Atlántida has one main highway that is the primary transportation and economic corridor along the north coast; this highway runs from east to west and transects the entire length of the department. South of the highway, after the piñeras (pineapple plantations) and African palm plantations, the land climbs up into the mountains that run like a spine along the north coast of the country.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Honduras during Semana Santa, do as the Hondurans do: go to the beach, spend time with friends and family and eat fish. Last week for Semana Santa, I did all three.
Semana Santa, otherwise known as Holy Week, begins on what is commonly known as Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.
This being said, it is also the unofficial spring break for the entire country; schools close, stores shut their doors and taxi drivers take their taxis to their pueblos to visit friends and family.
I began Semana Santa by travelling to La Ceiba, a city on the northern coast of Honduras to visit some friends living there. There’s a saying in Honduras that states: “Tegucigalpa thinks, San Pedro Sula works and La Ceiba celebrates.”
With the easy-going attitude of the locals, at least the ones I met, it was easy to believe such a saying.
I was a little worried as the young man lifted me up and hooked my harness to the cable. He smiled and warned me not to crash in to any trees.
He then let me go and all at once I was flying through the treetops at Gumba Limba Park in Roatan, Honduras. I really enjoyed this great adventure, even though, after my canopy tour, a very impolite monkey stole my water bottle out of my back pack.
There’s nothing better than learning something new while traveling, learning about ancient and unknown worlds, lose myself in nature and exercise, and be pampered in total relaxation. Honduras offers all of this and a lot more.
In the morning of May 21, 2007 we were advised that the entire Finca had no water. This phenomenon of the random shutting off of water and power by the municipality is very common in Central America. We were not in need of showers as we had planned to take an arduous hike in Pico Bonito National Park.
by Richard Stern
I visited the port city of La Ceiba (population around 150,000) on the Caribbean coast of Honduras for a week in February with a team of non-birders to do some medical work at a clinic in the village of El Cacao, about 45 minutes by van along the coast to the west. I live in Nova Scotia, eastern Canada, and have birded elsewhere in N. America, Europe, and 2 previous visits to Central America. The area was devastated by Hurricane “Mitch” in 1998, but has made a remarkable recovery.
There is no passage between El Progresso, Tela, and La Ceiba due to the damage caused by the rivers Guaymón and Leán.
I’m standing on the beach near Chepa’s White Hole looking across 18 miles of flat calm water.
It’s a crystal clear day so the view is amazing. At 8000 ft/2400m Pico Bonito is the highest peak in Honduras.
Right now clouds rise around it like a great crown. I can even see the valleys clearly.
The tide is slowly ebbing and I can feel the beginnings of a cool southerly breeze.
Small fish hide among the turtle grass for protection from larger predators, sandpipers pick their way through the surf looking for breakfast, I have a clear sense that a new world has just been created …