Travel Tourism Honduras

Omega Tours - White Water Rafting I

2011-05-17T23:59:00.017-05:00

So, back at the lodge a well deserved celebration was in store. After all, we were all intact and proud of our triumphant achievement. A get together around the pool with plenty of drinks, and nacho and bean dip was an appropriate ending to day one of our jungle adventure. However, as much as we wanted to extend the party we only mustered enough strength to sip a couple of beers, grab dinner and call it a night. We were dead tired and knew we had to save energy for extreme sports day number two. The following morning we were up and ready for early breakfast at 7 am and prepped and geared for another ultimate activity by 8:30... this time, it was WHITE WATER RAFTING time!

Prior to our departure, Omega Tours provided everyone with the corresponding safety gear, this included a helmet and life jacket. After making sure everything fit properly we were ready to head out, but first, we proceeded to strike the pose for the "hey... look at me, I went white water rafting" group shot. After forever storing that collective Kodak moment, we were almost ready for our half day trip. There was still one last, but very important instruction to follow and that was to put on sun protection, (no need to remind you that the sun shines pretty bright during April and almost year round in Honduras - no shade in the river either). Looking like rock climbers/coast guards/and buttered up surfers, we pitched in by carrying some light gear as we proceeded Indian file down to the river. We were all set and ready to set sail... now, let's not forget it was everyone's first time white water rafting, so no one in our crew knew what to expect considering hiking turned out to be a very exhilarating experience. I remembered Udo's explanation that we would be doing a lot of jumping and swimming, swimming and walking, and jumping and rafting but who knew. They did their best in trying to explain the activity in words and I will try my best here as well, but again, this is something you need to experience firsthand as the written word just does not live up to the real deal. I can confidently include white water rafting as one of the most memorable experiences of my life, together with diving; in fact, it was so much fun, after it ended we all wished we had gone for the full day trip, instead. I simply can't wait to do it again!!

Omega Tours / Trail Hiking II

2011-05-16T21:55:00.015-05:00

Prior to embarking on our little trek up the mountain they loaded us onto several very suitable yellow rides, similar to those jeeps and trucks that go on safari on the Discovery Channel. After a very short drive down the river (about five minutes) we made it to the entrance of the park only to realize that the fence was locked. We ended up having to jump over it because as it turns out the park caretaker was busy taking a dip in the river! That was a little crazy but definitely no surprise for us Central Americans as those types of odd situations tend to happen here every once in a while. No one else in our crew seemed to mind either, as that was our first taste of adventure in this here trip; and there would be plenty more to come on the other side of those chained wooden planks.

Once all 16 of us plus the two guides from Omega Tours made it over the barbed wire fence we walked for a few minutes until we reached the slippery and rock filled river bed all the way to the water's edge. There I knew the aqua socks would have come in handy, nevertheless we kept going, crossing the river in knee deep water with no apparent problems. Now, although the current felt calm, the uneven rocks below it made it difficult to maintain your balance so you had to be careful and avoid leaning low enough to have the current lift you and take you away. That meant, watch your step, do not crouch, and absolutely no falling!

After safely crossing the river we started up the mountain. It was a winding trail that would take us to the highest point of the tour. The walk was a long one, about 4 hours and the terrain was unfriendly to say the least. You seriously need to be in shape to do this. At some points the trail ends and you have to make your way up steep rocks to continue. 3 point stance is the rule, that means always moving while having three of your extremities touching any surface at all times. Fortunately for us trekkers, the hot sun did not affect our performance too much as we were covered most of the time by the luscious foliage of the forest above. Humidity however, did become a determining factor as one of our friends suffered the consequences of dehydration. Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids prior, while on the trail, and afterwards. On a curious note, one of the local guides turned out to be 70 years old. I am not sure if he was telling the truth but you could tell on his face he had been around for a while, yet he was probably in far better shape than all of us combined! Proof of this was that he was carrying more than a dozen bottles of cold water on his back which we gladly welcomed as we made it to our first stop. This was a natural swimming pool halfway up the trail with a small waterfall for a backdrop. After a short dip in the freezing cold water and some photo opportunities we kept going up, across logs, over large boulders, and sometimes right on the edge of some pretty high cliffs.

Although I have described this as a painstakingly difficult hike it was all worth while once we made it to that beautiful place mentioned in the previous entry. I am talking about the Bejuco Waterfall, that 60 meter high waterfall seen from the road below. At 450 meters above sea level the view was simply amazing and the waterfall up close was just breathtaking. Big time photo ops here, NatGeo style; also a great spot for a picnic. The guides brought with them the option of chicken, bacon, or veggie sandwiches and delicious pineapple for dessert. After replenishing lost fluids and vitamins we made our way back downhill to the finish line represented by a suspension bridge hanging over the Cangrejal River.

I forgot to mention, this was all at cost of 39.00 well spent US Dollars!

Omega Tours / Trail Hiking I

2011-05-07T00:07:00.022-05:00

After leaving the airport we made our way through the busy streets of La Ceiba onto a less traveled dirt road and we started up the mountain with the river bank to our right. As we moved upstream, we started to see the initial stages of the tropical rain forest which is part of a mountain range called Nombre de Dios. Pico Bonito is the name of this destination and highest peak at over 2,430 meters above sea level, brand new territory for us as we had never visited this famous national park located in the north coast. It is widely known for its rafting in the Cangrejal River and hiking through its winding mountain trails.

As the bus took us closer to the lodge the scene was that of a calm Cangrejal River, (it was April during the dry season) with a sloping green backdrop hiding the trails where we would be hiking in a couple of hours. We could barely see a waterfall in the distance, which we were told becomes very visible and impressive once the rainy season arrives and there is a heavier down pour. We got to see it up close soon enough and it was indeed a beautiful sight!

Once at the lodge we were greeted by the owner Udo and the staff of the Eco Lodge. As soon as we were all settled in, drank some water and got into "proper gear" we were ready for a small pep talk of what to expect on our first activity. You see, Omega Tours is the tour operating part of the company offering all kinds of tours, from white water rafting and kayaking, jungle hiking, bicycling, and horse back riding to other types of excursions in more remote locations of Honduras such as the biosphere of the Platano river... but that's another entry! They have a great team of professional guides who have trained and worked in other parts of Central America. They were very friendly and they seemed very professional, providing adequate instructions on what to do and focusing on safety at all times. I must say we all felt very comfortable and safe considering the extreme activities we ended up doing.

I would like to provide some sound advice here. It is highly recommend you bring proper shoes, otherwise you'll end up barefoot, trying not to break your neck. There are plenty of steep and slippery climbs on some rough terrain. It was quite a challenge, not your basic "lets go jogging" trails some might expect. Some on our crew had to learn this the hard way and got a few scrapes in the process, including myself. I only brought with me some Crocs for shoes which actually did not fair that bad in the end, specially compared to my sandals and flip flop wearing friends! Water shoes or aqua socks will do the trick but if you don't have any ask the people at the Eco Lodge and they might lend you a pair in your size at no extra charge. Do not forget your bathing suit and camera, nature shots and getting wet are both imminent along the entire way. The guides take impermeable bags to protect the electronic hardware so no worries there!

So after receiving our initial introduction we were all set to go on our little hike, all 16 honeymooners ready for some mountain adventure in Pico Bonito!

Eco Jungle Lodge / Omega Tours

2011-05-02T19:24:00.034-05:00

PROLOGUE
It's been too long since I last posted on my blog! The obvious reason was I had not done any meaningful travels lately. I recently got married so a corresponding honeymoon was in the making; yet, we wanted this to be more than just a romantic trip, we wanted to add some adventure to it, so after a couple of months of careful planning the trip was ready. Of course we knew the destination would be within Honduras; the key this time would be to take advantage of some contacts I had made earlier during my travels and to include a visit to a brand new place involving plenty of new and exciting activities. We ended up visiting some old favorites but we also incorporated one of the most incredible places we've ever been to and in addition managed to do a few action packed activities we can now take off from our "must do list". It made for an unforgettable honeymoon and the trip of a lifetime!!

We started our voyage in the Goloson International Airport in La Ceiba. We came in by plane from Tegucigalpa and Omega Tours had arranged a bus with a driver to pick us up. It was a group honeymoon (about 16 of us) so they had a large bus to fit us all in. The total cost was of USD 5.00 per person but smaller groups can take a taxi instead for the exact same price. It is just a short ride of about 40 minutes from the airport to the Eco Jungle Lodge which is located near the base of the national park called Pico Bonito!

We made the Eco Lodge our home for a couple of nights and we did not need to go anywhere else. The lodge is located close to the access road but far enough to feel isolated from the rest of the world. The color green is everywhere and nature's sounds are heard all around as the cabins seem to be fitted into mother nature itself, creek, jungle, birds and all. They also have a well equipped restaurant and bar and all at very affordable prices. This establishment was created in 1992 by a German kayaker named Udo and his wife Silvia. They are the pioneers in providing eco-tourism related services in Pico Bonito as their touring company Omega Tours offer a wide "gamma" (very fitting word) of nature and adventure tours for those looking for a little excitement. Their operation is a great example of sustainable, responsible, and ecological tourism as they do not do any motor sports, do not offer plastic bottles, or serve grouper as it is an endangered species just to name a few. They also help and support their own staff and a local school with donations.

A free night's stay in the four room guest house is included if you do a tour but for an additional price the lodge also has three unique luxury cabins which are relatively more upscale. We stayed in the bamboo cabin which is a beautiful wooden cabin farthest from the lobby/entrance with a bamboo filled view, what else! It was very comfy and the sounds of the forest at night were just so soothing and relaxing. The climate there even in April when we were there, is not hot and muggy as I expected, it even got cool at night. Very little bugs too to my surprise as you are in the middle of the bush and I was expecting plenty of mosquitoes. They have an amazing outdoor shower, you must try at night as it has hot running water (until the other guests take it all) but which can be lit by candles with an inside garden... VERY Cool!! There is also a pool filled by water from the river. No chemicals or anything put in here just fresh water from the mountain, you cannot go more ecological than that. Only drawback for me was that the water was freeeezing.

I can definitely say we all had a great time at the Eco Jungle Lodge in Pico Bonito! And I haven't even begun talking about the tours!! CHECK OUT THE NEXT ENTRIES FOR THAT INFO!!!

