The Lodge at Pico Bonito
Pico Bonito Lodge is an eco-lodge located on the edge of the Pico Bonito National Park, one of Central America's largest unexplored rainforests.
The individual cabana style rooms are set in beautiful tropical gardens. Each have en-suite bathrooms, hammocks on decked verandas, and some even interconnect. Local Honduran touches such as pottery, weavings and art complete the look.
There is also an excellent restaurant and swimming pool. The views are fantastic, and Pico Bonito, the highest point of the mountain range and from where the lodge takes its name, can be seen from the lodge.
The landscape is what it's all about though - Pico Bonito Lodge has miles of private trails leading up to observation decks which hang over the jungle canopy, and look down into 100 foot canyons and into sparkling waterfalls and natural swimming pools. Other activities include trekking in the rainforest, whitewater rafting, riding, boating through a manatee reserve and snorkelling in one of the world's largest barrier reefs. The guides are excellent and on hand to point out the morphos, motmots, monkeys and margays that roam the rainforest.
Pico Bonito National Park is also home to hundreds of species of birds, and the Lodge at Pico Bonito has a commercial butterfly farm that breeds over 40 species of tropical butterflies including the stunning blue morpho. Guests can do a private tour of this locally sustainable enterprise, which also boasts an iguana farm and serpentarium.
Why We Love It
La Ceiba, a banana port, is just a short drive away. We recommend going to one of the sandy floored restaurants for supper, with their distinctly Caribbean feel and local food.
Hacienda San Lucas
Hacienda San Lucas is an authentic Spanish colonial hacienda which has been lovingly restored by owner Flavia Cueva, and turned into a boutique lodge overlooking the picturesque Copán valley - the views are so good you can see the temple tops of the Copán site from the garden.
The eight rooms at Hacienda San Lucas are fairly simple, its position just minutes from the Copán ruins however is unbeatable. The rooms have private bathrooms, hand-crafted cedar wood beds, tiled floors and colourful bedspreads adding to the local Honduran vibe.
The food is a mixture of traditional and international cuisine cooked by local Maya Chorti staff. Expect delicious tortillas and tamayas washed down with some South American wine.
There are plenty of activities on offer from Hacienda San Lucas, including birdwatching, hiking, horse riding in the hills and to local villages, bathing in the hot springs at Lunar Jaguar, and visiting a coffee plantation. The most famous however are the Copán ruins, one of the most important Mayan sites in Central America, which are close by.
Why We Love It
Lodge owner Flavia has also now set up a Yoga studio and offers spiritual retreats.