La Ceiba is a port city on the northern coast of
HondurasHonduras is a republic in Central America. It was formerly known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras...
in
Central AmericaManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
. It is located on the southern edge of the
Caribbean SeaThe Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean situated in the tropics of the Western hemisphere, bounded to the south and west by the American landmass, with the North Atlantic Ocean proper to the northeast and the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest...
forming part of the south eastern boundary of the
Gulf of HondurasThe Gulf or Bay of Honduras is a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea, indenting the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. From north to south, it runs for approximately 200 km from Dangriga, Belize, to La Ceiba, Honduras....
. With a population of over 170,000 living in approximately 170 residential areas (called colonias or barrios), it is the third largest
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
in the country and the capital of the Honduran department of
AtlántidaAtlántida is a department located on the north Caribbean shore of Honduras, Central America. The capital is the port city of La Ceiba.In the past decades the tourism took over to become the most important legitimate economic source for the coastal area. In 2005 it had an estimated population of...
. La Ceiba was officially founded on August 23, 1877. The city is named for giant
ceibaCeiba is the name of a genus of many species of large trees found in tropical areas, including Mexico, Central and South America, The Bahamas, Belize and the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia...
trees which grew near the old dock, which finally fell into the sea in late 2007. Its climate is tropical, with a latitude of 15° 46.0 and a longitude of 086° 50.0. The city has been officially proclaimed the "Eco-Tourism Capital of Honduras" as well as the "Entertainment Capital of Honduras". Every year, on the third or fourth Saturday of May, the city holds its
famous carnivalThe La Ceiba Carnival , is an annual celebration in La Ceiba, Honduras held every 3rd or 4th Saturday of May. The event is in held in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of the city...
to commemorate
Isidore the LaborerIsidore the Laborer, also known as Isidore the Farmer, , was a Spanish day laborer known for his goodness toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and of Madrid and of La Ceiba, Honduras....
(
SpanishSpanish or Castilian is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that originated in northern Spain and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile, evolving into the principal language of government and trade in the Iberian peninsula...
San Isidro Labrador). During this time, the city is host to over 500,000 tourists.
History
In 1872, a man named Manuel Hernandez built a small shack under the Ceiba tree that was at one point by the old docks. Over time, more and more people from all over present-day Honduras (especially the departments of Olancho and Santa Barbara), and from around the world settled in La Ceiba. These people were attracted by the cultivation of bananas that became popular in the region. In the late 19th century, the banana business caught the attention of big North American banana companies such as the Vaccaro Brothers' Standard Fruit Company from New Orleans. This new economic activity created a draw which caused La Ceiba to become more populated by national and international immigrants. The current neighborhood known as Barrio Ingles was the first recongnized neighborhood in the city and was named so because of the number of english speaking people living in that area. At that point the main thorougfare of La Ceiba was present-day Avenida La Republica, which is where the train tracks were set. These train tracks were built by the
Standard Fruit CompanyNow named Dole Food Company, Standard Fruit Company was established in 1924 by The Vaccaro Brothers. Its forerunner was started in 1899, when Sicilian immigrants Joseph, Luca and Felix Vaccaro, together with Salvador D'Antoni, began importing bananas to New Orleans from La Ceiba, Honduras...
(now Standard Fruit de Honduras), now a
DoleDole may refer to:* A gift of food or money in charity distributed or doled out ; specifically, various kinds of payments from government funds, such as:**the 'grain dole' or 'corn dole' of Ancient Rome...
subsidiary. This company is laregly responsible for the early growth of the city.
La Ceiba was declared a municipality on August 23, 1877. At that time
Marco Aurelio SotoMarco Aurelio Soto was President of Honduras from August 27, 1876 until October 19 1883. he was known as a liberal. He was a reforming President and had a great impact on the Honduras of his time, including the establishment of the Biblioteca Nacional de Honduras in 1880....
was the President. La Ceiba was the center of banana and
pineapplePineapple is the common name for an edible tropical plant and also its fruit. It is native to the southern part of Brazil, and Paraguay. Pineapple is eaten fresh or canned and is available as a juice or in juice combinations. It is used in desserts, salads, as a complement to meat dishes and in...
business and the regional economy depended laregly on it. This led to the birth of newer and larger national companies such as:
- Cerveceria Hondureña, the national brewing company and holder of the Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines internationally. The Coca-Cola Company claims that the beverage is sold in more than 200 countries...
licence in Honduras. Founded in 1918
- Fabrica de Manteca y Jabon Atlantida, known as La Blanquita, at one point, the largest producer of consumer goods in Honduras, now defunct.
