La Ceiba Carnival, Honduras
Limón Carnival, Costa Rica
San Juan River Carnival, Nicaragua
Content of this article
What is the Carnival of La Ceiba?
.
The Carnival of La Ceiba, also known as the International Carnival of Friendship, is celebrated for two weeks in northern Honduras. The Carnival of La Ceiba is known for being divided into two parts. The first 8 days are celebrated a large number of carnivals or small festivities that take place in the different localities of the city. During this first week of festivals there are different sports, musical and commercial activities. The following week the evening parties take place where musical events, stalls food stalls and live concerts are organized.
The main celebration takes place on Saturday, May 22, when the great parade takes place, taking the Avenida de San Isidro and ending at the beach. The main avenue of La Ceiba is filled with carrozas and national and international groups, which has turned the Carnival of La Ceiba into the second most important carnival in the country, receiving around 400,000 visitors a year.
Thousands of visitors from every corner of the country come to be part of the most colorful celebrations of the year. In addition, other visitors from sister countries also come to be part of the festivities. Some of these countries are Mexico and the United States.
The parade is the most awaited celebration of the carnivals of La Ceiba
.
When is the Carnival of La Ceiba?
.
The carnival of La Ceiba in Nicaragua lasts for two weeks. Lthe celebrations will begin approximately on May 8 and end on May 22.
Carnival History of La Ceiba
The carnivals of La Ceiba or the International Carnival of Friendship have relatively recent beginnings. During the early 20th century the carnivals were known asLa Feria Isidra, celebrating the Patron Saint of the town. The election of the Queen of the Fair was part of the celebrations some time later and in 1968 was when the first parades were held with only 5 floats.
During 1976 they began to hold the first carnivals or minor events within some localities which was then adapted to the other neighborhoods.
Today, the Carnival of La Ceiba has become one of the most important events in the country, which attracts thousands of people from the country and the region.
Where is the Carnival of La Ceiba
?
The carnivals of La Ceiba are held in the city of La Ceiba, a town located in the extreme north of Honduras. Minor parades or “carnavalitos” are held in the different neighborhoods of the city, while the main parade takes place on San Isidro Avenue.
The great parade of La Ceiba Carnival is loaded with colors
.
How the Carnival of La Ceiba is celebrated
.
The carnival of La Ceiba is celebrated in commemoration of the Patron Saint, San Isidro Labrador. The celebration lasts approximately two weeks, being the last day the most important one when the parade takes place on the main avenue. The first day of the celebration is the proclamation of the patron saint of La Ceiba, San Isidro Labrador.
On the first day of the celebration theQueen of Carnival is proclaimed and during the first 8 days of the festivities, small parades and events known as “carnavalitos” are held. In these events the localsorganize activities related to national production, as well as activities related to local gastronomy, music and dancing.
After this first stage, the carnivals are celebrated during the night until the early morning. Here the different neighborhoods organize events such as parades and live music concerts.
Finally, during the last day of the carnival is when the great parade takes place on the main avenue of the city. The avenue is filled with groups that dance, sing and parade.
Tips for going to the Carnival of La Ceiba
.
If you want to attend these carnivals, it is important that you plan your trip in advance, since these celebrations are the second largest in the country and during these celebrations congregate from 300,000 to 500,000 people who come from different regions of the country and the world.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:
Events in Carnaval de La Ceiba
.
The festivities open with the conmemoration or coronation of the queen which takes place 2 weeks before the big parade. After this, small processions of the different schools of the city take place.
The first 8 days of the celebration are heldsmall carnivals within the different neighborhoods and quarters of the town. During these small events, people perform playful activities, music and cultural events.
After this first stage of the carnival, the so-called night parties organized by the local neighborhoods take place, with concerts and different activities. Finally, the last day of the carnival is the Grand Main Parade of the carnival, which has dozens of groupings, floats and dancers.
On the last day of the carnival, the main parade takes place from the south of San Isidro Avenue, going all along the avenue and ending at the square. The parades are loaded with colors, costumes, typical costumes, music, dance and joy.
Musicians and dancers are part of the La Ceiba carnival parade
.
Carnival Parades of La Ceiba
The Grand Carnival Parade takes place on the last day of the carnivals. The event is a large colorful spectacle featuring carrozas, carnival groups and comparsas filled with dancers in extraordinary costumes.
