Places / North & Central America / Honduras
La Ceiba
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At a glance
- Country
- Honduras
- Region
- Atlántida
- Population
- 200,000
- Best time to go
- March to September
- Main airport
- Golosón International (LCE)
- Coordinates
- 15.76°N, 86.78°W
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Overview
La Ceiba sits on the Caribbean coast of Honduras with the jungle-covered peaks of Pico Bonito rising steeply behind it. It is a relaxed, working port town, and the jumping-off point for ferries to Roatán and Utila.
Stay a few days and you can raft white water, hike in the rainforest, visit Garifuna villages and snorkel the offshore cays. The town comes alive in May, when its carnival is one of the biggest in Central America.
Things to see
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Photo: Denis Fournier from Longueuil, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Pico Bonito National Park
Steep rainforest mountains just inland, with waterfalls, toucans and lodges on the park's edge.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Beverly, CC BY-SA 3.0 Cangrejal River
A boulder-strewn river valley with clear pools for swimming and simple jungle lodges.
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Photo: RioGTomlin, Public domain Cayos Cochinos
A protected group of small coral cays offshore, with Garifuna fishing villages and fine snorkelling.
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Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge
Mangrove channels west of town, explored by boat to look for manatees, monkeys and birds.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Raft the Cangrejal
Half-day white-water trips run through the rapids of the river valley.
Find tours -
Photo: Hoffryan at English Wikipedia, Public domain Ferry to Roatán or Utila
Boats leave from the dock east of town to the Bay Islands, known for diving on the reef.
Find tours -
Photo: Tania Triminio, CC BY-SA 4.0 Garifuna culture at Sambo Creek
Visit a coastal Garifuna village to hear punta music and eat coconut-based seafood dishes.
Where to stay
Centre and seafront
Close to restaurants and bars, practical for a night before the ferry.
Hotels in Centre and seafrontCangrejal valley
Jungle lodges and cabins by the river, for hikers and rafters.
Hotels in Cangrejal valleySambo Creek
Small beach hotels east of town, quieter and closer to the cays.
Hotels in Sambo Creek
Getting around
Taxis are cheap and widely used, including shared ones; agree the fare first. Buses run along the coast.
Golosón airport is about 15 minutes by taxi from the centre, and the ferry dock is a similar distance east.
When to go
The driest weather is usually from March to September. From October to January northerly storms bring heavy rain. The carnival, in honour of San Isidro, takes place in May.
Plan your trip to La Ceiba
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.