Update - Dec 2008: Property Improvements have been completed in late 2008 adding an additional 301 sq ft of enclosed living space, including additional second floor living room/den/study, additional second floor "utility" room, additional river rock waterfall to ocean-side second floor Terrace area. Entire interior has been re-painted.

Playa Helen With 60ft [18.29 meters] of beachfront on Playa Helen, one of La Ceiba's longest stretches of sandy beachfront, this 0.283 acre [1,146.78 sq meter] property is situated approximately 0.75 miles [1.2 kilometers] from the main paved highway between La Ceiba and Trujillo on the outskirts of the small community of Sambo Creek approximately 12 miles [19 kilometers] east from the center of La Ceiba and 7 miles [11 kilometers] west of Jutiapa. In the immediate vicinity of the property are the Mango Tree Villas gated community and 2 small ‘boutique’ Hotels, Villa Helen's and Hotel Canadien. Local residents are mostly from North America with some Honduran beach vacation homes. The area is in the process of being considered for inclusion into the Pico Bonito Nature Park with the advantage of Park Police security patrols. A Local Home Owners Association is also in the process of formation.

La Ceiba Map

The property is part of an original sub-division of 60ft [18.29 meter] beachfront lots created in 1993 without Covenants, Conditions or Restrictions. This property is divided in 2 sections; the northern section is a 0.235 acre lot [951.08 sq meter] with 60ft [18.29 meters] of beachfront has views across the west Caribbean Sea to Cayos Cochinos and on a clear day views to the west end of Roatan some 33 miles [53 kilometers] away. The beach is a 25-30 ft [7-10 meter] wide stretch of sand leading to the waters edge. The ocean has a sandy bottom and offers a ‘safe’ swimming area. The southern section and immediately across a small 10ft [3 meter] wide unpaved public access road is a 0.048 [195.7 sq meters] lot with views to the south of the easterly section of the Pico Bonito (Cerros Salitran) mountain range. The public access road dead ends at Rio Grandito a short distance away.

Playa Helen Location Municipal 110/220v power supplies the property and is backed-up by an on-site 8kW emergency generator and 6.5kW portable generator. Water is provided by the Sambo Creek water system and backed up by a 1,450 gallon [5,488 liter] concrete cistern fed by rain water catchment together with an auxiliary 225 gallon cistern [852 liter] concrete cistern with rain water catchment. A shallow well provides water for irrigation. Both cisterns are connected to a 1HP pressure pump with 30 gallon pressure vessel feeding the cold water and on-demand hot water systems. Waste water is treated by a three chamber septic system. The property is in-zone for local cellular telephone services (Tigo and Claro) and wait listed for installation of a landline from Hondutel, the national monopoly wired telephone service provider. The property is connected to DirectTV® satellite television service and connected to MayaMesh® VSat wireless Internet service.

Three main buildings, all completed in January of 2006 and built to USA standards, are located on the property; in the northern section the Main House and a Champa open air entertainment and barbeque area, in the southern section, a Casita (small house)

The Main House

The Main House

With 1,849 sq ft [171.77 sq m] 2,150 sq ft [199.74 sq m] of living space, the 2 story main house is constructed on a reinforced concrete slab with reinforced concrete supporting columns with block and stucco to all external and internal dividing walls. The red Spanish tile effect factory painted Aluzinc® corrosion resistant alloy sheet roofing is trapped to concrete supporting columns providing hurricane protection to Florida building standards. USA 5.5 inch R22 fiber-glass batt insulation is installed between the roof and interior ceilings. Ceramic tiles are installed to all living area floor surfaces and the covered terrace area on the second floor overlooking the Caribbean sea to the north.

Ground Floor Level The main house is set in mature gardens containing avocado, plantain, mango and lime trees, coconut palms, hibiscus and bougainvillea plants with grass lawn to open areas. Motion detector flood-lights illuminate the grounds and walk-ways which are enclosed to all four sides with an 8ft high cemented block boundary fence topped with concrete balustrades and rails. A set of double wrought iron 8 ft high swing gates are installed at the roadway main entrance and single gate at the beach entrance. A concrete driveway from the main entrance gateway leads to a concrete paved open area at ground (first) floor level. To the rear of the paved open area 2 steps lead down to a non-slip ceramic titled pathway leading to The Champa and then further on to the beach gateway. An open-air fresh water rinse shower is located next to the beach gateway. On the eastern side of the ground (first) floor are two bedroom units.

