Honduras: Choose Your Own Adventure
by Allison Neves
Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books
that you would order through the Scholastic book club when you were a kid?
You know… the ones that allowed you, the reader, to be a double agent or a
famous celebrity or even a swashbuckling pirate? If you recall, with those
books you were allowed to make the pivotal decisions for your character that
would lead you through the pages of the book on your own personal journey.
On a recent trip to Honduras, I was reminded of those
books. Perhaps it was the Indiana Jones-type adventure of exploring the
country’s Mayan ruins or my Tarzan-like day hiking through the Pico Bonito
rainforest or even the enchanting pirate culture of Roatán that brought back
my childhood memories of these much-loved novels. But, most likely it was
the fact that Honduras has so much to offer that it makes a great vacation
destination for pretty much any kind of traveler on any kind of budget. So
it is me paying homage to the “literary works” of my childhood when I bring
you… Honduras: Choose Your Own Adventure.
Start here…
You are a lover of activity-based, cultural travel. The
current state of the economy has got you down and you are in desperate need
of a quick and affordable get-away to feed your soul and ease your mind. –
You are the Budget Traveler
-or-
You are a financially secure, luxury seeker looking for
an ultimate, high-end vacation that involves plush accommodations, pampering
and pina coladas. – You are the Luxury Seeker
Budget Traveler (4-6 Days)
 You
fly into San Pedro Sula and transfer to the town of Copán Ruinas by bus (Hedman
Alas) approximately 2.5 hours of beautiful rolling hills and lush tropical
landscape - and check into the Luna Jaguar Resort for two nights. Rooms
start at $60 per night. Eat dinner in town. Try Momo’s for a delicious
dinner of “pinchos” (meat and veggie kabobs) served with beans, fresh pico
de gallo and tortillas. Dinner should run you no more than $12 per person.
 The
next day, grab a traditional Honduran breakfast (desayuno tipico) of eggs,
beans, cheese and tortillas at Café Welchez or Via Via Café ($4) and don’t
forget to try the local coffee! You can burn off that hearty meal with a 2
kilometer walk to the ruins of Copán, where you can see the remains of an
ancient Mayan city and even visit underground tunnels. After what is sure to
be an excellent self-guided tour, go back to grab a quick bite from a local
street vendor – Try baleadas, a typical Honduran snack, and spend the
afternoon exploring the quaint little town, its shops and outdoor merchants…
and yes, haggling for deals is totally cool or head to Finca Santa Isabel
for the Copan Coffee Tour ($25-30, includes roundtrip transportation from
town, a bilingual guide, and breakfast, snacks or lunch). There you will get
an excellent tour of their stunning property and coffee facilities and learn
about the company’s sustainable practices. Save money on a month of
Starbucks runs by leaving with a bag of fresh-roasted Welchez Coffee for $5.
Make your way back to town where you are free to explore and indulge in more
of the town’s cheap eats.
Sleep in and walk approximately 8 kilometers or find $5
in the pocket of the hiking shorts that you’ve had packed away since your
last vacation and take a cab ride to visit the Macaw Mountain Bird Park ($10
entrance fee), a reserve that houses injured and abandoned tropical birds
including parrots, pygmy owls and a variety of beautiful macaws.
Walk back to your hotel and have them arrange a trip to
the Eden-like setting of Aguas Calientes (Owned by the same folks who own
Luna Jaguar), for a relaxing dip in the natural hot springs. $25 includes
roundtrip transportation and entrance fee to the spa and hot springs.
Besides, you’re gonna need it after all that walking! (If you stay at Luna
Jaguar, you get a discount to their hot springs. Cha-ching…more money in
your pocket!)
Stay one more night in Copán Ruinas before you head
home….
-or-
You find an un-cashed expense check issued by your
company for your business trip to Walla Walla wedged inside your wallet.
Bonus! -- Add 2 nights in either La Ceiba or Roatán for a little more budget
friendly R&R.
 La
Ceiba is home to the 265,000-acre Pico Bonito National Park rainforest. Book
your room at the Omega Jungle Lodge - $50 a night or the Jungle River Lodge
for $24-60 a night. In La Ceiba, choose to visit a Garifuna village, take a
rainforest hike or go white water rafting. Any of which can be arranged
through your hotel. Eat at Mango Tango or Playa Taty’s or Lulo’s for tasty
affordable meal options.
 Roatán
includes sun, snorkeling and beach time and definitely add a visit Carambola
Botanical Gardens for a guided tour and hike to the top of their mountain
for a beautiful view of the island. While on Roatán spend two evenings at
Las Rocas Resort, located in the West Bay area of the island which will run
you $69 a night or look into two different affordable West End options
Posada Las Orquideas - $50 a night - or Posada Arco Iris – up to $65 per
night. Affordable food options are easy to find on the main strip in the
island’s West End. Depart directly from Roatán airport for your home in the
states.
Luxury Seeker (8-10 Days)
Before you leave, make sure to arrange all of your
flights, tour guides and private drivers and transfers through MC Tours or
Mesoamerica Travel, both well-known and reputable tour operators with main
offices in Copán Ruinas and San Pedro Sula, respectively. Once that’s all
settled, fly into San Pedro Sula and transfer to the town of Copán Ruinas by
bus - approximately 2.5 hours of beautiful rolling hills and lush tropical
landscape - and check into the Hotel Marina Copán, a family-owned
hacienda-style hotel located a half-block from Central Park in the center of
town.
