Introducing Honduras
Like its neighbors, Honduras is experiencing tremendous changes: an expanding tourist economy (cruise ships in Roatán?!), a maturing political scene, and the whole globalization thing, including maquilas, free trade agreements – heck, even implementing Daylight Savings Time for the second time. Honduras remains deeply entrenched in a two-front war against gangs and HIV/AIDS. Illegal logging is emerging as another major concern (do you know where that new mahogany chest came from?) and a key issue among Honduras’ growing environmental community.
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Even so, most Hondurans you’ll meet are very laid back and, while not disinterested, certainly disinclined to make much to-do over politics and world affairs. And aside from the people-pull, nature has its own drawcards here in Honduras. Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas offers up white-sand beaches, great snorkelling and howler monkeys galore and Lago de Yojoa in Honduras' lake region has world-class bird-watching, waterfalls and outstanding national parks. Backpackers love Utila for its cheap eats, great accommodation and terrific diving.
Honduras today is a place of change, too fast for those who’d like the country to remain ‘undiscovered’, too slow for those frustrated by persistent remnants of the ‘Banana Republic’ days, whether in undue foreign influence or lax enforcement of environmental laws. Hondurans themselves take it all in their stride, and travelers with an open mind and a bit of Spanish will find many fascinating conversations in store.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Traverse Central America, from Guatemala to Panama
- See the best of Central America in 44 days
- Fly from platform to platform in the heart of Roatan's jungle
Last updated: Feb 8, 2012
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: The Neon Sea
by TravellinAndi 19 May 2012
Most places tropical have it......islands in Honduras also have something the islands call the "String of Pearls" which is different…
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RE: Getting rid of Quetzales somewhere in San Pedro Sula
by Untracked 18 May 2012
I remember a money changer at the Honduras Nica border as well, and I swear I heard some guy ask for Quetzales in Granada, too. Otherwise…
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RE: rental car Gue/El Sal/Hon-travel with children-safety issue-itinerary
by Lottetikal 18 May 2012
You have chosen the rigth place to travel - CA is something special, a good place to travel with kids and absolute my favorite (traveled…
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Honduras
Things to do
- All things to do (491)
- Activities (91)
- Entertainment (85)
- Restaurants (147)
- Shopping (64)
- Sights (97)
- Tours (7)
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Our Top Picks For Honduras
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1 Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas/Punta Sal
White sand beaches, great snorkeling and howler monkeys galore
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2 Utila
A backpacker Mecca with cheap eats and dorms, a raucous nightlife and terrific diving
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3 Roatán
Budget or luxury, Roatán’s got your perfect hotel, restaurant, and dive site
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4 Comayagua
Semana Santa’s colorful ‘street carpets’ are one of many traditions in this gracious colonial city.
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5 Gracias
A cool colonial town at the foot of the country’s tallest peak
Fast Facts about Honduras
- Size of Honduras
112, 090 sq km
- Number of tourists visiting Honduras each year
1 million
- People living with HIV/AIDS
28, 000
- Minimum wage
US$3.15 per day
- Unemployment
28%
- Length of coastline
820km
- Population
7.3 million
- Remittances in 2004
US$1 billion
- Life expectancy
women 71 years, men 68 years
- Metric tons of bananas and plantains produced annually
1.7 million
Our favourite Honduras Blogs (beta)
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Blowing Smoke – Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 16 May 2012
The road from the town of Gracias down to Santa Rosa de Copán travels through gorgeous pine forests and sloping, green hills. But we weren’t able to enjoy it. There were so many potholes in the “pavement” that it was best to think of the journey as a video game–something along the lines of Angry Potholes–in which gaping holes appear out of nowhere and it’s your job to avoid them. At one point a particularly huge pothole had a blow-up Santa Claus stuffed into it as a grim warning to steer clear or join the jolly man in the abyss. Good luck.
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Photo Essay: Lempira Day Parade – Gracias de Dios, Honduras
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 11 May 2012
Gracias de Dios is the center of the land of the Lenca, the largest indigenous group in Honduras. Their most revered leader was Chief Lempira who, in the 1500s, managed to hold off invading Spanish forces. Though Lempira was ultimately killed by the conquistadors, he is celebrated every July 20 on what’s known as Lempira Day. The normally sleepy town of Gracias hosts the biggest celebration of them all with a three-hour Lempira Day Parade, air force fly over and a fireworks display.
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Land of the Lenca – Gracias de Dios, Honduras
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 9 May 2012
Our travel timing was accidentally perfect and we pulled into the town of Gracias de Dios in southeastern Honduras (about four hours from the famous Copán archaeological site) just as the annual Chief Lempira Day Festival was gearing up. Held every July 20, this is the most important festival among the Lenca people–the largest indigenous group in Honduras–and Gracias (no one says the “de Dios” part) is ground zero.
