Lodge at Pico Bonito

One of the finest hotels in Honduras [1], Lodge at Pico Bonito (tel. 504/440-0388, U.S. tel. 888/428-0221, www.picobonito.com [2]) provides a taste of what tourist development can look like if done really well. Nestled up against the emerald-green flanks of the Pico Bonito range are 22 wood and stone cabins, each with louvered wood windows and an overhead fan, some with air-conditioning. Six rooms are in individual cabins (“superior plus” cabins with a/c, US$319 s/d, US$377 high season), and the others are in eight two-room cabins (with fan US$276 s/d, US$278 high season, US$52 more with a/c).

The location is really superlative—hundreds of species of birds as well as occasional troops of monkeys and other animals frequently venture down from Parque Nacional Pico Bonito [3] to sample the fruit trees around the lodge, making it a fine location for wildlife-watching. Nearby and reached by trail is the Río Coloradito, a steep, narrow river pouring down a narrow, jungle-clad gorge, with an excellent swimming hole. Just below the lodge is a butterfly farm and serpent vivarium [4].

Getting to the Lodge at Pico Bonito

The Lodge at Pico Bonito is reached from the Ceiba–Tela highway, turning off south at the village of El Pino [5], eight kilometers west of the airport. Rates include breakfast and transportation to and from the airport, and taxes, but do not include a 10 percent service charge that is tacked on. Meals are pricey, but excellent—reservations are required for day visitors.