Honduras - Ver en español

The second-largest country in Central America, Honduras has been blessed with abundant natural beauty, a rich and varied culture and a historical legacy that includes the greatness of the Maya. And while some of its attractions such as the spectacular Mayan city of Copán and the idyllic Islas de Bahía are known internationally, the country is still an oasis of calm, far from the maddening crowds. So come discover the original Banana Republic and you'll be swept off your feet!

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Location
Bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Northern Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Capital
Tegucigalpa

Population
Approximately 7.4 million: 90% Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian), 7% Amerindian, 2% Black and approximately 1% White.

Languages
Spanish and Amerindian dialects. English is spoken on the Bay Islands as well as in the major cities.

Climate
Honduras has a tropical climate that varies from region to region. Rain falls throughout the year on the Caribbean coast, while the rest of the country has its rainy season between May and November. In March and April, the warm days usually end in cool nights. Cool, dry days and chilly nights are common December through February.

When to visit
There are a great many celebrations going on during the months of May and June. You might want to visit La Ceiba during the third week of May during its weeklong carnival celebration.

Government
Presidential Republic

Local time
GMT/UTC minus 6 hours (or US Central Standard Time). Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

Currency and credit cards
Lempira

U.S. dollars are easy to exchange in both the banks and on the "black market." Almost all banks offer full services, such as wire transfers, Western Union and check cashing.

MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services that may be available, such as cash advances. Check the rates first, though; you might save money by exchanging cash or traveler's checks.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in U.S. dollars.

Wiring money
You can wire money through MoneyGram in any branch of Banco Atlántida, Banco BGA or Banco del País.

Business hours
Business hours: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Shop hours: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Electricity
110/120/220V AC, 60 Hz

Entry and visa requirements
A valid US passport is required to enter and depart Honduras. A visa is not required, but tourists must provide proof of return or onward travel. Tourists are given a permit to remain in Honduras for 30 days. Honduran immigration may grant up to two 30-day extensions for a total of 90 days. Thereafter, tourists must leave the country prior to reentering.

Departure taxes
There is a departure tax of approximately US$30.

Customs
The duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 454g of tobacco; two liters of alcoholic beverages; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use; gifts up to a total value of US$50.

Tipping
A 10 percent tip is sometimes added to the bill at restaurants.

There is a 12 percent VAT on goods and services, and 15 percent VAT for alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Tip bellboys and chambermaids about US$0.50 per day per person. Tourist guides who accompany groups of more than five persons for a certain time usually receive US$2 per person per day in tips. Individuals or couples on a day tour usually reward the guide with US$35-50.

Luggage carriers and bellboys in the hotels usually receive the equivalent of one dollar per piece of luggage. Tipping taxi drivers is not customary.

Tourism offices
Secretaria De Estado En El Despacho De Turismo
Col. San Carlos, 5 Piso, Edif. Europa
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Tel: (504) 222-4002
Fax: (504) 238-2102
E-mail: ihturism@hondutel.hn
US Hotline: (800) 410-9608
Within Honduras: (800) 222-TOUR

Telecommunications
Honduras has a modern communications infrastructure that includes international direct dialing and access to AT&T, Sprint and MCI, as well as cellular communications through Motorola and Internet access. There are Hondutel telephone offices in every town with international telephone, telegraph, telex and fax services.

The country code is 504. The outgoing international code is 00.

Tegucigalpa
Fortunately for those who have a hard time twisting their tongue around the name of this bustling capital, its inhabitants have shortened it to the user-friendly "Tegus." Formerly the most important mining center in Central America, Tegus today retains its colonial legacy while at the same time offering visitors modern conveniences such as first-class accommodations and excellent restaurants, which are mainly located in the area of Morazán Boulevard. Shopping in Tegus is concentrated around the Calle Peatonal. Once called the Avenida Miguel Paz Barahona, it's now a pedestrian shopping mall replete with restaurants, banks and shops. Its pleasant climate and beautiful parks add to its charm.

The capital is actually two cities in one, divided by the Río Choluteca. On the east side lies the original Tegus; on the west is Comayagüela. This side is known as the market area, home to the Mercado San Isidro, where you can purchase hand-tooled leather goods. They are connected by a number of bridges.

