Latest news with #XiomaraCastro
West Australian
17-05-2025
- West Australian
The pick of three months in Central America
The isthmus connecting North and South America may not be too massive on a map. Still, the seven compact nations that make up Central America — eight if we were to include Mexico's southeastern-most Yucatan peninsula — have a lot going for them. Most travellers start north in Cancun or south in Panama City or Costa Rica's San Jose, but get lost from there. Do you know which Central American countries to pick for your next adventure? Read on. It's no secret that Costa Rica will dent your budget considerably. With a market oriented towards (rich) North American tourists, Costa Rica is feared by budget backpackers and has a tourism infrastructure that favours mid-range and high-end travellers — as it's so different from the rest, to me, it's not the best place to start a Central American jaunt. The Nicoya Peninsula on the southwestern Pacific Coast is where accommodation normally surpasses $150 a night, and everything is catered towards high-spending tourists. Areas like the Peninsula de Osa on the Pacific southeast can be more affordable — don't skip delightful Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre, a little Indigenous-run community tourism hub — and the north-eastern Caribbean Coast around Puerto Viejo is still unspoiled and better bang for your dollar, but in general, expect entries to national parks with compulsory guided tours to cost up to $150 per person. Like many travellers, be prepared budget-wise, stay shorter or skip entirely. Hear the word 'Honduras' and red flags raise everywhere — I was like you, too, and at first took an expensive tourist shuttle to bypass the country from Nicaragua to El Salvador. Stopping at a bus station and a fortunate later guidebook assignment covering the nation taught me one thing again: don't listen to stereotypes and the media. Since Xiomara Castro, Honduras' first female president, came to power in 2021, the country has seen a resurgence, especially in safety and infrastructure. It was among the friendliest and most budget-friendly Central American nations I visited. It's also extremely varied: from the Maya ruins at Copan to the Bay Islands of the Caribbean (pick Utila for mellower vibes and Roatan for a well-oiled mass tourist machine and family vacations), from the whitewater rafting and waterfalls at Rio Cangrejal to the Lenca highlands of La Esperanza and Gracias, not forgetting the stunning birdwatching hotspot that's Lake Yojoa and capital Tegucigalpa, an exciting town straddled amidst mountains. Honduras doesn't just surprise: it makes you fall in love. You may know about El Salvador because of the infamous President Nayib Bukele, who cleaned up the country of pretty much all criminals and gang-related violence since coming into power in 2019, transforming the world's most feared country into an abode of peace. Ethics and politics aside, under a tourism perspective, this is the best and safest time to visit El Salvador: Bukele's presidency has made the smallest of the Central American republics proud of itself again, with a resulting booster to the morale of the people, who can now be as welcoming as they ever were, yet without stressful risks. The country is stunning, too: the Volcano de Santa Ana is a short hike to a caldera filled with a shade-switching turquoise lake. Surfers will love the southern coasts from El Tunco to the west and La Union to the east. And those who love cobbled streets and colonial cities should not miss Suchitoto in the central highlands, and the towns of the Ruta de las Flores in the West — especially Juayua and Apaneca, with their waterfalls, extinct volcanoes and lagoons. Did I mention that the country is cheap as hell, too? You can cross it using local buses for less than $10, and the local pupusas — a fried corn tortilla stuffed with beans and cheese you'll remember until death — are 50c each. Being one of the largest nations, Guatemala also harbours a lot of different shades of natural beauty. The southwestern highlands are the most popular, studded with volcanoes like the ever-active Fuego, near the 16th-century colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua, and the beautiful Lake Atitlan. The southern Pacific coast has surf-ready beaches like party central El Paredon, and not too far away on the Caribbean seaboard, the rivertown of Rio Dulce is the starting point for an amazing boat trip to Livingston, the coastal abode of the Garifuna community. North of there, the harsh plains of the Peten brings to the cobblestone-idyll that's the islet of Flores, also the gateway to Tikal, the mother of all Maya ruins. Due to its turbulent past and current regime, Nicaragua is often considered as the region's black sheep, but travel there is absolutely rewarding — although it can pose some troubles. Drones are forbidden in Nicaragua, so leave yours at home, or ship it to the next country you'll visit. If your profession is in any way related to media, state so and say you are not a reporter — they are not welcome. Other than that, Nicaragua has great party beaches like San Juan del Sur and an incredible double-volcanic island, Ometepe, whose Volcano Concepcion is a tough almost vertical climb and the tallest in the country. Granada has colonial charms and Leon adds layers of history, artistry and coolness to the mix. On the Caribbean side, the Little and Big Corn islands are Nicaragua's version of tropical paradise, and in-between, the highlands around Matagalpa and Somoto will reward trekkers and nature lovers. Belize is another small nation in the region, and one that's most often only linked with its northern cayes, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, speckles of white sand floating in all shades of blue paradise. To their east is the Blue Hole, an underwater marvel and one of the world's deepest marine sinkholes, a joy for worldly divers. But compact Belize — it takes about four hours drive to cross it in every direction — was also the abode of the Maya, and is rich in beautiful ruins such as Lamani, Altun Ha and Xunantunich near the town of San Ignacio, a quiet and charming rivertown, not forgetting the country's Creole Caribbean character that comes more prominent in the southern coastal regions of Punta Gorda and Placencia. Belize is among the most expensive of the Central American lot, but it still offers good value and plenty of budget options.