Welcome to
LA CEIBA!
La Ceiba celebrates the patron saint "Saint Isidore the Laborer", normally the third week of May every year. During the week of "Carnaval", different neighborhoods in La Ceiba organize celebrations that last all night. They host live music, there are a few carnival-type games, and plenty of food and drink, which all adds to the festive atmosphere. Carnival culminates with a grand parade on "San Isidro" street in downtown La Ceiba. For photos from this year's
Carnival parade, click here!
La Ceiba, Honduras is a friendly city, with that "small town" feel. It is surrounded by lush jungles, breathtaking mountains, challenging rivers, and intriguing beach villages. We welcome you to learn more about this beautiful place, explore its wonders, and hopefully visit La Ceiba, Honduras for yourself.
Ecotours, river rafting, garifuna villages, and mountain
treks are what La Ceiba is known for. First time visitors to La Ceiba are
amazed by the warmth of Ceibeņos' hospitality. Returning travellers
have never forgotten it. Explore this website, and
when you leave, remember you are always welcome back. Thank you
for visiting.
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La Ceiba was named after a giant ceiba tree  which grew at the shores of the Caribbean Sea. The tree was so big that the first settlers (the Garifuna - immigrant slaves from the Island of Saint Vincent) said that it was "The Ladder God used when he came down from Heaven to visit Earth".
The port city of La Ceiba started to develop in 1872, when Manuel Hernandez built a hut under the enormous tree. Around it, other neighbors started to settle, seduced by the boom of the the banana plantations. The commerce of this fruit was so prosperous that it brought the attention of big international companies that started to establish in La Ceiba. The city started to grow with national migrants and foreigners. Over the years the infrastructure has changed, but La Ceiba has always kept its own Caribbean flavor. La Ceiba was declared a town August 23, 1877, being the center of the banana empire and main point of the regional economy. Later, the biggest industrial and financial companies of Honduras came to La Ceiba. Today, La Ceiba is the third most important city in Honduras, and the second most important port in the country. La Ceiba has the highest literacy rate in Honduras, and a large bilingual population.
La Ceiba has been declared by the Honduran Goverment, "The Capital of Ecotourism", due to its diverse natural offerings. Among the many popular areas, the imposing Pico Bonito (Beautiful Peak) stands at 2,435 meters. Pico Bonito's tropical rain forest provides beautiful waterfalls and spectacular landscapes. It is also home to the Cangrejal River, one of the few rivers in Central America enjoyed by people partaking in such water sports as white water rafting and canoeing.
La Ceiba is known throughout Central America for "Feria Isidra", which takes place at the end of May. It culminates with a big carnival called "Gran Carnaval de la Amistad", when first avenue turns into a huge dance, with local musical bands and colorful floats. The remainder of the year, the party environment continues in the "Zona Viva" (Lively Zone) - an area known for its clubs and bars frequented by natives and foreigners alike. There is a saying in Honduras, which many Ceibenos have taken to heart. It goes: In Tegucigalpa, they plan; In San Pedro, they work; and In La Ceiba, they party!
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