Sights in Honduras
-
Parque Nacional Cusuco
Just 45km from San Pedro Sula, but remarkably difficult to access, Parque Nacional Cusuco is a cloud forest nestled in the impressive Merendón mountain range. The park has abundant wildlife, including parrots, toucans and a large population of quetzals, best spotted from April to June. Its highest peak is Cerro Jilinco (2242m). The park’s visitors center is the starting point for five different hiking trails. Two trails – Quetzal and Las Minas – pass waterfalls and swimming holes. Guides can be hired at the visitors center for around L$100 per trip.
reviewed
-
Hacienda El Jaral
The large, rather cheesy Hacienda El Jaral resort-hotel-waterpark-museum-foodcourt-minimall-movie theater (did we miss anything?)is a budget version of Disneyland. The water park has several high tubular slides that wind down to a somewhat dated pool, while the movie theater has one screen showing Hollywood flicks. Both are the only ones of their kind near Copán Ruínas, and the best reason to make the trip (and then only if you are really jonesing for some soft-serve diversion).
The much-hyped Museo de la Vaca, Museum of the Cow, is a glorified gift shop, while the hotel is way overpriced.
reviewed
-
Macaw Mountain Bird Reserve & Nature Park
Set on 4 hectares of tropical forest, Macaw Mountain Bird Reserve & Nature Park has large enclosures with birds ranging from brilliant Buffon’s macaws to manic keel-billed toucans. The ticket price (a bit steep, but good for three days) includes a one-hour guided tour (English and French spoken). There’s also a 20-minute nature loop through an adjacent coffee plantation, a small swimming hole and a cafe. It’s 2.5km north of Copan Ruinas, mostly uphill; a taxi is L$20 per person.
reviewed
-
Chiminike
Chiminike is Tegucigalpa’s excellent children’s museum. Situated about 7km south of downtown, it caters to kids of all ages, from a peaceful infant/nursing area to adolescent-level displays on Maya history. It’s refreshingly frank: the area about the human body has exhibits on the hows and whys of farting, vomiting, sneezing and body odor, while a crawl-through digestive tract starts at the mouth and ends with a slide through an oversized rectum.
reviewed
-
A
Copán Archaeological Site
Honduras has only one major Mayan ruin, but it's a true gem. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1980, Copán archaeological site is known for its remarkable stone sculptures, especially the enormous and intricately carved stelae depicting former leaders. The site is not as lofty or grandiose as, say, Tikal or Chichén Itzá, but the artisanship is impressive. The museum is also top-notch.
reviewed
-
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ojochal
South of San Marco de Colón, the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ojochal is a private wildlife reserve within the pristine Sierra de la Botija mountains along the Honduras–Nicaragua border. Precious few travelers make it here; those who do are rewarded with gorgeous pine and tropical forest brimming with wildlife, especially white-faced monkeys. There are no organized services for the refuge, and trail maintenance is uneven. The best way to visit is to contact Dr Ángel Enrique Sándoval López and family, who own La Esquisita restaurant. Travelers may be able to stay the night in the family’s home, or camp on the grounds. From Duyusupo, it’s a two- to three-hour downhill…
reviewed
-
Roatán Marine Park
Thousands of divers and snorkelers come every year to explore the magnificent reefs just a few yards offshore. Three dive schools operate at the western end where there's excellent snorkeling, though the reef is starting to show damage.
Avoiding contact with the coral is extremely important. Coral has an invisible covering of slime that protects it, much like skin on other animals. Touching the coral can damage this protective covering, exposing it to infection and disease. Large segments of coral can be killed by a single brush of a diver's fin.
Under ideal conditions, most coral grows about 1cm (less than half an inch) per year; even the fastest growing sponges grow…
reviewed
-
Basílica de Suyapa
On the Suyapa hillside, the huge Gothic Basílica de Suyapa dominates the landscape. La Virgen de Suyapa is the patron saint of Honduras and all of Central America. The construction of the basilica, which is famous for its large, brilliant stained-glass windows, began in 1954 - finishing touches are still being added.
