Located on the western end of the Bay of Tela, the Jeanette Kawas National Park is named after a Honduran ecology activist who lost her life while protecting this National Park, previously known as Punta Sal National Park. Based on its size and biodiversity, the park is one of the most important national parks in Honduras. The small bays within the park served as havens to the pirates and buccaneers of yesteryear.  The peninsula forms a natural barrier that protects the bay and port of Tela from the “nortes” that blow during the winter months. The park has two separate, well defined areas: the peninsula and the lagoon.

The peninsula is only accessible by sea, and there is a symbolic fee of  5 USA dollars  that is collected upon your arrival to the park. The fee is handled by the pro-ecology group PROLANSATE, a non profit private organization dedicated to the preservation and development of the park. There are several tour operators within Tela that offer tours  by motor launch. The trip itself takes about one hour  before arriving at the park. A vast natural beauty awaits the traveler: white sand beaches, an exotic and very exuberant jungle and a very attractive coral reef are the main attractions. During the tour, it is quite possible to encounter different animals, such as dolphins, monkeys and of course a large variety of tropical birds, giving an added spice to your tour.

The Lagoon, known as the Micos Lagoon, is the area with the highest population of birds in the park. During the “summer”  (In Central America, the dry season is referred to as the summer, being in fact the  months of December through May) you will find up to 350 different species of birds living within the lagoon! The lagoon is surrounded by mangroves, forming canals and cayes where other types of tropical plants and trees coexist.  To the east, the lagoon is separated from the sea by a narrow tongue of sand, forming an extensive and very beautiful beach.

The Garifuna village of  Miami is built precisely on this sand bar, and offers a true cultural patrimony of the Bay of Tela, allowing visitors to experience life the way these villagers have lived for over two hundred years, since they established themselves on the North Coast of Honduras.  The village, built entirely of thatched huts, makes the tour to Punta Sal both a natural as well as a cultural experience. There are several different operators and individuals who can take you to Punta Sal National Park,  we wholeheartedly recommend Garifuna Tours, whose offices are located almost in front of the central park in Tela. They have been the pioneers in tours to Punta Sal and continue to be the leaders. Other very good professional operators are Honduras Caribbean Tours and Caribbean Expeditions.

Punta Izopo National Park.

Located on the eastern end of the bay of Tela, only 12 km from town, this unique area takes its name from the small mountain that dominates the area and comes out into the Caribbean: Izopo Mountain. The exuberant vegetation of the area. which is irrigated by the Platano and Hicaque rivers, is home to large variety of wildlife, including tropical birds such as parrots and toucans, monkeys, alligators and turtles. The canals, formed within the mangrove forests are accessible to sea kayaks, which permit you to silently enter the area without disturbing the natural beauty, and come close to the birds and other wildlife. This tour also includes the opportunity of visiting the Garifuna town of Triunfo de la Cruz, where the Spanish Conquistador, Cristobal de Olid first disembarked  on his quest to conquer Honduras, following orders of Hernan Cortes. Garifuna Tours has daily regular departures to Punta Izopo. A new exciting alternative is to take the night tour and get a chance to see the crocodiles that inhabit the canals and mangroves. Departures are at 3:30 p.m. from Garifuna Tours main office just off Central Park and return is scheduled around 9:00 p.m. Normally wildlife in mangroves can me seen mostly at sunrise or sunset, so this new schedule allows you to see more species of birds and the excitement of sighting crocodiles!

Lancetilla Botanical Garden

Located only a few kilometers from Tela, the Lancetilla Botanical Garden is the second largest tropical botanical garden in the world. It was established in 1926 as an experimental site by the Tela Railroad Company. The park boasts a very large variety of plants from the Central American region as well as from other tropical lands from throughout our planet. A large number of tropical birds have made the garden their home, due to the many fruit trees that abound here. There is a well marked trail that you can follow. In addition, if you follow the road that leads into a fascinating bamboo forest, you will arrive at a very pleasant swimming hole in the Lancetilla river, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim after your hike throughout the park. The entrance fee to the park is Lps. 50.00 and includes a guided tour. For Hondurans, there is a substantial discount. The best way to get to the park is by bicycle, which you can rent in Tela. If you have a car, you can easily reach the park.

Garifuna Villages

All along the Bay of Tela there are several different Garifuna communities, and perhaps some of the most interesting ones in all the country are right here. From west to east, you will find the Rio Tinto, Miami, Tornabe, San Juan, La Ensenada and finally Triunfo de la Cruz. Amongst these, without doubt, the most interesting and unique is Miami, the only one that to this day is still completely built of thatched huts. You can eat typical foods at all the villages, and learn some of their traditions. Outstanding, and definitely fun, are the “punta” and “yancunu” dances, that have origins in their African roots. With the exception of Rio Tinto and Miami, all of the villages are easily reached, with  good public transportation readily available. You can also rent a bicycle and have the added advantage of free time to discover all the interesting facets of these  villages and their people at your own pace. In some of the Garifuna villages there are hotels where you can stay and experience the lifestyle of the Garifuna. An example of these are the Caribbean Coral Inn at Truinfo de la Cruz, built with local architecture in mind and with a primitive atmosphere with outstanding service; the Budari at La Ensenada and the Paradise at San Juan.

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An old Tela home that has been refurbished and turned into an International bar and restaurant. Delicious, generous portions in a pleasant atmosphere with good international music. A favorite for both locals and tourists. Open daily from eleven till midnight, later on weekends. Best stocked bar in town! English, German and Spanish spoken.