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Small plane crashes after take off from Caribbean island along Honduras' coast, killing at least 12
At least a dozen people died after a plane crashed off the Caribbean coast of Honduras Monday evening, authorities said. The plane crashed seconds after taking off from the Juan Manuel Galvez Airport on Roatan Island, according to the country's Civil Aeronautics Agency. Its destination was meant to be the nearby island of La Ceiba. Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the wreckage was found less than a mile off the coast of Roatan Island. Two crew members and 15 passengers were onboard the small aircraft, a Jetstream 32 operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa, according to the aeronautics agency. Plane Caught On Camera Crashing Into New England Neighborhood, Narrowly Missing Homes Those aboard the plane included an American national, a French national and two minors, Reuters reported, citing the flight manifest shown by local media. Read On The Fox News App Five people were rescued from the incident, but one remains missing, Honduran firefighters said. Local firefighters said among the dead was well-known Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo, according to Reuters. Delta Plane Wing Clips Runway During Botched Landing At Laguardia Airport The accident was reportedly caused by a suspected mechanical failure of the aircraft, Roatan Mayor Ronnie Richard McNap Thompson said. Fox News reached out to Lanhsa Airlines for more information but did not immediately receive a response. Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla told AFP news agency that the plane "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water," CBS reported. Delta Releases New Information About Captain, First Officer Flying Plane That Crashed In Toronto The government of Honduras activated several emergency services, including the Armed Forces, firefighters and police. "The Government of Honduras deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatan," the government said in a post on X Monday. The armed forces also said in a post on X that "rapid response teams continue working in the area to safeguard the lives of those affected." Click To Get The Fox News App Dramatic video of the incident shows emergency crews conducting rescue efforts from the sea. Roatan Fire Capt. Franklin Borjas told Reuters the survivors were transported to a nearby hospital but noted that adverse conditions complicated the search and rescue efforts on Monday. "It's been difficult to access the accident [site], because there are 30 meters [98 feet] of rocks, and you can't get there while walking or swimming," Borjas said on Monday night. "The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility." Firefighters said efforts to find the sole missing passenger will continue Tuesday when weather and visibility conditions are expected to improve. Reuters contributed to this article source: Small plane crashes after take off from Caribbean island along Honduras' coast, killing at least 12
Fox News
18-03-2025
- General
- Fox News
Small plane crashes after take off from Caribbean island along Honduras' coast, killing at least 12
At least a dozen people died after a plane crashed off the Caribbean coast of Honduras Monday evening, authorities said. The plane crashed seconds after taking off from the Juan Manuel Galvez Airport on Roatan Island, according to the country's Civil Aeronautics Agency. Its destination was meant to be the nearby island of La Ceiba. Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the wreckage was found less than a mile off the coast of Roatan Island. Two crew members and 15 passengers were onboard the small aircraft, a Jetstream 32 operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa, according to the aeronautics agency. Those aboard the plane included an American national, a French national and two minors, Reuters reported, citing the flight manifest shown by local media. Five people were rescued from the incident, but one remains missing, Honduran firefighters said. Local firefighters said among the dead was well-known Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo, according to Reuters. The accident was reportedly caused by a suspected mechanical failure of the aircraft, Roatan Mayor Ronnie Richard McNap Thompson said. Fox News reached out to Lanhsa Airlines for more information but did not immediately receive a response. Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla told AFP news agency that the plane "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water," CBS reported. The government of Honduras activated several emergency services, including the Armed Forces, firefighters and police. "The Government of Honduras deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatan," the government said in a post on X Monday. The armed forces also said in a post on X that "rapid response teams continue working in the area to safeguard the lives of those affected." Dramatic video of the incident shows emergency crews conducting rescue efforts from the sea. Roatan Fire Capt. Franklin Borjas told Reuters the survivors were transported to a nearby hospital but noted that adverse conditions complicated the search and rescue efforts on Monday. "It's been difficult to access the accident [site], because there are 30 meters [98 feet] of rocks, and you can't get there while walking or swimming," Borjas said on Monday night. "The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility." Firefighters said efforts to find the sole missing passenger will continue Tuesday when weather and visibility conditions are expected to improve.
MTV Lebanon
18-03-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
At least 12 dead in Honduras plane crash
At least 12 people have been killed after a plane crashed off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday evening, officials said. The aircraft - operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa - crashed into the sea within a minute of take-off from the island of Roatán. The Honduran national police and fire department separately said five people had been rescued, while one person is yet to be found. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but Roatán's mayor told local media it wasn't because of the weather, which was normal. The Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency said an investigation was under way. The Jetstream 32 aircraft had taken off from the island's Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport at 18:18 local time (00:18 GMT on Tuesday), and was bound for Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland. Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said, quoted by AFP news agency, that the plane "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water". In a statement on social media, the government expressed "solidarity" with the families of the victims. "The Government of Honduras deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatán and joins in the national mourning," it added. Following the crash, Honduran President Xiomara Castro "immediately activated" the country's emergency committee, comprised of all emergency services including the military, police, fire department, Red Cross and the Ministry of Health. Writing on X, she said the committee team was "working tirelessly" to provide assistance. "May God protect people's lives," Castro added. Videos shared by officials on social media showed rescue teams working in darkness along a rocky coastline, with small boats and stretchers. In a post on X accompanied by photos, the Honduran armed forces said survivors with injuries were taken to a hospital in the city of San Pedro Sula by air force planes. According to local media reports, among the dead was well-known Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo. Suazo was a member of the Garifuna, a people of mixed indigenous and Afro-Caribbean descent originating from the island of St Vincent which has a distinct musical style.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 12 dead in Honduras plane crash
At least 12 people have been killed after a plane crashed off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday evening, officials said. The aircraft - operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa - crashed into the sea within a minute of take-off from the island of Roatán. The Honduran national police and fire department separately said five people had been rescued, while one person is yet to be found. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but Roatán's mayor told local media it wasn't because of the weather, which was normal. The Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency said an investigation was under way. The Jetstream 32 aircraft had taken off from the island's Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport at 18:18 local time (00:18 GMT on Tuesday), and was bound for Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland. Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said, quoted by AFP news agency, that the plane "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water". In a statement on social media, the government expressed "solidarity" with the families of the victims. "The Government of Honduras deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatán and joins in the national mourning," it added. Following the crash, Honduran President Xiomara Castro "immediately activated" the country's emergency committee, comprised of all emergency services including the military, police, fire department, Red Cross and the Ministry of Health. Writing on X, she said the committee team was "working tirelessly" to provide assistance. "May God protect people's lives," Castro added. Videos shared by officials on social media showed rescue teams working in darkness along a rocky coastline, with small boats and stretchers. In a post on X accompanied by photos, the Honduran armed forces said survivors with injuries were taken to a hospital in the city of San Pedro Sula by air force planes. According to local media reports, among the dead was well-known Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo. Suazo was a member of the Garifuna, a people of mixed indigenous and Afro-Caribbean descent originating from the island of St Vincent which has a distinct musical style.
