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Lac Yojoa au Honduras – Paradis des oiseaux

Lake Yojoa in Honduras – Bird paradise

January 12, 2022

TRANSPORTS

Utila - La Ceiba, 50 mins by ferry, 675 HNL (24 euros)
Tip: book online, otherwise you will pay 750 lempiras on the spot.
La Ceiba - La Guama 6 hours by shuttle with the Roneey company for 40 dollars.
Frankly, it is expensive when you see the transport prices in Honduras. But I am tired, it is direct, I opt for tranquility.
La Guama - Los Naranjos, 30 mins by taxi for 10 dollars
Many of us left the Underwater Vision diving school that day. We leave to take the ferry at 7am. The crossing is a bit stormy to the point that some grab the plastic bags distributed by the company. I do not get seasick. How lucky ! With Rudd, it is relaxed atmosphere. On arrival, our shuttle is waiting for us. Everything is simple and organized. As planned, he drops us off at La Guama. Well almost. He leaves us more precisely on the side of the road near La Guama where a taxi is provided 😄. Rudd has heard of D&D Brewery as a great wilderness hostel. It is his direction. So I follow the movement. I let myself be carried away by events. Peaceful trip.

Housing

-  Hospedaje en el Lago   -

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To book Hospedaje en el lago, click here

Place recommended by our taxi because D&D Brewery is full. It is more expensive but it is great. 800 lemp/night (30 euros).

The chalet is comfortable in the middle of a perfectly maintained garden. It includes kitchen, living room, bathroom and a bedroom with 2 double beds. The coffee is excellent with delicious pastries and friendly service. The owner is very kind. Nice place !

Strengths of the establishment

  • Comfortable room and bedding
  • Spacious
  • Excellent Wifi

Weaknesses of the establishment

  • roadside so a bit noisy

-  D&D Brewery   -

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To book D&D Brewery, click here

Hostel which has a certain reputation among backpackers wandering around Central American countries. It is built in a tropical forest and consists of an open-air restaurant, private cabins, private rooms, shared dorms, and many course, from the small brewery. D&D Brewery makes tasty craft beers to enjoy around the lit campfire every night. 

Bed in dormitory (4 people) for 7 dollars per night. New, modern with an exceptional outdoor bathroom. 

Strengths of the establishment

  • Comfortable room and bedding
  • Great value for money
  • Good Wifi at the restaurant
  • Exceptional bathroom for dormitories: new walk-in showers, huge and without a roof. How to take a hot shower with vegetation overhead.

Weaknesses of the establishment

  • Beers are expensive

Lake Yojoa - Bird Paradise

With an area of ​​79 km², Lake Yojoa is the largest lake in Honduras. Located in the heart of the country, this huge expanse of water is an admirably preserved marvel, surrounded by small fishing villages and nature reserves. It is essentially known for being a real bird sanctuary, to the delight of ornithologists.

What to do at Lake Yojoa?

  • Kayaking on the lake, bird watching
  • Los Naranjos Ecological and Archaeological Park
  • Visit Pulhapanzak Waterfalls
  • Climb Santa Barbara Mountain
Yojoa Lake Honduras

What a contrast with the island of Utila ! Here, the tourists are Hondurans. The beauty of the places attract nationals on vacation. Delighted to see foreigners among them again, they honk at us, wave hello, come and talk to us. The people are really welcoming. There is a relaxing atmosphere here. With Rudd, we decide to go for a kayak ride. This lake is beautiful. Between water lilies, fishing boats, mountains and clear water, we glide silently admiring this incredible quantity of birds. Around us flutter jacanas, several species of herons, toucans, montezumas oropendola (brown bird with yellow tail), marsh kites (birds of prey)… Only the song of the birds comes to accompany the silence of this haven of peace. We are in heaven, to the point of lying down and taking a nap.

Kayak rental price: 100 lempiras for half a day (3.70 euros).

My advice: if you are passionate about birds and want to learn more about this ecosystem, take the walk with a guide.

Yojoa Lake Honduras
Click on a photo to start the slideshow
Yojoa Lake Honduras
Click on a photo to start the slideshow

Los Naranjos Ecological and Archaeological Park

Entrance fee: 145 lempiras (5,45 euros).

A great nature walk on the marshes and one of four government-protected archaeological sites in Honduras.

This park consists of several kilometers of mostly flat nature trails, including 1 km of raised boardwalks over protected marshes. Some nice views of Lake Yojoa and Cerro-Azul Meambar National Park. Inside the site are also unexcavated Lencan ruins and a small museum.  

Overall it is cute but that is about it. For once, the walk is not worth the price of admission. 

Pulhapanzak Waterfalls

Entrance fee : 80 lemps (3 euros)
Guide supplement : 200 time (7 euros) for the complete visit. Discount if you stay at the D&D Brewery.

A 42m high natural wonder, popular by the fact that you can climb into a cave behind the waterfall and swim near the base. To do this, tourist guides are necessary. They take you to explore behind the falls, jump into pools in the river below the falls, climb over rocks and then finally to the hidden cave behind these as well as the many pools around the base.

The basic visit is still very nice. Our small group takes advantage of the fresh water. For my part, I manage to swim a little but from there to drag on... Drieu and his brother leave on a motorbike. Marloes, Rudd and I decide to hitch a ride home. Back in the back of a pick-up that drops us off at Peña Blanca, the town next door. Owl ! I spotted a bakery that makes very good cakes. Time to refuel and off we go to hitchhike. 1 min wait for another pick up to pick us up and drop us off at our village. Easy !

Click on a photo to start the slideshow
Yojoa Lake Honduras
Click on a photo to start the slideshow

Bars & Restos

Here are some addresses on which I had a crush

LA TRAMPA DE PORKY

  • Los Naranjos

Excellent and inexpensive Honduran restaurant. The dishes are hearty and tasty. We had a really delicious fried fish. The owners are sweethearts. We had a great time at this establishment. 

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ANECDOTE

I told you the story of the zipper in Chichicastenango in Guatemala. The unusual repair of this one has lasted about 6 weeks so far. But again, it no longer works again. With Rudd, we eat in a roadside diner. When leaving, I ask the employees where I could have my bag repaired in the area. Rebel! One of them grabbed my bag and a pair of pliers, did 2-3 things, went down and up the zipper. Nothing. 2 minutes of this treatment and boom, fixed ! Here I am again with my mouth open, bewildered by such skill.

IMPROBABLE

Because of the pandemic, the owner of a restaurant explains to me that schools have been closed for 2 years. As a result, her 3 daughters aged 9 to 15 have been at home all this time. They are supposed to take online courses. As if every Honduran could afford a computer... so 3... 

Encounters

Rudd, Dutch adventurer in his thirties that I told you about in the previous article  Utila Island in Honduras

On the left, Marloes, a young Dutch woman traveling alone for a few months. She shares my dorm at D&D Brewery. In the center, Drieu, a Frenchman in his thirties who criss-crosses South and Central America on a motorbike with his brother. I met them at the restaurant of the hostel. They wanted to go kayaking and as I love it, here we go again. We had a real laugh.

Assessment

After Utila, this is exactly what I needed. Calm, green and above all fewer people. I wanted a more authentic Honduras and discover the population. These people are unfailingly kind, it warms the heart. Rudd went to visit Comayagua and Tegucigalpa, I do not feel like it. I prefer to go down to Nicaragua. 

Next destination:  Léon – Nicaragua. 

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One Comment

Victoria
reply
April 3, 2022 5:16 pm

tu arrives à visiter des endroits tous aussi insolites, géniaux, magiques mais aussi à rencontrer des personnes tout au long de ton périple. c’est la vraie richesse que tu auras accumulée tout au long de ton voyage en Amérique centrale et du sud. ce sont des moments qui restent à jamais gravés dans ta mémoire.Bravo

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