Tours and Excursions in La Ceiba, Honduras
Honduras Information
La Ceiba Information
Restaurants in La Ceiba
Hotels in La Ceiba, Honduras
Tours in La Ceiba
Nitelife in La Ceiba, Honduras
Shopping in La Ceiba
Honduras Directory
Honduras Transportation Guide
Map of La Ceiba



Tours and Excursions in La Ceiba

Community Tourism

An interesting option for tourists is to visit the local communities and get an idea of the living culture in present day Honduras. The attraction here is the authentic life in small farms and crafts, as well as the possibility for meeting local people, eat in the comedors and stay overnight at local lodgings.

Cuero y Salado Area

La Union

Just across the street from the railroad station is a small comedor that offers a good option to have a bite or buy a softdrink while waiting for the train to depart. Very close the the train station, you can find a small “pulperia” were the only internet café in town operates. Just a short walk from the comedor El Bambu right on the railroad tracks you will find a group of Garifuna women who produce casabe, a typical Garifuna “bread” made from “yucca”. You can ask at the comedor where you can find these women, who will gladly show you how they produce casabe. For a 100 lempira fee they will give you and your group, a full explanation of the process and actually bake some for you to sample. They are open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 3:00 p.m. 

Another casabe bakery is located a couple of km. from the train station, also right on the tracks. You can arrange to be dropped off at Luba Ereba where you will find Garifuna women at work. These women are actually exporting casabe to the USA and hava a much larger operation. They also have a variety of handicrafts made by Garifunas that can be bought here. It is a good chance to interact with the Garifuna culture. After your visit, you can wait for the train on its next trip to continue your journey. Probably the best contact person in La Union is the local manager at the train station, Mr. Carlos Martinez at 373 3062.

Salado Barra and Boca Cerrada

These two small communities are located right inside the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge. The only access to Salado Barra is by the train from La Union. The Cuero y Salado Visitor's Center is right by the train station. It is at the Center where you pay your entrance fee and can arrange your tours. There is now a small, very basic lodging facility within the Salado Barra area that is operated by FUCSA. Guides and food are also available and contacts can be arranged through FUCSA at the Center. If you are interested in seeing wildlife within the refuge, it is a good idea to plan on spending the night at Salado Barra, as this will allow you to be on the trails at daybreak. If you wish to spend the night, make sure you make reservations with FUCSA at telephone 440 1990. Boca Cerrada is situated at the extreme west end of the wetlands, and to get there you have to rent a boat and a guide in Salado Barra to take you there, once again, make sure you call FUCSA ahead for reservations.

Pico Bonito Area

Rio | Zacate Zone in El Pino

This area is located only a short distance west of La Ceiba and offers a variety of options for those looking for a nice travel experience. Tours into working farms, the butterfly house and serpentarium as well as into the park on nature trails are all available and can be arranged for right here. In the vicinity of El Pino, you can also find a couple of basic hotels that offer good options if you want to explore this area. Natural View has 3 adobe rooms with a thatched roof, a good restaurant bar and lovely garden surroundings, as the installations are within a plant nursery. El Buen Pastor guest-house, also in El Pino offers less rustic rooms and the same facilities to arrange trips to the surrounding areas. For additional information or reservations, contact the tour operators or the local contact persons in El Pino: Efrain Cuellar, tel: +504 386 9878 or Thomas Hinds, tel: +504 388 7146.

Cangrejal River Area

The Cangrejal River actually cuts the city of La Ceiba in half. The river is a relatively short one, with only 20 miles in length, but its short and tumultuous trip from the Nombre de Dios Mountains into the Caribbean Sea provides the opportunity for a very scenic trip, as the river acts as a natural boundary for the easternmost section of the Pico Bonito National Park.


Along its banks, there are several nice rural communities, with at least two of them offering a good opportunity to enjoy community tourism. El Naranjo is located only 10 km upriver from La Ceiba, El Naranjo is home to a growing River Rafting industry. The communities’ source of income has long been lumbering, and they now offer a nice selection of wood handicrafts produced by members of the community. In addition, a orchid exhibit and a nice trail into the jungle, provide options to enjoy. The trail is known as the Vampire trail, since one of the highlights is a nice cave that is home to many bats. Las Mangas, located 3 miles upriver from El Naranjo has one of the first community owned lodges in the Honduras, Cabanas Aventuras del Bosque. In addition, Guaruma, a local NGO has developed some nice trails into the Pico Bonito National Park offering a nice experience, with guiding done by local young folks who have been trained over the years.

Sambo Creek

An interesting Garifuna community on the beach, about 20 km east of la Ceiba, Sambo Creek gives you an opportunity to get a glimpse of the Garifuna culture and enjoy the beach at the same time. There are two good restaurants right on the beach, one specializing in seafoods, the other with a variety of international foods, with an emphasis in Italian and seafood. La Champa Kabasa (the seafood specialty restaurant) is located almost in front of the end of the road leading to Sambo Creek. Sambo Creek Restaurant is located about 400 yards to the east (right) of where the main road into town ends at the beach. This restaurant is owned by a US expatriate, with many years of experience as a chef. His Italian – Armenian roots give his food a special touch. The beach at his restaurant is by far the best and you will enjoy not only the food but also the surroundings.

