This is the next report on my trip through Honduras.
BASIC INFORMATION
Places I'll Cover in Future Trip Reports: Lake Yojoa, The Lenca Trail, Copan Valley, San Pedro Sula, Omoa, Tela, La Ceiba Area, Trujillo, Olancho Department
Places I'll Cover in this Entry: Comayagua
Length of Stay: 3 Days
Comayagua
Comayagua is a town in Central Honduras that is best known because it was Honduras's original capital. I ended up being glad that I had checked it out. I stayed at Hotel Quan, for about $15 dollars (without air conditioner).
The main charm of Comayagua lies in its colonial architecture and history. The Colonial Center is very beautiful and has a few churches and the cathedral at the Central Park has the oldest working clock of the Americas. I got to enter this cathedral, which is supposed to be open everyday of the week except Saturday. I was honestly expecting just another average cathedral, but it was actually quite beautiful.
I also got to visit La Iglesia de San Francisco.+ I was lucky to find the caretaker, and I was allowed to walk up to the three-story bell tower, where the view of the city was great. Another place I visited was the +Museo de Arte Religioso. It's a small museum that contains much of Honduran art, sculptures, and other items related to the history of the country. The Central Park itself is a great place to relax and just stroll around, as the colonial, yet calm atmosphere really do make Comayagua feel like a historical city.
Throughout the rest of Comayagua, you'll find a few more churches and historical settlements as well. My two favorite places to eat were Villa Real+ and +Plaza Colonial. Villa Real has some good traditional Honduran food, and I found the owners to be quite friendly as well. Plaza Colonial was busier, but just as atmospheric, and breakfast (and lunch and dinner) were just about $3 per meal. What I really liked about the several restaurants in Comayagua was that they were great places to meet some of the locals. I honestly wasn't expecting to meet any locals, but many of them either started conversations with me or were willing to talk and show me around the town -- yet without charges.
Will I Return?: Yes.
Do I Recommend It to Others?: Yes, especially if you're interested in colonial history. Comayagua may not keep you as busy as other parts of Honduras, but it's a very pleasant town that retains its calm but friendly colonial atmosphere. Plus, it's a good spot to learn about Honduras's history and to even meet the locals.