La Virgen de Suyapa, who is believed by many to have performed hundreds of miracles, is a tiny wooden statue, measuring only 6cm (2.4in). She is brought to the large basilica on holidays, especially for the annual Feria de la Virgen de Suyapa beginning on the saint's day (February 2) and continuing for a week; the celebrations attract pilgrims from all over…
reviewed
-
Parque Nacional la Tigra
Covering 238 sq km of rugged forest, Parque Nacional La Tigra is a short distance northeast of the capital. The park includes cloud forest and dry pine forest, numerous rivers and waterfalls, and a large and varied (but exceedingly shy) population of mammals, including pumas, peccaries, armadillos and agoutis (rabbit-sized rodents). Somewhat easier to spy are the park’s numerous birds – 350 species in all – making La Tigra the country’s best bird-watching spot after Lago de Yojoa. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a quetzal, a distinctive aqua-colored bird with long tail feathers. Impossible to miss is the park’s exuberant flora: lush trees, vines, lichens, large ferns,…
reviewed
-
Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center
Based out of the Bay Island College of Diving, the Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center is one of the only programs in Honduras that is 100% dedicated to advanced whale shark research. Divers and snorkelers can participate in various whale shark programs, ranging from one-time shark-spotting trips (L$1026 per person without snorkel gear), to in-depth three- to six-day courses on theory, ecology and research methods, plus training in spear guns and whale identification. There are plans to offer internship and summer camp programs as well. Just visiting the WSORC office is fascinating, with its numerous displays about whale shark biology, identification, safe diving…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Carambola Botanical Gardens
Across the road from Anthony’s Key Resort, the Carambola Botanical Gardens has well-maintained trails through 40 acres of protected forest, extending up a hillside known as Carambola Mountain. It’s about 1km to the ‘summit, ’ where you can see all the way to Utila on a clear day and, at the right time, down into the dolphin show at Anthony’s Key Resort. Along the trail you’ll encounter dozens of species of native plants, including orchids, spice plants, medicinal plants and fruit trees. You’ll also pass Iguana Wall, a cliff favored by iguanas and parrots, as well as remnants of pre-Colombian settlements. Reservations are required for guided tours.
reviewed
-
Parque Eco-Arqueológico de Los Naranjos
On the northwest side of the lake, the Parque Eco-Arqueológico de los Naranjos is a Lencan archaeological site dating to approximately 700 BC. The ruins themselves are not terribly interesting; they’re made of clay so have only been semi-excavated (to protect them from environmental damage). The main reason to visit, however, is the wildlife. The park has 6km of trails that wind through the forest over hanging bridges and on a lakeside boardwalk, providing fantastic opportunities for spotting birds. A small museum at the visitors center gives a general overview of Lencan civilization, which is mildly interesting. The park is 5km south of Peña Blanca.
reviewed
-
Yübu – the Garífuna Experience
Yübu – The Garífuna Experience is an utterly artificial cultural center that was built as a tourist trap for cruise-shippers, and which seems to be working its magic perfectly well. The experience begins with a 30- to 35-minute historical talk about the Garífuna’s beginnings and their brutal passage to Roatán. After that, a dance demonstration ought to be uplifting, but the dancers are obviously not having much fun. You can also shop in the gift shop, learn to make casabe (a traditional yucca flatbread) or eat Garífuna specialties at the small comedor, but the food, like the overall experience, is pretty bland.
reviewed
-
Mary's Place
Fissures in the coral form a deep, sheer-faced maze at this one-of-a-kind dive site. Winding through, you'll likely see jacks, lobsters and crabs, and huge schools of silversides; near the mooring, keep an eye out for seahorses. Mary's Place is near French Harbour, and is usually combined with another south-side dive and lunch at Hole in the Wall restaurant.
A one-time 10.00 park fee should be added to equipment hire. Please only use shops that are part of this effort - there's a list of member shops at the marine park's website. The money goes toward anti-poaching and reef protection programs. It costs a little more, but one dive will show you why it's so important.
reviewed
-
Fortaleza de San Fernando de Omoa
Omoa’s claim to historical fame is the Fortaleza de San Fernando de Omoa. Located on the main street to the beach, this fort was built under King Fernando VII of Spain between 1759 and 1775 by enslaved Indians and, later, by enslaved Africans. It was constructed to protect the coast and the region’s treasures – gold, silver and indigo – that were shipped out from there. The plan only worked for four years; in 1779 the fortress was captured by the British after a two-day battle. It’s still in good shape today, and features 31 rooms, a small museum, about three dozen cannons and hundreds of cannonballs. It’s way overpriced for your average indie traveler.
reviewed
-
Los Sapos
From Hacienda San Lucas in Copán Ruínas, a pleasant 10-minute walk brings you to Los Sapos, a Maya site purportedly dedicated to women and fertility. Some archaeologists believe it was a place for royal women to conduct fertility ceremonies, or even to give birth. Others say it was simply a place for stone carvers to practice their trade.