Punta Sal - Jeannette Kawas National Park - Background

2010-09-16T15:16:00.014-05:00

If you stare out to sea while in Tela, say somewhere close to the main pier, to your left you will find the Parque Nacional Punta Sal. The park covers around 780 square kilometers of this peninsula protruding some 15 Km. NE of the port city of Tela.

It has been renamed the Jeannette Kawas National Park after a local environmental activist who fought against and succeeded in protecting this land from future development. It did come at a large cost, as her voice was permanently silenced in 1995 by those threatened by her actions. This terrible act was ruled a homicide and it still remains unsolved to this day.

However, because of her efforts this park is now protected by law and is one of the destinations that are on the short term plans for sustainable tourism development by the Honduran Ministry of Tourism and the Honduran Institute of Tourism.

This park is very special due to its variety of physical characteristics and because of its relative isolation it is very well preserved. You can find mangroves, swampland, lagoons, rocky formations, (farallones, in spanish), rocky and sandy beaches, and my favorite coral reefs.

Maya Vista Hotel and Restaurant - A room with a VIEW!

2010-09-13T14:52:00.007-05:00

The point of making this blog is to give advise on nice places to visit for anyone traveling to Honduras. I received a tip about the next place from our good friend Yara, our Ministry of Tourism insider who has offered many great tips to us in the past.

I am talking about the Maya Vista Hotel & Restaurant. A small but tall standing hotel with restaurant, located on a hilltop overlooking the bay of Tela. Although we did not stay in the hotel, I cannot speak for it in terms of accommodation but I can definitely recommend the restaurant which we fell in love with, not only for the food but also for the stunning ocean view. The restaurant sits just above multiple mango tree tops with a spectacular 180 degree view of Tela. It is THE place to enjoy the reddish-orange Tela sunsets which seemed to make everything taste better, including the conch soup, a seafood specialty found on the Honduran coasts. Tela is quite famous for offering one of the best soups in the country and the one at Maya Vista was no exception.

Next time we visit Tela we'll stay here for sure because even if the rooms are not up to standards (I am sure they will), nothing beats the view from the rooms which are at an even higher elevation than the restaurant.

Lancetilla - A real garden of Eden

2010-08-17T15:13:00.009-05:00

Biologists, photographers, students or nature lovers alike, will fall in love with Lancetilla. We are talking about the second largest botanical garden in the world and largest in Latin America, located just a few minutes away from Tela. The 1600 plus hectares house a diverse collection of exotic plants from all over the planet, where hundreds of species of animals and insects roam freely and feed off the abundant fruit and flowers growing in the area.

It was founded in the mid 1920s by Wilson Popenoe, who turns out was also the founding director of the Escuela Agricola Panamericana Zamorano (a private university near Tegucigalpa which main focus is agriculture). This natural sanctuary began as a research and development station for the United Fruit Company, one of the foreign companies exploiting bananas during the 1900s in Central America. Their main goal was to study the the effects of diseases and other factors affecting the cultivation of bananas and other tropical fruit.

KEY OBSERVATIONS
* There is a minimal entrance fee upon arrival at the front gate.
* Once you've entered the main gate you will take a very long and extremely rocky dirt road until you get to the visitors building.
* There you can pay for a guide to give you a tour, which is also very inexpensive as they charge only L. 100.00 Lempiras or $5.00 dollars. It is highly recommended as it only lasts about 30-40 mins and it can be very educational.
* The tour can also come in handy as you need to watch out for them poisonous fruits. You can try some of the less aggressive fruit with the advise from the guide.
* They save the best for last as they take you through rows of towering bamboo trees which form a magnificent tunnel about the size of a football field. Very nice photo opportunity.
* Don't forget to bring bug repellent, it will be pretty useful!

Tela Honduras

2010-07-12T15:53:00.012-05:00

Tela is a coastal town located on the north coast of Honduras and it is quite possibly our most recognized tourism destination after the Bay Islands and Copan. It is the first choice for local Hondurans when they think of vacations with sun, sea, and sand, and not to mention affordability. It is also relatively close by road from San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba and just a bit farther from Tegucigalpa. Although the town itself is not known for its striking beauty, the surrounding beaches are some of the best in the north coast. You can find all inclusive resorts in and around Tela as well as some smaller hotels right in town.

Why should you visit Tela?

- Beautiful beaches, i.e. Miami beach, just a few minutes away. It is not like the one in Florida... remove all the buildings and roads. Very peaceful and secluded.

- More accessible by land, especially from Teguz as the roads have been greatly improved (beware: construction is still going on in some areas).

- Affordability is a key factor, specially when compared to Roatan and Copan.

- There are several nearby places to visit such as Triunfo de La Cruz and Tornabe. These are Garifuna settlements, a local ethnic group, known for making the best conch soup and delicious coconut bread.

- Punta Sal and Punta Izopo are nice places too. Nature hikes, snorkeling and kayaking through mangroves are available with Garifuna Tours.

- Punta Sal is where you find the Janette Kawas National Park. Wildlife such as manatees and howling monkeys can easily be spotted.

- Exotic plants and trees from all over the world make their home in Lacentilla, the world's second largest botanical garden. Watch out for the venomous kinds!

- The Maya Vista hotel and restaurant, right in the middle of town, has an amazing view of the bay and offers very good food and drinks.

So you see, there are plenty of things to check out in this part of Honduras. To finish up this entry let me throw in a well known fact about Tela. Back in the day, this area used to be the home base for several American fruit companies which had their headquarters in Tela and where bananas became an important export. This is why Honduras Honduras is known as the original Banana Republic.

Mayan Divers

2010-06-29T13:20:00.009-05:00

As a change of pace, at least for now, I will forget about the food and restaurants and I will write a small entry about a recent diving adventure. During my short lived stint in Roatan I was working from my office located at the Mayan Princess resort and due to the ton of work I had to do, I had very little time to do anything but rest. I was more than desperate to do some diving as soon as I had some spare time but due to bad weather conditions and only having one day off it became very difficult to pick a good day to go out diving. Having the Mayan Divers Dive Shop right there on the resort, made it very convenient for me not only to go out with the best weather but I also had the chance to ask when they would be doing the best dive sites.

The owners as well as the staff are all very experienced divers, very friendly and out to have fun; not to mention that they are well organized, they cater to small groups and best of all, they have very good equipment. All of which makes any dive a more satisfying experience! I have tried quite a few dive shops and I must say the the Mayan Divers' gear has got to be up there in the top three best quality equipment on the island, with brand new BCDs, wetsuits and regulators. The boat is top notch too. No wonder they are a PADI certified 5 star dive center.

Mayan Divers offers discover courses, open water courses as well as more advanced diving and specialty courses. They do shark dives, underwater photography, deep dives, night dives, you name it! They even use the pool in the Mayan Princess Resort for the confined water exercises. The shop is well equipped with a roomy classroom, enough storage space for the gear, and all the audiovisual material used to teach everything there is to know about diving.

Let me tell you, owners Liber and Anja have a good operation going. They know all the good places to dive in Roatan and they are sure to make your dive a pleasant one. I had the opportunity to dive with Anja and one of their instructors Adrian on several occasions, and they were both very good at spotting all kinds of marine life. They also let you dive at your own pace in a relax fashion depending on your level of expertise.

So, if you are headed towards West Bay and you want dive you know were to go!

Sundowners

2010-06-22T13:33:00.003-05:00

Why we like it:

You cannot miss Sundowners when the sun sets in Roatan. It is probably the most laid back place in all of West End and the perfect place to go when you want to kick back and relax GALORE after a long day of doing the tourist thing. All you gotta do is take off your shirt, lose the sandals, grab a cold one and simply stare at the sky as it changes colors and watch the sun as it slowly sinks into the calm blue waters. It is a breathtaking sight worthy of applause and great for taking pictures. As night time approaches the staff usually sets up a bonfire to make the place even more splendid. The tunes played are a little bit of everything from Rolling Stones classic rock to Thievery Corporation's chill out sounds to some reggae style Sublime. This is where the night begins in West End and where many divers hang out after their work is done. Apart from the great atmosphere, there is also a fast food/snacks menu to choose from. There's a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, wraps and pitas. Thus, you never go hungry while you are having a good time at Sundowners.

Recommended:

The boneless Buffalo Wings and the French Fry Nachos are all very good. The Buffalo wings were exceptionally good but very spicy (so stay away if you cannot take the heat but dive in if you like it hot). When it comes to drinks, The Monkey Lala´s are very popular in Sundowners, and so are the strawberry and mango daiquiris (made with fresh mango right from the tree).

The Shark Cave Pizzeria

2010-06-17T23:11:00.005-05:00

Why we like it:

Everybody loves pizza even if it´s OK. Well… at the Shark Cave the pizza is not just OK, it's GREAT! The Shark Cave Pizzeria as it is properly named is a low key restaurant also centrally located in West End that offers several fast food options for divers on the go. One slice or maybe two are all you need to satisfy that hunger that builds up after a long day of diving, snorkeling and/or swimming. Argentinean Chef Juan puts it in his own words, it is fast food but fast food made with passion. This is noticeable in the quality of the ingredients. The dough as well as two types of savory hot sauces (one mild and the other very hot) are all prepared carefully by the chef. Now, this place is not just about pizza, they also have more healthy options for those vegans living on the island, such as wraps, sandwiches, croissants and baguettes. For the beer lovers out there who like their pizza accompanied by a cold one, they offer a wide selection of international beers. Red Stripe, Franziskaner, Guiness, Foster’s, NewCastle, and Stella Artois are all on the menu.

Recommended:

The crispy and cheese filled pizza pies with one or two ingredients (shrimp, bacon, spinach, onion) are made to perfection. The wraps are a healthy choice if you want to take it easy with the calories. Sip it all down with the wide variety of imported beers.

Tong's Thai Island Cuisine

2010-05-23T23:45:00.003-05:00

Why we like it:

Tong is like a local celebrity in Roatan. Not only is he the proud owner of a unique restaurant, he is also the only Thai national on the island, but more importantly for all the food lovers out there, he is responsible for bringing to Roatan the exotic and out of the ordinary tastes from this distant part of the world. The place is called Tong´s Thai Island Cuisine and the food is simply amazing. It is located in the heart of West End and opens from 12pm – 3pm for lunch and 5:30pm – 9:30pm for dinner. As Tong explained, Thai food can be described as having a Chinese inheritance with a touch of local Thai ingredients which include, fish sauce, tamarind sauce, and palm sugar among others, creating that tasteful sweet and sour combination we have gotten used to in Asian cuisine. The salty, tangy, and spicy rainbow of flavors is very apparent and so is the hard and soft textures found in his recipes. Simply put, this place is a must visit for all food aficionados!

