Honduras is located in the center of Central America. Its territorial extension covers 112,482 square Km. and is about the size of Tennessee or Virginia. It has 3 borders, the western linking with Guatemala, the southwest with El Salvador and the east with Nicaragua. To the North lies the Caribbean Sea and to the South the Pacific Ocean.
Honduras is a traveler’s paradise, unrivalled in our shrinking world and home to the largest biological preserve, the best reef diving and the most interesting Mayan city (Copan Ruinas) in this hemisphere.
Whether your pleasure lies in sunning on the beaches of Roatan, climbing an ancient pyramid, taking photos, sailing or diving in the sparkling Caribbean Sea, spying a flock of native parrots or a jaguar in their natural habitat while on an eco-tour, or even dancing the night away, Honduras can fulfil all of your travel dreams for an affordable price.
Popular Destinations
Roatan, Copan, Tegucigalpa, Tela, La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula.
How to Get Around
Due to the language barrier and safety concerns, tours are one of the best ways to get around the country. You can book tours of Central America which include Honduras in the itinerary, or book with local travel companies.
Other ways to travel in Honduras include:
Regular domestic flights service San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, Trujillo, Roatan, Utila, Guanaja and three or four remoter destinations in the Mosquitia region.
There are frequent bus services to most towns and a variety of services from first class buses with AC, WiFi and TV to basic public buses. Between town first buses leave early morning and the last bus late afternoon. Very rarely will buses travel at night.
Direct first class bus services also run to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala from Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula.
Ferry services run from La Ceiba to Roatan and Utila and back daily. Throughout the Bay Islands you will find water taxis as well for hire.
Taxis can be found in larger towns and all fares are negotiable. Cars can be rented also throughout the country. Within the cities and on Roatan you an find mini-buses for short trips. In general, the cost of transportation at all levels is quite reasonable in Honduras and the Bay Islands.
Honduras Tours & Travel Services
Honduras is waiting to surprise you. Home to vast natural areas, unique cultural groups, quaint villages, ancient ruins, a barrier reef with tropical islands, fast growing modern cities and more.
With so many wonders to see and explore in Honduras, or if your time is just limited, why not book a tour package and leave the hassle of planning your visit to a professional travel company? Experience Honduras at its best, you could join a natural adventure including Rio Cangrejal Rafting, Kayaking, Horse Riding, Jungle Hiking, River Hiking, Cuero y Salado, Cacoa Lagoon and La Moskitia Trips. Spending a few nights at a Jungle Lodge in the Rio Cangejal and the Pico Bonito National Park is recommended.
Top 10 Must See Places in Honduras
If ten of us were to travel to Honduras, each of us would have differing lists of the best vacation places. All of us travel with different sets of eyes, each seeing our own realities even as we look at the same event.
Here are our “must-see” places, cities, villages, or scenery from Honduras.
A FLIGHT INTO ONE OF THE BAY ISLANDS
When you fly to the Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila, or Guanaja) out of La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula, you will be treated to the most spectacular view of the richest blue waters of your life. The Bay Islands boast of having the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. No wonder that scuba divers and snorkelers from around the world trek here.
ROATAN
What is not to like about Roatan? Take off your shoes and visit the shops along the beach of West End, stopping every 100 feet for a soda, a Salva Vida (the Honduran beer, literally Life Saver), or a coffee. Visit Rudy’s for a smoothie. Take a water taxi to West Bay (better yet, stay there for the quiet). Sit on one of the piers and watch the sun slowly plunge in the west. Then, visit one of West End’s bars and take in some distinctive island music. Swim, snorkel or scuba dive the day away at one of the fine beaches at West End or West Bay. Eat at the Lighthouse Inn (West End) at about 3 p.m. when they are not so busy, coaxing owner Miss Mavis out of the kitchen. She is one of the finest storytellers you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.