- Banco Atlantida, oldest Bank
A bank is a financial institution licensed by a government. Its primary activities include borrowing and lending money.Many other financial activities were allowed over time. For example banks are important players in financial markets and offer financial services such as investment funds...
in the country, founded in 1913
- Mazapan School
- Brief Information:Mazapan School is a small 1-12 co-educational bilingual school offering a U.S.-style college preparatory instruction program. Owned and operated by Standard Fruit de Honduras , Mazapan School is located in La Ceiba, Honduras, Central America...
, the first bilingual school of the nation, the oldest high school and second oldest elementary school in the city.
The first municipal building or
city hallA city hall or town hall is the chief administrative building of a city or town's administration and usually houses the city or town council, its associated departments and their employees...
was located in the corner of 2da Calle and Avenida Atlantida, where the present day Ferreteria Kawas warehouse is. The building was made of
woodWood is an organic material; in the strict sense wood is produced as secondary xylem in the stems of trees . In a living tree it transfers water and nutrients to the leaves and other growing tissues, and has a support function, enabling woody plants to reach large sizes or to stand up for themselves...
and in 1903 it was burnt down due to
vandalismVandalism is the behaviour attributed to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
from people wanting to get rid of private property ownership records in La Ceiba. The municipal building was again set on fire on March 7, 1914. The
Municipal CorporationA municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
moved the offices more south of the city where it was again set on fire in 1924. It was shortly built in its current location, a piece of land donated by Manuel Mejia.
Currently La Ceiba is the third largest city in
HondurasHonduras is a republic in Central America. It was formerly known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras...
, the second most important port town after
Puerto CortesPuerto Cortés is a city in the Cortés department of Honduras.-Geography:It is on the Caribbean Sea coast, north of San Pedro Sula and east of Omoa, at 15.85° N, 87.94° W. It has a natural bay....
in the department of Cortes. It has the lowest percentage of illiteracy among inhabitants in the country and one of the largest concentration of
bilingual educationBilingual education involves teaching most subjects in school through two different languages - in the United States, instruction occurs in English and languages such as Spanish or Chinese, with varying amounts of each language used in accordance with the program model. The following are several...
schools.
Economy
La Ceiba's economy is made up of mostly
commerceCommerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information, or money between two or more entities...
and
agricultureAgriculture is the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and...
. Pineapple is the city's major export. Its largest producer is the
Standard Fruit CompanyNow named Dole Food Company, Standard Fruit Company was established in 1924 by The Vaccaro Brothers. Its forerunner was started in 1899, when Sicilian immigrants Joseph, Luca and Felix Vaccaro, together with Salvador D'Antoni, began importing bananas to New Orleans from La Ceiba, Honduras...
, a subsidiary of the
Dole Food CompanyDole Food Company, Inc. is an American-based agricultural multinational corporation headquartered in Westlake Village, California and is the leading grower and packer of such food items as bananas, pineapples , grapes, strawberries, and other fresh and frozen fruits. It is a leader in...
, which operates all over northern Honduras and is based in La Ceiba.
TourismTourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other...
also plays a large role in the city's economy (see below). Since its development in the late 20th century, the La Ceiba Sea Port has played an ever encreasing role in the economy of the city. Currently, this port represents a vital economic artery to La Ceiba's growing tourist industry. Additionally, the La Ceiba sea port is home to one of the finest boatyards in the north west Caribbean (According to “Western Caribbean Cruising Guidebook”). Known as the La Ceiba Shipyard, this company offers a complete group of marine services for all types of sea going vessels.