Recommended:

One of the most popular dishes from Thailand is the Pad Thai with Shrimp which makes for an incredible main course (do not forget to add the lime and the dry chilly) as the mixture is sure to awaken all the taste buds in your mouth. Tomkhakai is a coconut based soup with chicken, great as a starter, (Tong comments how he adds a homegrown ingredient not found in Honduras). To top it off, the spicy beef salad with herbs is a refreshing compliment to a great all around meal.

Mangiamos

2010-05-22T11:13:00.003-05:00

Why we like it:

Mangiamos is a combination, deli market/hot & cold foods/convenience store, all in one. This is a one of a kind, one-stop shop located in West Bay. Here you find everything from gourmet sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, and wraps prepared fresh on the spot. In addition, a large selection of imported meats and cheeses are on display begging to be sampled. One may also come across racks filled with all kinds of condiments and sauces, as well as different snacks such as chips and dips, cookies, chocolates, not to mention a varied assortment of juices and sodas. Besides all of these culinary items, you may also find alcoholic drinks like local and imported beer, rum, whiskey and wine which are sometimes hard to find in this area of Roatan. This place can be very convenient, especially for those staying at the West Bay hotels, so do not just visit to shop for your basic food & beverage needs, stay and grab a quick bite to eat and explore the variety of gourmet flavors available.

Recommended:

The spicy Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich with mild Chipotle Sauce and Melted Pepper Jack Cheese is a customer favorite. Some of the sauces i.e. the Thai sauce is also a great selling product. If you are looking to for a casual evening at your hotel or a picnic right on the beach, Mangiamos is the place to go to and purchase the right wine and mix of meats and cheeses. Try as many as you can and all the combinations you can think off. Your mouth and your tummy will thank you!

The Vintage Pearl

2010-05-21T11:49:00.004-05:00

Why we like it:

Opened in March 2008, the Vintage Pearl´s reputation for serving great tasting, high quality dishes is quickly spreading among the tourists and locals alike. This cozy little restaurant is nestled on a sandy stretch of land on West Bay Beach, hidden from view from the passersby. As it should be in such a warm and exotic location, one has the option to dine indoors or outdoors. Candle lit tables make the experience even more splendid and they help create the perfect setting for a romantic dinner or for that special occasion or just simply to enjoy a nice meal with friends or family. The food can be classified as international cuisine and it is served as a three course meal (soup/salad, main dish, dessert). The wine selection is another key feature at the Vintage Pearl. Currently it has Roatan´s largest wine list with about 60 wines from many of the world renowned wine producing regions (France, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and California), great for accentuating the palate and the rich flavors of the different meals. Service is exceptionally quick and personalized with experienced personnel who are there to provide suggestions on the type of wine that compliment the food best.

Recommended:

Do not forget to make your reservation as space is limited and demand is high. The menu varies every day, but you might want to try their most popular food dishes which include imported USDA beef, succulent duck and lamb, as well as freshly caught lobster and/or wahoo. Not to be outdone, the scallops, escargot, and Mediterranean salads make for great appetizers. For dessert, the crème brulee is a must as it is extremely tasty.

The Beach Club San Simon

2010-05-03T16:01:00.010-05:00

Why we like it:

To have an all around great dine out experience, a good atmosphere, good prices and of course delicious foods are a must. You can find them all in the Beach Club San Simon! This is a posh lounge, bar & restaurant, furnished with roomy opium beds, portable beach beds, and elegant hammocks, perfect for relaxing on lazy afternoons. In addition, blue and white sheets as well as tall mirrors and slick photographs decorate the wooden surroundings nicely and help create a pleasant contrast of classic & stylish decor on this sand filled property lying beach front on West Bay Beach. The music played here is a perfect mix of breezy grooves and laid back beats that urge the listener to sit back and enjoy the beautiful sunset while savoring deeelicious hors d´oeuvres and washing them down with the perfect blend of iced cocktail servings.

Recommended:

Among its more popular food items we find the Club Sandwich (double-decker sandwich filled with chicken breast & crispy bacon accompanied by the best seasoned fries EVER), the Hamburger (first quality beef filled bun, with lettuce and tomatoes, mayo and mustard), as well as the Lobster Enchiladas (crispy tortillas with fresh lobster and steamed veggies), which are sure to satisfy your appetite. Planter´s Punch and Green Wave are just some of the home made cocktail recipes that will spice up your evening; let’s not forget the always trendy Piña Coladas.

Fantastic Voyage to Cayos Cochinos

2010-04-24T17:14:00.011-05:00

Man, what a great way to get back to my blog than with a brand new video! Although I am not the creator of this video this time, I am very happy to write about it. Nevertheless, I have to give due credit to the rightful owner. He goes by the name of Adil and he did a great job of documenting this incredible experience for the entire group that went on the trip. He works for Las Rocas Resorts Resort & Dive Center in West Bay, Roatan, so if you are around the area, look him up.

Before I get into the description of the video, I need to offer a prelude of the events that led to this latest trip. Guess what? I am currently living in Roatan, at least for a little while. I am working for a Canadian Tour Operator called Sunwing which brings charter planes filled with Canadians eager to try new destinations. I am the administrator representing this company here in West Bay so my job is to cater to the Canadian guests staying at the West Bay Hotels. People might think it is the best job in the world, and it is to some extent, specially when the hotels are working properly and complaints are on the minimum. That does not happen often but when it does, I do have some time off which leads to excellent opportunities such as this one.

On this occassion, the trip started at around 8:45 as a group of 9 guests and myself made our way up the pier towards Mama Iolanda, a mid size boat belonging to the Henry Morgan resort. The 40 foot boat was resting peacefully over the calm blue waters getting prepped for departure towards this amazing location called Cayos Cochinos. This is a relatively isolated archipelago located south from Roatan approximately 1 hour away depending on the weather conditions. It has been considered by UNESCO as a Marine Natural Monument and therefore a protected site. The islands consist of two small islands and 13 small coral cays.

The controlled fishing and tourism activities are just a few activites checked by the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation (HCRF) as the managing agency in charge of its conservation and sustainability. I am no expert but whatever they are doing is working because I had never EVER seen reefs like that anywhere else in the Bay Islands; the large quantities and the good health is highly evident in these coral reefs. The yellow, orange, and purple colors are everywhere. It is a real garden down there!!! The amount of fish is also very apparent. I did not see any big fish but the large numbers of schools was a great sight, specially since it had been the longest time since I last saw a school of fish with that many individuals. It was also cool to lunch with the local Garifunas, the ethnic group living in Cayos Cochinos who still preserve a lot of their ancient culture and traditions. One of the highlights of the trip was the school of about 10-15 dolphins which were showing off for us on the midway point of the trip. They were swiming next to the boat and flipping in the air almost waving hello. It is true what they say... dolphins do leave a lasting impressions on humans. It certainly touched me.

But why should I continue writing??? just ChEcK out the KILLer Vid!

Restaurante Epocas - Antique Store

2009-11-11T17:55:00.010-06:00

A 1-day visit to Valle De Angeles means only one thing. There is no time to waste if you want to go souvenir shopping, have a cup o'coffee, go for dinner and drinks, all of this while taking pictures. No need to stress cuz everything is a short walk away; that meant that our crew this time: Loida (fiancee) Elisa (Sister in law) Javi (buddy & designated photographer), had to hop in and out of establishments quickly.

Our first stop was Hierro, Barro y Verde Cafe for coffee. Our second stop was Epocas Restaurante & Antiques just a few feet away. This place is very unique as it houses an unusual collection of objects that decorate the walls, ceiling, and just about every corner on the premises. Among these items are several brass wind instruments hanging on the walls. I really liked their yellow tones which combined very nicely with the reflection from the candle light creating that smooth comfortable aura great for taking advantage of those special features on your camera. A carriage displayed near the entrance is over a century old but has been properly restored by the owner who is also responsible for the restoration of the house and many of its wooden carvings. Old phonographs stand proud and make for some great shots for the camera aficionado; so does the candle lit adobe altar which reminded me of that part in the movie Easy Rider, when Peter Fonda & Dennis Hopper are in the cemetery while at Mardi Gras. GREAT MOVIE, by the way!!!

It so happens that during that same week we visited Valle de Angeles, the festivities weren't just for the patron's day celebration, but also for the Honduran national football team which qualified for the world cup for the second time in its history. Last time it was 27 years ago (check out the Honduran team jersey on Loida, my jersey was dirty from over use). Therefore, this was not only travel & tourism, it was a full blown continuation of the celebrations. The mood in the town was up and alive and that was obviously contagious, so we went ahead and ordered a couple of drinks which were accompanied by delicious chorizo with tortillas. We still had another place to visit for dinner, so as soon as we took some photos and finished up our food and drink we headed up the street and across the main plaza to our next stop.

Hierro Barro y Verde Cafe

2009-10-29T13:34:00.011-05:00

Dear Blog,

"The fine mountain mist, combined with the soft scent of freshly roasted coffee beans and that sweet pine tree aroma filled the room on that cool Autumn day!"...

Hahaha, now THAT would be my starting sentence if I were posing to be something I am not. I am no writer but I still try my best to describe what I see when I travel within Honduras so that I may conjure up a more lasting image of the places I visit and the things I experience. My objective is to provide useful information (with pictures & videos), to someone interested in visiting my beautiful country.

In this particular case, I am referring to this wonderful and eclectic cafe, located down a relatively secluded street in Valle de Angeles. Hierro, Barro y Verde means Iron, Clay and Green; those are just some of the objects found in this boutique cafe / souvenir shop / green house. Not to mention the different types of plants they have for sale. They have everything from iron candlesticks to wall decorations, Lenca clay ornaments (very popular hand crafted souvenirs made by a Honduran ethnic group), all kinds of pottery and vases, as well as exotic plants. Tourist info is also available to take for free.

