area to find lodging in Pico Bonito National Park is the Cangrejal River Valley (www.cangrejalriver.com) This area is located just outside the City of La Ceiba, and offers the best of two National Parks in Honduras: Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park!

From the Cangrejal River Valley it is easy to enter Pico Bonito National Park. There is a Visitors Center located on Km 8.8 of the La Ceiba to Yaruca dirt road. Here, a 400 foot long swinging bridge will give you an “Indiana Jones like” adventure crossing high over the Cangrejal River and bringing you to a network of trails into Pico Bonito National Park.

Conveniently located only 200 meters from the Visitors Center, you will find La Villa de Soledad B&B, a lovely and unique boutique bed and breakfast that offers you both, the opportunity to explore Pico Bonito and Nombre de Dios National Parks, as well as a place to simply relax and enjoy nature and catch up with yourself. La Villa de Soledad is a family run eco lodge style property, with comfortable spacious rooms that open up to the great outdoors. Private bathrooms with hot water, and a covered porch that wraps around the Spanish colonial style building provides with many hammocks to relax and read your favorite book or to take a nap after one of the many activities that are available within the area. Best of all, the friendly Honduran hospitality together with the fantastic home cooked meals available on premises will make you not want to leave! La Villa de Soledad B & B is probably the best deal in town to enjoy Pico Bonito National Park. Furthermore, Soledad and John are fully bilingual and will go out of their way to help you arrange tours and activities.

October 20, 2014

Best of Atlantida, Best of Central America, Best of Honduras, Best of La Ceiba, National Parks Atlantida, bird watching, Cangrejal River Valley, lancetilla botanical gardens, pico bonito 0

There are more and more travelers that are going places looking for unique beautiful birds to see, enjoy and add to their have seen list. Honduras has become ever so popular for those that are looking to spot unique species. Little by little, the word has gotten out that Honduras not only has many birds to be seen, they are also easy to see, there is a lovely countryside to enjoy and there are great facilities that provide great comfort while you set out on your quest of seeing that unique species you have no yet added to your list. Bird watching in Atlantida, which is on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras, is truly spectacular.

Atlantida is the name of a department which is becoming one of the most upbeat eco destinations in Central America, and it’s easy to see why: With 8 protected areas within a relatively small territory; bird watching in Atlantida offers a variety of habitats that you can combine into one single trip. The marine estuaries at the Cuero y Salado wildlife Refuge offer a magnificent opportunity to see both native and migratory species that are comfortable in a marine habitat.

In addition, you can enjoy a completely different scenario in the tropical rain forests of Pico Bonito National Park, where species that are native to the rain forests of Central America. One of the prized regular sightings in Pico Bonito National Park is the lovely cotinga, an absolutely beautiful blue bird that is easily seen the trails of Pico Bonito National Park, especially around the Lodge at Pico Bonito. Bird watching in Atlantida can be a magnificent experience, with many exotic birds easily seen from comfortable settings. The Lodge at Pico Bonito has some tall observation towers that are absolutely fantastic to see the birds that abound in the canopy of the tropical rain forest.

Bird watching in Atlantida is also fantastic along the Cangrejal River Valley, where you can enjoy your stay in one of the eco lodges along the Cangrejal River (www.cangrejalriver.com) Here, from the comfort of your hammock at places such as La Villa de Soledad B&B, you can spot several different species flying around the grounds and in the tree branches around our property.

Another fantastic place for bird watching in Atlantida is to be enjoyed at the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, just outside the city of Tela. The gardens, that were originally part of an ongoing scientific research station by the Tela Railroad Company (Chiquita Banana), resulted in the second largest tropical botanical garden in the world. The huge variety of fruit trees in the area have attracted a massive number of birds who now use the grounds as their personal feeding station, allowing you to have a feast while bird watching in Atlantida.

Come to Atlantida and have a wonderful vacation while enjoying one of the most diverse bird watching destinations in the world! Bird watching in Atlantida will be a dream come true!