La Ceiba
and Pico Bonito

Mangroves, rainforest and rivers

Photo: Denis Fournier from Longueuil, Canada · CC BY 2.0

Before you go, understand the place.

Around La Ceiba lie the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, with mangroves and channels, and Pico Bonito National Park, rising from the coast to 2,485 m.

By Asesordeviaje.com Editorial Team · updated October 5, 2026

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Reserves, river, beach and museum
The Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge’s foundation offers bookings for visits; Pico Bonito National Park has unconfirmed status. The Cangrejal River runs through the park and the Nombre de Dios range, with grade 2, 3 and 4 rapids for rafting with guides, according to Visit Honduras; rafting is done with operators, and Omega Tours lists a half day at US$60 per person, which is the price of its service, not an entry fee. Sambo Creek, a Garífuna village with a beach 15 km from La Ceiba according to Visit Honduras, is where most of the boats to Cayos Cochinos leave from, according to La Prensa (March 2026). On UNAH’s CURLA campus, the Entomological Museum holds about 15,000 insect specimens; its hours and fee are old figures (Visite Atlántida, 2020), unconfirmed with CURLA.
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Plan your visit

The practical information you need to plan your visit

The essentials

Best time to go: According to Canada, the rainy season runs from May to November and can cause flooding and landslides, and the hurricane season from early June to the end of November in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It is an approximate national pattern, not a climate record for each region or a guarantee for the islands. Follow COPECO's alerts.
Getting there: According to FUCSA, Cuero y Salado is reached through the village of La Unión (El Porvenir); according to Visite Atlántida, the Pico Bonito visitor centre is about 8.5 km up the turn-off after the Saopín bridge. Galaxy Wave and Dream Ferries ferries to Roatán and Dream Ferries ferries to Utila (at 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., a one-hour crossing) leave from the Muelle de Cabotaje, according to their operators, and Aerolíneas Sosa publishes flights from La Ceiba to Roatán, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

The mangroves and channels of Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge

Tips and precautions

FUCSA invites visitors to book their visit to Cuero y Salado with its certified guides.
For El Bejuco waterfall, in Pico Bonito, Visite Atlántida estimates 3 to 5 hours return from the visitor centre.
Rafting on the Cangrejal River is done with an operator; the best season is winter, when the river runs highest.

Safety and precautions

Canada notes that violent crime, including murders and armed robberies, is high in La Ceiba; if you travel there, it advises using reputable tour operators only, choosing accommodation with good security measures and avoiding outings outside the resort.
The United Kingdom warns of the risk of criminal attacks and carjackings in and around Tela, La Ceiba, Trujillo and El Progreso, and advises care on beaches in the north coast towns after dark.
The US Department of State advises reconsidering travel to Honduras because of crime and terrorism (level 3, advisory of 25 August 2026) and advises against travel to the department of Gracias a Dios (level 4).
According to state television TNH (20 September 2026), the National Defence and Security Council decided on 18 September not to apply a new state of exception; Honduran media date the end of the regime begun in December 2022 to 26 January 2026. The United States advisory of 25 August 2026 still described it as in force in 226 of the 298 municipalities. The current situation is unconfirmed. Canada notes that the authorities periodically declare states of exception: always carry ID and follow the authorities' instructions at checkpoints.
Canada warns that coastal waters can be dangerous and that rip currents are common, and recommends doing water activities only with well-established companies.
Canada advises caution on the road between El Progreso and La Ceiba (advice of 29 September 2026).

Frequently asked questions

How much is Pico Bonito?

Secondary figures for different services and dates: RedHonduras (updated January 2026) gives, for the park, Honduran adults L35, Honduran children L25, foreign adults US$6 and foreign children US$4, and a guide service of L300; LaCeiba.com (2019) gave L34 for Hondurans and US$8 for foreign visitors for access to El Bejuco waterfall. Unconfirmed with the park's management.

How do you get to Cuero y Salado?

According to FUCSA, access is via the village of La Unión (El Porvenir); from there, La Prensa (August 2023) describes about 30 minutes on a «burra», a small vehicle on the railway line, to the Salado Barra visitor centre.