The locale is divided into two areas indoors which house the majority of items, as well as a very colorful section outside, which includes wall murals and even a little fountain. This outdoors area is most appropriate for enjoying the very comfortable temperatures while tasting some Honduran made coffee or some foreign wine (keep in mind that Honduras does not produce wine, but our coffee is one of our best known exports). In addition, they have created a very distinctive display which you cannot miss, which consists of two life size sculptures of cows being adorned by what else... plants.

The house has some history to it too. According to owner, Criscia Estrella, this is the oldest house in Valle de Angeles at 114 years old and it used to belong to the town's blacksmith.

So go ahead and visit Hierro, Barro y Verde Cafe. It's a sight for sore eyes!!!

Valle de Angeles

2009-10-28T12:33:00.014-05:00

Translated it comes out to Valley of Angels, and if I were an angel, I wouldn't mind hanging up my wings and heading to early retirement in this simple but colorful little town. Valle de Angeles is a municipio or municipality close to Tegucigalpa (round 30 kms). It has been one of the capitalinos (residents from the capital of Tegucigalpa) favorite holiday destination due to its close proximity. The winding road is in very good conditions and on hot days this colonial town makes for a great escape from the traffic, pollution and everyday urban routine. Peaks for visitation occur during weekends, with a heavy drop-off during weekdays. If you want to experience a more peaceful and tranquil town I suggest you take advantage of the weekdays during most of the year. However, during the first week of October, the Valle de Angelinos (residents from Valle de Angeles) celebrate their "fiesta patronal" or patrons day celebration. It's a good time to visit if you are looking for a more festive atmosphere with local cuisine, fireworks, live music, etc.

The town has the basic grid style, Spanish colonial layout, with the town square being the center point of the town. The government office, main church, some souvenir shops and some restaurants surround this main plaza. Climate can be a bit cooler than in the city and specially at night during the months of November - February. One of its biggest tourist attractions has to be the arts and crafts. There are many souvenir shops to choose from with a wide variety of just about everything Honduran made. Finished products of very high quality such as wood carvings, leather products, and coffee, are highly sought after, as well as Honduran made cigars. Just a couple of blocks east of the main entrance to the cathedral, you can find the souvenir hangars where you will find a vast selection of souvenirs stacked all the way up to the roof. It will be hard for you not to find something nice. Just remember that it is OK to haggle!

The colonial architecture is still visible and creates a nice backdrop for taking pictures; in particular, the old houses with the red colored clay tiles, which have now been converted to small, rustic, bars and restaurants. Their cozy, candle lit settings invite you to have a drink and try a variety of tasty appetizers such as carne asada, chorizo, tortillas, fried beans served in hot "anafres" (lit coal containers made of clay), as well as the popular "pupusas" (flour tortillas filled with melted cheese), etc.

Commemmorative Video

2009-10-21T15:17:00.003-05:00

Roatan in motion during August 09 mixed with the very user friendly Movie Maker. Proof that you can travel to Honduras even in the midst of a political crisis!

Crisis, what Crisis?

2009-10-16T20:36:00.018-05:00

This entry is conveniently titled after the name given to the winning Best Thesis Award belonging to a couple of ex-classmates of mine (Akram Saboundji & Tanja Lonnroth), that were part of my tourism & hospitality masters program in Sweden. I had to use it cuz it fit like a moth to a flame, specially because those were our precise words after what we experienced during this short journey in the midst of a political crisis.

To close off the trip with a long lasting image, we were looking for a place to fully immerse ourselves into a therapeutic state of mind. We needed a place to hang out that we were familiar with and that brought back good memories, and that was lively enough to erase any stressful thoughts of politics left in our brains. After walking up and down West End, looking for such a place with no avail, we proceeded to enter the place which at that time appeared to be the most crowded. The locale we knew from way back but under a different name. It used to belong to some friends of ours, Ian Drydesdale and Jenny Myton and was called the Mango Verde. This used to be my favorite bar before Sundowners and we practically lived there every time we visited the island until they unexpectedly closed. It was the place to be where the West End boys could meet the West End girls. The great tunes, drinks & food led to memorable conversations with both tourists and locals and the ever popular dive instructors. It seems quite obvious that there is huge competition to own or rent this piece property among investors. I believe a lot of its popularity is a result of its fabulous location (right in the middle of WE). It constantly has changed hands from owner to owner. At another point in time it was also called the Purple Turtle with the same type of customers but owned by a German citizen. During my previous visit in January 2009 we were looking forward to go there but we were disappointed to see that it was closed.

This time in August, to our surprise, we stumbled into the pre-inauguration of a new bar, now called the Blue Marlin. We were told it is dutch owned. The area has been expanded and renovated and they added a nice little lounge area which was already taken, of course. The wooden deck floor is now combined with the adjacent floor of the neighboring establishment which used to be Reef Gliders. This has created a lot of additional space which was lacking before. The sound system is much improved which I feel should be the most important aspect of any successful bar. Too bad we discovered it on our last night of the trip. Next time, however; I know where I will be heading for some night life entertainment, no matter what it is called.

Don't you just dig their logo!?!?!?

Roadtrip towards The Mayan Princess

2009-10-12T13:13:00.026-05:00

The road trip began very relaxing in the fast running, curve hugging, Suzuki Swift, aptly named "The Renegade of Funk". It belongs to our friends and it made the 5 1/2 hour drive ideal for great conversations, listening to some good tunes and enjoying the scenery. Once in La Ceiba, we had a bite to eat and then we were off to the docks (this is the same Muelle de Cabotaje mentioned earlier). We proceeded to drop off the car in the parking lot of the Empresa Nacional Portuaria (ENP), which is next door to the terminal. It costs 100.00 Lempiras or about 5.00 US dollars per day and the amount is due upon return.

I gotta say that the road was pure traveling pleasure compared to the ferry waiting for us at the docks and ready to take us to Roatan. I have become very accustomed to this ferry, and since the weather was so amazing it gave me no reason for me to imagine that this would become one of my worst rides ever, if not the worst. The sunshine and clear skies did not seem to blend in with the gigantic waves that were making the sea extremely choppy and turning that ferry into a fumbling and stumbling wooden roller coaster. However, the Dramamine we had earlier proved effective as we were able to contain ourselves and no one had the unfortunate mishap of feeling dizzy and/or blowing chunks towards the end. I'm sure that many passengers did not make a clean exit from the ferry. (Check out our faces above and judge for yourself!!!).

Soon after our bouncy ride which felt like an eternity ended, and once on dry and steady land, we were being picked up by the Mayan Princess's bus which was there to take us to the hotel. YEP, we were heading towards The Mayan Princess, perhaps one of the finest hotels in West Bay, Roatan. That was gonna be our place of residence for at least one night. It later turned to be for two nights, after we asked the front desk if my fiancee and I could stay in the same suite with our friends for one more night since there were very few people staying at the hotel anyway. Our friends of course did not mind. And neither did the hotel staff as they gave us a green light to remain in the hotel. This gave us the opportunity to use the facilities, the pool area, and best of all it was all FREE of charge!

West Bay Beach was about 20 meters away from our suite, and the pool was at a diving distance. The restaurant area was also beach side, so right after settling in our room, we proceeded to celebrate our arrival with some appetizers and some beers. Food was not that great but we didn't care because we had made it and we were HAPPY!

The suite/apartment had one freshly decorated room, a nicely equipped kitchen with appliances and utensils, as well as a dining and living room area with a pullout sofa-bed. It came with AC, ceiling fans, and a TV. Of course, we wanted nothing to do with the TV because one of our main objectives on this trip was to stay away from the news channels, Internet and newspapers. That we sure did. Besides, there are plenty of things to do while on vacation instead of watching the tube.

For their rates, check out their website http://www.mayanprincess.com. Rates may vary depending on the season and of course on the type of room. We did not even pay attention to the prices, which can be a bit high for many, but of course why would we, since we were enjoying ourselves there for FREE after all.

A prologue 4 some stress Release!

2009-09-19T12:27:00.019-05:00

Ok, here's the story... the beginning of this entry should have been the continuation of the story started and described in the previous entry. My idea was to present the situation of the tourism industry after the 28th of June up to the 19th of September in Honduras. I was supposed to start explaining how everything was rather fine in Honduras especially in the tourist areas and how my suggestion was to avoid the capital of Tegucigalpa if possible but that you could travel pretty much anywhere. I was also planning on describing a recent trip I made with some friends of mine and my fiancee during the month of August, to prove that it was OK to travel within Honduras (even from Tegucigalpa) and to show that there were deals and offers to take advantage off which were being sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism to promote the country's image. Here is where I would begin showing photographs and describing all the fun we had during that trip.

What I did not know, was that our ex-president Zelaya, had decided to secretly enter Honduras and to install himself in the Brazilian Embassy two days after I finished the previous entry; thus, my entire story kinda lost its purpose and I am now forced to explain a few things. Things have calmed down a lot and are even better now than they were when we went on this past trip. There was some tension for a few days, after Zelaya's arrival but eventually, talks were being discussed and suddenly they were under way with all the parties involved. Everyone here is expecting a good outcome and that the political crisis will be resolved sooner than expected.

Anyhow, on the next post, I will finally continue telling you about the trip I had planned to describe without any more political talk. The following is a short prologue to create the setting of that trip that was such a huge relief from all that stress. We first received word from our good friends Wilfredo Oliva and Fernanda Canchon, a couple who recently got married, that some of the arragements during their wedding were not taken care off by the organizers. To compensate, they offered them credit, which meant two free nights in a partner Hotel in Roatan named The Mayan Princess. They were told that the room was going to be a suite which was extremely spacious, so with the spare room they asked if another couple could tag along. The said it was ok but only for one night. Thus, they invited us to join them with only one condition; that the following days we would need to find new accomodation. They were planning on going by car too which would reduce costs significantly, and in addition to the free night, it was a no brainer. It had been the longest time since we went on a fun road trip, so of course, we did not hesitate and rapidly we began planning out the trip, packed our bags, and soon we were off once more to beautiful Roatan, Bay Islands. Our only worry was to get stuck on the road by protesters, but we never even saw one single person in the streets, except for some graffiti left behind!!!