COPAN RUINAS
Copan Ruinas (often referred to by tourists as just Copan, which is actually the name of the department, not the town). No trip to Honduras would be complete without a stop at the Ruins. But what would Copan Ruinas be without them? It would be a delightful, charming village of 1,200 people that is tourist-friendly while not being overly touristy. Visit the market (immediately behind the municipal building, off the square). Spend time in the city square. Evenings bring out entire families. After dinner, saunter over to the Welchez Cafe (near the Hotel Marina Copan,same owners) for the apple pie, ice cream, and espresso coffee. Yep, I said apple pie and it is very good. Pick up several pounds of coffee to take home. In Copan, as elsewhere in rural Honduras, make sure you look upwards each evening for a sky amazingly awash with stars. Unbelievable sight.
SAN PEDRO SULA
Without a doubt, a visit to the Musuem of Anthropology and History is worth it. The two-story museum is manageable. Arranged as an inviting series of displays, you will walk through the history of the San Pedro Sula valley, the arrival of the Spaniards, the conquest, and the interplay of the Spanish and Indigenous cultures. Many of the displays have English placards that enhance the time spent here. Plan on about 4 hours to do the museum any justice. Open Tuesdays – Sundays.
While San Pedro Sula boasts a large open-air market, it is over-stocked with $3 tourist items. There are better open-air markets throughout Honduras so there is no need to spend too much time here. One part of the market not to miss is the northeast corner where about 100 women each has a small cooking area, making tortillas by hand as they have been made for centuries. San Pedro Sula residents come in for their daily 2-dozen To-Go.
LA CEIBA
Ceiba, as Hondurans call it, has to be my favorite city in all of Honduras. If asked why, I can not give a definitive answer. This is a city teeming with life and energy. Find a good, local buffet. Visit the cathedral for a mass; walk Ceiba’s city square. Shop in the open-air market. Visit the Butterfly Museum. Have fresh fish for lunch. Dance the night away to Caribbean sounds from the clubs near the sea (1 Calle). Ride the entire city perimeter in a local bus for three lempiras. Search out that soccer game. Look for a good bottle of Honduran rum (ron). Flor de Caña Reserva Rum is made in Honduras and Nicaragua. It is an excellent 7-year old rum. In La Ceiba, a clerk wanted to sell me a 20-year old Guatemalan rum for $31. That bottle is still on the shelf.
GRACIAS
While not an overly attractive town, Gracias is so rich in history, it should not be missed. Stand in the village square and imagine the area, as it might have looked when Captain Juan de Chavez entered the area in 1536. (In 1544, Gracias became the administrative center for all Spanish matters within Central America.) Stroll the town, taking in the colonial architecture, seen clearly in the the 3 churches in town. Mosey on up to Guancascos Restaurant for a dinner on the terraced patio. Magnificent view of the surrounding area. Catch the stars after dark. Celaque National Park is a mere 9 kilometers from Gracias and has hiking trails even for the casual hiker. The cloud forest holds Honduras’ highest peak at 9,350 feet. Celaque is the sacred heart of Lencan (the indigenous people of the area) spirituality. Hikers should ask at Guancascos or Hotel Erick for transportation ideas because a bus does not make the trek to the park
LA ESPERANZA
This city lies about 60 km east of Gracias, in the department of Intibuca – an area heavily populated by the Lenca people. The trip, on the road from Gracias to La Esperanza, takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Honduras. Adobe brick construction dots the landscape; bananas can be found growing at 4000 feet (sweeter than coastal bananas) and small plots of corn are perched on a 50-degree slope. You will see some deforestation, but nothing like the deforestation of Western Guatemala. Visit the open-air market. While at the market, buy tamalitos (small tamales but the best are made from fresh corn – jilote) and a small amount of cream (crema). That crema gets lathered onto the tamalito. Swill coffee. Slowly stroll the market for an hour and soak in the real Honduras experience. Stop and have another coffee.
FUTBOL
Soccer fans will be pleased to know that soccer is alive and well in Honduras. While the best Honduran players move on to Europe, a very competitive league of 10 teams exists. Your hotel front desk can direct you to the stadium. Watching the fans roar is as much fun as the game itself. The La Ceiba area is the easiest to navigate if attending a game. You can also catch a professional game in Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula (multiple stadiums). An amateur game is always going on – just keep your eyes open around schools and open areas.