The parade is led by the military band, followed by thebeauty queens on large trucks. The groups are also part of the parade between each carriage, performing some choreographies and wearing traditional and colorful costumes.
Parade route
La Ceiba’s big carnival parade takes place on the city’s Main Avenue
.
The parade takes place on San Isidro Avenue and ends at the beach.
Las baleadas are typical dishes of the region consumed during carnival
What to eat during Carnival in La Ceiba
.
During the celebrations, the streets are filled with small local food stalls where people can buy different national dishes, as well as beer and other beverages.
One of the typical drinks of the region is the Guaro, an alcoholic beverage made from slightly sweet cane. You can also find the characteristic baleadas, a flour tortilla filled with mashed beans.
The city of La Ceiba has some local eateries that you can visit and try some of their different dishes. You can visit La Palapa, El Jardin de Susana or Restaurant Rainbow Village where they offer local food, seafood and international food.
Guaro is a regional alcoholic drink that is consumed during carnivals
.
Travel Insurance
From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:
What to see and do inside La Ceiba Carnival
.
The main avenue and the different neighborhoods of La Ceiba are filled with activities and different events in which you can participate. During the celebrations you can watch the big parade composed of groups with colorful costumes, dancing and celebrating. In addition, you can also see the large allegorical floats and the hundreds of musicians that accompany the celebration.
You canvisit the different food stalls that take place in the streets and avenues so you can experience the different street or local food dishes. Also, you can approach the different stalls or street vendors selling crafts and souvenirs.
Finally you can attend the coronation of the queen or the live music concerts. These events are great fun and you will meet lots of locals and tourists.
What to see and do outside of La Ceiba Carnival
.
La Ceiba has several tourist attractions that you definitely cannot miss if you decide to spend your next carnival in this city. Some of the attractions are:
Cayos Cochinos
.
It consists of two small islands and 13 other coral cays 30 kilometers from La Ceiba. These keys have no roads and the only way to access them is by water transport from the different boats from La Ceiba.
San Isidro Cathedral
.
It is the main cathedral of the city and pays homage to the patron saint of the town.
CURLA – UNAH Entomological Museum
.
It has approximately 15,000 samples of insects, the largest collection in northern Honduras. It is one of the most important educational institutions in the region that attracts different national and international tourists.
Safety at the Carnival of La Ceiba
.
Honduras is not a particularly safe country, however, La Ceiba you can consider safe. Despite this we recommend that you avoid going out during the night, keep your belongings in your place of accommodation and do not carry large amounts of money with you when you go to celebrate carnivals or take a walk around the city.
Also, remember to keep an eye on your surroundings and contact the relevant authorities if you manage to identify any unusual activity. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your items safe:
Weather at the Carnival of La Ceiba
The weather in La Ceiba has a pleasant climate, although with some humidity as is customary in coastal regions. The temperature during carnivals is around 32 degrees Celsius, with little chance of precipitation and 13 hours of sunlight.
The carnivals of La Ceiba is the second largest of the country
How to get to La Ceiba Carnival
.
How to get there by plane
.
The closest airport to the city of La Ceiba is the Golosón International Airport 9 kilometers away from the city. From here you can transport yourself to La Ceiba using the different means of transportation that the city has to offer.
How to get there by car
.
From the airport you can take a cab or transport yourself by private vehicle. Taking the highway La Tela, or also known as CA13, the trip takes about 10 minutes. If you decide to take a cab, the approximate cost is 30 dollars.
Where to stay in La Ceiba Carnival
.
Hotel Las Hamacas
.
3-star hotel 3.5 kilometers from the city center. All rooms are air-conditioned. The hotel has a restaurant area with room service. Facilities include free internet, children’s playground and pingpong table.
Hotel Casa Luisa
Hotel located 750 meters from the city center. All rooms have air conditioning and TV. They offer breakfast, terraces and a garden.
Hotel Casa Marina
Hotel 1.3 kilometers from the city center. The facilities have a swimming pool, garden and terrace. The rooms have free internet.
We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.
Thank you for reading
.
If you liked this article and found it useful share it on your social networks or collaborate by inviting us for a coffee at Paypal so we can continue creating useful content. Click here to collaborate:
