La Ceiba

By Mike Karanicolas

Like so many of Honduras' major cities, La Ceiba's history is intricately tied to the banana trade. Now Honduras' third-largest settlement, La Ceiba was once a sleepy port town, named after a spreading ceiba tree that shaded its dockworkers. From humble origins, La Ceiba grew into a teeming city under the patronage of America's Standard Fruit Company. The banana barons made it into their administrative hub, coordinating export activities here even after shipping was rerouted to Puerto Castilla. The company's influence can still be seen today, most obviously in the Parque Swinford, a gift to the city built adjacent to their sprawling corporate housing complex.

For many travelers, La Ceiba is just a stopover on the way to the Bay Islands. But the city is fast becoming a prime draw in its own right. The chief reason for this is its location smack-dab in the middle of so many pristine eco-tourism attractions. The area around La Ceiba offers a wealth of spectacular natural beauty, including the peaceful cloud forest of Pico Bonito to the magnificent reefs of Cayos Cochinos.

La Ceiba is also well known for its thumping nightlife. There is a Honduran saying that calls San Pedro Sula a city of workers, Tegucigalpa a city of thinkers and La Ceiba a city of dancers. Show up for a weekend and you'll get a taste of how the place earned its rowdy reputation. But if you really want to experience life the Ceibeno way, try to make it to their spectacular May Carnival, which is claimed to be the biggest fiesta in Central America and certainly the biggest in Honduras.

Although the city lacks good beaches, rich history and impressive architecture, it certainly deserves to be more than a transit stop on any traveler's itinerary. Give La Ceiba at least a few days, if you have time, and take some day-trips around the area. We promise that the Bay Islands will still be waiting for you afterwards.