Hotel Rio

The room had hot water, and the pool was clean and a refreshing temperature. We loved how warm and welcoming our stay felt, with the restaurant, bar, and little hiking trail on site, rafting meet-up and swimming across the road, and a lovely restaurant area full of tropical plants, birds, hammocks, and darts, with a great view of Bejuco Falls. Since it was low season, we were the only guests and had the kitchen to ourselves. Pepe, the owner, welcomed us with a free upgrade to a larger room. It had three ceiling fans and a big floor fan to keep it cool, screened windows to keep mosquitoes out, and a deck looking toward Pico Bonito. Walter was a gem. He picked us up from the ferry, stopped at an ATM and a grocery store with us for 400L ($15.23), and even drove us to Omega without charge. Omega charged $21 for a shuttle back to the ferry. We went rafting through both hotels with Osnie & Pablo and had an incredibly awesome time. We paid 900L ($34.26) per person through Hotel Rio. We expected Omega’s trip to cover a longer stretch, but it was the same stretch and cost $60 per person. Both outings were great, and the river changes every day; the guides offer different experiences, though Omega’s price felt steep after Hotel Rio’s. Our room at Rio was around $41 a night, compared with $71 at Omega. We couldn’t decide between Hotel Rio and Omega, so we stayed two nights at each, and after just two nights at Hotel Rio we were very sad to leave. We can’t recommend staying here enough.

The host was super friendly and picked us up in La Ceiba, then dropped us off again after our stay. The property is beautiful, with great views all around. We got a free room upgrade because there was space. There’s river access and a private waterfall trail on the property, and the pool was great for rainy weather when the river wasn’t swimmable. For backpackers, it’s cheaper than Jungle River lodge, including the activities.

We only had two nights at Hotel Rio because of our itinerary, but wished we could have stayed much longer. It’s a beautiful, quiet place with a clean pool, jungle and waterfall views, and several relaxing hammock areas. Our room was upgraded for free to a bigger one with very comfortable beds. Walter and his wife were the kindest hosts we’ve met so far on our Central America trip. Walter really takes time to talk and answer questions, and does everything he can to make your stay memorable. His pickup service costs much less than a taxi, and the tours are cheaper than nearby operators. In low season the restaurant was closed, but Walter offered to shop for us, and the kitchen was well equipped with everything we wanted. The property is clean and well maintained. Staying here is a must, not just a recommendation. Thanks Walter.

The owner supports the local ecosystem and is an environmentalist, and this is the only Honduran owned and run lodge in the Pico Bonito area. The facilities are extremely clean, and the staff are so warm, welcoming, and accommodating. They can arrange white water rafting, hikes, and other tours. Backpackers can contact them about booking and availability. There’s a full kitchen for cooking, very comfortable beds, hot water showers, lovely hammocks, and the best mountain views. Don’t hesitate to book, you won’t regret it.