The Political Situation in Honduras

2009-09-16T15:36:00.013-05:00

If you have heard the country of Honduras mentioned in the news recently, then you may be already aware that on June 28, 2009 a series of events occurred in Honduras which led to the removal of our current president who was sent to exile. There is a strong and reasonable case as to why these actions took place with one important aspect being that he wanted to change the constitution so that he could remain in power with five months left for new elections; not to mention the countless number of corruption scandals he was involved in during his term in office. It is debatable if this event can be cataloged as a Coup de etat because of its unique characteristics, however, due to the swift action of our deposed ex-president and the financial aid and media coverage provided by the Venezuelan government, (which has been strongly supporting him from the onset), their side of the story has been given more coverage by the international community, portraying a situation which is far from the truth. There intent has been to create the image of a military coup responsible for his removal, resulting in the establishment of an oppressive and totalitarian government, leading to an anarchic situation where civil liberties have been lifted and where its people are being politically persecuted and incarcerated. I am not a participant of the new government nor is anyone in my family, yet as an objective observer I can guarantee you that there is a great deal of misinformation regarding these events. What is real sinister is our ex-president's behavior since he has been lying ever since, and has been trying to hide his real intentions of ruling for his own benefit and that of his followers. His entire term in office had him, his family and his lackeys, involved in numerous corruption scandals, nepotism, ineptitude, and greed, all for the sake of the establishment of antiquated ideals that have been resurrected and sponsored by leftist governments in South America. Now, their objective of course is the restitution of our ex-president who does not deserve to return and if he does, only to be tried for his crimes.

The real story of Honduras is that the majority of the population agree with the removal of our former president and that the country is better off without him. The information regarding anarchy, persecution and incarceration are all severely exaggerated specially if you consider that a Human Rights Commission came to Honduras and prepared a report in-situ, confirming the information was highly exaggerated. People have taken to the streets in protest from both sides, yet the side backing our ex-president have been diminishing ever since. People have still gone to work, eat, and entertained themselves throughout the entire process. Now, in the middle of September, the country is relatively calm with elections looming. Some protests are still being held in the capital of Tegucigalpa but are not affecting the tourism trade.

I am upset that many governments are sanctioning my country for this situation and all of which are parting with the ex-president solely on his leftist ideals. The world is being seen by the majority of Hondurans as being upside down, because of the posture of many governments and their sanctions towards the country. It does not fail to amaze me on how the selfish ambitions of one man has distorted the image of a peaceful nation and how it has affected our economy, commerce, and specially the tourism industry which I dearly love.

What I wish to tell everyone in this entry is that the situation in Honduras is pretty normal and never did this situation affect the tourist areas which are just the same now as they were before June 28. In fact, the Honduran Institute of Tourism have in conjunction with the tourism industry, created different bargains in hotels as well as transportation to promote tourism. There are really good deals out there specially in Roatan, with steep discounts in all inclusive resorts. Check out their website for more info. www.iht.hn.

Commemorative Video

2009-09-07T13:13:00.006-05:00

The previous posting was the conclusion to a series of entries documenting my last trip from Tegucigalpa to Copan and then to Roatan, Bay Islands. To commemorate this fantastic voyage I have created a short video from a collection of excerpts taken during our trip which took place in the month of January 2009.

Enjoy the vid!

Paya Bay Resort

2009-08-10T18:40:00.020-05:00

Paya Bay is a small resort located on the east tip of the island of Roatan. The splendor of its surroundings creates an amazing natural setting. The facility itself is nested on a small cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It has the luxury of being located between two half moon beaches which are separated by the complex itself. In terms of natural beauty, it has got to be one of my favorite places in Roatan, although it can be a little bit isolated considering its relatively long distance from the more populated parts of the island. However, that can be a blessing for those looking for some privacy and a cozy environment. Another positive aspect of its location is the nice breeze which can blow pretty strong in these parts of the island. That can be a relief from the heat and humidity as well as the "no see ums" which I have mentioned earlier. Also, because of these winds, the sea can be a bit choppy if you compare it to West Bay for that matter.

You will most definitely need a car to get there because of the long distance and it must be noted that the paved road ends at what seems to be at least a couple of kilometers left to reach the resort. Nevertheless, the road is still in pretty good conditions but could get a bit tricky when wet, particularly during the rainy season. In spite of this, your rental car will definitely handle it, it will just get a bit muddy.

After you park your car and you make your way uphill towards the restaurant area, you will come upon a wooden deck overlooking the ocean. There you will come upon a flight of stairs that basically goes down into the rocks below where the sea meets the land (be on the look out for iguanas, which like to roam around the rocks found below). Once you absorb the view, go ahead and order an appetizer or smoothie. On this trip we had the smoothies which were very tasty and refreshing, however we did not order any food. On a previous trip we did eat lunch there and I remember thinking the food was really good although I cant remember exactly what we ordered. Anyhow, since you already drove all the way there, you might as well go ahead and "overstay your welcome" and have some local grub. I believe they made fresh-made coconut bread. Very Yummy!

This resort is perfect for beach weddings, (if you look in their website you will see how they emphasize this aspect). On a more personal note, this wooden deck area has already been chosen in theory, as THE place for my own beach wedding. My fiance and I have seriously talked about having our wedding in this resort. This is what we picture... "The sun would be setting, everyone would wear white, our guests would be standing over on the deck area overlooking the altar, which would be placed at the bottom of the stairs on the rocks towards the sea...and this is where we would be joined in holy matrimony and be the happiest people on this earth". OH YES, it would be some wedding!!!

The View - Nikki Beach

2009-06-25T13:01:00.013-05:00

As a tourist in Roatan I suggest you get to know the island a little bit. After all, Roatan is relatively small and there are several beautiful places to see. There are several ways to move around but I suggest you rent a car. It is safer, quicker, and in the long run it is cheaper, considering that public transportation is not so reliable, a taxi would be way too expensive, and renting mopeds or 4 wheelers is just not as safe. It helps that there is only one main road from one end of the island to the other so you won't get lost; road maps are usually available in the brochures found in your hotel so ask for one, they are free. The road conditions are fairly good so you will not need a 4x4. Although as you get closer to the east end, the pavement ends and the road may become a bit rough, but your car no matter the size will definitely handle it.

As you drive on, the natural scenery of a typical tropical island in the Caribbean is ever so apparent. Luscious green vegetation with colorful flowers adorn the main road. In addition, the turquoise Caribbean waters can be seen through the rich foliage and numerous palm trees found everywhere. As the curvy road turns left and right and goes up and down, you will be able to see the sea on both the northern and southern sides of the island with outstanding views of the ocean the higher you go.

When you are close to the middle of the island and near one of its highest points you will see to your left a place called The View. You have to stop and check this place out. Its name needs no creativity or use of a catchy phrase or slogan, it simply depicts what it is. And that is the amazing "view" you get from this place. This wooden deck is perfectly located on a hillside overlooking the north side of the ocean. The view is a spectacular combination of green hillside vegetation, spectacular shades of Caribbean blue waters, and blue skies as far as the eye can see. The surrounding area is basically uninhabited except for a couple of houses and the main entrance to a new resort. You see, this new resort is called Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Roatan and it is part of the Nikki Beach chain of famous 5 star hotels and resorts and is bound to open in the fall of 2010. If the Nikki Beach stylish and sexy brand has decided to incorporate this little restaurant into its plans, there is no doubt in my mind that one of the most stunning views on the island is in part responsible.

The Blue Channel - Live Music Calls

2009-06-16T12:49:00.007-05:00

As we walked down the main road on West End right after leaving Sundowners, we wanted to keep the night going so went searching for a place that was crowded and looked fun. There were not too many places to choose from and we walked from one end to the other. We stopped in a couple of places for a drink but they all seemed kinda dull. As we were heading back the same road, we were deciding if we wanted to end the night and head back to the hotel; but suddenly, while we were processing our thoughts, we over heard the sound of live music. We followed as rats to the pied piper until we came to a place called The Blue Channel. The place did not look so appealing at first, and I had obviously not been there before so I did not know what to expect. As it turns out this was the most happening place at the time in West End. The main attraction was a local live band called the Genitals. They played mostly pop rock covers which were OK. Never have been a fan of cover bands but their takes on The Police classics such as Roxanne and Message in a Bottle were quite good. They definitely livened up the place and people were really enjoying themselves.

The place in itself was kinda plain. It is basically a rectangular room with a bar area on the left and a stage at the end. As we came inside we noticed something different. The floor was not wooden and it was full of sand. I later realized their whole idea, you see... there is a dive site on Roatan called The Blue Channel, thus the different tones of blue painted on the walls and the "channel" of sand on the floor. I must say it was a very unique concept. And as soon as The Genitals began to play with their instruments the crowd went crazy. I guess they have their own special concept too. Haha!

Over all we had a blast in this place, and the kamikazes they served were very tasty too ;)

2009-06-09T00:25:00.002-05:00

Now, if you want to see the Queen Beach you must go to West Bay. You can get there by car or by boat from West End. If you walk down the main road you will probably get plenty of people yelling out to you if you want to go to West Bay in both modes of transportation. The water taxi / small motor boat is the way for me; it goes for about 50 Lempiras or about 2.00 - 3.00 US dollars per ride. There are no life preservers here so if you cannot swim I recommend you take a taxi cab there. I do not know how much they cost since I have always gone by boat. This way it is cheaper and it's much more fun too. It is a short ride near the shoreline which takes about 10 minutes depending on the boat, and it allows you to see a different view of the island. It's great for taking pictures, but remember to have something to cover your camera, since the ride can get a little wet, depending on the wind conditions.

You may already be on an island in the Caribbean but that big smile on your face and the everlasting feeling of joy only fully appears once you reach a special beach! As you arrive to West Bay, that feeling of satisfaction begins to grow and grow. The beach is beautiful... the white sand never ends, the calm and strikingly blue water soothes the eyes, and you can find a variety of luxury hotels from one end to the other. They offer all sorts of amenities and they may very well be some of the most expensive on the island. A very unique characteristic about these hotels which I commend is that even though they would probably reap the benefits of mass tourism, they have kept their architecture in accordance with sustainable tourism and instead of building high rises they have spread horizontally. Avoiding the construction of tall buildings which obstruct the view, block the sun and create wind currents has been a good decision on behalf of the designers of these hotels which have tried to blend their architecture with the elements and not affect the natural surroundings as much.

There are some good dive sites in this area too, so do take your snorkel gear. The sites are still close to the land but you will need to swim a little out to sea to get a glimpse of the magnificent coral walls. If you are not diving on your trip, this is a very good place to go snorkeling; a lot of marine life can be seen in this area. Entry should be easy considering there are some paths that take you deeper without having to circle around and zig zag through the maze of coral until you reach deeper waters.