Tegus' historical center revolves around Plaza Morazán, also known as the Parque Central. Must-sees include the Cathedral, with its beautiful baroque altar; the Casa Presidencial, which houses a museum depicting the lifestyles of the country's presidents; the art museum at the Antiguo Paraninfo Universitaria; the unique Palacion Legislativo, built on stilts; and the first church ever built in Tegus, the 16th century Iglesia de San Francisco. (For a museum tour, see Don't Miss…)

The city serves as the gateway to the Pacific Coast and all the attractions of central and southern Honduras. There's plenty to do around Tegucigalpa, as well. Southeast of the city's center is the Basílica de Suyapa, famous for its stained-glass windows. There are two charming colonial towns not too far from Tegus: Santa Lucía, a mining town with a lovely 18th-century church; and Valle de los Angeles, a well-preserved, historical mining town that's great for handicraft shopping. We recommend a visit to the former capital of Honduras, Comayagüa, which is a short drive away: the city still retains its lovely cobblestone streets, shady plazas and whitewashed homes.

San Pedro Sula
This is Honduras' second-largest city and the transportation hub for the Western half of the country. A major industrial, commercial and business center, it's the heart of the banana and sugar manufacturing region and the distribution center for the entire northern coast. San Pedro Sula boasts first-class hotels and restaurants catering to upscale business clients. Attractions include the Guamilto Market for handicrafts and the Archeology and History Museum, with its excellent exhibits of artifacts found in the Sula Valley.

Tegucigalpa museums
The Villa Roy National Museum in the Buenos Aires district of Tegucigalpa features exhibits on the lives of the presidents of Honduras from 1821 to 1960. In downtown Tegus, the Museo del Hombre (Museum of Mankind) is a cultural foundation that houses an antique-painting restoration room. The Historical Military Museum is the repository for personal objects and photographs of the country's various military heroes, and offers displays of antique and modern firearms. The Sala Bancatlán is a private collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts, coins and excellent contemporary paintings by Honduran artists.

Parques Nacional La Tigra
Only six miles from Tegucigalpa is La Tigra, a cloud forest encompassing more than 91 square miles. This protected area is a bird watchers haven, home to more than 200 species of our feathered friends. The cloud forest vegetation includes orchids, bromeliads and ferns.

Tela
Tela is a favorite beach escape for tourists and is known for its great seafood. Its main attractions are the white-sand beach that stretches for a few miles on both sides of town and the Garífuna Museum. There are plenty of places to stay, and there are plans for a multimillion-dollar development project. Tela is also an eco-tourism mecca, including the Jeaneete Kawas National Marine Park, Punta Izopo, Laguna de Los Micos and the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens.

The Caribbean coast
There are two coastal towns a visitor shouldn't overlook: La Ceiba and Trujillo. La Ceiba, the country's third largest city, lies at the foot of the 6,000-foot Pico Bonito. It's become a magnet for eco-tourism, featuring good hotels and beaches and an international airport that provides easy access. The Pico Bonito National Park is a nearby protected rainforest area with striking waterfalls and breathtaking scenery. Trujillo was the old capital of colonial Honduras, and has the beautiful Spanish buildings and fortresses to prove it. The city is famous for its spectacular, white-sand beaches.

Cayos Cochinos (HOG ISLANDS)
The Hog Islands, or Cayos Cochinos, lie between the Bay Islands and the coast of Honduras. They consist of about 70 small cayes and two larger ones, Cochino Grande and Cochino Pequeño. These privately owned cayes are sparsely populated and receive very few visitors—the owners will usually grant you permission to camp overnight.

Santa Rosa de Copan
Cigar aficionados will no doubt know all about this gateway to the Honduran Highlands: the Flor de Copán cigar factory is the purveyor of the renowned Davidoff cigars. A tour of the cigar factory is a must, even for non-smokers!

Nearly every city and town has its share of discos that usually fill up at night; the larger cities boast casinos if you're in the mood to try your luck. In Tegucigalpa, the Boulevard Morazán and Avenida Juan Pablo II are the main nightlife areas. The Manuel Bonilla National Theater features first-rate stage plays and other cultural events.

The nightlife of La Ceiba rates high on some traveler's "don't miss" lists (where you'll experience traditional Garífuna music and dancing), as does that of the town of Trujillo. There's a great bar there called Jerry's, formerly known as the Rogue's Gallery, were the owner displays messages and mementos left by his customers over the years, and a fun-filled restaurant, bar and disco combination called Rincón de los Amigos.

