Know of other great tours in northern Honduras? Leave a comment and tell us all about it!

•                  travel in groups whenever possible

•                  do not walk or travel alone at night

•                  do not wear expensive jewelry

•                  avoid carrying a lot of cash

•                  If your hotel has a safe, lock valuables and important documents in the safe. Have a color copy of your passport picture page and entry stamp page with you at all times.

•                  Register online with the US embassy and register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updates about the situation in Honduras and useful tips for American citizens.

•                  Do not discuss travel plans with strangers.

•                  Be aware of your surroundings. Pick-pockets are common outside airports, bus stations and other areas where there are large groups of people.

•                  Do not resist armed robbery. Most  incidents of shooting or murder occur when tourists resist armed robbery.

•                  There is still the occasional demonstration in Honduras. Do not become involved with these demonstrations.

•                  If traveling in a car always lock your doors and roll up your windows.

All of these suggestions really boil down to relying on common sense. Most of us will never experience the horror stories that everyone hears about Honduras. The truth is that it’s no different than living in a large American city like New York, Chicago, Detroit or LA. Most touristy places in Honduras aren’t even as dangerous as the previously mentioned cities. Use caution, be aware of your surroundings and do not call attention to yourself whether by flashing material possessions or by heavy drinking. Follow these suggestions and have a safe and enjoyable time here in Honduras.

Have some tips of your own you want to share? Let us know, please leave a comment!

One such tropical spa is Sante’ Wellness Center. Here a wide variety of treatments are available and performed by licensed health professionals.  One of Sante’ most sought after treatments is Acupunture.  Treatments may be followed by full body massages such as a swedish massage or an aromatherapy massage, wraps (including chocolate and noni wraps), reflexology or facials. Prices range from $120 -$215 USD. Most sessions are a total of 60 minutes but may last up to 90 minutes for an extra charge.

Packages are also available at reduced prices. These packages combine European facials, full body massages, lymphatic drainage, refloxology of the hands and feet, aromatherapy, facial massages, body wraps using chocolate, mud or noni extract, herbal wraps and eye treatments and hand treatments. Another specialty is facial acupunture designed to rejuvenate the face without any painful or risky procedures. You may also purchase the body scrubs and salt glows used at the spa and bring the pampering home with you.

However, Sante’ is not only a spa. It is a beautiful bed and breakfast sitting on a private beach. Rooms are spacious, each with a private deck, WiFi and A/C for an extra charge. The rooms are surrounded by tropical gardens and the beach is only a short walk away.  Enjoy a delicious healthy breakfast included in your room rate and enjoy lunch and dinner at the restaurant for an added charge. Swim in the Lagoon, relax in the pool or jacuzzi. Go snorkeling in the coral reef or go diving. It’s all at your fingertips.

The weather in Roatán is nearly perfect all year round. Averaging around 28º C or around 82-83ºF  year round the weather is always great. There’s a breeze coming in from the ocean and the humidity is not very high. The rainy season usually lasts from November to January and sometimes part of February. There isn’t a hurricane season since hurricanes rarely affect this island.  During the rainy season the temperature can drop down to 16-18ºC or the low 60′s due to the occasional cold front. The summer or dry season is the high season for tourism. The weather in the summer typically stays in the higher 80′s. The water is always warm for diving and swimming. For more information on rainfall and sea surface temperature in the Honduran Bay islands click here.

The islanders are usually referred to as Caracoles (sea shells), the term applies to anyone born on the island. Caracoles are usually friendly and laid-back. There’s a big mix in the island, Europeans,  Americans, mestizos, garifunas, and mainland Hondureños that have moved seeking work opportunities. A large percentage of the local population is very poor but there are sections of the island that are mainly populated by rich foreigners and wealthy Hondureños that have retired to Roatán.

The culture as well as its people is very laid-back and colorful. Truly Caribbean more than Honduran. The majority of the islanders speak English and Spanish. Their food is delicious, mostly seafood. Some common dishes are conch soup, crab soup, whole fried fish and the locally grown crops like yuca or cassava, papaya, mangoes, and coconuts.

There are many reasons why Roatán is considered a top vacation spot. The weather is perfect and the people and culture are welcoming and relaxed. Spend a few days in Roatán enjoying the clear blue beaches, diving in the surrounding coral reef, getting to know the friendly Caracoles, you’ll soon be back for more.

We have plenty of reports telling us what is going on in Honduras coming in from the major news sources, but what about the voices of the people in Honduras? So many of them are going unheard.

That is why since the start of the crisis in Honduras, (the coup, as mass media has called it), the blog written by La Gringa in Honduras, her Blogicito, has been constantly publishing articles that project an opinion of recent events that many are unaware of.

Right now, travel and tourism to Honduras is at an all time low, which is obvious, given the political state of the country. However, for those who really care about Honduras and are interested in gaining some new perspective on the political situation there, the blog mentioned above provides some interesting food for thought.

Whether you agree with La Gringa’s reporting, or with what you have heard on CNN, educating yourself on this little country of Honduras will help broaden your view of politics, media, and Hondurans.

The Big Gringo travel Central and South America trying out new things and reporting back to you – my faithful readers – so that you might enjoy your travels. Here is some information you might also find valuable:
Find out more about Retirement in Cuenca at my website about ==> Cuenca, Ecuador – Money Magazines #1 Retirement Spot.

