"Tela, Punta Izopo, and Triunfo de la Cruz" Top 5 Page for this destination Tela by calcaf38


Tela Travel Guide: 76 reviews and 160 photos

Inside the old heart of Chiquita Banana - Tela
Inside the old heart of Chiquita Banana
A coast with much history

The North, or Atlantic coast of Honduras would be worth a long visit of its own. Ancient Spanish forts alternate with renowned natural reserves and intriguing Garifuna villages where life seems to have stood still. And then, to the East, you have a vast undeveloped area, the Mosquito Coast (La Moskitia).

If, like me, you have limited time, you can sample the best of the North coast in and around Tela, a pleasant and laidback tropical town where the hours tick away slowly.

I visited Tela during the rainy season, and it did rain - ferociously - but not for hours and days like it does where I live. Tela feels like a different country than the other places I visited in Honduras. The Tela area is trying to refashion itself as a Caribbean cruise destination, which some of the locals view as an opportunity, and others as a catastrophe. Time will tell...

A great book to read in Tela
A great book to read in Tela - Tela

"Banana, the fate of the fruit that changed the world" by Dan Koeppel is essential reading if you are going to spend time in Northern Honduras - or if you are interested in Central American politics of the 20th Century, and in the titanic struggle between Standard Fruit and United Fruit.

Besides politics, the book describes the culture of a fragile fruit. Bananas are cloned: a Cavendish banana from Guatemala is genetically identical to a Cavendish banana from Malaysia. This makes bananas prone to diseases. (Scientists all over the world are trying to come up with a new breed before viruses and fungi catch up with the previous breed.)

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Colorful region packed with history and natural wonders
  • Cons:A possible target for anarchic future overdevelopment
  • In a nutshell:Off the beaten path, and fascinating
  • Last visit to Tela: Jun 2009
  • Intro Updated Jul 15, 2009
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Reviews (16)

Triunfo de la Cruz, a Garifuna Village - Tela Triunfo de la Cruz, a Garifuna Village Things to Do (10)

The Garifuna are an ethnic group of mixed ancestry who live on the Caribbean coast from Belize to Nicaragua. They... more travel advice

Lunch in a Garifuna village - Tela Lunch in a Garifuna village Things to Do (10)

All Garifuna Tours include a lunch in one of the Garifuna villages which are close to the natural reserves (the lunch is... more travel advice

This one is worth clicking on - Tela The Punta Izopo Natural Refuge Things to Do (10)

Tela is surrounded by three renowned natural reserves: Punta Sal, Jardín Botánico Lancetilla, and Punta Izopo. I chose... more travel advice

The handsomest side of Tela - Tela Sultry Rio Tela Things to Do (10)

Tela is bisected by a small river with attractive banks and pleasant views. Uncharacteristically, there are no streets... more travel advice

Comments (5)

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  • toonsarah's Profile Photo
    toonsarah Aug 3, 2011 at 4:42 AM Report Abuse

    Great page. I was fascinated by your descriptions and photos of the relics of the banana trade here. The Garifuna tour sounds great, as does the caracol soup!

  • MalenaN's Profile Photo
    MalenaN Dec 17, 2009 at 10:39 AM Report Abuse

    I had planed to visit Tela last July but because of the difficulty with transport at the time I went to Guatemala insted. Hope I can visit Tela another time instead! Sounds like Pollos Al Carbon was a nice place to stay in when the rain poured down.

  • craic's Profile Photo
    craic Aug 2, 2009 at 10:40 AM Report Abuse

    oh what fun you had - you had the time of your life

  • Bwana_Brown's Profile Photo
    Bwana_Brown Jul 21, 2009 at 5:44 PM Report Abuse

    I love the way you explore OTBP places! Your rain shelter experience at Pollos Al Carbon is a great memory but my favourite is the old half-wrecked pier with the ship anchored off-shore! Kudos to you for experiencing the Garifuna culture too.

  • Nemorino's Profile Photo
    Nemorino Jul 19, 2009 at 7:19 AM Report Abuse

    Glad you like the mangrove environment. My daughter once spent a year in Brazil doing research on the effects of oil pollution on the mangrove trees. Good that they've found a new use for the derelict Tela Railroad Company headquarters.

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