Ocean-side Ground Floor Bedroom

Each ground (first) floor bedroom unit has 196 sq ft [18.2 sq m] of living space and contains a 7 x 5ft [2.13 x 1.5 m] en-suite bathroom with toilet, walk-in-shower, hand basin and vanity unit. Each is entered through a separate double-locked solid hardwood door. Each has cooling is provided is provided by a 3 speed ceiling fan and light unit with 12,000 BTU split air-conditioning units. The southern or ‘mountain-side’ unit is furnished with a king-size bed, bed-side table with lamp, bed head bookcase unit, 4 drawer chest of drawers, 8ft wardrobe unit and TV with DVD player. The northern or ‘ocean-side’ unit is furnished with queen-size four poster bed, bed-side table with lamp, 6 and 4 drawer chest of drawers, wardrobe unit and TV with DVD/VHS cassette player.

View from East Stairs to Front Gate From the ground (first) floor, two 4ft [1.2 m] wide concrete exterior stairways with non-slip ceramic tiles lead up to the second floor, one on the western side leading to the second floor open-air covered terrace area, the other is covered and wraps from the front to the eastern side of the house leading to the great room entrance door. The area under the western stairs is enclosed with block and stucco walls and protected by a metal bar security entrance door leading to a 4 x 10.5 ft [1.2 x 3.2 m] laundry room containing a separate large-capacity washer and dryer units. The area under the eastern stairs is enclosed with block and stucco walls and split into 2 rooms, each with a metal bar security entrance door. One 4 x 11 ft [1.2 x 3.3 m] room houses the emergency generator, a 200 amp 110/220v electrical panel (a second 200 amp 110/220v electrical panel is located on the second floor) and small workshop. The other 4 x 14 ft [3.2 x 4.3 m] room houses a chest freezer and provides additional secure storage space.

Open Plan Kitchen

A solid hardwood door at the top of the eastern stairway leads into the second floor Great Room. To the inside left of the doorway is a 15 x 12 ft [4.57 x 3.65 m] open plan kitchen. The kitchen has ceramic work-surfaces with a double unit stainless steel sink and garbage disposal unit over solid wood drawer and door base cabinets to 2.5 walls. All cabinetry, as is most of the furniture in the house, is custom designed and built by local craftsmen using Honduran mahogany. A built-in breakfast bar with stools separates the kitchen from the Great Room. Glass door solid wood kitchen display cabinets with cornice moldings are fitted overhead to 2.5 walls. Kitchen appliances include a 6 burner gas stove/oven with grill, refrigerator/freezer and ice-maker. An overhead 3 speed ceiling fan lighting unit provides ventilation with cooling coming from the 36,000 BTU air-conditioning split unit installed nearby in the Great Room.

The Great Room - view to eastern end An 18 ft [5.48 m] high, tongue & groove varnished wood, pitched cathedral ceiling runs the entire east-west 37 ft [11.3 m] length of the house and amplifies the impression of spacious in all rooms, including the 15 x 37 ft [4.57 x 11.3 meter] Great Room. Along the southern and ocean-side of the Great Room is a panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea across the second floor terrace through the French doors at the eastern and western ends separating a double casement window in the center. Normally left in the open position these allow a gentle sea breeze to ventilate the house assisted occasionally by three 3 speed ceiling fans with lighting. At the eastern end of the Great Room is the dining area furnished with custom solid hardwood 10 place table and chair set and wrought iron bar wall unit. At the western end is the lounge area furnished with 3 seat sofa, 2 seat love chair and single seat arm chair, 2 large floor carpets, TV unit with 42 inch flat screen TV and DVD player, 8 ft bookcase and a corner home office unit and doorway leading to a study/den.

The Terrace

To the north side of the Great Room is a 4.5 x 6.5 ft [1.37 x 1.98 m] guest bathroom with toilet, hand basin and vanity unit. Also to the north side of the Great Room is the doorway leading to the Master Bedroom.

To the south side of the Great Room through the French doors is the second floor 9.5 x 38 ft [2.89 x 11.58]9.5 x 26 ft [2.89 x 7.92 m] open air terrace, covered by the main roof of the house and bordered by concrete balustrade and railings. To the eastern end of the terrace is a concrete frame built to house an elevator at some stage in the future. To the western end is an ornamental river rock waterfall. Furnished with the obligatory hammock, four wooden rocking chairs with side tables, and 2 ceiling fans, the terrace offers views over the roof of The Champa to the beach and Caribbean Sea beyond.

