Atlantida

Atlantida is Spanish for “Atlantis”! Yes there really does exist a place on Earth called Atlantida! It is located in the heart of Central America’s Caribbean and offers the best of two unique worlds: The World of adventure in Central America and the romantic beaches of the Caribbean. Who would have thought this combination was even possible?

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Politically, Atlantida is the name of a “Department” in Honduras, which is more or less the equivalent to a state or a province, and has existed since 1902. Atlantida came to be as the capital of the original Banana Republic. To this day is the local headquarters of the Standard Fruit Company (Dole) in Honduras are in La Ceiba. Geographically, it is located between the Caribbean Sea and the rugged Nombre de Dios Mountains. Atlantida is the gateway to the best beaches and reefs in the Caribbean. It offers outstanding diving and snorkeling as well as some of the best nature and adventure activities in Central America!

The City of Tela

Atlantida actually has several magnets that draw tourists to it. The City of Tela is one of the two main hubs for tourism in Atlantida. It offers the best beaches in Central America’s Caribbean coast. The city is in a lovely bay that is studded with Garifuna villages and has a National Park on either end of the bay: Jeannette Kawas National Park (also known as Punta Sal National Park) on the Western tip of the Bay; and Punta Izopo National Park on the Eastern tip of the Bay. Tela is a pleasant community with friendly people, and offers a variety of lodging options. These include high end all inclusive beach resorts to small hostels in town. Restaurant options are varied, but of course sea food is always top on the list of menus. Tela offers many different activities, that include outstanding diving, bird watching and of course beachcombing! Bird watching is exceptionally good within the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, considered the largest tropical botanical garden in the Americas!

The City of La Ceiba

The City of La Ceiba is another hub with a lot to offer within Atlantida. Being the Capital of the department, it is also the largest city and is world famous for its fun night life as well as for the magnificent variety of National Parks and protected areas within its environs. Of the four protected areas near La Ceiba, the most known and visited is Pico Bonito National Park, that gets its name from the magnificent triangular shaped peak that towers over 8,000 feet above sea level almost behind the city. The Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge is also an outstanding area that offers marine estuaries with mangrove canals that are teeming with wildlife, including, but not limited to howler monkeys, many different species of marine birds and huge alligators. However the icon species of the refuge is the Antillean Manatee, a gentle marine mammal that is in the endangered species list because of habitat destruction.

Another magnificent area is the Cayos Cochinos Marine Monument. This is as pristine a Caribbean paradise as you will find anywhere! For those looking for diving or snorkeling, the reefs here are some of the healthiest in the planet! Last but not least, the Nombre de Dios National Park, which is an extension towards the east of Pico Bonito National Park offers Garifuna communities, mangrove lagoons and hot springs.

Cangrejal River Valley

The last outstanding hub in Atlantida is the Cangrejal River Valley. A small area located just south of La Ceiba, into the mountains. This is the Honduras capital of adventure sports and activities, and the offers the best white water in Honduras, as well as zip line canopy tours, rappelling and canyoneering, and some of the best bird watching in Central America.

Atlantida is the perfect destination for the active tourist, and yet offers unique options to simply relax and enjoy.

Don’t forget that Atlantida or “Atlantis” is also the gateway to the Caribbean! There are regularly scheduled ferries and flights from La Ceiba to the Bay Islands of Honduras every day. This makes coming and going between these two great destinations is as simple as can be! Come and discover Atlantida for yourself, and have the vacation of your lifetime!

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Places in Atlantida

Tela

The Cangrejal River Valley

La Ceiba

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What to Bring

Getting There

Highlights