A lesser-visited vacation spot in Central America, Honduras is able to step out of the shadows and into the highlight, as guests flock to this stunning nation to uncover its hidden gems. That can assist you begin your individual journey, we’ve rounded up the perfect issues to do in Honduras. From paradise islands to dramatic mountain landscapes, right here’s every little thing you could profit from Central America’s best-kept secret.
Style Honduran meals in San Pedro Sula
The second-biggest metropolis in Honduras, San Pedro Sula is without doubt one of the nation’s essential transport hubs. With the close by Ramón Villeda Morales Airport serving a spread of worldwide locations, there’s a great likelihood San Pedro Sula would be the first port of name in your journey. However quite than rush out of the town, take into consideration staying over for an evening or two to pattern some native Honduran meals and drinks.
No journey to Honduras could be full with out tasting baleadas, and nowhere does them higher than San Pedro Sula. These thick wheat tortillas are filled with refried beans and your selection of cheese, eggs, avocados, and just about the rest you may consider. Avenue stands throughout San Pedro Sula promote these low cost snacks, so dig in and revel in. To clean it down, seize an area beer. There’s a burgeoning craft beer scene within the metropolis, with a number of bars and breweries providing domestically made tipples in fashionable taprooms and sunny beer gardens.
Absorb Comayagua’s colonial structure
As soon as the capital of Honduras, Comayagua nonetheless boasts a lot of the beautiful structure from its time because the non secular and political centre of the nation. Whereas the buildings might have pale from their former glory, the town nonetheless has an air of quiet grandeur about it, with among the finest structure you’ll discover in the whole nation. Head to El Reloj de la Catedral and climb the clock tower for beautiful views over the town, after which stroll over to the close by Plaza Centro for a chew to eat in one of many many conventional Honduran eating places and cafés. For a deep dive into the town’s historical past, go to the Museum of Comayagua, residence to displays and artifacts from all through Comayagua’s historical past, in addition to a beautiful shaded backyard for some peace and quiet.
Discover Mayan ruins in Copán
Most individuals don’t consider Honduras once they consider Mayan ruins, however the nation boasts among the most important archaeological websites on the continent, and none extra so than the Copán ruins. As soon as an historic Mayan metropolis that dominated the area, the location was residence to one of the necessary Maya civilizations of all time. As of late, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage website, but it surely’s often abandoned, so that you’ll have it just about to your self to discover and channel your internal Indiana Jones.
Away from the ruins, Copán has lots to supply. Head to El Paseo de los Girasoles (Path of the Sunflowers) to stroll among the many stunning yellow flowers and bag that excellent Instagram shot. For extra spectacular views, take a taxi to Hacienda San Lucas and take within the sundown over the Rio Copán.
Expertise it for your self on: Primary Central America: Guatemala to Costa Rica
Go island hopping on Cayos Cochinos
Mendacity about 30km (19 mi) off the Honduras coast is a bunch of small islands and coral cays referred to as Cayos Cochinos. They’re the definition of paradise. Boasting white sands, tall palm timber, and crystal-clear waters, this distinctive archipelago needs to be seen to be believed. Cayos Cochinos is made up of two essential islands, Cayo Grande and Cayo Menor, and 13 smaller coral cays. Some are large enough to remain on, whereas others are nothing greater than a seaside and some palm timber. What all of them have in frequent is unbelievable snorkelling, so seize your masks and dive in.
Most individuals keep on the bigger Cayo Grande island, although there are alternatives to remain on Cayo Menor and some of the bigger coral cays. You gained’t discover five-star lodging right here — there’s little operating water and electrical energy — however one can find pleasant individuals and priceless views.
Be taught to scuba dive on Utila
Some of the thrilling issues to do in Honduras needs to be scuba diving, and there’s nowhere higher for it than the island of Utila. Located within the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras, this small however mighty island is filled with stunning seashores, scrumptious eating places, wild nightlife, and extra scuba diving centres than you’ll ever want. With shipwrecks to discover, dazzling coral reefs to swim by means of, and uncommon ocean wildlife to identify, it’s no marvel diving is such an enormous a part of life right here. Take your choose of the dive centres and join taster periods and programs starting from a number of days to a number of months. However be warned — the gradual, luxurious tempo of island life means individuals typically come for a brief keep and by no means go away.
