Museum sights in Honduras
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
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
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
-
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
-
B
Museo de Historia Natural
Just down the hill from the Basilica de Suyapa is the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH). Typically called Ciudad Universitaria, it houses the Museo de Historia Natural in the biology building. The museum, however, is a serious downer despite the upbeat listing in Honduras Tips.
It houses a sad collection of stuffed birds and animals, many with eyes missing, and feathers and fur coming off in clumps. Only the whale skeleton and petrified dung display are remotely memorable, but still not worth the effort, even for kids.
reviewed
-
C
Museo Regional de Arqueología Maya
Although in need of some updating, the 1970s-era Museo Regional de Arqueología Maya gives a good overview of the Maya and their presence in the Valle de Copán. The exhibit contains some excellent pieces: painted pottery, carved jade, Maya glyphs and the original Stela B, portraying King 18 Rabbit. Don’t miss the Tumba de la Bruja, the round tomb of a shamana who was buried with several spectacular offerings, including two human heads (neither of which were hers).
reviewed
-
D
Fortaleza Santa Bárbara de Trujillo
Often called El Castillo (the Castle), Fortaleza Santa Bárbara de Trujillo is a 17th-century Spanish fortress with a small museum containing pre-Columbian artifacts, religious relics, slave chains, Garífuna masks, and antique weaponry – each item a glimpse into the area’s history. The grounds have excellent views of the coast, several old cannons and a stone marker of the execution site of adventurer and would-be conqueror William Walker.
reviewed
-
E
Museo de la Naturaleza
The Museo de la Naturaleza has over 80 exhibits that cover the gamut of natural history, from paleontology and human biology to ecology and the universe. The level of detail is on a par with a college textbook, which can get a bit old given the signs are in Spanish. If the door’s closed, enquire around the corner at the Fundación Ecologista HR Pastor.
reviewed
-
F
Centro de Documentación Historica
The Centro de Documentación Historica is a museum tracing the history of Honduras from independence to the present. The displays are interesting enough, but other museums cover the same ground just as well (sometimes better). The building housing them is the real gem, having served as the Casa Presidencial (Presidential Palace) from 1920 until 1992.
reviewed
-
G
Museo Para la Identidad Nacional
Tegucigalpa’s newest museum is the ambitious Museo para la Identidad Nacional, which is intended to encapsulate the whole of Honduran history, from pre-Colombian civilization to the present day. It still hasn’t achieved that to great end. Admission costs and hours vary.
reviewed
-
Museum of Butterflies & Insects
The one-room Museum of Butterflies & Insects houses an amazing collection of butterflies, moths and other insects – 13,000 creepy-crawlers in all, stuck with pins and preserved in glass cases on the walls.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Garífuna Museum
An interesting stop if you find it open, the Garífuna Museum has good exhibits on Honduras' Garífunas. A decent gift shop sells paintings and handicrafts from these communities, too. Opening hours are irregular.
reviewed
-
Museo Para la Infancia el Pequeño Sula
More a children’s learning center than a museum, the Museo Para La Infancia El Pequeño Sula offers monthly workshops in the sciences and arts. It’s 3km from Av Circunvalación.
reviewed
-
I
Museo del Hombre Hondureño
The Museo del Hombre Hondureño displays Honduran art, mostly contemporary work. Admission price and hours vary: it is often closed, opening mainly for special events or private parties.
reviewed
-
J
Museo Histórico Militar
Not worth your time is the Museo Histórico Militar, which was closed when we visited but, when open, could barely rustle up a few uniforms and rusty weapons.
reviewed
-
K
Casa K’inich
The Casa K’inich was closed when we passed through. If it reopens, it’s a fine children’s museum that explores everything Maya.
reviewed
-
Museo Riveras del Pedregal
The Museo Riveras del Pedregal has a huge collection of antiques and artifacts, ranging from the wacky to the sublime.
reviewed
