Traveling the world one color at a time.
Need to escape? Looking to be whisked away? Itching for travel inspiration?
Look no further than the rolling hills of Copan Ruinas, Honduras. Agritourism is a popular way to explore the countryside, and visitors are encouraged to learn about the local crops and given the chance to ride horseback.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not versed in the world of eco-resorts, but if lush, green surroundings and easy access to low-impact outdoorsy activities are requirements, then The Lodge at Pico Bonito is surely on its way to meeting the definition.
Located about 10 minutes by vehicle from La Ceiba, Honduras, The Lodge is set on 400 acres back from the main road, beneath the towering Pico Bonito. It consists of several individual cabins, tucked into the rainforest and surrounded by brilliantly colored, tropical flowers. Miles of hiking trails lead into the forest of Pico Bonito National Park, and a few observation towers and swimming holes throughout the rainforest offer an opportunity for birdwatching (with more than 300 species of birds on the property, visitors are sure to spot something).
The cabins are spacious but rustic. There were fresh flowers in my room (though the butterfly display on the wall was disintegrating). I could hear the rain and birds right beyond my doors, and the high ceilings helped keep the air circulating despite the humidity. People get married at The Lodge at Pico Bonito, and I can understand why. The backdrop is stunning … exactly what I would picture in a secluded and romantic lodge.
Carlos welcomed us at his guest house dressed in a cowboy hat and boots, jeans and a flannel shirt. He was dressed like the cowboys I’d seen lounging on street corners and in the city center of Copan Ruinas, and his laid-back, friendly attitude mirrored theirs as well. Despite the drizzling rain, I could tell my first agritourism experience was going to be a fun, low-key day.
Finca el Cisne is a family farm, and while Carlos helps manage the cardamom and coffee production, he is also the host for the agritourism experience, which he introduced in 2002. I’ve heard that farmers rise before the break of dawn, work long and hard hours throughout the course of the day, and drop into bed long after the sun has set, but even with all that, Carlos was a gracious and welcoming host.
I’ve always known conch as those pretty pink and peach shells that decorate my grandmother’s home in Florida. It turns out that they aren’t just good for decoration, though. In the Caribbean, conch is served up in just about any way imaginable and plays a delicious part in many meals.
On Grand Turk, I had the chance to visit a conch farm, where conch are actually raised and bred for food. They start out as itty-bitty microscopic bits that can live to be a whopping 20 years in captivity. The larger conchs are heavy and huge, with equally heavy and huge reproductive organs that aren’t so attractive considering the very raw nature of the animal.
Raw is actually one of the ways people enjoy eating conch. I haven’t had a chance to try it in that form, but I can tell you that every other tidbit of conch I’ve tossed in my mouth has been delicious.
There’s something about ancient sites that drives people in droves to overrun what should be otherwise quiet and peaceful places. Machu Picchu in Peru (which I witnessed firsthand last year) and Chichén Itzá in Mexico are two such examples.
So I was pleasantly surprised to find the grounds of the Mayan ruins in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, to be essentially bare. The ruins in Copan span about 14 square miles (not all of this is accessible to the public), and archeologists have found 3,450 structures within this space. The Mayan ruins in Copan Ruinas are among the finest examples of Mayan artifacts, and the site is covered in carvings, petro glyphs and statues. The public space is expansive, and visitors are welcome to roam the grounds at their leisure.
The grounds are part of the allure. With so much space and large Ceiba trees casting shadows across the lawn, this is not only a historic marvel but also a beautiful, natural place.
The platform stands approximately 36 feet above the ground, but I can’t even see it as I wait for my turn to hook into the zip line. Instead, there is a wide canopy of trees above me and below me — which I assume would cushion me should I fall.
But falling isn’t an issue here. This is my first experience with zip lining, and I am blown away by the safety precautions the Monkey Trail Canopy team at Gumbalimba Park takes to ensure I’m going nowhere but right down the line to the next platform.
For the first time since arriving on Roatan — a small island off the coast of Honduras—the sun is threatening to peak its head out from behind the lingering clouds. I’m not complaining; I’m beyond ready to shed my rain jacket.