Find out more about Visa Programs in Belize at my website about ==> Living or Retiring in Belize.

Find out more about Learning Spanish in Antigua Guatemala at my website about ==> Antigua Guatemala for Gringos.

Currently there are a couple of television infomercials released by the government warning citizens to steer clear of potential flooding zones, and advising waterways be kept cleared.

Ill effects have already been seen in some areas, such as El Durazno, where a hill collapsed, burying two houses and forcing families to dell for their lives.

Water levels are rising across the country, and caution is needed when driving on roads near waterways, or farming near rivers. Water levels can rise quickly and suddenly, so if you are in a danger zone take care to have the means to move on a moment’s notice.

For the fast majority of us foreigners, the rain is just an annoyance, added to the political strife in Honduras, and we are set to weather out multiple storms.

So, it is with great interest that we read Marco Cáceres’ article entitled, “The Civil Coup the World Overlooks.” It is a summary of the events that happened from June 25 to June 28, 2009 in Honduras. Here is the introduction from his fantastic article:

Contrary to the popular view that has developed during the past couple of weeks, the “coup” in Honduras did not occur on Sunday, June 28, 2009, but rather on Thursday, June 25. What the world witnessed on Sunday morning in Tegucigalpa was a police action ordered by the Supreme Court of Honduras to put down a coup perpetuated by President Manuel Zelaya three days earlier.

If you really want to get the full picture of what is happening in Honduras and why, please read this article. It will help to round out what you have heard in other sources of mainstream media.

www.hondurasthisweek.com

I promised myself I wouldn’t share any opinions on this issue, but if you are looking to find out more about how things are going in Honduras from an insider’s point of view, I recommend you visit La Gringa’s Blogicito. She lives in La Ceiba, and has been blogging about Honduras for years and has done a tremendous job in posting up lots of information that you won’t see on CNN.

The Blogicito will hopefully round out your view of what the current situation really is in Honduras. It would be a shame to base your opinions only on what you’ve seen as presented by American media.

Playa Taty’s has everything going on that you would expect from a beach restaurant: bright colors, a palm leaf roof, a little patio thing overlooking the beach. The atmosphere is quite relaxing, which puts you in the perfect mindset to enjoy some good food!

In a country where service isn’t exactly priority on anyone’s list, Playa Taty’s does it right. I have never heard complaints of the wait or kitchen staff, which is a great sign! (Many speak English and Spanish, although not all do.)

The menu serves up a decent variety, with the bright spot being the seafood dishes, considering we are right on the beach. Chicken, steak and pork are all on the menu, which is a mix of like a Creole – Caribbean style plates. The food is a little pricier than many restaurants in La Ceiba, but it is definitely worth it. You may pay less elsewhere, but you also get less.

Appetizers are about average on the price scale (around $5), but decently sized. Most of the entrees are served with a side dish and a salad. The salads aren’t your typical Honduran style either; they are actually fresh green salads served with your choice of dressing!

Don’t pass up the dessert either… my vote is for the coconut raisin peanut brownies sundae… yummm.

Seriously, eating at Playa Taty’s is better than pretty much anywhere else you could choose in La Ceiba, so give it a shot. It is in the Zona Viva, one block east of the Quinta Real hotel.

1. Where have you learned about Honduras? Thanks to the internet, there are loads of ways to learn about this great country. However, what is the source of your information? Is it a tourism agency, a real estate agent, a travel agent, or anyone else who has something to gain from your moving here? Make sure you consider the source as misinformation is prominent, even among bloggers (they may have only spent a week here!).

2. Have you ever been to Honduras? If the answer is yes, for how long? Did you fall in love with the country or did you fall in love with the resort? Everyday life in Honduras is very different from what you may experience in just a week or two year. I suggest coming down and renting for at least 6 months or so: just long enough to give you a variety of typical Honduran scenarios, but short enough that you won’t be scarred for life if you can’t handle it.

3. Do you speak Spanish? If not, you may want to start learning now. English is not widely spoken in Honduras, despite what your travel guide may have told you. While your Spanish will improve drastically  just by using it here on a day to day basis, you are going to want to have a base to build off of.

4. Don’t trust anyone. I know that sounds terrible, but so much of what you read isn’t true, and misinformation is so prevalent. Even the Honduran Consulate offices in your home country have been known to give bad information. Attorneys are corrupt, land deals go bad, and even your “friends” may be looking for a way that they can get something from the Gringo. Just keep your eyes open.

5. Two words: CULTURE SHOCK. It will happen, no matter how prepared you think you are for the move. Even long time expats still get hit with it sometimes, when the Honduran line of reasoning is so different from our expat “norm.”

The Big Gringo travels Central and South America trying out new things and reporting back to you – my faithful readers – so that you might enjoy your travels. Here is some information you might also find valuable:
Find out more about Retirement in Cuenca at my website about ==> Cuenca, Ecuador – Money Magazines #1 Retirement Spot.

Find out more about Visa Programs in Belize at my website about ==> Living or Retiring in Belize.

Find out more about Learning Spanish in Antigua Guatemala at my website about ==> Antigua Guatemala for Gringos.