Overview
Honduras is a vibrant country filled with pristine beaches, lush jungles, mountains, rivers and ancient ruins. Honduras is also home to the Garifuna society, or Black Caribs, a group who took over the San Vicente area for its abundant fishing areas.
Hotels
Hacienda San Lucas: While in Copán, Samantha chose the Hacienda San Lucas as her home base. Nature and culture come together in the colorful town of Copán, the site of world-renowned Maya ruins. Nestled in the hills above the tranquil Copán Valley, the Hacienda is a 100-year-old family-owned retreat situated directly above the ruins.
Web: www.haciendasanlucas.com
The Lodge at Pico Bonito: During her visit to the Honduran coast, Samantha stayed at the Lodge at Pico Bonito. If you like exploring nature but prefer to return home to someplace civilized at the end of a long day, you'll like it here. Situated at the base of Pico Bonito mountain, this luxury eco-resort offers small villas (cabins) for accommodations. The lodge has a pool, restaurant, nature guides, a butterfly farm and even a snake house. Among other activities, Samantha participated in the "Night Hike," to see all sorts of creepy-crawly things right outside her cabin door.
Web: www.picobonito.com
Food/Restaurants/Bars
Carnitas Nia Lola's Restaurant: Samantha discovered this cute little restaurant just off the main street in the center of the town of Copán. Outside it's dressed up like a Christmas tree, and inside it's just as colorful - the waitresses carry drinks and food to your table on top of their heads!
Luba Ereba Bakery: Yucca is an important staple of the Garifuna diet. The root is boiled and the starch is used to make breads and other things. The most common dish made from yucca is a flat, cracker-like bread known as 'casaba,' in Spanish, and 'ereba,' in Garifuna. At this local bakery, about an hour's drive from the Lodge at Pico Bonito, you'll observe the complete preparation of 'casaba' - and you'll see the extra love put into it by the Garifuna women. Samantha visited this bakery, in the town of La Union, with local La Ceiba guide Patrick Anderson.
Sights/Landmarks/To Do
Archeological Park of Copán Ruins: Nearly everyone who travels to Copán comes here to see the Maya ruins. This archeological park was once a dominant Mayan city; its stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphs are some of the best preserved in the world. Sam toured the ruins with world-renown archeologist Ricardo Agurcia, who discovered the Rosalia Temple. You can even go underground through some of the tunnels to see his work. Travel tip: Hire a guide to walk you through the ruins - you'll get a better understanding of things.
Web: www.copanhonduras.org/ruins
Copán Town Square: If you want to get a real feel for the area, take an hour to stroll around the main square in Copán. Samantha did and she found all sorts of things: vendors selling their wares right on the street, women selling grilled corn on the cob. You can also hail a cute red mini-taxi there, and you'll soon notice that white cowboy hats are all the rage for men in Copán.
La Pentada Pueblo: This Maya village sits atop a hillside, just outside the town of Copán. It's about a 20-minute drive from Hacienda San Lucas - add another 15 minutes if you're coming from downtown Copán. You can rent a red mini-taxi for the bumpy ride up, or you can ride horseback. The women in the pueblo (village) make colorful dolls out of dyed cornhusks. They also weave scarves, placemats and other goods.
Honduras Canopy Tours: If you're into extreme sports, Honduras Canopy Tours can have you swinging from trees or four-wheeling around Copán.
Web: www.hcanopytours.com
'Kalim' Garifuna Dance Group: Kalim is a local Garifuna group located in the village of La Ensenada. You can observe the complete Garifuna lifestyle, eat some of their food, and learn about some of their traditions, like the "Punta" dance. Samantha visited this Garifuna village with guide Patrick Anderson. La Ensenada is about an hour's drive from the Lodge at Pico Bonito.
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