(reposted from Central America Discussion)

Travel to Honduras by Dogstar101

How to get to La Ceiba, Honduras, a traveler’s guide

The reason I prefer La Ceiba is. It’s a small town. Easy to get around. There are other towns you might want to hit. They are San Pedro Sula (major city), Puerto Cortes (major shipping town) and Trujillo (small town). When you get to La Ceiba, you don’t have to rent a car. Taxis are everywhere, night and day. There are some things to do and places to see but on the other hand you can do nothing. There is nothing like kicking back in Bobs bar and watching the people come and go. But more or less it’s a major fuck fest for me. Its very laid back. You can kick back and have a few rum and cokes. Chase all kinds of women and nobody cares. It’s a what ever type of place. No matter what you do. The people there have seen it already.

When you fly in, usually you fly into San Pedro Sula. After you pass customs and if you have only have carry on. They wont check what’s in your luggage. When you walk out side. You will be at the back of the airport. Walk to the front of the building. Just out front there is black market money changers. Don’t worry about them cheating you. They are fairly honest. They wont let them in the building. Just inside the building there is a couple of banks where you can also change dollars into lemps and vis versa

Now to get around Honduras, you have two choices bus or plane. Bus is a 2 to 4 hour drive and a flight is 20 minutes to the coast. I usually take a plane. Just to the left, behind the banks you will see a line of airline ticket counters. Look for SOSA airlines. Typically they have a couple of flights a day. Cost about $20 to fly to the coast. There is a tax of 20 Lemps, which you have to pay separately.

The flights out are upstairs and to the left (national). They have a small bar there and you can have a few drinks waiting for your flight. Now waiting for your flight they don’t use a loud speaker but a woman will stand by the gate and says it in Spanish. Just go up to her and show the boarding pass. Now the big thing is, you are now in country and even though your flight is supposed to take off at 2 pm, it may be as late as 2:40. Relax and go with the flow. The plane its self is more of a island hopper. They hold about 10 to 20 people and they don’t fly above the clouds. The most important thing on the flights is. Some times they are over sold and first come first on the plane. Forget about being a gentleman and letting the women and children on first. Unless you want to go on the next flight, which might be the next day. Every dog for them selves.

When you land in la Ceiba, you walk out front of the airport and there is taxis right there. These are union and they charge the union rate. Typically its around $8 to get down town. Now if you walk down the road outside the airport there are taxis there and they charge $1 but you have to share the ride.

Once you get down town there is a lot of hotels. You can always find a room somewhere, unless it’s Easter or around the 12th of May. Both are major festivals and you may want to avoid. Hotels to avoid, Gran hotel Ceiba (wont let women in), Partenon beach (too many reports of stealing). Usually my favorite is the plaza flamingo, about $23 a night. Its close to all the action and (last time I checked) they do let women in. Of course they may want a little piece of the action. Usually $5 and it all depends on who is behind the counter. One time it was just $5 a day and others was $5 per woman. I have seen the late night clerk who didn’t ask for anything. I never offer I wait for them to ask. This is called mortiaba (more-te-ah-ba) or dog bite, very common. Some rooms at the flamingo have safes others don’t. The only time I have heard of anyone having anything stolen is. They had left their door unlocked and it was while they were sleeping. Other wise I have never heard of a problem and I asked people who run the bar next to the hotel. To get to your room you have to walk by the front desk. So it is fairly secure.

Hotels no tells. These are your basic flea bag hotel and they don’t care who comes and goes. They are the Caribbean king and the hotel Coco. I know there is more but I don’t know where they are. The Caribbean is about two blocks in from the water front. Hotel coco you will need to take a taxi to get there. Funny thing when I was going to hotel coco. We passed all these little bars and I saw women hanging out front. Cost of them is about $5. I know of some people who get a nice hotel and take the women to the other hotels.

Bars. The town is filled with bars. Usually the bars you want to be concerned with are on the waterfront. There is a main road that runs down the beach and there are a lot of bars along it. Not touristy type of bars. Typically when I hit Honduras. I look for a bud on mine, Bob. He usually is running a bar. The only problem is, which bar? In the last two years he has had three bars. The only hint I can give you is he is anglo and his bars are always on the waterfront. Always in his bar, ex-pats hang out. Also he is a wealth of information about La Ceiba. So kick back and have a few rum and cokes and ask questions about La Ceiba and not about peoples past. There is another bar called the ex-pat bar. The ex-pat is ok but the prices I feel are a little high. Plus I never saw hookers in there.

The women. Now its not like the rojo zona in Mexico. They don’t hang out on just one street. But they are all over the place. But mostly near the bars. If there is a women in a bar the chances are she probably is a hooker but not all the time. The women them selves run from black crib to Indian and everything in between. Right around Bie Ernestos (behind the plaza flamingoz) is your best bet but not your only bet. Some guys hang out at a bar near a main road and wait for hookers. Across the railroad tracks there is a place called hotel Johnny. Its basically a whore house/hotel. Women hang out on the balcony and ask you to come in. Not the greatest but hey its good to know. I wanted to go into the hotel and check out the rooms (i.e. the hookers). The woman who runs it is a bitch and wanted to charge me up the wazo just to do that. Mostly its low life bitches who need just to get by. I think it’s a lot of crack heads. Major problem in Honduras now.