SANTA ROSA DE COPAN
Find a building with an accessible roof or any high place surrounding the city and take in a sunset dipping below the horizon of the hills. Breathtaking. Visit the Don Melo cigar outlet next to the Hotel Elvir for hand-rolled cigars at less than 1/3 the retail cost in North America. (You can bring 100 cigars back into the U.S.) You can watch cigars being rolled by hand out at the factory near the bus stop. Contact Max Elvir of Lenca Land Trails (504) 662-1375 for 1-day to multiple-day tours of the Western Highlands. Five blocks east of the square is Pizza Pizza, a restaurant owned by Warren Post. Warren is an ex-pat who has done a great deal to promote tourism in the Western highlands and serves as an invaluable source of information about the area. Oh yes, have some pizza at his place while you are there. Holy Week procession is a phenomenal time in Santa Rosa. If you opt for wonderful event, advance reservations are really needed. Get them early.
ROAD BETWEEN SAN PEDRO SULA AND TELA/LA CEIBA
This leg of the trip is marvelous just for the miles and miles of bananas, cacao, sugar cane, pineapples, citrus and African palms. The Nombre de Dios mountain range juts up to the east and south of you as you travel through the lush tropical region. Keep an eye out for the llama del bosque (flame of the forest), a tall tree crowned with gorgeous red flowers.
Activities and Top Things to Do
Exploring Archaeology sites: The best spots being Copan Ruins and the surrounding valley, El Puente near La Entrada, Los Naranjos near Lake Yojoa and Talgua Cave in Olancho.
Hiking: The best spots being Lancetilla Botanical Gardens and Reserve near Tela, Pico Bonito National Park near La Ceiba, Cuscuso National Park near San Pedro Sula, La Tigra National Park near Tegucigalpa, Cerro Azul Meambar National near Lago Yojoa and Celaque National Park near Gracias.
Trekking: The best multi day trips can be taken in Rio Platano Biosphere in the Mosquitia, Pico Bonito National Park near La Ceiba, Celaque National Park near Gracias and the Sierra de Agalta National Park in Olancho.
Rafting: The most accessible rafting is in the Rio Cangrejal near La Ceiba with class III to V rapids depending on the time of year. For a multi day adventure, trips can be run on the Rio Platano and on various rivers in the Mosquitia region.
Diving and Snorkeling: The best diving and snorkeling are on the Bay Islands. The 3 main islands Roatan, Guanaja and Utila offer a variety of site options and facilities, there is basically something for everyone and every budget.
Kayaking: The best open kayaking is found on the Bay Islands where you can explore the islands. For some exploring of Mangroves Cuero y Salado Reserve near La Ceiba and Punto Izopo Reserve near Tela both offer good kayaking options.
Boating: The Bay Islands offer a range of day or multi day boating trips additional a range of water activities can be organized at the same time.
Fishing: The Bay Islands offer trolling, bottom fishing and flat fishing for a variety of species. The remote Mosquitia region around Brus Laguna and Puerto Lempira offers some of Central Americas best game fishing the area is world famous for Tarpon and Snook fishing.
Horse Riding: Horse Riding trips can be organized in Copan, Pico Bonito National Park and on Roatan.
Sub Dives: Roatan is home to the world’s only deep diving tourist submersible. It is located in the heart of West End, on Half Moon Bay.
Ecotourism
Honduras is an undiscovered ecotourism wonderland, which is home to numerous national parks, reserves and biospheres. These protected areas consist of mangroves, coastal marine reserves, pine forest, rainforest and cloud forest. These areas are home to a diverse range of tropical flora and fauna. Whether you would like to hike, raft, kayak, bird watch or just explore, one of our featured companies will be able to help with all your needs. The nature of Honduras awaits you.
