Honduras Travel

Before us the ocean was brilliant blue green with mild 4-foot swells. We sped across the Honduran channel at 40 mph aboard the Galaxy Wave Ferry, knick-named the “Vomit Comet.” The name is well deserved due to the typical chop encountered in these seas.

We were heading to the Honduran coastal town of La Ceiba from the island of Roatan. I thought seasickness pills were in order, but my wife went without.

I have a bit of a, not-so-secret, obsession with monkeys. Not the kind that throw their crap at you at the zoo, but the small cuddly ones that you could slap a diaper on and tote around like a hairy child. I was on an uncontrollable high when I found out that my dream of holding a monkey was going to come true at Gumbalimba Park in Roatan, Honduras. Seriously…it was as if someone had just told me that I won a brand new car…and gas for a year…and free maintenance. This was going to be way better than the twelve sea monkey farms that I tended to as a child. Yes, this obsession runs deep.

Among a number of opportunities I count as blessings is the privilege of going to Honduras once or twice a year to work at the teaching hospital in the national capital of Tegucigalpa to teach their young surgeons in training.

As is my habit I managed to slip in a little bird watching while I was down there. While my passion is owl photography, I do pay attention to other birds as well.

As do many other people, I find the hummingbird especially fascinating. In North Dakota we only have one hummingbird species that we see regularly; the ruby-throated hummingbird.

“Get down!” our rafting guide shouted as our boat passed through a labyrinth of towering rocks about the size of a two-story house. I myself was a river guide, many years ago and the razor-thin passageways along the “Rio Cangrejal” (Cangrejal River) in La Ceiba, Honduras were bringing back memories of nasty flips and scary swims.

“Get up!” Our guide yelled right before entering a passageway. I sprang up, ready to paddle. “Forward! Forward! Go!” I quickly dove my paddle into the water, and found I was competing for space with the towering rock wall. Suddenly, the rock walls fell away and we entered a technical rock garden with no end in sight; but I couldn’t have been happier with the less-claustrophobic challenge ahead.

The multiculturalism, biodiversity, lengthy beaches and natural wonders of Central America make it difficult to decide on a particular travel destination within the region. Among the seven tropical countries, Honduras offers both urban and wildly rural adventures as well as a massive stretch of Caribbean coastline on its northern border. Hike through cloud forests, bird watch on a massive lake, and dive in the coral-filled waters off of the Bay Islands.

It’s a miracle that earth has such beauties in its lap. It is simply impossible to create a wonder like the ones which are naturally made. If we see the planet from space, and take a glance towards America, then you can see a bridge that connects North America with South America. Honduras lies on that particular bridge which we can see from space. It’s amazing to feel the glory of nature, especially when we stand at a place which is surrounded with the greenery, and colorful natural beauties.