In any case, the actual pieces - roughly hewn rocks, one in the shape of a sapo (frog), hence the site's name - are significantly eroded but the hike there, with great views over the valley, is half the fun. The trails to this site are maintained by Hacienda San Lucas, and nonguests are charged for their use.
reviewed
-
Lancetilla Botanical Garden & Research Center
One of the largest tropical botanical gardens in the world, Lancetilla Botanical Garden & Research Center spans some 1680 hectares and has 1200 species of plants from four continents. The garden has hundreds of bird species – migratory species are present from November to February – and generates 60% of Tela’s fresh water. Well-marked trails wind through the main garden and arboretum areas. The trees are divided and labeled according to their major characteristic: ornamental, medicinal, fruit-bearing, timber and poisonous. At the far end of the garden is a long tunnel formed by an arch of bamboo, leading to a swimming hole.
reviewed
-
Centro Turístico Pulhapanzak
Centro Turístico Pulhapanzak is a magnificent 43m waterfall on the Río Amapa surrounded by a lush and well-kept park. This is a popular swimming spot, and there also are guides who will take visitors to a small cave behind the falls. It takes just a few minutes to get there – and anyone can do it – but it feels like something out of Indiana Jones: jumping off boulders, swimming across roiling pools, inching around rocks amid a maelstrom of crashing water and swirling air, and finally squeezing up the narrow passage into the cave. There’s no set price, but it’s worth a good tip: L$40 to L$60 per person is fair.
reviewed
-
Aguas Termales Presidente
The hot springs at Aguas Termales Presidente are one of Gracias’ main attractions. Four kilometers southeast of town, the hot springs have several pools at various temperatures. You can walk there in one to 1½ hours: take the road to La Esperanza until you reach the right-hand turnoff for the Aguas Termales, then follow the road or take the first right onto a footpath, which is a shortcut but requires fording a (usually) small river. You should be able to hitch a ride back – everybody does. Cabs don’t usually come here; hiring a private truck costs around L$200, with an hour at the springs (ask at Hotel Guancascos).
reviewed
-
Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas
Standing on the beach at Tela, you can look to the west and see a long arc of land curving out to a point. This point, Punta Sal, is part of the Parque Nacional Jeannette Kawas, one of the most scenic places on the North Coast. The park has several white-sand beaches, the prettiest and most popular being Playa Cocalito. From Cocalito, a number of trails, both marked national-park trails and unmarked ones, lead to less- visited beaches, including Puerto Caribe and La Ensenada; you may spot howler monkeys on the way. Offshore are coral reefs that make for fine snorkeling. .
reviewed
Advertisement
-
B
Museo Nacional de Historia Y Antropología Villa Roy
The Museo Nacional de Historia y Antropología Villa Roy is housed in the former home of ex-president Julio Lozano (near Calle Morelos), an opulent two-story mansion overlooking the city. Fascinating, if somewhat intense, the museum traces a chronological path through Honduran history, from independence, through the Liberal reform period, to modern-day Honduras. Displays are long and detailed (and in Spanish only). The section on the Vaccaro brothers and the rise of Standard and United Fruit companies will be interesting even to casual visitors, as few events have more deeply shaped Honduras’ past and present.
reviewed
-
Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
The Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción is a colonial gem. Built between 1685 and 1715, it contains fine art in the Renaissance, baroque and neoclassic styles, both inside and out. The impressive three-paneled altar is similar to that of Tegucigalpa’s cathedral; both are believed to have been made by the same unknown artist. The clock in the iglesia tower is the oldest in the Americas and one of the oldest in the world. The Moors built it around 1100 for the palace of the Alhambra in Granada. It was donated to the town by King Phillip II of Spain.
reviewed
-
La Pintada
Located 10 minutes' walk south of Los Sapos Maya site, La Pintada is a picturesque Chortí Maya village known for the production of corn-husk dolls. (You may be swarmed by kids trying to sell them to you.) The town has beautiful views, including of the acropolis at the Copán archaeological site. The name of the town comes from a little-known painted stele nearby. The folks at Hacienda San Lucas can provide a guide to point it out (free, but a tip is expected).
The trails to this site are maintained by Hacienda San Lucas, and nonguests are charged for their use.
reviewed
-
Roatán Museum & Dolphin Show
This smallish historical center has displays spanning island history from prehistoric times and Mayan occupation to Columbus' arrival and the beginning of the colonial period. There's also a resident population of some 20 bottlenose dolphins. It's worth checking out the dolphin show held twice daily.
You can sign up for one of several programs; from the Dolphin Beach Encounter where you wade and interact with a single dolphin in waist-deep water to a Dolphin Snorkel or Dolphin Dive, which include interacting with a group of dolphins in the open water.
reviewed
-
Cuevas de Taulabé
The Cuevas de Taulabé, located alongside the highway, 25km north of Siguatepeque, were discovered in 1969 when the highway was being built, and have been explored to a depth of 12km, with no end in sight. The first several hundred meters have lights and a cement pathway; guides lead you on a 30-minute tour, describing the formation of the cave and pointing out stalagmites and stalactites with recognizable shapes (Jesus, Buddha etc). Tipping the guide is customary; for a bit extra, they’ll take you to deeper, less-visited areas.
reviewed