Tucked into the tropical rainforest along the banks of the Cangrejal River bordering the Pico Bonito National Park on the north coast of Honduras, Las Cascadas Lodge is a popular luxurious and private jungle retreat. Amid pristine waterfalls under towering mahogany trees where toucans nest, spider monkeys play and jaguars roam, Las Cascadas Lodge is a world class destination offering every creature comfort provided by a multilingual staff and an unlimited selection of nature just moments away.
National Parks
Honduras is home to over 100 protected areas. These areas range from National Parks, Wildlife Reserves to Biospheres. The country has a lot to offer for nature lovers. The best spots being the National Parks, Pico Bonito near La Ceiba and the Cerro Azul Meambar near Lago Yojoa both offer good tourist facilities and a range of trails to explore the tropical forest.
Cuero y Salado Wildlife Reserve near La Ceiba and Punta Sal and Punto Izopo National Parks near Tela all offer good mangrove areas and coastal lagoons to explore. While the National Parks of Cusuco near San Pedro Sula, Celaque near Gracias and La Tigra near Tegucigalpa all offer good cloudforest to explore.
To add to this the vast Mosquita region is home to the Rio Platano Biosphere, Tawanka Reserve and the Patuca National Park. These protected areas and the adjoining protected areas in Nicaragua make up the largest area of tropical forest north of the amazon basin.
Wildlife Tours
If you are passionate about animals and wondering if Honduras has a zoo the El Picacho Zoo is located at the United Nations Park, which is also home to the Cristo del Picacho which can be seen looking over the city from most areas. The very basic zoo is home to a wide range of birds, mammals and reptiles. Additionally over the past few years a few butterfly exhibits have opened in Honduras. One is located in Copan, another at the Pico Bonito Lodge near La Ceiba and another in West End on Roatan.
A better option to experience Honduran wildlife is to take a guided nature tour in one of Honduras many national parks, where you will be able to learn about and experience the countries unique and diverse nature. The best spots to visit being Punta Sal National Park near Tela, Pico Bonito National Park and Cuero y Salado Reserve near La Ceiba and La Tigra National Park near Tegucigalpa. If you would like an adventure also consider a guided trip into the Rio Platano Biosphere and the Mosquito Coast.
Birding Tours
Honduras has often been overlooked by many ornithologists. Numerous books have been written on countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Columbia. However, for many people, Honduras may seem like a difficult country to visit and explore. In the past few years a few birding tours have begun to be offered in the country, due to this the vast amount of National Parks might seem a bit daunting to the regular birder.
The abundance of forest and tropical flora in Honduras provides much for the novice, experienced birder or even for adventurers. Some of the most prominent birds present you might get to see include motmots which populate Honduras more than any other Central American country.
Honduras has around 701 known species of birds and offers some of Central America’s best bird and nature watching. Lancetilla Botanical Gardens near Tela, the Lake Yojoa area, the Copan Valley and the Pico Bonito National Park are all world class nature areas and are still untrodden by the masses. More than 120 species of birds are found of these only about 40 species actually live and nest on the Islands the rest of the species are migratory.
The Yellow Naped Parrot is one of the more famous resident species as it is listed as an endangered species in Honduras, additionally several Hummingbirds, Golden-Fronted Woodpeckers, Osprey and the Great Tailed Grackle are regularly seen. Of the migratory birds Warblers, Vireos, Tanagers are the most commonly seen also a variety of Caribbean Sea birds can also be seen such as the White Ibis, Brown Pelican, Frigate Bird and the Roseate Tern.
Honduras Backpacking Guide
Entry Requirements
A valid passport is required for all visitors to Honduras. No other documents will suffice, and the airlines will not let you board the plane without it. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, USA and most Western European countries can stay 30 days without a visa. Extensions are possible to a total stay of 180 days. Each additional 30 day extension costs 300 lps or US$16. Most major towns have an immigration office where this extension can be done. Most unmentioned countries require a visa. Please check ahead with the Honduran Embassy online before traveling.
What is the clearing customs process like at International Airports?