And while Roatán is more known for its skin diving, you can have a nightcap at the West End in The Twisted Toucan or dance the night away at Foster's.

Honduran cuisine is a melting pot of indigenous Maya and Spanish cooking styles. This translates into a plate full of rice, beans, tortillas, salad of cabbage and tomato, and some type of grilled or roasted meat such as chicken or beef. Seafood is inexpensive and popular on the Caribbean coast. Think fresh fish, shrimp, lobster or the deliciously versatile conch (caracol in Spanish). What sets this country's cuisine apart from others in Central America is the liberal use of coconut. For example, sopa de caracol, a conch and coconut soup flavored with spices, yucca, cilantro and green plantains, is a very tasty treat.

One Honduran national specialty, which also goes by the name 'Plato Típico' on restaurant menus, is carne asada. This is beef marinated in sour orange juice, salt, pepper and spices, and then grilled, served with chismol sauce (chopped tomatoes, onion and cilantro with lemon and spices), roasted plantains, spicy chorizos or sausages, olanchano cheese, tortillas, guacamole and refried mashed beans. Other favorites include ceviche (chopped raw fish or shellfish such as shrimp or conch marinated in lime juice, onions and tomatoes), tamales (chicken or pork or vegetables like potatoes wrapped in banana leaves), pastelitos de carne (deep-fried pastries stuffed with meat, rice or potatoes), tacos fritos (ground beef or chicken rolled in a tortilla, deep-fat fried, and served with chopped cabbage, cheese, sour cream and hot sauce as toppings), and baleadas (a flour tortilla filled with mashed fried beans and folded in half). Baleadas can also be much more elaborate and filled with any mix of crumbled cheese, scrambled eggs, sausage, plantain, avocado, chicken, pork, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Some larger Honduran towns boast restaurants that sell only baleadas.

Plátanos fritos (fried plantains) are a common side dish, while anafres (hot black beans and cheese accompanied by fresh tortilla chips) is a customary appetizer. Bean, mondongo (tripe), seafood, and beef all find their way into soups thickened with chunks of plantain, yucca and cabbage. Tropical fruits such as papayas, pineapples, plums, zapotes (soft orange-fleshed fruit), passion fruit and bananas are eaten for snacks and dessert. Arroz con leche (rice pudding spiked with cinnamon) and tres leches cake (a yellow cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, cream and sweetened condensed milk) are more decadent desserts.

Popular beer brands in Honduras include Port Royal, Barena, Salva Vida and Imperial. Looking for something stronger? Try Giffity, fiery liquor flavored with herbs and spices.

Tegucigalpa has plenty of fine eateries and restaurants to tempt your tastebuds, ranging from traditional Honduran to Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, French, American and more. Most of these are located either in the downtown district, the Boulevard Morazán area, or the Colonia Palmira area.

Honduras' verdant landscape and rich flora and fauna are a great attraction for eco-tourists. There are wildlife refuges and national parks all over the country, offering a variety of ecosystems, such as cloud forests, dry forests, pine forests and coastal wetlands.

Archaeology

The ancient city of Copán lies some 106 miles from San Pedro Sula and is Honduras chief archaeological site. This UNESCO World Heritage site includes the magnificent Acropolis, a huge amphitheater known as the Great Plaza, and the Court of the Hieroglyphic Stairway. Most of the site's original sculptures are on display at the Copán Sculpture Museum. About half a mile away is the village of Copán Ruinas, a colonial outpost with cobblestone streets and a beautiful old church. Meanwhile, the Rio Plantano Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Central America (2,007 square miles) and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its home to the Miskito and Pech tribes, as well as the ethnic Garífuna who live along the coast and the major rivers. The reserve lies in the northeastern corner of the country known as La Mosquitia. The presence of hundreds of archeological sites and other evidence has led many archeologists to speculate that this area may have been the center of Mesoamerican culture for at least two centuries.

Read more about Copán: Exploring the Florence of the Americas.