One great place to hang out is right around the flamingo. To get to the hotel you have to walk up a flight of steps. On the first floor there is a general store and out front of that is a place where you can sit and have a beer. Typically there are hookers hanging out there. More so at night then the day time. As you stand out front of the plaza flamingo, look to your left and you will see a bridge. Go over the bridge and there is a couple of bars. One is Africa dance and another next to it. The bar next to the street is great for hanging out. As in all places there are more hookers at night then the day time. Typically Thursday night is the best night for women. Also near Bie Ernestos is a bar called Cherries disco. Its only open at night. Usually there is a about a dozen or so hookers in there. On going in, you will be checked for weapons. The prices for the women vary. From $5 for a skank to $40 for a looker. Your average is around $10 to $20. Generally they are not in a hurry to do you and get back out on the street. You are paying them roughly a weeks wages. Don’t bargain with then on the street. Wait till you get them back to the room and ask them how much. A lot of them don’t care if you take picture of them or videos. But then it all depends on the women. Some of them are thieves and will steal everything and others are not.

My money is usually in travelers checks. Every bank (with a passport) will cash them. If the banks are closed there is a black market that will do it. Don’t worry about being cheated. They are fairly honest. You can find them by the hotel principe (downtown). Look for Rollings air. They change them in there and all of those stores around there.

Crime, yes there is. Like all third world countries. Don’t wear fancy jewelry or flash cash around. At night take taxis. Some of these people can be very violent. Keep your eyes open at all times. I always carry tear gas with me but I am parnoid.

Things to do around town. When you first get in country look for a free magazine called Honduras tips. It’s a tourist rag, but does have a lot of good tips in it. The bay islands are just 23 miles off the coast. There are three big islands and a few dozen small islands. I was on the island of Utila and walked for miles and didn’t see another person. You can fly (SOSA) or take a ferry. There are some nature hikes you can go on that take you into the rain forest. A few nature preserves around La Ceiba. Typically they cost about $50. They drive you there, show you around and feed you lunch. Its nothing like a developed resort like Cancun but if you are looking for a real laid back place maybe La Ceiba is your town. At the Oh a big thing. To leave the country it cost $20 (more dog bites). Is Honduras for everyone. No but for adventurous people yes. This report is some what current but things change all the time down there. I will be going down there at the end of July or early August. When I come back I will give a new report.

Most excellent report on La Ceiba. Since this is a repost I wonder what the original date of the report was (to see how current it is). Maybe TJHombre can do us a small favor and include the original date on future re-posts?

Just want to add that about five years ago I spent a few days on the island of Roatan, the biggest island of the group of Honduran islands. I stayed at a cottage (about $25/day) right on the beach with a sweetie. It was an area called West End I think (because it's on the western tip of the island) It was very nice. Beautiful unspoiled beach with clearest possible blue water. Anybody into snorkeling would know that Roatan is one of the best spot around for diving. Downtown is about 10 min. with restaurants that have excellent fresh sea food.

Since I was there with someone already I couldn't monger and don't know if anything is available on the island at all. If you have a favorita this island would be a perfectly romantic getaway. I highly recommend. As a bonus, there are lot of blacks living in the island and many of them speak english.

Last time I was in Honduras or should say the date of the report would be of Easter 2001. Currently I am planning to go back 8/11/01. Will give a trip report when I get back.

I look forward to your report. I have a lot of fond memories there. One of my most cherished one is the encounter I had with a street girl the first night I was there about 8 years ago. I found her while wondering the street of Tegucigalpa and ended up with a very nice GFE. I couldn't believe that I only paid 15 lempiras which at that time was worth little less than $5.

Well the price is usually how much Spanish you can speak. I have boned some really nice women and all it cost me was drinks for the night. I know of guys who live in La Ceiba and they only pay $5. One time I had this looker and she only cost $10. When she got into my hotel room she saw the video camera and she insisted that I videotape her stripping, playing with her pussy and going down on me. One time I was in a bar at night and it was just me and the female bartender. I was taping her dancing around the bar. Well she pulled up her top and showed me her tits. Later on some of her friends came in and she wanted me to rewind the tape and show her friends. When some of the hookers get to know you they will show up at your room all hours day and night. I love it when they show up at 2 am, fall down drunk. I just take the money and wave it in their face and ask what will they do this time.

Hey Dogstar, that sounds like an interesting place. Kind of dangerous, kind of sleazy. Definitely not the Costa Rica kind of trip that's for sure. I have met several Hondurenos and Hondurenas in my time and they are some of the most pleasent and laid-back Latins. It is like they've seen it all...If you are planning a return trip in the summer of 2002 and would like a tag-team partner that doesn't have an agenda other than to explore the sights and sounds,
e-mail me at uhalum@excite.com

Any current info on Honduras

Great information,

thanks

Honduras sounds great. I get off on sleazy! I speak some Spanish (mas o menos). I've never been there. I'd like to meet an Hombre there, with Honduras experiece, this winter. Anytime between Jan.17-Mar28. Let's get away from the cold weather and slam some hot sleazy whores! Please, contact me.

I wouldn't recommend going until the Honduras unrest settles down. Things are predicted to get worse with the Zelaya 'situation'...Continental Airlines has canceled its daily flights on Tues, Wed, and Thurs...I would recommend waiting to decide until after the November elections. I went to San Pedro Sula several years ago and had a nice time. Hot women and cheap prices [10 yrs ago]. Approx five years later I spoke with a guy that lived there that moved to the States, groundcrewman for the airline, and we talked about conditions there [his family still lives there] and other things , women, exc rate, etc and not much had really changed. Exc rates had improved, but also inflation. Once things settle down consider going, if time permits go up to Beliz. The entire area is beautiful.

The US state department has just given the thumbs up that Hunduras is OK to travel, but street crime is still high.

I like these small Central America (Honduras, Guatamala, El Salvador) countries because gringos typically stay away and prices are really low, but because they are small countries, having a local connection is a must to really see what's out there. Going by yourself is a hit or miss and knowing basic Spanish is a must.