| Considered
as the third largest city in Honduras, La Ceiba is a port
settlement, which combines tourism with freight services.
It is said in Honduras that when the time comes Tegucigalpa
makes politics, San Pedro Sula works and La Ceiba dances.
This popular phrase encompasses the city’s spirit, where
Garifuna culture has made an intense contribution for decades.
But La Ceiba is more than a port city. A few miles South from
the city’s perimeter lies the entrance to Pico Bonito
National Park, a territory that covers approximately 430 miles
and reaches an altitude of 7,300 feet above sea level. Pico
Bonito is a cloud forest reserve featuring a great deal of
wild life, such as quetzals, jaguars and red deer’s,
among other species. Although it’s a city of transit,
La Ceiba also has a bustling nightlife, where regional visitors
and nature lovers can stop on their way to the many protected
areas that predominate in the area.
La
Ceiba is also a departure city for those interested in visiting
the Bay Islands. There is a flying network to the islands
starting at La Ceiba airport. At La Ceiba main dock, travelers
can take the ferry to the islands once a day to Utila and
Roatan. Access to Guanaja, located about 20 nautical miles
from La Ceiba, is possible only by plane or private boat.
Visitors to the Bay Islands usually combine their fishing
and diving experiences with mainland activities such as visits
to National Parks and protected areas surrounding La Ceiba.
One
of the best times throughout the year to visit La Ceiba is
during the celebrations of San Isidro. The festival takes
place around mid-May every year and involves street dancing
and colorful parades, which turn the city into the country’s
main attraction. A multi-day party, San Isidros festivities
are carnival time for local villagers as well as visitors.
Pico
Bonito, this spectacular park in the city of Yoro, is just
nine miles from La Ceiba on the Caribbean coast. Pico Bonito
is the highest mountain of the Nombre de Dios mountain range,
is 2,435 meters tall. Rugged scenery and lush tropical vegetation
characterize this park, which is full of monkeys and a large
variety of other fauna. A fine lodge is constructed in the
lower hill for optional tours.
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