Country Article / Postcards

Oasis

Date: 03/01/2006

Chaotic. I think that was the first word that popped into my mind as we shot from the airport parking lot and joined what looked like a road rally as we headed in the direction of the giant cathedral on the town square of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. If you come here looking for a laid-back city with well-organized streets, courteous drivers, and a sedate pace of life, then you'll have come to the wrong place. "Teguce" is the guts of Latin America, with its throbbing salsa, streets lined with food vendors and pirate CDs, and bustling central square packed with people from every walk of life. (Everyone, that is, except gringo expats and tourists.)

Tegucigalpa has everything, being the nation's capital and largest city. Plenty of shops, fine restaurants, and action. Its location high in the mountains of central Honduras--at 3,400 feet--ensures a year-round schedule of pleasant days, cool nights, and fresh breezes. Nonetheless, living downtown full-time would not be for me.

But 25 minutes away, there's an oasis of almost 700 acres nestled in the surrounding mountains. It's called Villa Elena, a name retained from its former days as the president's hacienda...and the image of a stately hacienda fits perfectly with the luxury homes and lots on offer here.

The centerpiece of Villa Elena is the country club, with its challenging 9-hole golf course, restaurant, two large pools, tennis, and basketball. And these amenities aren't part of a future plan, the country club is open today, and in fact is a draw for the city's elite residents and members of the diplomatic corps. Just about any day of the week you'll see people playing golf, enjoying the pool, or sampling the fine seafood at the poolside restaurant.

The breathtaking mountain views throughout the property are dramatic, and the lush vegetation, natural surroundings, and tasteful site planning are enhanced by the brilliant weather at almost 5,000 feet of altitude. The smell of the pines and endless views reminded me of the Sierra Nevada or the Colorado Rockies.

The owner is offering a variety of pine and eucalyptus-studded lots, starting at $47,000 for a 1/4-acre. They'll also provide luxury home construction services for $65 per square foot, and I found their workmanship and materials to be first class. Turnkey home/lot packages are available starting at $150,000.

At the higher end, I looked at a giant home of over 7,200 square feet, sitting on two wooded lots with an asking price of $380,000...not much over the cost of construction for this house. What's more, if you sold the extra lot at the going rate ($153,000), this could be a pretty sweet deal.

And the entire infrastructure here is complete...right down to the high-speed Internet service. Financing is available for up to 20 years.

If you'd like to enjoy the rhythm of Tegucigalpa, but you'd also like the chance to escape to your private paradise when the day is over, then Villa Elena may be worth a look. To learn more, contact the owner, Christian Wing, at int-sales@villaelenacountry.com. He's a U.S. citizen and speaks perfect English.

Lee Harrison
Roving Latin America Editor, International Living

P.S. Tomorrow we're heading the opposite direction from Tegucigalpa, up into the mountains to a place called Valle de Angeles to do some exploring and look for some "sale by owner" properties. If the area's as nice as I've heard, I'll report in when we get back.

Important Note: In the interest of full disclosure, we want you to know that International Living receives commissions from sales at Villa Elena.