If driving from La Ceiba, just get off the road at the Sambo Creek sign. If taking the bus to Sambo Creek from La Ceiba, after getting off the bus just follow the main road to the beach. At the far end of beach towards the east there is a small hotel called Hermanos Alvarez. The rooms are basic, some with private bath, some shared. Just past the main entrance to Sambo Creek you will see a clearly marked dirt road leading to the beach and to the Hotel Canadian and Helen's Restaurant and cabins. These are two pleasant beachfront businesses that offer comfortable rooms, good food, pool, and direct access to the beach. Both are owned and operated by French Canadians and therefore French and English are spoken at both.

A couple hundred yards past the Sambo Creek Entrance you will find Glenda’s Paradise thermal springs. This is a pleasant, rustic setting with natural thermal water at the perfect temperature of 40 degrees Centigrade (105 Fahrenheit) flowing in a crystal clear river with lush vegetation on its shores. Entrance fee Lps 100.00 per adult and Lps 50.00 per child. Next to Glenda’s Paradise is the entrance to the Sambo Creek Canopy Tour. Access to the Canopy is via horse back riding, offering elusive views of the ocean as you climb up into the mountains and the thick tropical rainforest vegetation. The tour has a total of 13 cables, allowing you to “fly” from treetop to treetop. The views from the different platforms and while zipping down the cable are spectacular, at times allowing you to see the Caribbean Sea and Cayos Cochinos in the background, at times clouded by the mist generated by the many hot springs just below, and at times over sparkling, crystal clear mountain springs rushing towards the Caribbean.

The bilingual staff is courteous, very helpful and will make you feel at ease while they assist you throughout the tour. After the thrill and adrenaline rush you will experience, and just when you think the exciting tour has ended, you will take a short trail to a hidden secret in the jungle: an absolutely stunning waterfall that ends in a swimming hole, where you will be able to relax in perfect temperature natural hot springs, providing the opportunity to soothe your muscles and nerves before finally heading back to your hotel.

To experience the Sambo Creek Canopy and Hot Springs, call Turaser, a local tour operator who will arrange pick up at your hotel, transfer you to Sambo Creek, provide the horses and guides and transfer you back. It is a good idea to bring long pants and good hiking shoes, as well as plenty of bug repellent, and of course, a swimming suit to change into before jumping into the hot springs. Turaser’s phone number is 429-0509. Departures are usually around 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Adventure Tours and Other Activities

La Ceiba is home to many adventure sport options, and one of the best places in Central America for several activities. The most outstanding options that should not be looked over are the following:

Cangrejal River Rafting

Some of the best white water rafting in Central America is to be found right here in La Ceiba. The Cangrejal river offers class II, III and IV rapids, all within a short 45 minute drive from downtown La Ceiba. In addition to the exciting rapids, the Pico Bonito national park, which features more than 7 different ecosystems because of its changing altitudes, has its eastern border with the river, offering you an insight to the ever so lush green forests of Honduras. Lunch is included in the tours, which are guided by expert river rafters with years of experience

Canopy Tours

There are now two different Canopy tours operating in La Ceiba. The first is located at the Jungle River Lodge, on the banks of the Cangrejal River, only 7 km on a scenic dirt road from the Saopin Bridge over the Cangrejal River. Known as the Highline Zipline Canopy Tour, this attraction was the first of its kind on Honduras’ north coast. Canopy tours where originally created to observe the rainforest from a different angle, looking at the life that thrives on the canopy of the tropical jungles. The purpose of these tours is to allow you to have a thrilling adventure of gliding through the tree tops in a dense jungle and getting a “bird’s eye” perspective of life in the tropical rain forest. Today Canopy Tours are more an adrenalin filled adventure for tourists that a scientific experience, and they are getting more and more popular worldwide.

The tour starts at the Jungle River Lodge, and takes you across the river and into the forest of Pico Bonito National Park. After a short hike you will be back up on the first platform ready to experience the Canopy Tour concept. Without doubt it will be a fun experience. At the end, you are welcome to take a refreshing dip in the natural spring fed rock pools at the lodge and enjoy some fresh fruits at the Coco & Bamboo Restaurant on premises. To arrange for a tour of the Cangrejal River Canopy Tour, call Jungle River Tours at 440 1268 or your local tour operator.

The second Canopy Tour in the area is located in Sambo Creek, on the road towards Trujillo, a couple hundred yards past the entrance to Sambo Creek; on the mountain side of the road you will see the sign. Access to the starting point is via a horse trail that will help you climb up the mountainside into the dense tropical rain forest. The trip is about a 25 to 30 minute ride, where you will get your instructions and prepare yourself for your glide down the first of 13 different cables that will eventually bring you close to the highway once again. At the end of the trip you will discover a spectacular crystal clear waterfall with a romantic swimming hole in the bottom at perfect temperature natural thermal waters to soothe your nerves and muscles after this exhilarating experience. To arrange the Sambo Creek Canopy Tour and Hot Springs call Turaser, a local tour operator at tel. 429-0509. Departures are usually around 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Water Jungle Aqua Park

This water park is located adjacent to the Barceló Palma Real Resort in the community of Roma, about 23 km east of La Ceiba on the road towards Trujillo. An extensive park with pool games for small children, huge waterslides, a wave pool, etc. are all part of this theme park decorated as a jungle. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m till 5:00 p.m. Entrance fee is $10.00 USA per person and gives you the right to return the next day. A large food court is under construction and will have a variety of foods available to meet your choice. Without doubt a fun option for the family. This is the largest park of its kind in the country!


Continue on to:  

Museums, Tour Operators and Hotels

 

Tours and Excursions in La Ceiba, Honduras © 2008 Honduras Tips • All Rights Reserved