When you hear that a city in Honduras is known for the biggest Carnaval in Central America, and that it happens to fall during your birthday month, you immediately book a room and a flight, and get yourself there for the party! Keep reading for details on how best to enjoy La Ceiba Carnaval!
What is it?
The coastal city of La Ceiba holds their Carnaval each year to celebrate San Idiros, the patron saint of the city. For a whole week, the city is in party mode: each night of the week, different neighborhoods host parties in celebration. At the end of the week, on Saturday, the parade takes place. Filled with dancing, drinking, and a general air of celebration, this is one event you don't want to miss!
When is it?
La Ceiba Carnaval happens every May. It usually falls on the third or fourth week of the month; the exact dates are determined by the tourism board that operates in the city. The festivities last for a whole week, with neighborhoods hosting parties every night in the week leading up to the finale. The last day, the city puts on a huge parade that lasts for hours. And after the parade, it's time to party!
What to expect?
The Parade
Part of the fun of La Ceiba Carnaval is watching the parade! It starts around 2pm, though you can definitely go earlier to eat or drink, and find a good spot to watch the action. During the parade, the spectators can expect to see: Honduran horse riders perform tricks; traditional Gairfuna, an ethnic group in the country, dance down the street; motorcycle stunt drivers; floats of all shapes and sizes. Another fun aspect of the parade is trying to catch beads; many of the participants throw colorful beads out to the crowd, just like at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It is a lot of fun trying to catch them before your neighbors!
The Party
After the parade finishes (usually as the sun is setting), the streets open up to a party. People eat, drink and dance to music at different stages set up all along the Main Street. Some of these stages feature performances by local dance groups or singers. Make sure to explore the whole street so you don't miss out on anything!
Food & Drinks
You will not go hungry during La Ceiba Carnval! All long the parade route, small stalls are set up serving all kinds of tasty treats. The food is extremely affordable and delicious. If you are looking to try some traditional Honduran food, look for any of the baleada stands: handmade tortillas stuffed with beans, cheese and your choice of extras (my favorite is avocado!).
Refreshments like soda, beer and water are also sold all along the parade route. Drinking in the streets is not prohibited like it is in some countries during the festivities, so enjoy yourself! Make sure to find the Tito Aguacate truck to try calambres, a drink invented in one of the oldest bars in the capital of Tegucigalpa.
Safety
I felt extremely safe during the parade. There was a big police presence along the route, making sure people weren't acting too crazy. While pickpocketing can definitely occur, just be smart about how much money you bring out. You don't need a whole lot to have fun!
Bathrooms
When you are partying and drinking, you don't often think ahead of time where you will relieve yourself. Some of the public restaurants will not allow people to use the bathroom unless they are customers. Other are more relaxed but may require you to pay a small fee (usually around 5 lempiras). Make sure to have small change ready, or be prepared to buy something at a restaurant. There are a few gas stations that had bathrooms open, but long lines often form there, since they are free. Another option is to run back to your hotel, if it is close.
Where to stay?
During La Ceiba Carnaval, I stayed at a hotel called Casa Luisa. It was located only two blocks from the parade route, making it very convenient to get to the action quickly! It also was useful to have a place close by during the festivities to go and use the bathroom. Sometimes public restrooms were hard to find, or had long lines. Read all about my stay.
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Have you been to La Ceiba Carnaval? Share you experience in the comments below!