Formerly known as the banana republic, Honduras is one of those countries where nature has created ideal conditions for not only growing bananas, but also for nature-based tourism. Hosting tropical beaches, rainforests and ancient Mayan ruins, this largest one of the Central American countries is an exciting and yet largely undiscovered holiday destination.
The mountainous inland with its picturesque nature makes Honduras inviting particularly in the eyes of travelers who enjoy getting off the beaten track. Especially if following those tracks you might encounter many picturesque colonial towns and almost forgotten historical monuments left behind by the Maya empire. In the Honduran highlands you can find Copán, one of the most impressive ruins left behind by the Maya empire. Situated close to a small town of Copán Ruínas and surrounded by forested hills, this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site is a place where natural and cultural attractions are combined. With 150,000 yearly visitors, Copán is one of the most popular travel destinations in Honduras.
International flights to Honduras can be found to the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. From Tegucigalpa you can get internal flights to many Honduran destinations. Also San Pedro Sula that is located close to the Caribbean Sea receives some international flights to Honduras.
The sunny islands, jungles and Mayan sites of Honduras
Honduras invites tourists with some obvious tourism magnets like the sunny Bay Islands. Located in the azure blue Caribbean Sea, these islands offer ideal surroundings for diving and beach holidays. Honduras also hosts several beautiful national parks to visit. The coastal resort towns of Tela and Omoa, the undiscovered rainforests and lagoons of the remote Miskito Coast, the nice possibilities for trekking, rafting and birdwatching, or the largest carnival in Central America held in La Ceiba might also catch your attention while visiting Honduras.The mountainous inland with its picturesque nature makes Honduras inviting particularly in the eyes of travelers who enjoy getting off the beaten track. Especially if following those tracks you might encounter many picturesque colonial towns and almost forgotten historical monuments left behind by the Maya empire. In the Honduran highlands you can find Copán, one of the most impressive ruins left behind by the Maya empire. Situated close to a small town of Copán Ruínas and surrounded by forested hills, this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site is a place where natural and cultural attractions are combined. With 150,000 yearly visitors, Copán is one of the most popular travel destinations in Honduras.
Practical information for your trip to Honduras
Honduras has a varied tropical climate, and local temperatures vary greatly depending on altitude. Weather in Honduras is mostly tropically warm, but while coastal regions enjoy warm temperatures and sunshine all year round, the mountainous inland of Honduras faces rain and much cooler temperatures especially between May and October.International flights to Honduras can be found to the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. From Tegucigalpa you can get internal flights to many Honduran destinations. Also San Pedro Sula that is located close to the Caribbean Sea receives some international flights to Honduras.
Photo: Treesftf, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Besides flying, you can easily travel to Honduras by road from the neighboring countries. Cruise ships visit the Bay Islands, and a boat connection to Honduras from Belize also exists. Buses and minibuses are the main method of transportation within Honduras. Taxis are available in Honduran cities and towns.
Visitor services. Hotels and cheap guesthouses can be found in most cities and towns around the country. Restaurants are also widely available, offering cheap local food. Although the average level of quality of these services might not be great, price level in Honduras is quite affordable. English is not commonly spoken in Honduras, so some skills of Spanish are recommended if you plan to visit Honduras independently.
Safety. Honduras is a poor country where petty crime is common and violent attacks against tourists do happen. While it is not among the most dangerous destinations in Latin America, extra caution should be paid into safety issues especially when travelling in cities and outside the most popular tourist areas in Honduras. Visitors are advised to use only official taxis and avoid walking in the streets after dark, especially if you are traveling alone. As there are unexploded mines left in the ground, walking outside roads and trails in the countryside near the Nicaraguan border is not recommended.