Shadow

Casa AzulA new, European style bar located in a nice old Banana era wooden home. Pleasant international music, a well stocked bar and a restaurant that is open till 10 p.m. make of this spot a favorite for travelers. English, French, Flemish and Spanish spoken. Open daily except Mondays.

La Libelula

Located at the Bay Side hotel on the Pedestrian Street in front of the beach in downtown Tela. Pleasant atmosphere with good music. Owners always very receptive to musical requests from their patrons. One of the best stocked bars in town and good service. Nice air-conditioned main room as well as street side tables. Open daily.

Guarumas Disco Bar

Restaurant, bar and dancing parties. Light foods and draft beer. Located on the Villas Telamar Hotel. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. possibly the most exclusive spot in Tela.

Disco Bar La Iguana

One of the few discos operating regularly in Tela, La Iguana is open Thursday to Saturday from 9:00 p.m. till late. Thursday night is oldies with music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Good security at front door. Located on the main street leading into the beach, a block away from the new bridge.

Lagunas Discoteque

A nice new disco located on the outskirts of town, on the main road leading towards El Progreso. Open on weekends. Good security and privacy.

Arrecifes

A nice restaurant bar that stays open till late from Tuesday to Sunday, actually very late on Fridays and Saturdays. Nice menu served till late, since kitchen remains open until the bar closes. Nice atmosphere with cool breeze from the beach, as the establishment is located right on the pedestrian street next to the beach.

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Eat

In Tela, tourists and locals alike have access to good restaurants that serve good Honduran food as well as a few international cuisines especially in the hotels. And speaking of Honduran food, you have to be prepared for an exciting fusion of indigenous cuisines with very liberal doses of African and Spanish influences. Also, you have to prepare your palate and stomach for coconut-infused foods in both savory and sweet dishes as Hondurans love their coconut. And since Tela is a seaside town, you can expect lots of seafood on the menu, from soups to salads to main dishes!

Drink

In Tela, the bars are many although you are well-advised to limit your drinks as you want to be able to go back to your hotel on sound mind and legs. After all, you want to enjoy every minute of your vacation instead of being passed out most of the time!

The most popular drink in the bars of Tela id the “Salva Vida” that, ironically, means life saver. You can buy it at a very cheap price although you must, again, drink in moderation. For a more refreshing drink in the daytime, there is always the chilled coconut to take the edge off of the hot weather. It’s available in most restaurants so you don’t have a problem in this respect.

Sleep

Tela offers many options in accommodations from budget hostels to decent hotels. Just choose according to your budget and preferences although you can be sure that most will offer courteous service. The people of Tela have had practice in hospitality, after all! Depending on the hotel, amenities like pool and spa, dining area and bar, tennis courts and golf areas, water sports and beach activities are offered to guests. Of course, sleeping accommodations vary from one hotel to the next although air-conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms are standard for most high-end hotels in Tela.

Be Merry

There are disco pubs in Tela that offer live music and karaoke entertainment into the night. Latin songs, both the upbeat and the slow, are played although favorites seem to be the punta, meringue and cumbia, to name a few. You can expect Spanish singers to be very popular in these joints but since music is universal, there ought to be no problem dancing to the beat even when the same shuffle is used for all beats! Again, there are also bars and pubs in the hotels. At the very least, you don’t have to worry about going back, or more appropriately, stumbling back, a long way to your room on one too many beers!

Tela may be a small resort town but it does not lack for places to feast on Honduran cuisine, drink on fine wine and liquor, sleep in comfort and have fun in the night!

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Traveling To Tela

It must be emphasized that only road transportation going to Tela is available at present. The railroad system that formed the backbone of Tela in the 1900s have ceased to operate, the decline of which can be traced back from the transfer of headquarters made by the Tela Railroad Company from Tela to La Lima.

If you come from San Pedro Sula, you have three choices. First, you can take the public buses that travel direct non-stop to La Ceiba. Ask the conductor to stop at the entrance to Tela and then either take a taxi going into the city or just walk the one-mile distance. There will be no indication that a city is beyond the dirt road so it pays to ask for directions.

Second, you can take one of the buses that go directly to Tela. However, these travel infrequently so it’s often best to just take the La Ceiba-bound bus. Travel time can extend to 2 hours.

Third, you can get on a bus to El Progreso and then change to a Tela-bound bus. It will take a longer time but you ought to get to Tela without having to take a taxi on a dirt road.

Whatever bus you decide to ride on, however, you must always the conductor when he goes around asking for fares. As much as possible, you must pay in exact change to avoid inconvenience later on.

If you come from the capital city of Tegucigalpa, you can take the buses that ply direct routes to La Ceiba, which will take 5-6 hours of travel time. Of course, you have to then take the buses going to Tela. Or if you are not one for public transportation despite the slices of Honduran life it offers, you can always travel to Tela by private car! It is faster since you don’t have to stop for passengers getting on and off through various places in the countryside, not to mention more comfortable, too.

Traveling Around Tela

Once in Tela, getting around is very easy. Since the town itself is small, going by foot is highly recommended to absorb the sights and sounds of a small Honduran resort town that has retained its charm despite its national and international clientele. Or you can take the bicycle for faster arrival at your destinations. Since this is the preferred form of transportation, you ought to feel like a local out on an excursion to the town center to buy some food items.

And since the road pattern is a very simple east/west north/south outline, getting lost is not an option especially with helpful locals pointing you towards the right direction. Even the streets are appropriately named with the main shopping street called the Calle de Comercio and the beachfront street as the Bulevar!

With such easy ways to get into and get around in Tela, it’s about time that you do, too!

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