Producer’s Spotlight: Luna del Puente
Where Tourism, Conservation & Agriculture Meet
Luna del Puente is a family-owned company in northern Honduras whose main focus is integration. On 40 hectares of beautiful, fertile land, they integrate tourism, preservation, and agriculture.
This privately-owned nature reserve is a family project. The idea for Luna del Puente sprang from a love of nature and passion for conservation of the natural world. After buying the property years ago, they realized how special the land was and felt it was their responsibility to preserve it.
Their primary goals are to preserve biodiversity and promote environmental consciousness. In order to accomplish their goals, they required some kind of economic sustainability. This led them into agriculture and production.
And that is where they found integration, at the intersection of business, preservation, and education.
The Luna del Puente Land
The Luna del Puente reserve is nestled between two lakes and two national parks. Of the 40 hectares, 75 percent is forest. With two freshwater springs and 280 species of birds, this is one of the best places in Honduras to see birds. The land is also home to 23 species of bats, plus a great diversity of exotic insects, frogs, other reptiles and amphibians, mammals, and flora.
The land sits 700 meters above sea level, which makes for a very pleasant climate. Additionally, the altitude is ideal for growing coffee and cacao, which they do with regenerative agroforestry practices. Their products, which also include achiote (or annatto) are all processed on site.
Products and Tours
Visitors to Luna del Puente come to enjoy the beauty of the land and learn about the wonders of the natural world. But best of all is how they become immediately integrated into the family-focused accommodation. There is no separation between family and nature—at least not at Luna del Puente.
Luna del Puente offers several fun and educational tours to their guests. The reserve team believes that education is the way to preserve the planet. With their beautiful location in Honduras, they attract local and international guests and educate them at the same time. For example, visitors can hike the trails, go on a birdwatching, coffee or cacao tour, or participate in a high ropes challenge course.
On the agricultural side of things, they use ecological methods. Workers roast and grind coffee on site, as well as producing cosmetic goods from cacao such as cacao-based insect repellent, sunblock, and hand and body lotions.
The Luna del Puente Team
Mariana Chiriboga, who grew up on the reserve is the resident tour guide. She knows its entire history, and her specialty is adventure. Her love for nature and her passion for teaching show up in each of her trips.
Damian Magario leads the birdwatching tours. He easily amazes all the visitors with his extensive knowledge. He knows all 280 bird species that live on or visit the reserve.
Nicoll Rivera welcomes guests into the family. With Nicoll’s welcoming smile and a bit of chocolate, guests quickly realize that they are with family.
The staff at Luna del Puente creates a space where all guests, foreign and local alike, can connect with nature, agriculture, and the biodiversity to which we all belong.
They believe that all of our actions should be rooted in sustainability and internal balance. They operate with the understanding that we all form part of a bigger whole.