Beaches

Honduras boasts nearly 500 miles of coastline, nearly all of it boarding the Caribbean Sea. Tele is a favorite mainland beach escape for tourists and is known for its great seafood. Its main attractions are the white-sand beach that stretches for a few miles on either side of town and the Garífuna Museum. Those looking for long stretches of beautiful beaches should head to the Bay Islands. Roatan's three-mile beach at West Bay is among the most gorgeous. It's lined with several resorts that offer the chance for a great beach vacation. Utila's manmade beach in town and string of natural white sand beaches along the coast are a beacon for visitors, while Guanaia's beaches are more off-the-beaten track and well worth the find. On the Pacific Coast, the Isla el Tigre in the Gulf of Fonseca is the place to discover beautiful secluded beaches and do not much more than enjoy them. A ferry departs from the fishing village of Coyolito for a 10-minute ferry ride to the island.

Bird Watching

Some 740 species (and counting) of birds have been sighted in Honduras, with this rich diversity due to the country's central positioning between North and South America. Lake Yojoa is a hot-spot with nearly 400 birds in the region and as many as 40 different species are often sighted on one tree alone. Only six miles from Tegucigalpa is the Parques Nacional La Tigra, a cloud forest encompassing more than 91 square miles. This protected area is a bird watchers haven, home to more than 200 species of feathered friends. The remote Moskitia region is home to rarities such as the Agami Heron, Harpy Eagle, Macaws, Ant birds, Snowy Cotinga and the recently discovered Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher. The Mesoamerican Birdwatching Festival takes place each February.

Caving

Allow a couple of hours to explore the Talgua Eco-Archaeological Park, located 6 miles north-east of Catacamas. The oldest human remains found in Central America, dating back to 900 B.C., where found here at the Caves of Talgua. Over the ages, mineral deposits precipitating out of drops of water have covered the bones and caused them to glow or phosphoresce in the light, hence the nickname 'The Cave of the Glowing Skulls'. This burial site isn't open to the public. But, guides do lead 45 minute tours of the well-lit and easy-to-walk Lower Cave where there are spectacular actively growing limestone formations. The Upper Cave is self-guided; an abundance of fossils is the big draw. Restaurants, restrooms and a museum are also located within the park. An old semi-paved trail first blazed by the Spanish leads to a small cave at the Capiro-Calentura National Park and Guaimoreto Lagoon Wildlife Refuge.

Golf

Honduras has worked hard to improve its golf infrastructure in recent years. One result of this is Pristine Bay Resort's Black Pearl Golf Course, Roatan's first golf course and the first 18-hole golf course in the country, which is slated to open in late 2009. The Pete Dye-designed par-72 course starts at the ocean's doorstep, rises into the island's rolling foothills, then takes golfers on a wild ride back to the seaside clubhouse. Two 9-hole courses are located in Tegucigalpa, at the Tegucigalpa Country Club and exclusive Villa Elena Country Club. There's another two 9-hole golf courses just out of San Pedro Sula, while La Ceiba and Tela also have one 9-hole courses apiece.

Hiking

Hiking and mountain climbing are good in the Celaque National Park, where a long steep trail leads ultimately up to Honduras' tallest peak, the nearly 10,000-foot tall Celaque Mountain. Trails exist in the Pico Bonito National Park as well.

Barbareta Island, a pristine private island preserve, has eight miles of jungle trails. It takes two hours by boat or a 20-minute air charter from Roatán to reach the island.

Watersports

FISHING — Fly fish in Honduras' Brus Laguna, located in the remote Moskitia region, or chase bigger game like tuna, wahoo, marlin offshore the island of Roatán. Charter trips, knowledgeable local guides, and rental rods and tackle are all available.

KAYAKING & RAFTING — Sea kayaking, lake kayaking and whitewater rafting trips, spanning from a single to multi-day are popular in Honduras. Paddle in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, located in the Moskitia region, where there are no roads, only rivers, through this vast tropical lowland rainforest. White-water rafting is also popular on the Río Cangrejal.

SAILING — Half-day, full-day, sunset and week-long sailing charters are available around the Bay Islands and out of Roatán.

SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING — You'll find great swimming, snorkeling and diving at the beaches of Tela and Trujillo and around the Hog and Bay islands. The Bay Islands, right off the Caribbean coast, are an archipelago consisting of three major islands, Roatán, Guanaja and Utila and a smattering of smaller islands. The coral reef off the hilly islands of Roatán and Guanaja is known worldwide for its excellent scuba diving, while the many cayes surrounding Utila are a snorkeler's dream.

WINDSURFING — Windsurfing and kite-surfing is best off Punta Blanca, Roatán.