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La Ceiba: Honduras' Fun-tastic City

By: Chanize Thorpe

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The tale behind La Ceiba’s (“La Say-Bah”) name is as splendid as the city itself.

Local lore says a giant ceiba tree grew near the shore of the Caribbean Sea. This tree was so large that the area’s first settlers deemed it “The Ladder God used when he came down from Heaven to visit Earth” and the name stuck for the region. Today, most of the coastline’s trees have disappeared into the sea, but a few remain on land and are used as shade, especially for dockworkers and locals during the warm afternoons.

Officially designated a town in 1877, La Ceiba became a huge port and major player in the banana industry in the early 1900s thanks to the efforts of the Vacarro brothers, three Sicilian men who imported the fruit into New Orleans, La., from La Ceiba. The success of this business led to the area being a major contributor to Honduras’ nickname, the “Banana Republic.” In the 1960s, the Vacarro brothers’ Standard Fruit and Steamship Company was bought by a firm called Castle & Cook, which was renamed the Dole Food Company in 1991. Unfortunately, in October 1998, during the height of banana production, La Ceiba was severely damaged by Hurricane Mitch, but a great repair effort was made and today the port is in full swing again, adding pineapple, citrus fruit and coconuts to its export business.

More Than a Rest Stop
La Ceiba is Honduras’ third largest and, some say, most exuberant city. Located on the northern coast fronting the Caribbean Sea, the place was once seen only as a gateway for those en route to ferries heading to the popular Bay Islands, a diver’s paradise. Because it was often overlooked, many tourists wouldn’t stay in La Ceiba long enough to discover its charms. But in the last few years, Ceiba, as it’s simply known by locals, has worked to establish itself as an up-and-coming travel destination. Its newfound positive reputation is based on its own merit as a vibrant city well known for its hopping restaurant and nightlife scene. There are also genuinely friendly locals eager to show visitors the fun side of Honduras, especially in La Ceiba’s aptly named Zona Viva area. In fact, the annual “Gran Carnaval Internacional” (also known as La Gran Feria Isidra y Carnaval de la Amistad) held each May, now brings nearly a half-million in-the-know visitors excited to help locals celebrate the patron saint San Isidro.

It’s no wonder that La Ceiba continues to receive positive nicknames such as “Honduras’ Friendliest City” and “The Entertainment Capital of Honduras.”

There are nearly 8 million Honduran residents, and at least eight ethnic groups within that population, many stemming from a Maya background.

In La Ceiba itself, there are 170 neighbourhoods, with some being the home to the Garífuna, whose history dates back to the 17th century. Immigrant African slaves were involved in a shipwreck near the island of Saint Vincent and its survivors mingled with the indigenous Carib population and became the Garífuna people. There are at least 60 of these communities with at least 200,000 residents in the region dotting the shoreline, and some live happily inside traditional thatched-roof hut homes.

Visitors are welcome inside many of the Garífuna villages to learn about their traditions and activities such as fishing in dugout canoes, baking techniques and most importantly, the reverence of music from the drumming to the energetic, fun dances like the “punta” and the “yancunu,” moves that have distinct African roots.

Being a seaside town, expect tons of seafood options during meals. La Champa Kabasa is an authentic Garífuna restaurant that dishes up sopa marinera, a seafood soup loaded with crab, shrimp, mussels and fish. Another soup, made with conch, is loved so intensely that the dance song “Sopa de caracol” was named after it. There’s so much to see and do in a Garífuna village that if a day trip isn’t enough, it’s possible to overnight in some of the villages in low-key lodgings and hotels.

The Green Scene
Known as “The Eco-Capital of Honduras”, La Ceiba has two distinct seasons. The rainy season of May to October, when temperatures soar to a steamy 86°F and 75°F, is great for naturalists as wildlife sightings are particularly abundant. The dry season of December to April, when the temperature reaches 83°F and 72°F and the water is gin-clear, is perfect for divers and snorkellers. The month of November is considered to be part of the “shoulder season,” when both weather and prices are extremely favourable. Nonetheless, each season brings many visitors to the area in search of adventure.

La Ceiba is building a reputation as a strong Central American contender for those who enjoy a myriad of outdoor adventures on both land and sea. From zip lining to white water rafting and scuba diving, there are activities available everywhere. Zip line canopy tours have gained more popularity in the last few years, as thrill seekers look to navigate the terrain hundreds of feet over the jungles via secured cable and harness.

Whether it’s hiking, canoeing or bird watching, there are plenty of tour operators with programs highlighting La Ceiba’s best offerings. 

One such magnificent place is Pico Bonito National Park, whose mountain raises 7,988 feet above sea level, earning it the distinction of the country’s third-highest peak. The tropical rainforest is an awesome mix of waterfalls, forestry, and even a river that runs through it. Many areas of Pico Bonito are off-limits to the public in order to preserve the area, which has been designated a Protected National Park, but trails circle around the perimeter, a boon for hikers and walkers looking for a glimpse of armadillos, wild pigs, monkeys and toucans. If you’re lucky (and at a safe distance), you may be one of the lucky few to spot a jaguar.

The Río Cangrejal, touted as the best white water rafting in Central America, has a route that winds its way through a landscape of huge rock formations. Dozens of rapids, from the easier Class II to the rip-roaring Class V, line the river. Participants can sign up for beginner-friendly trips lasting just two hours and the experienced can go for longer tours.

Just 19 miles from downtown La Ceiba is the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, 33,000 acres of plant- and animal-filled wetlands jutting against the coast. This land is home to howler and whiteface capuchin monkeys, turtles and crocodiles, as well as several parrot and hundreds of bird species, making it a bird-watcher’s paradise.

The turquoise blue Caribbean Sea water is one of the compelling reasons water lovers flock to this part of the country. There are plenty of tour operators available for snorkelling adventures at Cayos Cochinos, a few miles off La Ceiba’s coast. This area, made up of two large islands and cays, has been declared a marine biological reserve, which means it’s largely untouched and one of the most pristine reefs in the Caribbean.

Even after a full day of energy-sapping activity, it’s almost de rigueur to head to one of La Ceiba’s restaurants to replenish burned calories. Yuca and coconut, two of Honduras’ major crops, appear on many a menu. Yuca tortillas topped with beans, cheese or pork are well-known offerings, as well as crab soup with coconut broth and sweet coconut bread. Make sure to leave room for pupusas, popular thick corn cakes stuffed with many choices, from quesillo cheese to cabbage or spiced meat. And a nighttime visit to La Ceiba wouldn’t be complete without stopping by Mango Tango in the Zona Viva for the ambience as well as a nightcap.

Sleep usually comes easy in these parts and there are many places to rest for the night, from simple and inexpensive solar-electricity powered-cabins to mid-range hotels and deluxe eco-lodges. For a unique experience, stay at the luxurious Lodge at Pico Bonito, just outside of La Ceiba, and inside the national park. This special location means guests have the opportunity to not only get glimpses of spider monkeys and pumas, but also participate in night hikes, guided walks through the forest where owls, toads and other creatures call the area home. Take solace and pat yourself on the back inside your Caribbean Sea-view cabin, knowing that tomorrow will bring yet another adventure.

Cayman Airways operates direct flights between La Ceiba and Grand Cayman twice weekly, with connecting flights to and from Miami, Florida. To book your La Ceiba trip visit www.caymanairways.com  or call 345-949-2311 (in the Cayman Islands), 1-800-G-Cayman (in the U.S.) or your travel agent.


Book your flight today! Visit www.caymanairways.com, or call 345-949-2311 (in the Cayman Islands)
or 1-800-G-CAYMAN (in the U.S.).

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