Trip Suggestions
-day trip (central cloud forest trail… bird-watching)- 2 day stay (central cloud forest trail plus side-trip)
-5 day stay (cloud forest, side trip, coffee farm, caves or camping)
-long stays (photo projects, writing, clearing your head,
Things to Do
Stay with a family
There are no hotels in our community on the mountain. However, families here offer a more unique and meaningful alternative: home-stays. Visitors will have the chance to stay in private rooms in the same houses of friendly and hospitable community members. All rooms are secure and kept clean, with the basics provided (bed, access to a bathroom and running water, and extra blankets just in case you get cold at night). Although accommodations are by no means luxurious, your host family will do everything they can to make sure you feel welcome and comfortable. Plus, the neat part is, you’ll get a rare first-hand look into how people in rural Honduras live. Finally, prices are accessible for tourists of every budget range. See the section “__” below for details on prices and promotions.
Additionally, you can rent tents and other camping materials from our NGO, if you’re interested in spending your nights in the forest, among the animals.
If you’re interested in visiting for just a day, you won’t have any problems finding lodging around Lake Yojoa or in Santa Barbara, both of which are less than a two hour drive to the east and west of Santa Barbara Mountain, respectively.
Eat great food
By now you’ve probably noticed a theme developing here: There are no restaurants on the mountain. Instead, the community does one better: a group of families has teamed up to offer high quality homemade food to visitors at ridiculously affordable prices, opening up their kitchens and dining rooms to the hungry traveler. The families are quite proud of their food because it is:
By now you’ve probably noticed a theme developing here: There are no restaurants on the mountain. Instead, the community does one better: a group of families has teamed up to offer high quality homemade food to visitors at ridiculously affordable prices, opening up their kitchens and dining rooms to the hungry traveler. The families are quite proud of their food because it is:
- Made from scratch;
-Sanitary and safe for foreign stomachs;
-The best of local recipes and flavors;
-Prepared using traditional techniques (the “old way”);
-Made with fresh and local ingredients;
-Made to order;
-And, of course, is delicious.
Oh, and do not forget the coffee! Excellent coffee is so abundant on the mountain that families don’t think twice about serving their own farm’s high-grown best, which was probably roasted and ground in their kitchen. If you’re anything of a coffee aficionado, you’re going to be in heaven.
Vegetarians will also get along great, considering the wide variety of fruits and vegetable that are an integral part of the local diet. Check out the link to the official menu for more details.
Hire a local guide
A trip to Santa Barbara Mountain just wouldn’t be the same without taking full advantage of the friendly and knowledgeable local guide service that’s available here. Having lived here their entire lives, our certified guides boast years of experience and thus offer tourists a unique and personalized insight into the area.
A trip to Santa Barbara Mountain just wouldn’t be the same without taking full advantage of the friendly and knowledgeable local guide service that’s available here. Having lived here their entire lives, our certified guides boast years of experience and thus offer tourists a unique and personalized insight into the area.
-trained in biology, conservation and customer service
-are interested in leading tourists to the best spots and showing them cool things… know where the trails are, know what services are offered, can spot animals by sight and sound, know about plants -care about your experience
-are responsible about the treatment of the environment
-a note on language
-how to hire a guide
-how much? Remembering that it’s direct benefit to the community
Enjoy a hike
Thanks to countless hours of volunteer work by local contributors, our sector of Santa Barbara Mountain offers a network of professionally-designed trails tailored to offer maximum exposure to the beauty of the nature here, while minimizing detrimental environmental impact. -some locations they go, things you can see
-difficulty levels
Coffee Farm Tours
Visit a coffee farm! Learn first-hand all about growing coffee from proud and knowledgeable farm owners. As you’ll see, coffee is everywhere and is a vital part of life in the community. During coffee season (November-May), you can try your hand at picking.
The local coffee co-operative members are also happy to give tours of their processing plant and to explain the benefits it provides to the community.
-pick coffee or plantains
-visit the coffee co-op
Caving Excursions
Prices and promotions/packages
What to bring
Contact info, how to book a trip
-Adan, Ana
-D+D Brewery? Other lake establishments?
-email?
-free to come and go (address to welcome center)
How to get Here
From Tegucigalpa:  |
| Greater Area Map |
From San Pedro Sula:
Take the Tiga bus or Mochito bus directly to Peña Blanca. The other option (though, again, it's a bit longer) is to take the Cotisba bus directly to Santa Barbara.
From Peña Blanca:
 |
| Up-Close Map |
From Santa Barbara:
Look for the yellow bus to El Dorado/San Luis Planes (company "Transporte Katherine") in the main bus terminal in town. The bus leaves daily at 11:30am. A second bus that only goes to San Luis Planes leaves from a smaller, nearby terminal at the same time.
Note: Buses can fill up with people and cargo, so arrive early to claim a seat. Also, private transportation may be quicker, though be sure you've got 4 wheel drive.
