Honduras travel: Many people associate Honduras with instability, and indeed, Honduras is a country with a rough history. While the economy has grown slowly since the civil wars of the 1980s, wealth still remains poorly distributed.
But Honduras’s attractions rival those of any Central American country. The Copan ruins in Western Honduras are among the most fantastic in the Maya empire. Off Honduras’s Caribbean coast, the Bay Islands Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja offer internationally acclaimed Scuba diving and snorkeling.
Those who dare to venture farther off the beaten path will encounter, along with distressing poverty, a warm-hearted and welcoming local population who appreciate their beautiful country, and love to show it off.
Compare prices on flights to La Ceiba, Honduras (LCE) or Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Honduras Travel: Where Should I Go?
As mentioned above, Honduras’s most popular destinations are the Maya ruins of Copan in the west, and the Bay Islands in the north. Located near the Guatemala border, the Copan ruins are most famous for their portrait “stelae”, or intricately carved stone slabs.
The most popular of the Honduran Bay Islands is Roatan—the reality TV show “Temptation Island” was filmed there. Though more tourists migrate to Roatan’s pale sands each year, its accommodations and other attractions are still cheap when compared to other Caribbean islands. The island of Utila is another popular destination. Touted as the cheapest place to attain Scuba certification in the world, Utila attracts a funky and diverse international cast, and offers less expensive accommodations than Roatan.
Other possible destinations for the better-traveled are Trujillo, a woodsy coastal city where Columbus first set foot in the Americas; La Ceiba, the gateway to the Bay Islands with some stunning beaches of its own; and colonial towns Gracias and Comayagua. Honduras’s largest cities, Tegucigalpa (the capital) and San Pedro Sula, offer modern, American-esque amenities—even Pizza Huts—but can be unsafe at night.
Honduras Travel: What Can I See?
Honduras is considered a biological hotspot—its mountains and forests contain more than 6,000 plant species, 110 mammal species (half are bats!), and over 700 bird species. The Caribbean sea around the Bay Islands is thronged with sea life, including bottlenose dolphins and the celebrated whale shark, the largest fish on earth.
Honduras’s most unspoiled mainland attraction is the Rio Platano Biophere Reserve, in the northeastern region of La Mosquitia, a lowland rainforest recently deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Honduras Travel: How Do I Get There and Around?
Buses are the least expensive way to travel in Honduras, though they’re often a pain. Air-conditioned buses through Ticabus travel from Nicaragua (and Costa Rica) in the south to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, where you can catch a bus to La Ceiba and the Bay Islands. Buses between Guatemala and El Salvador also stop near Copan. But if you prefer to travel at your own pace, renting a car is a favorable option.
While you can take a plane out to the Bay Islands, the boat trip is worth it—there’s nothing like watching the Caribbean water change from dingy blue to translucent turquoise.
Honduras Travel: How Much Will I Pay?
Honduras’s official currency is the Lempira, divided into 100 centavos. But you won’t be spending many of them! Prices in mainland Honduras are inexpensive—enormously inexpensive. Even the comparably pricier Bay Islands will seem reasonably priced to foreigners.
Honduran ATMS aren’t always reliable to foreign debit cards, but all banks swiftly cash American Express travelers checks. Bring both.
Honduras Travel: What Will I Eat?
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Honduras Travel: When Should I Go?
Rain falls on and off throughout the year on Honduras’s Caribbean side. The Pacific side enjoys a distinct dry season November through April.
If you’re visiting Honduras in May, be sure to stop by La Ceiba. La Feria de San Isidro, or “Carnaval”, is a weeklong event including street parades and other celebrations. In the first week of February, Tegucigalpa erupts in festivities to celebrate the Virgen de Suyapa, Honduras’s patron saint.
Honduras Travel: How Safe Will I Be?
While most crime is not directed towards tourists, Honduras is still one of the more dodgy nations in Central America. Sreet crime especially is an ever-increasing risk. But the risk can be tremendously diminished if you apply basic precautions. Always take taxis at night, don’t flash any signs of wealth, and keep all important documents and substantial sums of money in an underclothes moneybelt. Avoid walking alone after sunset—even mainland beaches are considered unsafe at night.
Immunizations against Hepatitis A, B, and Typhoid are recommended for all travelers to Honduras, along with customary booster shots like tetanus and measles. Take malaria prophylaxis with cholorquine before, during and after your stay. To avoid unpleasant gastrointestinal afflictions, drink only filtered water—that includes ice.
