On the southern coast of Honduras, lies a tiny town called Coyolito. Located in a bay along the Fonseca Golf, the town can only be reached by one road that winds there from the interior of Honduras. There isn't much to the ‘town center' aside from a few shops and the ferry across the bay to the island of Amapala. However, I recently discovered a hidden gem there: VIP Coyolito. This family run hotel is the ideal place to unwind for a weekend, with the friendliest and most helpful owners.

Location

If you are looking for a quiet place to escape to for a few days and a taste of local Honduran flavor, then I highly recommend VIP Coyolito. The hotel is located 2 minutes from the ferry terminal. From the balconies of the rooms, guests can marvel at views of the bay, the island of Amapala across the water, as well as glimpses of both Nicaragua and El Salvador in the distance.

The Grounds

VIP Coyolito is essentially a huge mansion, built from scratch by the owners. All of the rooms face the water and come with air conditioning. I should note that our bathroom only had a cold water shower, which honestly was welcome after the hot days outside. The balconies of the upper rooms offer wonderful views during the day and of the sunsets each night. The hotel features doubles, triples and family sized rooms, as well as suites with kitchenettes attached. Free parking is available.

Guests can enjoy homemade food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the kitchen (more on food later!). There is also a full bar on the second floor, with plenty of room in front for dancing the night away.

In addition, guests looking to beat the heat can take a dip in the small pool. There is also access to a a private beach for those looking to swim in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Be aware that the southern coast of Honduras does experiences tides; the beach, therefore, is not open all day for sunbathers.

For those looking to relax or play, VIP Coyolito has you covered! Several hammocks are tied up around the hotel, perfect for reading a book, or taking a nap. They also have a foosball table and darts for those interested.

Activities

• Visit the island, Amapala:

After breakfast the first day, the owners of the hotel encouraged my boyfriend and I to take a ferry over and explore the island of Amapala before returning for lunch. This island once served as the capital of Honduras, and was a major port in the past. Now, the sleepy island mostly welcomes locals from the area and curious visitors. The owners of VIP Coyolito were kind enough to send one of their staff members with us on our journey to ensure our safety and to make sure we were not ripped off with any pricing.

The ferry across cost us 30 lempiras per person (about $1). Once on the island, we hired a mototaxi to take us on a tour. He drove us to several beaches and explained more about the history of the island. it was very interesting (though it was all in Spanish, just FYI for English-speaking visitors).

• Private beach:

A huge bonus of VIP Coyolito is the access to a private beach. The tides hide the sad every 6 hours, but when it is open, it makes a wonderful place to swim or search for seashells.

• Kayaking:

The hotel has kayaks available free for guests to use. Simply ask the owners if interested. They can notify you of the best time of day to take advantage of them, due to the changing tides.

Food & Drinks

A huge highlight of my visit to VIP Coyolito was the food! When we arrived, we were immediately greeted with a fresh coconut! The owners asked us what we wanted for each meal, and the chef made it special for us. We asked for authentic Honduran food and enjoyed freshly caught fish, baleadas and tacos.

More western meals, like hamburgers, are also an option. All of the meals came with sides (either salad or fruit) and were delicious. Lunch and dinner are not included in the price of the hotel room, so bring cash to pay your bill at the end of your visit. Breakfast is complimentary.

Beer, wine, and simple cocktails are also available at the bar. We enjoyed several of the Honduran beers while staying at the hotel.

Privacy & Security

VIPCoyolito has its own security team, which monitors the property at all times. Gates to the outside are locked for safety, and can be opened upon request (such as the door to the private beach). The owners of the hotel made it a point to mention that they exclusively offer bookings to people online and do not take walk-ins to ensure guest safety.

When I visited, my boyfriend and I were the only guests for the weekend. This meant we essentially got to enjoy all of the facilities to ourselves and got personalized attention, which was lovely. Everyone was so kind, and the owners were simply the sweetest people who treated us like family. They spoke great English, which made it easy to communicate with them. A bonus!

Final Thoughts

If you are searching for a quiet place for a weekend getaway in Honduras, VIP Coyolito is the perfect spot! The owners are incredibly kind and will welcome you there and treat you like family. I felt extremely safe and well-taken care of the entire time. The hotel really is one of the many hidden gems of Honduras. Book a stay soon!

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Hotel Information

VIP Coyolito (EXCLUSIVELY ON Airbnb)

Coyolito, Honduras

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