Local Information
INFORMATION about La Ceiba, and the Caribbean coast of Honduras
La Ceiba is the beach and eco-tourism center of Honduras. It had its early economic strength from the large fruit companies including Standard Fruit Company that operated here with pineapple, banana, and coconut plantations. The old rail lines crossing the city and the country side still are visible. La Ceiba is 14 minutes by air from the Bay Islands with their excellent diving and sport fishing, and 25 minutes by air from the economic capital of Honduras, San Pedro Sula. La Ceiba is noted for friendly people, great beaches, river rafting and kayaking, cloud forests and the most important Festivál in Central America.The mountains around La Ceiba (Sierra Nombre de Dios) are lush with hundreds of clear streams and waterfalls. From the La Ceiba International Airport, one can board flights for all of Central America, the Bay Islands, Miami, New Orleans, Atlanta, Houston and Los Angeles. There are many private clinics and the famous D'Antoni Hospital. Also, adherents to natural cures derived from jungle plants are located in the area. Because of ample rain and rich soils, the fruit production is amazing---mangoes, limes, pineapples, star fruit, avocado, and an assortment of other exotic fruits. We even have a golf course, mall, first run movies and the Zona Viva for nightlife. La Ceiba is the gateway to the Bay Islands and the Cochinos Keys with its 100% preserved reef system.
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THINGS TO DO IN THE LA CEIBA AREA
The Bay Islands are the diving and snorkeling center of Honduras. There are six islands, Roatan, Guanaja, Utila, Morat, Barbarata, Helene plus the Cayos Cochinos. Roatan is the most developed and has changed quite a bit from the sleepy Western Caribbean port of ten years ago. Roatan offers white beaches and a well protected reef around the entire 34 mile long island. It now has 1 million cruise boat passengers per year. The other islands are significantly less developed.Tela is a turn of the century (19th) fruit company town noted for a broad harbor beach and the focus of the Honduran government's tourism plans with a 8 km long project to offer villas, 27 holes golf course and five star hotels.
Hiking and Canopy rides: Two of the best spots for hiking are Pico Bonito National Park and the Rio Cangrejal, both part of the Nombre de Dios Mountains near La Ceiba. Towering over La Ceiba these mountains make up the second largest national park in Honduras. It consists of over 1000 square kilometers of tropical rainforest and cloud forests.
Lancetilla Botanical Gardens: Near Tela are the second largest tropical botanical gardens in the world.
Rafting: The most accessible rafting in Honduras is in the Rio Cangrejal near La Ceiba with class III to V rapids (depending on the time of year). The Rio Cangrejal is rated as one of the best rafting environments in Central America.
Ethnic Villages: The Garifuna ocean front villages of Sambo Creek and Corozal are located close to La Ceiba and can be visited to experience the lifestyle of the Garifunas. The Garifunas are the cultural preservation of the now disbursed Carib Indians and African tribes that intermixed and later were marooned in its entirety by the British on Bay Islands more than two hundred years ago. You can enjoy their typical foods: machuca, casava bread, coconut fish, conch soup, and different drinks made of herbs and rum such as Gifite. You may catch some punta dancing to the drums.
Sport fishing, Diving, and snorkeling: Honduras offers some of the best sport fishing, diving, and snorkeling found in the Caribbean in the Bay Islands just minutes off shore from La Ceiba. Charters operate daily offering opportunities to catch wahoo, dolphin, barracuda, tuna, sail fish and of course blue marlin. The 3 main islands Roatan, Guanaja and Utila have an excellent variety of dive and snorkle site options and facilities.
Kayaking: Ocean kayaking is found on the Bay Islands where you can explore beaches, harbors and mangrove tunnels. On the mainland, kayaking is in the lagoons such as the "land time forgot" Cuero y Salado Reserve outside of La Ceiba (accessed by an old Standard Fruit train) or Punto Izopo Reserve near Tela.
Festivál: You can enjoy the famed La Ceiba Festivál consisting of street parties of live music for the last 2 weeks in May. The Festiv‡l finishes with a Grand Parade on Avenida San Isidro and music from more than fifteen bands, which lasts all night. La Ceiba's Festiv‡l is the biggest (north of Brazil and south of New Orleans).
Bird or Nature Watching: Honduras offers some of Central America's best bird and nature watching. Lancetilla Botanical Gardens near Tela, the Copan Valley and the Pico Bonito National Park are all world-class nature areas and are still pristine.
Archaeological Sites: The world recognized Mayan city of Copan has the ruins of 18dynasties with tunnels under visible temples to prior temples. This city was the Mayan civilizations' greatest artistic achievement and the absolute center of astronomical knowledge in 700 AD. Also, you can enjoy the surrounding valley and the quaint colonial town with artisan shops and restaurants.
Colonial buildings and churches: Especially in the mountainous southern interior of Honduras in Tegucigalpa, Santa Lucia, Comayagua you will find buildings and cathedrals dating back 400 years.
White sand beaches: On the Bay Islands and along the Caribbean coast of the mainland are world class beaches. The mainland beaches east of La Ceiba tend not to be crowded. Often you are the only person there, gazing up at the dramatic mountain peaks behind the beaches.
Spanish Forts: At Omoa and Trujillo you will find historic Spanish forts. Entering Honduras requires a valid passport. You can enter and stay 30 days in Honduras without a visa if you have a USA, Canadian or most European country passports. Check with the closest Honduran Embassy or Travel Agent for up to date info before traveling. TACA, Continental, American and Delta fly to Honduras. Connections to La Ceiba and the Bay Islands are made with local carriers Islena, Sosa and Atlantic Airlines. Also a ferry service runs from La Ceiba to Roatan and Utila and back daily.
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