On entering Honduras, your luggage is subject to a customs check. Prohibited items may include weapons, drugs, animal and agricultural products. There is a limit for duty free items, please check before arrival. There are generally no problems with entering Honduras. All plant and fresh food products (meat, cheese, seafood, etc.) are prohibited to import.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Honduras offers a favorable tropical climate all year round. The north is hot and humid, with coastal regions at times cooler due to sea breezes. The south is hot and dry and the central regions are the coolest areas in the country, due to their elevation above sea level. Honduras’ wetter months are between August and December.
Language
We recommend learning the basics of Spanish before arriving. Or if you have a flexible schedule and for a full, immersive experience, visitors can book classes at one of Honduras’ fine Spanish language schools.
What can I expect the accommodation to be like?
Honduras offers a wide range of accommodations from first class modern hotels, resorts and nature lodges, a wide range of mid class hotels to budget hotels. Better hotels are found in the major cities and major tourist areas. Accommodation is very affordable.
What to Pack
Lightweight cotton clothing is best for all parts of Honduras. When visiting the central region, a jacket or sweater is needed. Hats and sunglasses are essential for beach time and in the wetter months a raincoat or an umbrella is suggested.
Does Honduras have a Carnival?
The carnival in La Ceiba is regarded as the biggest carnival in Central America and a great spectacle for any tourist.
What kind of money can I use or should I bring?
The official currency is the Lempira. The rate versus the US dollar fluctuates. US dollars are accepted often in tourist areas and especially the Bay Islands. Credit cards are accepted in the larger tourist areas and at most restaurants, hotels and stores. Cash advances can be taken on Visa cards at many banks. Also ATM machines can be used in the larger cities throughout the country. Traveler’s checks can be exchanged at most banks or hotels. It is NOT recommended to bring any other currency than US dollars, since other currencies can be difficult or impossible to exchange.
What kinds of gifts can I buy in Honduras and where?
Honduran crafts include a variety of wood carving, woven basketry, embroidery, textiles, leathercraft and ceramics. Most tourist towns will have shops selling locally produced products. Two of the best areas to visit are the Guamilito Market in San Pedro Sula and the Valley of Angels area near Tegucigalpa.
Is there a locally made liquor in the Bay Islands and Honduras?
Located near Tegucigalpa the town of Yuscaran is famous for its “guaro” which is cheap liquor that is drank throughout the country. Along the North Coast of Honduras and in the Bay Islands you will find “gifity” a drink which is mainly drunk by Garifunas that packs a strange punch.
What is the diving like on Roatan, Utila and Guanaja?
The diving on Roatan, Utila and Guanaja is incredible! People come from all over the world, not only for the reasonable diving and dive training prices, but because of the wide array of sea life the islands contain.
Were there really pirates in the Bay Islands?
Certainly, pirates used the Bay Islands as a hideout during several periods in history. Some also say they buried treasure and others have claimed to know of those who found it and spirited it away.
Can you rent a car on Roatan or mainland Honduras?
Yes, there are several car rental agencies that have offices in the airport, and will meet you at your flight. To drive legally on Roatan and in Honduras, you need a valid driver’s license from your place of residence. You may drive with a foreign license for up to 30 days. Beyond that you will need to apply for a Honduran license. You may occasionally be stopped by police at checkpoints in the road, and be required to show your driver’s license and the registration card of the vehicle.
What type of electricity is used?
Throughout Honduras and the bay islands, 110 volts, 60 MHz, is used. This is identical to the US with the same plugs. Voltage drops and irregularities in quality of electricity can occur, so consider bringing a surge protector.
Health and Safety
What are Health facilities like in Honduras?
The country’s best hospitals can be found in the major cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa which are recommended for serious matters. There is also the hospital D’Antoni in La Ceiba that has a good reputation. On Roatan there is the public hospital and the private Wood’s Clinic. Additional hospitals are also found throughout the country in most major towns.
Safety
Honduras does have a reputation which is why a structured group tour is recommended.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required to enter Honduras.
Is there malaria in Honduras?
Malaria is prevalent on the North Coast of Honduras and sometimes in the Bay Islands.