The following is some related advise which is mostly common sense but which some people may take for granted and which is always good to know, so read carefully.

Try and take some snacks as well as bottled water, considering that these items can be very expensive in West Bay. Do not forget your towel, sunblock, Frisbee (optional) also.
Always remember to snorkel in groups or at least in pairs just in case of any emergency. Also, be careful with the boats that take divers to these areas as well, so stop swimming every time you hear a motor underwater and spot it and give it a little wave so it knows that you are there.
Another precaution I highly advise is to always leave a friend behind to take care of your things. Please never leave your camera or other items unattended at the beach. I have heard stories of people getting their trips spoiled after getting a camera or ipod stolen.
A very simple recommendation is to not forget to put on sunblock on your entire back. You will be swimming with your back to the sun for a good hour or two when snorkeling.
The second time I snorkeled these waters on this trip, I got attacked by sea lice. These are tiny little organisms which you will not be able to see but which will sting, so go back immediately and try another entry. Other than that, have fun and enjoy the best beach in Roatan.

I will always remember how on one of my first trips to Roatan I overheard a guy who was lying by the edge of the water yell back to his friends on the beach and say "ain't this paradise... don't you want to live here forever". You know what... he totally stole my thoughts; who knows why I'm still living in the capital!

Restaurants Near Half Moon Bay

2009-05-20T14:03:00.010-05:00

There are a wide variety of places to eat in West End. Near and around Half Moon Bay there are a few I really like. A nice place we hit for the munchies, was the Half Moon Bay Restaurant. It is located right there on the Bay right next to Stanley's Submarines. The restaurant is set on a wooden deck right next to the sea. There are a lot of green areas surrounding the restaurant and the view of the bay is very nice. However, the place was practically empty when we were there, but that's because it was pouring rain. We managed to get there when the rain let down a bit and got us a table near the middle area. The wind was blowing constantly so the drizzle made everything wet and kept us from getting a table near the edge. When it doesn't rain it must be very nice to get the sea breeze while you eat. So once we got our dry table, we ordered the Butterfly Honey Lobster for lunch and it was freaking good. Prices were steep but I recommend you go there at least once for lunch or dinner. These lobster tails were finger licking good. However, as I went into the bathroom of another establishment I saw a poster on the wall saying that lobsters although they are not considered endangered species, should not be eaten on the island because after all, it is a natural preserve park and fishing is prohibited. I guess we didn't do our part in being conservationists here but we really did not know. I just hope they do their fishing elsewhere because this lobster was damn good, but just to make sure you should always ask when ordering.

Another restaurant in the area in opposite direction to Half Moon Bay Restaurant is Mavis & Dixie's Shipwreck Bar & Restaurant. It is quite hidden from plain sight but you can get there by walking down the beach. The locale is very colorful and very lively, also with a view to the bay. Most importantly, prices are very good and they have the most delicious Fish Burgers EVER. This has got to be one of my favorite foods on the island, I just have to have one with a cold beer of course. They also offer a big selection of mixed drinks at very good prices. The service was great too, but I think it was our waiter's first day on the job, so he was being extraordinarily nice. Anyhow, the total experience was very satisfactory therefore I highly recommend it. In fact, from now on, I think I will always visit Mavis & Dixie's every time I'm on the island!!!

The place for breakfast has got to be the Bakery # 2. This restaurant is right in the middle of the Bay on the main road near the main entrance. They appear to cater mostly to North Americans since they offer Canadian and American style cooking. Their chef graduated from the French Culinary Institute and they advertise that they sell USDA approved products. Therefore it can be said that you will be served quality food whenever you visit. We ate there once and we ordered banana pancakes with hash browns and pancakes with bacon. They were both good but the hash browns were specially good, in fact, they were the best tasting hash browns I have Ever tried. They also had a variety of salads, sandwiches, eggs, and crepes among other foods. Prices ranged between 110 to 165 Lempiras. I would not go there every day but for sure I would try it once or twice. You can eat indoors, but you also have the option of eating on a wooden deck area in the back with a great view to the Bay.

Half Moon Bay Beach

2009-05-19T17:42:00.027-05:00

Some people in this world dislike the beach because its hot and humid and the sand gets all over the place. I guess they would rather spend their time enclosed between four walls and doing the daily routine of life in the city. Frankly, I think these people are insane and I am a simple Son of a BEACH! I personally enjoy the beach BIG time...its like they say, "a bad day at the beach is always better than a good day at the office".

Anyhow, Roatan being an Island, has plenty of beaches to choose from. Most are public yet, some of the hotels have their own private beaches that nobody goes to. Lets face it... you don't want to be rubbing elbows with the beach goers, but you don't want to be all alone either, I personally want some kind of movement. Therefore, if you are already in West End and you do not want to travel far, the beach in Half Moon Bay is the place for you. It is not as spacious as the one in West Bay, but there is plenty of room to spread your towel out and tan and go for the occasional swim every once in a while. You also have the option of relaxing in the bench area of a wooden dock which is perfect for chilling out and taking in the breeze. Its quite convenient that Sundowners is right there too, for the accompanying cooling drink. You might as well have the best time staying there and waiting for the sun to set to enjoy the view.

If you wish to do something a little more vigorous, than you can go ahead and snorkel in this area. There is very shallow water and entry is very easy therefore it can be a good place for beginners who want to explore the underwater world but who can be afraid of wide open spaces. Snorkeling gear can be rented per hour, half a day, or daily right there on the main street. I do not know the costs since I bring my own but I recommend you should have 5.00 or 10.00 USD to spare depending on how long you want to use it. Every time that I have been snorkeling in these waters I have always seen schools of squid and on this trip I saw an octopus. It was very hard to spot, so go slowly and keep your eyes open...you are bound to see something nice!

All that sun and exercise will make you thirsty, and what better way to calm your thirst than by having a cold and refreshing "agua de coco" or in english, a coconut. You will most likely find a guy selling real natural coconuts direct from a palm tree to a cooler, right there on the main road. They go for about 20.00 Lempiras or 1.00 USD each. The coconut will be served with the tip sliced open and with a little straw. DELICIOUS. But you are not done yet... once you drink your juice, take your empty coconut to the seller and have him cut it in half. You will be given a small sharpened edge of the actual peel to be used as a spoon. Now you are ready to eat the coconut fruit. I was quite amazed at how useful this tool could be. I am not a big coconut fan but this tasted great!!!

There are plenty of options to eat around here too. In the next entry, I will go into some details of a few of the restaurants I liked a lot.

D i V e H o N d U r A s Part III

2009-05-13T19:23:00.007-05:00

Anyhow, back to Roatan... I should mention the different shops I have used when diving in Roatan. They are all located in West End. They are the Pura Vida Dive Center, Reef Gliders, and Coconut Tree Divers. The first two were both good but recently I discovered Coconut Tree Divers. I wanted to try a new place and my experience with them was excellent. Their dive boat and equipment is top of the line and in very good conditions, plus their professionalism and attention to safety was right on the money. I had to do a refresher course since the last time I went diving was more than one full year before. I was not so keen on doing it, but it really proved useful since I got a chance to freshen up on the basic skills and to get familiarized with their gear. Their staff was also very friendly and the shop is right there in the main entrance of West End.

There are great diving sites all around the island and many are just around the corner in West End. In fact, on all the trips I have done in Roatan which number about 20, it has taken less than 10 minutes to get there by boat and I have always been able to see the land. Such sites include, Herbie's Place, Half Moon Bay Wall, and I particularly liked Pablos' Place which is near West Bay (Will discuss West Bay later). I saw a lot of sea life there and many of the pictures seen here were taken in that dive site. Mandy's Eel garden was also a very cool because there, I got to see an actual eel garden. The area is on a wide sandy area that slopes into the deep and as you swim towards it, you see a bunch of these little algae like figures sticking out from the sea floor. It turns out they are eels that peek out from the sand and as you get close to them they go back into their holes to hide. As you move away they come back up again. It's quite funny to watch.

I hope I have convinced you to get your Open Water Course, and as soon as you do that, you should get the Advanced Open Water. This course goes farther in your training and allows you to go deeper underwater and to go night diving (Yes, diving in the dark). The deeper you go allows you to see new things, for example two wrecks near West End; The Eagle and The Odyssey. These are boats that were sunk intentionally at about 110-120 feet and serve as artificial coral reef formations which house several inhabitants. I have done both and it's another extraordinary experience. In The Odyssey which is huuuuge, there are places where one can actually go inside the vessel. That's another strange feeling when everything around you is tilted. Another great opportunity that the advanced open water course allows you to do is to go night diving. I've heard many people love this type of diving because you get to see different species that only come out at night, for example octopus and lobsters. It is also great because it allows you to see the real colors of the underwater world. However in my case I did not enjoy it so much. Everything was pitch black and all you have is a flashlight which did not illuminate much. Perhaps the lack of experience did not help me get the most of it. I do very much remember that our entire group had a sit down in a patch of sand where we all pointed our flashlights to our chest so that there was no light at all. That was such a SURREAL sight. The luminous plankton and other organisms lit up into fluorescent white shining objects. It seemed like I was staring at a star lit sky, but the stars were moving in weird trippy patterns. That was FAR OUT indeed!!!

There is another place mentioned as one of the best places to dive in Roatan which I have not been able to visit that is called Mary's Place. You should ask your shop when they are doing this trip because I believe it is not regularly scheduled and you may need a large group of divers that request to go to this dive site for them to take you.

I could keep going on and on about diving but I am forcing myself to stop. After all this blog is about describing places and I was currently on Roatan. Therefore, my next stop will be the beach, where one spends a whole lot of vacation time.

D i V e H o N d U r A s Part II

2009-05-12T00:19:00.013-05:00

A very important aspect I must point out is that when diving or snorkeling one should always be green! We are conservationists here, so everyone should keep in mind not to step or touch the coral or bother the animal life. This is nature watching at its best and there is no need to come in contact with anything but the water down there. Taking souvenirs is a big No No, instead one should collect garbage such as cans or plastic bags which one may occasionally spot on the sea floor.

