Sambo Creek (Beach Trip)

After a busy start to 2011, all of a sudden it was April, and we hadn’t taken a break from our project work since Christmas.  Although we’ve traveled plenty in 2011 on work-related stuff, it was time to go relax somewhere and get recharged for the next few months.  With a change of clothes, our IPods, some sunscreen, and sandals we took off for the north coast of Honduras to a small pueblo outside of La Ceiba called Sambo Creek.

The pueblo of Sambo Creek

Beachfront, Sambo Creek

This being our first trip to the area we were unfamiliar with how to arrive at the hotel that we’d picked out and ended up getting off the bus a little prematurely.  We wandered around for a while before a local boy pointed us in the right direction.  He led us to a small river where we waded across to the beach.  From there the hotel was only a few hundred meters down.  It was the first time we’ve ever arrived at a hotel via the beach with sandy feet and rolled up pant legs.  Once at the hotel we pretty much kicked our feet up and lounged in the pool or strolled down the beach while taking a breather from ordinary volunteer life in Honduras.

The hotel, Helen’s, was one of the nicer places that we’ve stayed at.  Owned by Helena, a Honduran who lived many years in Canada, the place was staffed with an interesting mix of Garifuna locals and French-Canadian ex-pats.  The hotel included two pools (one open to the public and one for guests of the hotel only) a tasty restaurant (the only option around), nice rooms, and a well thought-out layout.  It was very secluded so if you’re looking for night-life you should get off the bus in La Ceiba, the major city in this region.  We enjoyed the rural setting that included horses and cattle roaming the beaches.

Taken from the beach facing inland

This region of the North Coast is popular among international tourist as a jumping off point for the Bay Islands.  During our stay we encountered several European and North American travelers; by far the most foreigners we’ve seen in one place so far in Honduras.

All browned and relaxed from a couple days of nothingness, I think we’re ready to get back to work – wrapping up old projects and starting some new ones…

Sunset from beach at Helen's