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Honduras Eco-Retreat Optional Pre-ExtensionBook now!

Day 1: Arrive and Transfer to Copan

Arrive into San Pedro Sula airport and be met by your driver for the private transfer to Copan Ruinas (3hrs) and up to the unique and beautiful lodge of Hacienda San Lucas. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Hacienda San Lucas is an authentic Spanish colonial hacienda which has been loving restored by owner Flavia Cueva into an romantic, atmospheric 8 room boutique lodge. It is situated on the hillside overlooking the picturesque Copan valley and indeed from the garden you can see the temple tops of the Copan site itself! The décor is perhaps not top luxury but it is tasteful and comfortable and the gardens and general areas are beautiful. The restaurant is a unique blend of traditional and international cuisine and they serve family style - everyone has the same menu. Behind the hotel are lots of walking trails which are also great for bird watching and there is even a small archaeology site called Los Sapos right there on the property. Flavia is a very spiritual person and has also now set up a Yoga studio and offers spiritual retreats

Facilities: 8 Rooms, Restaurant, Bar, Gardens, Yoga Studio
Location: Hillside setting just outside the town of Copan Ruinas. 15min transfer from town.

SUSTAINABILITY

The lodge itself is in a lovely restored 100 year old authentic Spanish colonial hacienda and preserves the cultural aspects of that time including a traditional open fire kitchen. It was restored to its original design using only local materials, techniques and labor.
The lodge is situated on 300 acres of pristine tropical forest / protected land which includes a small archaeology site, “los zapos”
They hire 95% of staff from small neighboring villages and train them to be able to work in the service industry
The lodge is powered by solar electricity
The owner Flavia Cueva is dedicated to sustainable tourism, to creating awareness and to the promotion of the whole area as a sustainable tourism destination
Meals are cooked with local ingredients and with local techniques
They planted 4,600 native trees to help prevent erosion, provide natural habitat for wildlife and to help with carbon offsetting. They also work with local farmers to educate them about the value of forests and to get them to help with reforestation programs
Their mission is: To provide their guests with a unique and unforgettable experience based on a spiritual commitment to share our family’s patrimony of an authentic rural hacienda that is helping the development of neighboring communities. This responsibility includes the care and preservation of the nature and archaeology as well as personal attention to each visitor.

COMMUNITY ACTION POSSIBILITIES:

Get involved with Dr David Sedat (archaeologist) and his medicinal & alternative crop experimental plant station
By having the presentation by Dr david Sedat you are donating to the ongoing archaeology work at Copan
We will be able to design further community base trips in conjunction with Flavia Cueva upon request.

Day 2: Finca El Cisne & Dinner with an Archaeologist

You will be met by your guide Carlos to begin your full day excursion out to "Finca El Cisne". Carlos's family owns the farm, “Finca El Cisne” and he will take guests on a tranquil horseback ride or hike through the farmlands and beautiful scenery of the Copan Valley followed by a hearty farmhouse lunch cooked by Carlos's mother where you can taste the coffee grown here. In the afternoon guests explore the coffee and cardamom plantations and learn about cattle ranching. This wonderful tour finishes with a dip in the hot springs on the way back to your hotel.

In the early evening you will be transferred to the home of renowned archaeologist Dr David Sedat for a personal presentation from David on some of his work at Copan over the past 16 years, followed by a home cooked diner and further conversation.

Day 3: Copan Archaeology Site & Macaw Mountain Bird Reserve

Transfer to the Archaeology site at Copan. Enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful site which is famous for its intricately carved stelea & hieroglyphic stairway as well as its comprehensive museum. When ready, return to Copan and to the Bird Park for lunch. After lunch enjoy a walk in the lush, shady river valley location of the Copan Bird Park with a local guide. Interact with a number of beautiful tropical birds that have been rescued from locales all over Honduras.

Day 4: Transfer to San Pedro Sula Airport

Transfer to San Pedro Sula Airport (3hr) to begin the main portion of this itinerary.

Honduras Eco-Retreat Day 5, 6, & 7Book now!
Kanantik

Free Days at the Beach

A free day at the beach lodge: your choice of snorkeling, diving, fishing or other local tours

Honduras Eco-Retreat Day 8

Departure

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Palmetto Bay

Nature Hike & Transfer to Roatan

In the morning embark on a guided nature hike into the Pico Bonito reserve to see various species of wildlife and enjoy the tropical rainforest scenery and the many rivers and waterfalls of the area. Lunch is included back at the lodge. Afternoon transfer to La Ceiba airport for the short 20min flight over to the island of Roatan and the 20min transfer to your remote beach lodge.

Palmetto Bay is located in a very secluded position only reached by a dirt road and offers guests a huge stretch of private beach. The hotel is actually made up of a number of privately owned 1 and 2 bedroom villas set in beautiful gardens full of tropical flowers which attract butterflies, parrots and humming birds. All windows are slats which can be opened for 360 degree views of these gardens. From the beach you can walk out to the reef which is ideal for snorkeling.

COMMUNITY ACTION POSSIBILITIES:

Learning about Global Healing's efforts to improve the pediatrics clinic in the hospital (visiting the clinic)
Learning about the clinic "La Esperanza" and visiting the project on the Sandy Bay Road
Learning about the efforts Canaturh is doing with their Education Committee and potentially committing to visiting a school to giving speeches;
"Guided walk" through Palmetto grounds and the coconut mangrove with a tour guide who understands about the local ecosystem;

A class about the coral reef system and the efforts that are being done to expand the protected areas of the reef.

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Pico Bonito Lodge

Cacao Lagoon

You will be picked up from your hotel & transferred to Cacao Lagoon, where you will be able to meet the local people of this fishing village, living an authentic, traditional life. Jump in the kayaks and paddle through the mangroves, always along the shore so that you can see as much wildlife as possible--birds, butterflies, bats and howler monkeys. Reaching the beachside of Cacao Lagoon, paddle into the Caribbean and try kayaks in the waves. The beach here is picturesque, serene and deserted. After a fruity beach picnic, paddle back to your starting point and for the transfer back to your hotel for free time to relax or explore.

Other tours available in this area include white water rafting, horse-riding on the beach

Honduras Eco-Retreat Day 3
Pico Bonito Lodge

Cuero y Salado

Transfer from your hotel to this wildlife refuge situated 33km from La Ceiba-- home to many endangered animal species found within the mangrove canals proceeding from the rivers Cuero and Salado. There is a mixture both fresh and salt water here, the reserve being right at the ocean’s edge. From La Union, catch a ride on the old railway to reach this wildlife refuge, and then explore the mangrove lagoons by boat or canoe. Manatees, monkeys, alligators and a variety of birds are all part of the highlights of this protected and diverse habitat run by the foundation FUCSA. Most frequently seen wildlife: Howler monkeys, more than 200 species birds (Herons, kingfishers, gallinules) and butterflies, manatee, alligators.