With a lot to do on the island, it’s simple to lose observe of time. Once you’re not diving, take a look at the rising vary of high quality eating places providing every little thing from freshly caught seafood to Asian fusion. After darkish, a unique get together is going on just about each evening of the week on Utila, so get your dancing footwear on and your karaoke songs lined up.
Attempt river sports activities in Pico Bonito Nationwide Park
In case you favor mountains and woodlands to seashores and palm timber, look no additional than Pico Bonito Nationwide Park. Established in 1987, the park is an outside adventurer’s dream, with climbing, bouldering, cliff leaping, and whitewater rafting. Maintain a watch out for elusive jaguars, monkeys, alligators, and greater than 300 species of birds. The park has 11 mountains, so the hikes aren’t for the faint-hearted, however your efforts will likely be rewarded with unbelievable views at each flip. If river sports activities are extra your factor, head to the banks of the Rio Cangrejal to guide a high-octane journey downstream. Pico Bonito has a number of lodging choices, and it’s near the port city of La Ceiba, so get off the vacationer path and discover this big, untapped playground.
Get again to nature on Lago de Yojoa
Tucked away within the west of the nation is one in every of Honduras’s best-kept secrets and techniques: Lago de Yojoa. This stunning physique of water is the biggest pure lake within the nation and is slowly gaining a fame as probably the greatest issues to do in Honduras. It’s simple to see why. Surrounded by looming mountains, wealthy forests, and plush fields on each facet, Lago de Yojoa is a bit of slice of serenity on a busy, bustling continent. Regardless of its burgeoning fame, lodging and guided tour choices across the lake are nonetheless restricted. For adventurous travellers who do make it right here, the rewards are lots. Take a canoe out onto the lake to see the birds at daybreak, stroll alongside the 1km (0.62 mi) boardwalk over the wetlands to stand up shut and private with native wildlife, or take a bus to the close by Pulhapanzak waterfall to expertise the superior energy of nature.
Take in tradition in Tegucigalpa
Honduras’s hard-to-pronounce capital metropolis is the political, cultural, and historic centre of the nation. Travellers can discover loads of tradition and historical past as they stroll among the many colonial buildings and streets that make this metropolis so distinctive. Begin in Plaza Morazán, the central hub of the town, the place you’ll discover a beautiful baroque cathedral and several other museums and cultural centres. From there, go to the close by Museo para la Identidad Nacional to discover the nationwide id of this unsung, typically misunderstood nation. Once you’re prepared for a break, take a taxi to Parque Naciones Unidas El Picacho, a small hilltop park providing calm, serenity, and beautiful views of the town.
Look ahead to birds in Parque Nacional La Tigra
Parque Nacional La Tigra is simply 22km (13 mi) from the capital. Protecting some 238 sq km (91 sq mi), the park incorporates cloud forest, pine forest, rivers, and waterfalls. You possibly can take a day journey to La Tigra from Tegucigalpa, however to get into nature and profit from this unbelievable place, keep for a few nights within the campsites and eco-lodges dotted across the park. Moreover, you’ll want a while to attempt to spot a quetzal, the beautiful long-feathered turquoise-coloured chicken that calls the forests of Honduras residence.
Journey into La Mosquitia, Honduras
A journey into the La Mosquitia area of Honduras gives journey, challenges, and rewards by means of an ever-changing panorama. Protecting the northeast of Honduras and the border with Nicaragua, the world takes in rugged shoreline, dense jungle, marshy wetlands, and dry savanna. It’s an unlimited and sparsely populated a part of the nation, however getting round is feasible — and value it for these adventurous few who make the journey in. Travelling on foot and by bus, automobile, and boat, you’ll encounter all method of wildlife and expertise a unique lifestyle within the distant communities that decision this place residence. It doesn’t get far more off the crushed observe than this, however you’ll go away with recollections and experiences few else can declare to have.