When is the La Ceiba Carnival?

According to La Prensa (30 April 2026), the 2026 Grand Carnival was scheduled for Saturday 23 May along Avenida San Isidro; whether it took place and the 2027 date are unconfirmed.

Sources

Information checked in October 2026. Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

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Showing 5 of 5 · 1 unconfirmed, flagged

Nature and jungle · 3

Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge
WildlifeOpen
A refuge of mangroves, channels and lagoons covering 13,225 ha of land and sea, whose flagship species is the Antillean manatee, managed since 1987 by the Cuero y Salado Foundation (FUCSA) under a co-management agreement with the State, according to FUCSA.
Practical details and sources
Booking
FUCSA invites visitors to book their visit (ecotourism, hiking or boat trips) with its certified guides; it does not say whether booking is mandatory. It publishes no hours or fees.
Source
FUCSA – Fundación Cuero y Salado · 2026 · +4
Tip: According to La Prensa (August 2023), after years without transport two «burras» and four boats for the river trip were restored; FUCSA reported in April 2026 the visit of an expedition cruise to the refuge.
Sources: FUCSA – Fundación Cuero y Salado · FUCSA – Programa de Uso Público · FUCSA – Noticias (20 abr. 2026) · FUCSA – Cómo encontrarnos · La Prensa – Restablecen el transporte a Cuero y Salado (4 ago. 2023)
According to FUCSA, access is via the village of La Unión (El Porvenir); from there, La Prensa (August 2023) describes about 30 minutes on a «burra», a small vehicle on the railway line, to the Salado Barra visitor centre. The pin is the refuge in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.11.3 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Photo: JMigdonio · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pico Bonito National Park
NatureStatus unconfirmed
According to Visit Honduras, this national park runs from the coast up to 2,485 m, has rivers such as the Cangrejal and is one of the most biodiverse parks in Honduras. It is managed by the ICF and the Pico Bonito National Park Foundation (FUPNAPIB), with a management plan for 2023–2034, according to the ICF.
Status unconfirmed: the most recent information comes from a secondary guide (RedHonduras, January 2026), without backing from another recent source; the ICF's note (2023) is about the management plan, not visits.
Practical details and sources
Entry
Secondary figures for different services and dates: RedHonduras (updated January 2026) gives, for the park, Honduran adults L35, Honduran children L25, foreign adults US$6 and foreign children US$4, and a guide service of L300; LaCeiba.com (2019) gave L34 for Hondurans and US$8 for foreign visitors for access to El Bejuco waterfall. Unconfirmed with the park's management.
Source
ICF – Aprueba el plan de manejo de Pico Bonito (16 mar. 2023; copia archivada) · 2023 · +4
Sources: ICF – Aprueba el plan de manejo de Pico Bonito (16 mar. 2023; copia archivada) · Visit Honduras – Naturaleza · Visite Atlántida – Senderismo en Pico Bonito (act. 2020) · RedHonduras – Pico Bonito National Park (act. ene. 2026) · LaCeiba.com – Parques nacionales (2019)
According to Visite Atlántida, the Cangrejal sector Visitor Centre is about 8.5 km up the turn-off after the Saopín bridge; the La Roca and El Mapache trails start there, the latter to El Bejuco waterfall (3 to 5 hours return). The pin is the park in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.11.3 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Cangrejal River
AdventureOpen
A river whose currents cross Pico Bonito National Park and the Nombre de Dios range, forming grade 2, 3 and 4 rapids for rafting with guides and equipment a few kilometres from central La Ceiba, according to Visit Honduras, which also mentions canopy, hiking and river hiking. According to La Prensa (March 2026), rafting is one of the favourite activities of tourists who visit the Cangrejal basin at Easter.
Practical details and sources
Booking
Rafting is done with operators. Omega Tours lists, for a half day on the lower section (class III–IV rapids), US$60 per person with a minimum of two people, equipment and 19% tax included; it is the price of its service, not an entry fee to the river.
Source
Visit Honduras – Aventura (Río Cangrejal) · 2026 · +4
Tip: Visit Honduras names the rainy season as the best time for rafting, when the river carries more water.
Nearby: CURLA Entomological Museum (Butterfly Museum) (11.8 km) · Sambo Creek (13.9 km)
Sources: Visit Honduras – Aventura (Río Cangrejal) · La Prensa – La Ceiba se pone en modo fiesta de carnaval para Semana Santa 2026 (26 mar. 2026) · La Prensa – Playas, naturaleza y aventura en el Feriado Morazánico 2026 (11 sep. 2026) · Omega Tours – Adventures · Gobierno de Canadá – Travel advice: Honduras (act. 13 oct. 2026)
Cangrejal River basin, La Ceiba (Atlántida). The pin is the river in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.25.6 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