Master Bedroom - view to Balcony The 12.5 x 17 ft [3.81 x 5.18 m] Master Bedroom contains a 11 ft [3.35m] high built-in wardrobe with hardwood doors and is furnished a Californian king-size bed, 2 bed side tables with lamps and armoire style wardrobe. Cooling is provided by 3 speed ceiling fan with lighting and a 18,000 BTU air-conditioning split unit. French doors lead from the Master Bedroom to a gable covered 5 x 13 ft [1.5 x 3.9 m] balcony bordered with concrete balustrade and railing at the front of the house with views to the mountain range in the north. Also from the Master Bedroom is a solid wood door leading to the 6.5 x 10.75 ft [1.98 x 3.3 m] Master Bathroom fitted with a ceramic topped hand basin with cupboards below, overhead vanity cupboard, toilet, and step-in ceramic tiled custom bath and shower.

The Champa

The Champa - outdoor entertainment Between the Main House and the Beach wall is the Champa - an out-door entertainment and barbeque area. Built on a 875 sq ft [81.29 sq m] reinforced concrete base and supporting columns and open to three sides this 25 x 35 ft [7.62 x 10.67 m] open-air structure covered by a read Spanish tile effect Aluzinc® roof with the fourth side at its eastern end comprising floor to roof high wall with a 20 x 6.5 ft [6.1 x 3.3m] block and stucco enclosed exterior room, partitioned roughly in half, with metal bar security doors at either end. The northern partition contains a toilet and hand-basin, while the beach side contains a walk-in shower and dressing room. On the interior side of the eastern wall is a ceramic topped work surface along the length of the wall with double stainless steel sink over solid wood door cabinets, small refrigerator and a four door overhead cabinet. The interior is furnished with a brick base ceramic top table, two concrete based ceramic topped benches and various PVC chairs and sun loungers. Two ceiling fans provide additional cooling.

The Casita

The Casita With 225 sq ft [20.9 sq m] of living space and 225 sq ft [20.9 sq m] of separate secure storage/workshop, the Casita was designed as a separate self-catering apartment or guest quarters for the Main House. This single story dwelling is built on a reinforced concrete slab base of block and stucco construction with a red Spanish tile effect factory painted Aluzinc® corrosion resistant alloy sheet roofing with USA 5.5 inch R22 fiber-glass batt insulation between the roof and interior ceiling . Windows are outward opening side-hung casement single glazed within hardwood frames and external metal bar security barriers. The entrance door to the living area is solid Honduran hardwood with ceramic tile flooring throughout.

The Casita Interior

The living space is a kitchenette/sleeping/living area with separate bathroom containing a toilet, hand basin and walk-in shower. The kitchenette is fitted with a refrigerator, 4 burner gas stove and oven with minor appliances such as microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, etc. Furnished with a double bed, dresser, night stand, and table with 2 chairs, the living area is cooled by a ceiling fan and 12,000 BTU split unit air-conditioning system.

Rental Income

While the property is the permanent and main residence of the current owners, they also operate a vacation Bed & Breakfast under the business name “Diving Pelican Inn” utilizing the Casita and ground´ (first) floor bedrooms as guest accommodations. The owners state that this small business provides them with sufficient net income to be able to live without drawing on other resources. While only in operation since July 2007, the Diving Pelican Inn has built a steady stream of independent traveler clients, mostly from North America, who are discovering that Honduras is becoming a low cost alternative to the more expensive Caribbean Vacation destinations. The property provides sufficient area to expand the number of available rooms if so desired.

The Diving Pelican Inn receives most of its reservations through its own web site DivingPelicanInn.com, owned and operated by the current owners and is extensively marketed with over 2,500 back-links in major search engines, detailed entries in other vacation related web sites, such as; BedBreakfastTraveler.com, HemisphereHostels.com, InnSite.com, Travel-Library.com.

and several other vacation review web sites have favourable reviews posted about Diving Pelican Inn.

Web Site resources, domain name and business name rights will be included in the property sale in addition to past financial records (which can be provided in advance to serious buyers).

Note to Potential Buyers
While being sold ‘Fully Furnished as is’ A small number of personal items and artworks will be retained by the current owners. A detailed inventory and list of excluded items are available on request to serious buyers.