Anna LangWeekend Trips from VeGa Communities
Hi friends! My name is Anna, I am a digital nomad that stayed with VeGa communities in March of 2022. Here are my top three suggests for weekend trips in Honduras.
Top Tip: VeGa Communities will store your bag’s for the weekend so that you can pack light and move easier with just a day pack.
The Bay Islands - Utila
How to get there:
To start your journey Vega Communities take the collectivo pick up from any of the bus stops on C. Hacia Armenta, to the main bus terminal. From the terminal you will need to purchase your bus ticket to La Ceiba.
Transportes Cristina travels from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba 7 times a day: 6:15am, 8:15am, 9:30am, 11:15am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm. In order to get the ferry in La Ceiba I suggest the 9:30 am bus, I took the 11:15 and didn’t make the Ferry. :(
Once in La Ceiba your next stop is getting the ferry! Utila Dream ferry runs from La Ceiba to Utila twice a day: 9:00am and 4:30pm.
What to do when your there:
Scuba Diving/Snorkelling
Utila is one of the cheapest places in the world to get your scuba certification. Utila sits right on the edge of the Mesoamerican Reef System. It is the second largest reef in the world after the Great Barrier Reef and stretches over 700 miles from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay Islands of Honduras. The reef’s in Utila are full of amazing things to see, with more than 500 species of fish, 350 species of mollusks, and 65 species of stony coral. There are lots to see!
Beach Day
The two main beaches are: Chepes Beach and Bando Beach ($3 entry, but worth it for the sunset. Watch out for the sandfly’s).
Kayak Down the Canal
The canal is beautiful, it’s surrounded and shaded by mysterious, green mangroves, and is teeming with flora and fauna. It’s not a particularly easy kayak as the canal is very narrow at points. This means your paddles will probably get caught up and your kayak may get stuck in the mangrove roots.
Do this paddle in the morning as when you get into Rock Harbour there are some of Utila’s best, most secluded beaches. Single kayaks would have been much easier and our suggestion based on how narrow the mangroves are. The other tip is to use mosquito repellent – especially if kayaking at dusk as there are lots of mosquitoes.
Hike up Pumpkin Hill
Pumpkin Hill is the highest point on Utila and is the first part of the island that comes into view as you approach by boat. The viewpoint at the summit offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the island, including both the North and South shores.
Copan
How to get there:
Transporte Casasola Express is the easiest way to travel on public bus to the Copan Ruins. You can purchase your ticket at La Terminal de San Pedro Sula paying in either cash or card. This bus takes about 4.5 hours.
To get to La Terminal de San Pedro Sula, take the collectivo pick up from any of the bus stops on C. Hacia Armenta, to the main bus terminal.
What to do when your there:
Copan Archaeological Site
Today, the Mayan Ruins of Copan are one of the most important and impressive Mayan sites to visit in all of Mesoamerica, this is because of the stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphs. The ruins were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1980.
The entire ruins include more than 4500 structures, the majority are located within the Principle Group, including the famous Hieroglyphic stairway, with a second section located in Las Sepulturas.
If you’re interested in knowing more about the ruins and its history, the Museum of Archaeology, located in downtown Copan Ruinas, has an entrance fee of $2.
Luna Jaguar Hot Springs
This one is a little bit outside the city but very worth it! The perfectly mixed temperature –warm water– of its ponds invite you to soothe yourself into the most relaxing ambiance, ideal for a late afternoon time after a busy and active day.
There are 13 strategic spots along the trail that aims to replicate the Maya rulers (and the rich peoples) health rituals that were performs in the ancient times.
This afternoon trip will cost you about $22 USD, but it includes transport to and from the spa, as well as access to the baths.
Explore the Town
Copan is one of the cutest towns. It has an old-school Central American vibe with its colorful homes and its laid-back atmosphere. Forget checking maps, the city is too small for you to get lost. But walking around is the best way to connect to this quaint place. Check out the nightly market they set-up and just take in the sights and sounds of the city.
Try things like the Tea and Chocolate Place, it’s goal is to educate people about the sustainable ways to grow and harvest cacao! Don’t forget to bring this knowledge back and talk to us about how we are doing similar things on the Farm. :)
Central Park is, surprise, in the heart of the city. This is a great place to hang out for a couple of hours! You will be able to see locals selling fruits and merchandise, it is a great place to spend a couple hours people watching!
Lake Yojoa
How to get there:
To start your journey Vega Communities take the collectivo pick up from any of the bus stops on C. Hacia Armenta, to the main bus terminal.
Take the El Mochito bus from the bus terminal in San Pedro Sula. There is a ticketing window for “Emp. Tima”
Be sure to tell the driver or helper you want to get off at Los Naranjos.
These buses leave every 30 mins first bus leaves at 5:50am and the last bus departs at 5:30pm. The current cost is 50 Lps. per person. This bus should take around 2.5 hours or so.
COVID-19 might have impacted these routes so just beware! Top tip, is that you can also just take an uber! It costs about 1,100 - 1,500 Lps, so if you’re a group then this is the way to go!
What to do when your there:
Explore the Lake!
Lake Yojoa is the only lake that is the product of the explosion of a volcano in Honduras, and is the largest reserve of fresh water in the country. The lake, seen from above, has the shape of a foot sole.
The Yojoa Lake basin has a large variety of birds in all of Honduras. On the shore of the lake there are hotels with their own personality, and on the sides of the road there is a large number of restaurants and eateries where the main dish is the fried fish “lake style,” with sliced banana and pickled vegetables. A must try while you’re there!
Pulhapanzak Waterfall
To get there, take the highway that leads from the community of La Guama towards Peña Blanca. Continue past the Cañaveral hydroelectric facility and you will soon see a detour towards the town of Buenavista, then simply follow the signs or ask.
They have the most scenic zip line in Honduras, offering awesome views of falls. If you prefer a more hands-on adventure, ask for the tour behind the waterfall! This will take you between the curtain of water and the cliff behind it!
Taulabe Caves
Entry fees to the caves varied there are two options. The normal adventure which would take around 40 minutes, or the ‘extreme’ caving, which would clock in at around 2 hours. While the normal spelunking adventure cost around 80 lps each (around $4USD), the extreme variety adds on a premium, bringing the total up to 230 lps (about $11USD).
*Fun facts about this cave, a man decided to use the place as a hideout. His name was William Hahneman, an air pirate who stole more than $250,000 after hijacking an airplane in the United States. Hahneman fled all the way into our country parachuting over the city of La Ceiba. In there he met with José Roberto León Gómez, a trusted friend of his, who advised him to use the Taulabé Caves as hideout.