Several years ago when we were in Honduras, John and I stopped to see a new luxury ecolodge outside of La Ceiba called Las Cascada Lodge. I fell in love with it. It is nestled in the rainforest surrounded by trees and flowers. The rooms, there are only three of them, have a view of the jungle waterfalls. There are several cascading falls each with a small pool at the bottom that is big enough to swim in. The hotel also has a swimming pool. I always
wanted to stay there and finally this time we did. Everything about the lodge is first rate including the construction which makes use of natural materials. I walked up the well-built stone steps and crossed the short wooden bridge to the second level and luxuriated in the pool. I tried to image it during the rainy season when the waterfalls and pools have more water but even so it was wonderful swimming surrounded by the rainforest. I went in the pool below the lower falls too. We were the only people at the lodge it was serene. Olvin was our personal chef.
In the morning Olvin made us a traditional Honduran breakfast: Huevos Rancheros (fried eggs ranch style) with refried beans, cheese, Honduran spicy sausages called “chorizo” and tortillas. Of course, Honduras coffee is a must. I find Honduras coffee very smooth and the caffeine doesn’t seem to bother me. I watched Olvin make the eggs and thought he had the easiest method I had ever seen.
Huevos Rancheros
1 tomato
Half of a green chili
4 cloves of garlic
3 small sprigs of cilantro
1/4 white onion
Salt to desire
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp salsa
1/2 tsp habenero pepper (optional)
A bit of sugar
Black pepper
Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
Seasonings can be adjusted to personal taste. Pour into a sauce pan add a little Tabasco sauce if desired. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Add eggs, cover and cook for about 20 minutes until eggs are cooked.
After breakfast a nother couple checked in and headed out on a river rafting trip on the nearby Congreal River. Olvin served us a wonderful lunch after which Ryan, the General Manager, took a group on a Waterfalls Descents and Canyoning Tour. Their trial descent was on the waterfalls just in front of the lodge. It looked like a lot of fun. Las Cascadas is for sale what a wonderful family compound it would make.
John and I hated to leave but we wanted to check out another
place – La Ensenada Resort near Tela, and only 75 minutes from the airport in San Pedro Sula. The resort is an all-inclusive and similar to Palma Real Resort near La Ceiba but not as extensive; however it is only seven years old so there are expansion plans. The resort was excellent with a
great pool, long beach, well-appointed rooms, and the buffet meals were very good. I think all trips should end with “me” time so I spent my time around the pool. The resort is busy on weekends but virtually empty during the week. My husband visited Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, which is one of the largest tropical botanical gardens in the world. It was established in 1926 by United Fruit Company to see what fruit and hardwood trees would be best for Honduras.