Education in La Ceiba
La Ceiba is home to many
public schoolsIn most of the world, excluding England and Wales and some Commonwealth countries, a public school is an educational institution that is funded with tax revenue and most commonly administered by a local government or government agency...
, among the largest is Escuela
Francisco MorazanGeneral José Francisco Morazán Quezada was a Central American statesman, lawyer, orator, and general born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in 1792; he was executed as a traitor in San Jose, Costa Rica, 15 September, 1842...
along Avenida San Isidro, which is considered the main street of the city. Instituto Manuel Bonilla is the largest public
High SchoolHigh school is the name used in some parts of the world, particularly in Scotland, Northern America and Oceania, to describe an institution that provides all or part of secondary education...
in the City with over 5,000 registered students.
There are also many
private schoolPrivate schools, also known as independent schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public funds...
s in La Ceiba. It is also home to many other private bilingual education schools, which offer education in both Spanish and English. Most of these offer both a Honduran Bachillerato Diploma (equivalent of
High School diplomaA high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education...
) and a U.S. accredited High School diploma. These schools usually offer grades 1 - 11/12 with some offering
pre-schoolA nursery school is a school for children between the ages of three and five, staffed by qualified teachers and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare. It is generally considered part of early childhood education...
education.
The first
universityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in the city was the Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlantico (often called CURLA), which is a
public UniversityA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities...
run by the larger Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras (UNAH). The first
private universityPrivate universities are not operated by governments though they may or may not receive funding . Depending on the region, private universities may be subject to government regulation...
to open in the city was Univerisidad Tecnologica de Honduras(UTH), which opened in 1995. At the time the college only offered night classes, using the classrooms in a local private high school. In 2002 the college built their own campus. 2002 also marked the opening of the
Universidad Catolica de HondurasThe Universidad Católica de Honduras, officially named "Universidad Católica de Honduras Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz" , or "UNICAH" as it is affectionately called among its students, is a private university in Honduras run by the Catholic Church...
, run by the catholic church. Additionally, development of a new campus in La Ceiba for the
Universidad Tecnologica CentroamericanaThe Central American Technological University ' is a private coeducational institution with campuses in the three main cities of Honduras: San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Tegucigalpa.-History:...
- UNITEC is currently under way as of 2008.
Tourism
La Ceiba has long been known as the
tourismTourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other...
capital of Honduras, due to its proximity to the beach, active
night lifeNightlife is the collective term for any entertainment that is available and more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning. It includes the pubs, nightclubs, discothèques, bars, live music, concert, cabaret, small theatres, small cinemas, shows, and sometimes restaurants a...
, and a variety of parks and recreational areas in and around the city. Another factor contributing to the city's tourism is the city port which provides ferry services to the Bay Islands/Islas de la Bahia in the
CaribbeanThe Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts...
. Ferries from this port offer daily service to the main islands of Utila and Roatan.
The area around La Ceiba has many parks and natural reserves. Its most recognized natural area is the
Pico BonitoPico Bonito National Park is located on the north coast of Honduras, in the mountain range called Nombre de Dios, to the southwest of the city La Ceiba. It is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor ....
(Beautiful Peak)
National ParkA national park is a reserve of natural or semi-natural land, declared or owned by a national government, set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, and protected from most development...
. This park's most recognized feature, Pico Bonito on the "Nombre de Dios"
mountain rangeA mountain range is a chain of mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys. Individual mountains within the same mountain range do not necessarily have the same geology, though they often do; they may be a mix of different orogeny, for example volcanoes,...
, is 2435 meters high and provides a back drop for the city. The
Cangrejal RiverThe Cangrejal River or Río Cangrejal is a river in La Ceiba in Honduras....
, popular for its Class III-IV river rafting, borders the eastern edge of the city and the Cuero and Salado
Wildlife RefugeA wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally-occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
with its wild manatees is located a few miles to the west of the city.
Semana Santa (
Holy WeekHoly Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
) is one of the cities busiest tourist seasons. During this week tourists from all over the country flock to the city to enjoy its sun, beach, and very active night life during that week.