Sea, beach and reef · 1

Sambo Creek
BeachOpen
A Garífuna village with a beach that Visit Honduras places 15 km from La Ceiba on the way to Trujillo, with dance groups and Garífuna cooking (fish, seafood, machuca and cassava bread); according to the same source, the community takes visitors to Cayos Cochinos or Laguna del Cacao. According to La Prensa (March 2026), it is the most popular departure point for Cayos Cochinos, because most of the boats leave from there.
Practical details and sources
Source
Visit Honduras – Playas (Sambo Creek) · 2026 · +5
Tip: La Prensa (September 2026) suggests it for swimming, walking by the sea and trying Garífuna food.
Nearby: Cangrejal River (13.9 km)
Sources: Visit Honduras – Playas (Sambo Creek) · La Prensa – Así puede disfrutar de los hermosos Cayos Cochinos desde L1,000 esta Semana Santa (24 mar. 2026) · La Prensa – La Ceiba se pone en modo fiesta de carnaval para Semana Santa 2026 (26 mar. 2026) · La Prensa – Playas, naturaleza y aventura en el Feriado Morazánico 2026 (11 sep. 2026) · Gobierno de Canadá – Travel advice: Honduras (act. 13 oct. 2026) · FCDO – Honduras: regional risks
Sambo Creek, La Ceiba (Atlántida). The pin is the village in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.39 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

Living culture · 1

CURLA Entomological Museum (Butterfly Museum)
CultureOpen
A collection of about 15,000 insect specimens, one of the largest on the north coast, in the Plant Production building of UNAH's Atlantic Coast Regional University Centre (CURLA); it receives students and Honduran and foreign tourists with a tour and a talk by the staff, according to CURLA. UNAH described it in the same terms in May 2026. According to Visite Atlántida (2020), it is Professor Robert Lehman's former Butterfly Museum, moved to CURLA.
Practical details and sources
Entry
Old figure: Visite Atlántida (February 2020) gave L50 per person for Hondurans and L75 for foreign visitors, with lower prices for groups of more than 10 people or students. Unconfirmed with CURLA.
Hours
Old information: Visite Atlántida (February 2020) gave Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and group visits on Saturdays or Sundays by prior booking. CURLA asks visitors to enquire about visiting hours by email.
Source
UNAH-CURLA – Museo Entomológico · 2026 · +3
Tip: According to Visite Atlántida (2020), the guides were not bilingual and guided visits were given in Spanish only.
Nearby: Cangrejal River (11.8 km)
Sources: UNAH-CURLA – Museo Entomológico · UNAH, Presencia Universitaria – En el Día Internacional de los Museos, la UNAH ofrece sus tesoros naturales y culturales (18 may. 2026) · Visite Atlántida – El Museo de Mariposas de La Ceiba (14 feb. 2020) · Gobierno de Canadá – Travel advice: Honduras (act. 13 oct. 2026)
CURLA campus, La Ceiba (Atlántida). The pin is the university campus in OpenStreetMap; it is not the entrance.15 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

Before you go, understand the place.

Themed guides

Reserves, river, beach and museum

Plan your visit

The essentials

Tips and precautions

Safety and precautions

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Everything you can do

Nature and jungle · 3

Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge

Pico Bonito National Park

Cangrejal River

Sea, beach and reef · 1

Sambo Creek

Living culture · 1

CURLA Entomological Museum (Butterfly Museum)

Keep exploring Honduras