A Simple Guy Enjoys Unimaginable Creature Comforts While Experiencing Nature

I think of myself as a relatively simple guy who doesn’t need a lot of creature comforts.  I grew up on a farm in southcentral Pennsylvania.  We lived in an old farm house that was built in the 1790s.  What it lacked in terms of comfort – no insulation to keep it warm in winter, heated by a woodstove in the dining room, and no indoor bathroom – it more than made up for in character and character-building opportunities for a kid with seven siblings. 

The only plumbing in the house was a kitchen sink.  In winter, we often had to carry water from that sink out to the barn where 50 thirsty steers didn’t care that the water line to the barn was frozen.  We had an outhouse – right up through the 1980s – that we affectionately called “the blue room.” 

My bathroom growing up on the farm- way too hot in the

summer and way too cold in winter.  Photo Credit:

One of the Enck Siblings.

In summer, our shower was a garden hose draped over the clothes line.  In winter, we bathed in a metal tub placed beside the dining room woodstove.  Saturday night bath time lasted for hours as each sibling took their turn. 

Considering that all my same-age friends were actually living in the 20^th century while I was growing up in my own personal version of “Little House on the Prairie,” I learned that I didn’t need a lot modern comforts to thrive as a sibling in a big family, or as a human being in a fast-paced society.  Still, I recognized that experiencing some creature comforts can be a really good thing, too.  That was true when I was a kid, and it’s still true today.  I had a fantastic chance to learn that lesson again when I was in Honduras to start establishing a network of sister birding clubs between the U.S. and Honduras.

Honduras is a land of contrasts.  It has unbelievable natural beauty, landscapes, and wildlife.  It also is experiencing ever-increasing human pressures on habitats leading to serious threats to the sustainability of its awe-inspiring wildlife.  By many measures, Hondurans live in one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere.  But, there also are major exceptions to that generality, including some amazing ecotourism infrastructure that can provide you with creature comforts well beyond your wildest dreams about what birding in paradise might be like.  During my time in Honduras, I was fortunate enough to have a couple of chances to experience birding in paradise at the Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.

Anyone used to the simple things in life can experience incredible sophistication at the Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.

The reception/lobby area at Pico Bonito.  Photo Credit: Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.  

          The Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito is located in the rainforest of the north coast near the city of La Ceiba in Atlantida Department.  Its 400+ acre property abuts the unsurpassed Pico

Nightingale Wren -- one of the humid, evergreen forest birds

I only encountered while staying at Pico Bonito.

Photo Credit: David Rodriguez Arias.

Bonito National Park.  About 420 bird species have been recorded on and near the Lodge property, including some of the most sought-after birds that can be found in Honduras.   I haven’t tallied all the bird species I saw while at the Lodge and surrounding areas, but it must be close to 200.  This includes many deep-forest species that I recorded nowhere else on my travels in Honduras. 

Miles of trails await anyone with a modicum of adventurous spirit.  Some trails are fairly easy walking, and one can access a wonderful, multi-story observation tower with a minimum of effort (only 5-10 minutes from the Lodge).  Other, longer trails require more effort, but the pay-off is well worth the effort.  Not too far from the Lodge, one can walk a trail along the top of a Rainforest-clad ridge where it is easy to imagine that humans have hiked this very ridge overlooking two watercourses for more than a thousand years.  Hikers can visit “Unbelievable Falls” and other

Those willing to hike a bit can be rewarded with a swim below

"Unbelievable Fall".  Photo Credit: Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.

unbelievable sights on the property.  The steep slopes and imposing presence of namesake Pico Bonito add to the amazing natural beauty of the landscape.

Obviously, birds are not the only denizens of the Rainforest here.  This area provides important habitat for an incredible diversity of mammalian species, from the ever-present Central American Agouti, to Kinkajous, Coatis, at least three species of Monkeys (which I saw frequently), and several species of feline predators.  Trail cams showing pictures on a screen in the lobby

An Ocelot prowls the forest at Pico Bonito.  Photo Credit:

James Adams and the Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito. 

area of the Lodge provide evidence that the property has suitable habitat for Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Jaguarondi, Margay, and more.  The diversity of butterflies, moths, and other insects will stun any insect-loving visitor.  If you are lucky, you also can encounter many species of frogs and toads, as well as an assortment of lizards and snakes.

OK, so the wildlife, habitats, and landscapes, and the experiences you can have in them are world-class.  What about the facility itself?  Fear not.  If you want to experience unimaginable creature comforts, total relaxation, and have friendly staff want to attend to all your interests, then the Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito is for you.

The first thing you will notice upon arrival is the beautiful, open-air reception/lobby building and several knowledgeable,

Walkway connecting the Reception/Lobby are to the

Restaurant.  Photo Credit: Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.

friendly staff waiting to check you in and provide you with a great experience from your first minute on-site.  There is an array of luxuriously appointed cabins, each with private bathroom, awaiting your visit.  The restaurant serves a wide variety of

Outdoor and indoor options are available at the restaurant.

Photo Credit: Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.

wonderful dishes, including fresh salads, various steak, seafood, and vegetarian dishes.  The desert menu is as wonderful as you’d expect after a meal fit for royalty.  All of that is topped off by a staff whose main raison d’etre seems to be to please you. 

View of a "Standard Cabin" at Pico Bonito.  Photo-credit: Lodge and Spa

at Pico Bonito.

For those who are looking for an opportunity to relax and unwind, you can take advantage of the full-service spa.  If you want some pampering, you can find it on the Spa menu.  Massage,

Quiet relaxation in the Spa surrounded by humid, evergreen

forest.  Photo Credit: Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito.

aromatherapy, yoga, and more are available.  Visitors who want to experience some nature without having to hike much to find it can make an appointment to visit both the Butterfly House and the Serpentarium.  Despite spending a fairly extensive amount of time in the field while there, the only place I saw any venomous snakes was in their glass-encased habitats in the Serpentarium. 

One can relax with Yoga surrounded by nature.

Photo credit: Jody Enck.

The Lodge has available a number of great, local guides who can lead you around the grounds and on the trail

s to observe birds and other wildlife.  They also can help you sign up for some adventures farther afield, including day trips to nearby mangrove wetlands, Botanical Gardens, dry forest where you can see Honduras’ only endemic bird – the Honduran Emerald (hummingbird), and more.  You also can sign up for multiple-day adventures, including white-water rafting and snorkeling. 

I was impressed every day during my visits to Pico Bonito by the commitment of the staff to ensure my visit was as wonderful as possible.  Like I said at the beginning of this post, I think of myself as a relatively simple guy who does not need to experience creature comforts to have a great time.  But, being provided with unexpected creature comforts while in a tropical Rainforest landscape provided me with an experience I will never forget.