The busiest tourist season by far is the week leading up to the internationally renowned "
Gran Carnaval Internacional de La CeibaThe La Ceiba Carnival , is an annual celebration in La Ceiba, Honduras held every 3rd or 4th Saturday of May. The event is in held in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of the city...
" which is a city-wide
celebrationCelebration may refer to:*Party, a social gathering*The celebration of the Eucharist*The observance of a feast day or holidayCelebration may also be:*"Celebration" , a song by Kool & The Gang, notably covered by Kylie Minogue...
in honor of the city's
patron saintA patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges...
St. IsidoreIsidore the Laborer, also known as Isidore the Farmer, , was a Spanish day laborer known for his goodness toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and of Madrid and of La Ceiba, Honduras....
(San Isidro). During this week (the week leading up to the third Saturday in May), many neighborhoods will have their smaller celebrations in one or a couple of their streets. On Saturday afternoon is when the big
paradeA parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
with elaborate
floatsA float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle or towed behind one, which is a component of many festive parades, such as the Maltese Carnival, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Key West Fantasy Fest parade, and the Tournament of Roses Parade...
takes place along Avenida San Isidro, the city's main thoroughfare. After the parade the locals and tourists all have a celebration along that same road, where there are
standsStands can refer to:*The Stands, an English rock band*The seating or standing areas at a sports venue *Stands, a supernatural power in the manga and anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure....
that sell
foodFood is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be eaten or drunk by an animal, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure. Items considered food may be sourced from plants, animals or other categories such as fungus or fermented products like alcohol...
,
beerBeer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal grains—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize , and rice are widely...
, drinks, and even souvenirs.
Transportation in La Ceiba
Buses and taxis make up most of the public transportation in the city, with numerous buses serving almost every available route in the city. Taxi-cabs are numerous in the city, costing as little as L.20.00 (around $1.00 as of 2008) if the destination is within the city limits.
The pier to the east of the city offers transportation via ferry to 2 of the 3 major islands that make up Islas de la Bahia; Roatan and Utila. The
Golosón International AirportGolosón International Airport , also known as La Ceiba Airport, is an airport located on the western side of the city of La Ceiba on the north coast of Honduras.-Airlines and destinations:...
to the west of town offers flights to the other major cities in the country as well as other towns in the Mosquitia Region of Honduras in the east. This airport is hub to
Islena AirlinesIsleña Airlines is an airline based in La Ceiba, Honduras. It operates scheduled and charter passenger flights to Miami and to destinations in Honduras and the Cayman Islands as part of the TACA regional airline system...
(a local
air carrierAn airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit.Airlines vary...
which is part of the
Grupo TacaTACA is a international airline headquartered in San Salvador, El Salvador. Its IATA two letter code is TA.TACA as the trade name "brand" comprises a group of five independently IATA coded and owned Central American airlines, whose operations are combined to function as one and a number of other...
).
Distinguished natives of La Ceiba
- José Azcona del Hoyo
José Simón Azcona del Hoyo was President of Honduras from January 27, 1986 to January 27, 1990 for the Liberal Party of Honduras . He was born in La Ceiba in Honduras.-Career:...
- former Honduras President (1986-1990, deceased).
- Dunia Elvir
Dunia Elvir is a television journalist and producer.-Early life:Dunia has 2 brothers Orlando and Carlos Elvir. She is the oldest, Orlando is 30 years old and Carlitos is 27...
- journalist, works for TelemundoTelemundo is a Spanish-language American television network. Angel Ramos launched the brand with a TV station in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1954 -- and it evolved into the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world...
in Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
- Steve Van Buren
Stephen W. Van Buren is a former professional American football player who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League from 1944 to 1951.-Early life:...
- former NFL player
- Wilson Palacios
Wilson Roberto Palacios Suazo is a Honduran footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He played as a central midfielder for previous club Wigan Athletic, but at Olimpia he played regularly on the right of midfield.-Victoria:Palacios, along with his brothers , started...
- FootballFootball is the name of several similar team sports, all of which involve kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just "football" or "soccer"...
player in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur.
External links