When diving, buoyancy or your ability to float becomes crucial so that you do not sink to the bottom and crash into coral. These organisms take a lifetime to grow but they can be destroyed in a second. Learn to maintain positive buoyancy to avoid any mishaps. This, as well as other special techniques you will learn when you get certified. You need to know the physics behind diving, how your equipment works, and how to communicate under water just to name a few. I will not get into such detail, but be advised that you will need some time to read your divers manual which you will be tested on afterwards and the whole course may last about 4 - 5 days. Diving is easy but there are just some careful precautions a diver needs to know before submerging in case of an emergency, but which usually never occur. In general, all you need to do is be in good spirits and good health.

I have to mention the extraordinary sensation felt while diving which creates the perception that there is no gravity. Why do you think real astronauts train underwater? This sensation is completely out of the ordinary and can be very mind confusing. You can dive in all directions, vertically, horizontally and even upside down and in diagonal. It can be a lot of fun and if you add the alien like surroundings, you could very well be in outer space!

The pictures seen here I took during 2006 with regular film and a 35 mm underwater camera. In the first picture you see a pretty big grouper which was about 1 meter long. They can be very curious and all of a sudden you may find yourself swimming with one right next to you. If you look closely in the second more colorful picture you can see a green moray eel in the middle left section. You can see its head sticking out between the coral and one of its blue eyes.

It seems like I digressed and got caught up in describing diving in general. That's what happens when you enjoy diving so much. So, please go on to Part III for more info on diving in Roatan.

D i V e H o N d U r A s

2009-05-11T16:14:00.016-05:00

The Bay Islands are all about diving. It is THE must do recreational activity on the islands. If you leave without learning how to dive or at least having snorkeled it is almost like you were never even there. So if you missed out on this activity or just learned about it on your first trip but did not have the time to do it, then that can be your excuse to visit again.

The first time I went to the Bay Islands was in 1998 when I went to Utila, and after many hours of snorkeling and loving it, I saved up and got certified there in 2001. Utila has been widely known as the cheapest place in the world to get certified as a SCUBA diver. When I got my PADI, Open Water Diver certification it cost USD 180.00; now it has gone up to around USD 280.00 with a similar price in Roatan. This is still a great bargain, specially considering that some people in other parts of the world get their diving licenses in dark, cold and murky lakes and rivers at who knows what over the top price.

Here, the bio diversity and colors of the coral reefs and sea life make the experience ever so memorable. Visibility averages about 25-30 meters or about 80-100 feet and with the constant sunlight filtering through, the views underwater can be AMAZING!!! Ive seen tons of sea life with radiant fluorescent colors; everything from green moray eels, spotted eagle rays, green and blue parrot fish, yellow jacks, different types of groupers and schools of angel fish, and squid, among others. My favorite has to be the sea turtle. They are amazing creatures. Once you spot one, you just want to stare at it for ever and watch as it eats coral and stares back at you wondering why you seem so interested in it. The octopus is not far behind. Its chameleon like ability to change colors is a sight for your eyes. There are no words to describe it. And lets not forget the whale shark, the biggest shark out there capable of swallowing you whole, but which is harmless and only eats plankton. Everyone who dives in the Bay Islands hopes one day to spot this giant of the sea and I was fortunate enough to see one. Too bad it was from the boat and not while diving since we were coming back from doing all our dives and had no more tanks left. It was still an awesome thing to watch.

The coral walls are also stunning. These structures are alive with plenty of micro organisms sticking out of them or dwelling within its crevices and they can get to be as tall as 120 feet in some places. As soon as the wall ends the vast ocean appears. Now imagine this scenario... as you are diving parallel to the wall you turn your back towards it and you find yourself staring out to the sea. There is nothing to your left or to your right except for this bluish nothingness as far as the eye can see! Kinda put things in perspective, Huh!

So you see, the underwater world is something you have to experience for yourself. Nothing that I describe here can really prepare you to the actual experience. It has to be one of the greatest things that I have ever decided to do in my life.

Sundowners - My Favorite Bar in Roatan

2009-05-05T15:51:00.010-05:00

Our first stop after dropping off our bags at the hotel had to be a place called SUNDOWNERS. Out of the 6 or 7 times that I have been in Roatan, I have never missed visiting Sundowners to watch the sunset and have a drink or two or maybe three!!! It is the most laid back place in West End and the perfect place to go when you want to kick back and relax GALORE after a long day of diving, snorkeling, or doing the tourist thing. All you gotta do is take off your shirt, lose the sandals, grab a cold one and just simply stare at the sky as it changes colors and watch the sun as it slowly sinks into the calm blue waters. It is a breathtaking sight worthy of applause and great for taking pictures.

As night time approaches the staff usually sets up a bonfire to make the place even more splendid. The tunes played are a little bit of everything from Rolling Stones classic rock to Thievery Corporation's chill out sounds to some reggae style Sublime. My kinda place... only wish that they would play some songs from The Smiths...but then, that means I would have to die and be buried there!!!

Apart from the great atmosphere, there is also a fast food menu to choose from. There's a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, wraps and pitas. During this particular trip we decided to try some of the food which turned out to be really good. We ordered the Boneless Buffalo Wings, a Basket of Island Plantains, and the French Fry Nachos. The buffalo wings were exceptionally good but super duper spicy. Perhaps a bit too spicy for most, but I luved them. Dunno why we had never gotten around to eat in this place before, but I guess we were just drawn by the party mood.

So if you want to party, party, party, then you must drink their infamous PinaColada. Its a pretty girly drink but they are soooo tasty plus it's the kinda drink you gotta have at the beach. And besides, nothing makes you look more manly than a funny glass with straw and little umbrella. At least its got RUM in it, right!

The only drawback about Sundowners is that they close very early. So as soon as the sun sets, you have at least two hours till closing time, this means that you gotta start thinking of the next place to go to by 8 pm.

Posada las Orquideas - West End - Roatan

2009-05-04T12:09:00.013-05:00

Upon arrival to West Bay, the taxi dropped us off on a T- intersection, just were the paved road ends and the dirt and sand road begins. We could see the Caribbean Sea which was just 10 meters from where we were standing in an area known as Half Moon Bay. There we turned right and walked parallel to the ocean for about 8 minutes until we reached a place called Posada Las Orquideas. This hotel was also recommended by our dear friend who led us to the Hotel Yaragua in Copan. It is not a centric as the other places I have stayed at in West End, but we got used to it. Almost everything in West End is at walking distance. No need for taxis, motorcycles or Tuk-Tuks for that matter.

This place was beautiful! It is a recently built hotel with all the rooms having a great ocean view from their own balcony. Plus they all come equipped with a complimentary hammock, excellent for catching the sea breeze which seemed quite strong in that part of West End; specially nice on hot and humid days. Even more when the "no see ums" are swarming. What in the world are no see ums you may ask? They are insects, basically gnats which (you can't see / thus they are called no see ums). They can be very annoying cuz they will bite and leave a red mark which itches like crazy. Therefore a bottle of insect repellent such as OFF is a basic need on these islands. You can find it in just about any convenience store in West End. On this particular trip, the no see ums were true to their name considering they really were not to be seen and were not bothering us so much; perhaps because it was kinda cool with a lot of breeze.

The Posada Las Orquideas also has its own private dock where you can chill out and read a book or enjoy a comfortable siesta, where else but on a hammock of course. The rooms are magnificent and are fully loaded with a kitchenette and cooking utensils which we took advantage of to help our budgets. In the main office you can check your email for free which was another great commodity.

The hotel can be a bit pricey compared to the different places I have stayed in before, but considering the awesome view, balcony+ hammock, kitchenette, it's a bargain. I highly recommend it!!!

Roatan, Bay Islands

2009-04-14T13:13:00.012-05:00

They could not have chosen a more appropriate name for Roatan, after all you basically get loads of sun year round on this tropical island in the Caribbean, making it the perfect place to work on that bronze tan to show off upon return from your travels! White sandy beaches with warm crystal clear water makes it even better for a day out at the beach. Diving is its main attraction and its magnificent coral reefs are just a spectacle for snorkelers and divers alike. Fact is, its coral reefs are part of the second largest reef formation in the world, next to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, so there is no doubt diving here is of world class. In addition, you can also find other activities such as kayaking and wind surfing, exciting canopy tours on zip lines with great views, and even a submarine ride, too. There is also a bustling night life, with a nice selection of bars and restaurants for all tastes and budgets.

"No shoes, no shirt, no problem", basically reflects the laid back lifestyle found on this island. To sum it all up, it is just HEAVEN. Best part is that it is still relatively hidden and has eluded over development and massive tourism, so right now is the best time to visit this island and witness its original and natural splendor.

Muelle de Cabotaje / Muuaye yea - dey -Cabo tah hey

2009-03-23T16:31:00.020-05:00

So these are the docks where you will find the ferries that take you to the Bay Islands. There are two transportation companies that service the two most visited islands which are Roatan and Utila. The companies providing the ferry service are Safeway Maritime Transportation Company with their Galaxy Wave catamaran yacht that takes you to Roatan and The Utila Princess, a similar but smaller boat that takes you to the island of Utila, with both terminals located next to each other in the Muelle de Cabotaje in La Ceiba.

There are two departures daily for each island but, you should always check with the terminal for departures because service may be suspended depending on weather and local holidays, so be sure to check in advance in the links provided in the Websites of Interest in this blog. Cost of the roundtrip ticket to Roatan on the Galaxy Wave is 1,025.00 Lempiras, or just about USD 50.00 which may seem kinda steep at first but its a good deal when compared to the airplane tickets which may cost three times as much.

Once you buy your tickets you will need to check your bags if they are too big and you will be given a stub to claim them once you arrive in Roatan. Be prepared to have your hand baggage go through an x-ray machine and you passing a metal detector as well. Security is always essential, very much airport style here.

Another very important item to consider which I already mentioned in an earlier entry, is the seasickness factor. The effects can be terrible for a first timer... just ask our friend who made her first trip on the ferry, how bad it got for her. The sea can get very bumpy even on a nice looking day and specially when you are taking the afternoon ferry, so take precautions. There are some measures that can help, for example have a very light meal or just do not eat anything at all before getting on any of the ferries. You can also ask for a free Dramamine pill at the counter in the terminal that will help control your dizziness and nausea. Just make sure you take it one hour before departure. Staring at a fixed point such as the horizon can also help. I have never experienced any problems myself but I have seen many people having to rely on the little plastic bags handed out to each passenger to prevent any inopportune mishaps.

The ride to Roatan takes about one hour and 35 minutes and you arrive to the terminal in Dixon Cove which is located near the middle part of the island. Depending on the amount of passengers, claiming your bags can be a hassle so be prepared to wait a while considering they return each bag one by one via the stub number.

Once we got our bags, it took us another 35 minutes by taxi to get to West End, our final destination, and the taxi cost approximately 20.00 USD per group. Taxis here have a fixed rate but since there are no meters in the taxis you might as well try and bargain a little. You can even pay in U.S. Dollars instead of Lempiras since it is a widely accepted currency.

Best part was that we were already in beautiful Roatan, Bay Islands... YEEEEESSS!!!

Leaving Copan towards La Ceiba

2009-03-06T15:57:00.010-06:00

So, our trip to Copan was almost done. We paid the hotel the night before, got up round 4:00 am with just enough time to gather our stuff and drop off the keys at the front desk, all because our bus left at 5:15 am! Yes, the bus left pretty early but that was necessary if we were to catch our next mode of transportation at 4:30 pm that same day in La Ceiba, (a city located on the northern coast of Honduras). I highly recommend that if you are taking that early morning bus, you should make friends with a local moto-taxi driver and get their mobile number so you can arrange for them to pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at the Hedman Alas Bus Station. The station was just about a seven minute walk from the Hotel Yaragua but since it was so early and it was still dark, the safest and most practical recommendation is to be dropped off at the bus station's doorstep considering the town is practically empty at that time. We thought we had that covered by jotting down the mobile phone number from the moto-taxi guy who drove us around for the entire two days, but I guess he overslept or over partied since he never showed up. We tried calling his mobile with no answer until we could not wait any longer and ended up walking to the station anyway. We had no problems and it turned out to be closer than expected, yet relying on a moto-taxi is the safest bet, even if he does over sleep; so make sure you get the mobile phone numbers from at least two or perhaps even three moto-taxi drivers and you won't miss!! However, I'm sure that transport can be arranged in some hotels at a specific price.

Now the trip to La Ceiba is a killer considering we needed to be at the Hedman Alas bus station at 5:15 am. We got to San Pedro Sula close to 10:00 am with a wait of about 15 to 20 minutes. We then got on another bus headed to La Ceiba which we finally reached around 1:00 pm. Now, the station in La Ceiba is very close to a shopping mall, and since we needed to be at the Muelle de Cabotaje before 4:00 pm to take our ferry towards Roatan, Bay Islands, we had more than enough time to walk the short distance to this mall and head to the food court where you will find a large selection of restaurants, with some local as well as some American franchises for a good greasy meal. If you are taking the ferry I do suggest that you do not eat that much or you will pay dearly if you are not good with sea sickness, but we will get to that part later.

After a good Wendys Menu Meal we asked for a taxi in the main entrance of the Mall to take us to the Muelle de Cabotaje, which are the docks where you will find the ferries that take you to the Bay Islands. The taxis charge about 40.00 to 50.00 Lempiras or about $ 2.00 to $ 2.50 and the ride takes like 20 to 25 minutes. All in all, we made it to the docks at 3:30 pm with a good hour to spare since our ferry left at around 4:30 pm. Of course, first timers should be at the docks with at least two hours before departure, in case of any inconvenience.

We were so ready to go to the islands!!!

Intro - Central Plaza - Acropolis

2009-02-28T13:58:00.003-06:00

I will let the video tell the story!

Mototaxis - Pupusas - Souvenirs

2009-02-24T11:28:00.016-06:00

In Copan everything is at walking distance, however when going to Macaw Mountain Bird Park or if you are on your way to the Mayan ruins then you should get a moto-taxi cuz both of them are located within a five minute drive from the main square. The Tuk-Tuk / Moto-Taxi is very affordable here at just around 15.00 to 20.00 Lempiras or about USD 1.00 per ride. When we stopped one taxi to take us to the Macaw Mountain Bird Park the driver very enthusiastically asked if he could go "too fast and too furious" so we said yes. It was a lot of fun for a little while until he began hugging the curves too much for our sake so we told him to slow down. It was fun indeed and the driver insisted that they were very stable and that he could give it more gas. We were more at ease with getting no scrapes during our trip.

One place you should stop after rolling round in the Moto-taxis is Avenida Centro America. It is located perpendicular to the main square and the municipal office. This street is perfect for finding that special gift for friends and family. The street is very lively with souvenir shops and stands as well as bars and restaurants. Remember to ask for discounts and always compare prices...haggling is allowed.

If you are into eating something typical and do not want to try the usual macaroni and cheese you can get at home, then you should go to Comedor Mary. Ask for pupusas; they are flour tortillas, again with quesillo or melted cheese, plus you can choose with pork, or loroco which is this edible flower. They are served with a salad that you put on top. Now, this salad contains some very hot chilli peppers so if spicy is not yout thing then you should pick them out. I must say that these were the best tasting pupusas EVER, and I am from Honduras. One more thing, they are cheap too, just about 1.00 USD or 20.00 Lempiras.

Via Via Cafe

2009-02-23T12:06:00.004-06:00

This place deserves an entry of its own! I've checked this place out every time I have been to Copan. The atmosphere is great especially if you like to mingle with young travelers from all over the world. This is like backpacker haven! It's a bar / restaurant / hostel / tourist office all in one. So if you want to relax after sightseeing in the ruins, then you need to go to Via Via and have some cold drinks (in my case beer) with good company while listening to some chill-out tunes. For complete laid back time, we needed some appetizers. I highly recommend Pakoras. We tried them and were very tasty (one way to explain them would be, kinda like fried vegetable balls). We also tried Belgian fries, which are french fries with mayonnaise. It turns out the place is Belgian owned.

So right there in the lobby/main entrance you can find a tourist office. There you can check out different kinds of tours to different areas around Copan and Honduras, from rafting to hiking, birdwatching, and even trips to Guatemala which is right around the corner.

I had to put this part in the blog... some years ago perhaps 03 I made a trip with some friends of mine that have a local band called Sueno Digviana. They play on and off now, but back then they were all over the place and they happened to play in Via Via!!! This was a very memorable trip for all of us that were there and I just had to mention it.

Casa K'inich - Macaw Mountain Bird Park

2009-01-26T15:27:00.006-06:00

Just a short walk from the central park lies a special place called Casa K'inich. This is a small museum related to Mayan culture created for kids. It is a very complete and interactive exhibit that gives a brief introduction into Mayan origins, customs and traditions; great for beginners like us. Information is also found in English for the Spanish impaired, and best of all, its free! So if you do not want to pay for a guide in the ruins, go to Casa K'inich before hand. Still, I highly recommend you do pay for a guide at the ruins, otherwise you are missing out on the best part of the trip!

Our next stop was the Macaw Mountain Bird Park. This place you have to see! Entrance is only USD 10.00, plus a guided tour included (in English), describing several species of birds native to the area. The nature and bird species in this park are amazing! You will get to see macaws, parrots, parakeets, toucans and other tropical birds. Best part was the chance to hold a couple of domesticated Macaws, great for your Facebook profile picture!

What to do in Copan

2009-01-25T12:43:00.026-06:00

Copan is a nice little colonial town with a main square. It has a very safe environment with tiny streets full of little bars and restaurants! There is a wide variety of places to choose from for all tastes and budgets. But since we were looking for a nice hotel but did not want to spend too much, we went for a hotel recommended by a friend of ours; its is called the Hotel Yaragua. It is located just by the central plaza in Copan. We were very satisfied with our selection. We got a triple room with bathroom + warm water for USD 35.00 a day! Follow the link to find their prices.

Our first stop was at Carnitas Nia Lola Restaurant. We were starving and could not wait to have our favorite tasting local beer, Salva Vida! You only have a selection of four local beers and Salva Vida is the beer of choice for most people visiting Honduras! Translated to English it means Life Saver, and indeed it was! We had a gringa, which is a flour tortilla filled with beef, pork, or chicken plus melted quesillo or cheese. To this you add chimol, or in other words, chopped onion, green peppers, and tomatoes. It was big and tasty but a bit expensive for a gringa. It cost over 150.00 Lempiras or just about USD 8.00. That did not matter because the place is very unique. I believe it is Canadian owned considering the Canadian related ornaments found everywhere!

Afterwards, we got to visit a splendid cafe called Casa Villamil and got some good Honduran Coffee! This place is really cozy complete with a roof top patio with a great view of the town, specially during the sunset. It is home to a cigar shop as well; a MUST see! Check out their website. We also had smoothies which were very tasty too.

Transport to Copan

2009-01-23T22:38:00.004-06:00

But first, to get to Copan when you are coming from Tegucigalpa (The Capital), you either take a bus, drive a car, or take a plane! Of course if you are on a budget you take a bus. There are three options Hedman Alas, VIANA, and Transportes Cristina. Trust me, I have been in all of them, the best is Hedman Alas! Check out the bus...very comfortable, spacious leg room, plus reclineable seats. You even get an apple juice and some cookies!!! One thing though, do NOT take a lighter on board, leave it in the checked baggage - they have very strict norms regarding security. Expect many twists and turns; the paved roads are fine except for a few areas being repaired, but most of the Honduran terrain is extremely mountainous!

The bus stops in San Pedro Sula, Honduras second largest city and industrial center! There we find Hedman Alas's new international bus station, which is fully equipped with a cafeteria, waiting rooms with LCD TVs, and even a smoking salon for you smokers in need of some nicotine after the long trip! There you will find departures to other important destinations you must see when you visit Honduras, i.e. The Bay Islands.

We waited about 30 minutes and got on a new bus heading directly to Copan! Not as comfortable as the other but still good!In case you wondered, all of them had bathrooms inside, and they even showed a movie! As you get closer to Copan (just about three hours later), one must take a look outside, the terrain changes and you will be able to see some incredible scenery; the hills and vegetation are amazing; one can only begin to imagine a time when Mayans worked the ground and hunted in those very hills! Almost 9 hours later, we were in Copan; kinda lengthy but for only 440.00 Lempiras (Honduran currency), or just about USD 22.00, its a bargain!

Copan - Central Plaza

2009-01-23T21:33:00.008-06:00

Photo taken in Copan, located on the Northwest of Honduras, just a few kilometers from the border with Guatemala. It is a city that was home to the ancient Mayan Civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, most famous for the detailed work found on many of its sculptures. Mayans ruled between 300-900 A.D.