If you are looking for a little more seclusion, drive
15 minutes outside of town to Hacienda San Lucas. This small, eco-friendly
hacienda has an on-site restaurant that features authentic, organic Mayan
cuisine. Before dinner, enjoy a glass of wine and the sunset with the
Hacienda’s charismatic and charming owner Flavia as you gaze down upon the
majestic Copán Valley. Stay in Copán Ruinas for two or three nights.
 Eat
breakfast in your hotel, have a driver take you to the ruins of Copán where
you can secure a1.5 hour private walking tour of the ruins with an English
speaking guide. Ask for Yobani Peraza or Mike Valladares.
After your exploration of the ancient Mayan world, have
your driver take you to Finca el Cisne, approximately a 45-minute drive, for
a farmhouse lunch made from food grown on-property, a horseback ride through
the countryside, and a brief tour of the coffee facilities.
Spend one more night in Copán Ruinas, transfer back to
San Pedro Sula airport and check in for flight to La Ceiba (The only
domestic airline that can be booked online is Islena.) Check in at the Lodge
at Pico Bonito whose guests have included A-listers like Michael Douglas and
Catherine Zeta-Jones. Enjoy a 4-star dinner at the Lodge at Pico Bonito’s
restaurant, featuring mouthwatering Mesoamerican cuisine.
Spend your next two or three days communing with
nature, starting with an amazing white-water rafting trip down the Río
Cangrejal. Return to the lodge for lunch and a day of lounging poolside.
 On your
last day in La Ceiba, take a guided hike through Pico Bonito National Park
(on trails managed by the Lodge). This will include stops at observation
towers and natural pools for swimming. Eat lunch at the lodge before your
guided tour of the on-site butterfly sanctuary and serpentarium. After
dinner embark on a two-hour guided Night Hike. End the night with a nightcap
at the bar while you watch a locally produced film about the exotic birds of
Honduras.
The next day, take 15 minute flight from La Ceiba
airport to the island of Roatán, a Caribbean paradise and one of the world’s
diving Meccas.
Your driver will meet you at the airport and take you
to your three nights of accommodation at Mayoka Lodge, a 6,500 square foot
private home that comes equipped with a driver, personal chef, tennis court
and your own scooters for getting around the island. Once there, settle in
and enjoy a Salva Vida, the local beer, on your deck that overlooks the
ocean or take a dip in your infinity pool.
Enjoy a traditional seafood dinner prepared by the chef. Relax and be
lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves. Tomorrow a Caribbean adventure
awaits you.
 In the
morning, make your way to Anthony’s Key Resort home of the Roatán Institute
for Marine Sciences for a fun and informative lesson about dolphins and
partake in a snorkel with the majestic creatures. Grab an oceanfront lunch
at Bite on the Beach before partaking in a relaxing afternoon of driving
your scooter around the island, playing tennis or going for a quick paddle
in one of the kayaks provided for you at the Mayoka Lodge.
Awake refreshed and take a tour of Carambola Botanical
Gardens. Enjoy a leisurely day on the beach before booking a 3-hour private
sunset sail around the island, courtesy of Roatán Sailing & Catamaran
Charters. The trip includes snacks, drinks and a stop to snorkel.
Live in the lap of luxury for one more night before
departing directly from Roatán airport for your home in the states.
Honduras has a little something for everyone from ruins
to rainforest to reef there is plenty to be experienced and enjoyed. Whether
you’re a Budget Traveler or a Luxury Seeker the country is an excellent
option for all those in search of adventure, beauty and culture.
Most major airlines (American, Delta, Continental,
Spirit, TACA) fly to major cities within Honduras. Rates are affordable from
the US. Check TACA Airlines web site: www.taca.com for regular specials.
American also frequently has specials to Central America. Visit
www.letsgohonduras.com or call 800.410.9608 for more information on
vacation options within Honduras.
Hedman Alas -
www.hedmanalas.com
Luna Jaguar Resort -
www.lunajaguar.com
Via Via Café
- www.viaviacafe.com
Finca Santa
Isabel - www.cafehonduras.com
Macaw Mountain Bird Park -
www.macawmountain.com
Carambola Botanical Gardens -
www.carambolagardens.com
Las Rocas Resort -
www.lasrocasresort.com
Lodge at Pico Bonito -
www.picobonito.com
Islena
Airlines - www.flyislena.com
Hacienda San Lucas -
www.haciendasanlucas.com
Omega Jungle Lodge -
www.jungleriverlodge.com
Pico Bonito National Park -
www.picobonito.org
Posada Las Orquideas -
www.posadalasorquideas.com
Posada Arco Iris -
www.Roatánposada.com
Hotel Marina Copán -
www.hotelmarinacopan.com
Mayoka Lodge - www.mayokalodge.com
Roatán Sailing & Catamaran Charters -
www.sailroatan.com
Finca el Cisne -
www.fincaelcisne.com
courtesy of Travis Cooke – La Luz Images
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