Honduras is a country with a great natural diversity where you can enjoy sunbathing, diving in beautiful Caribbean beaches, or hiking in tropical jungles with a wide variety of flora and fauna. It also has a rich historical heritage as a result of the many peoples who have inhabited their lands; indigenous peoples, Spanish settlers and African immigrants. So as you can imagine, there are a lot of things to do in Honduras.
The most common tourist destinations in Honduras are its Caribbean islands such as Roatan, Utila or the Bay Islands for their breathtaking scenery. However, the country also has more than 27,000 square kilometers of natural parks with unique ecosystems that are worth visiting. In this post we will tell you the essential places to visit in Honduras and give you some travel tips to help you organize your vacation. Get your suitcase ready because we are going to Honduras!
What are the best places to visit in Honduras?
1. Cayos Cochinos Archipelago
The Cayos Cochinos Archipelago is a group of small islands in the Caribbean where there is a marine reserve with coral reefs inhabited by a variety of tropical species. The islands are also home to a small Garifuna community, known for their music and culture.
The beaches of Cayos Cochinos are one of the main tourist attractions and are famous for their golden sand and transparent waters with more than 100 meters of visibility. In addition, the islands have a unique ecosystem, which is why they are a protected area and require a permit to visit them.
From La Ceiba day trips to Cayos Cochinos are organized for snorkeling, diving, or just to enjoy its white sand beaches and clear waters. The excursion costs between $30 and $40.
2. La Ceiba, the liveliest city in Honduras
La Ceiba, located on the north coast of Honduras, is the third largest city in the country and a tourist destination famous for its festive atmosphere. It is also the gateway to the most incredible beaches, islands and natural parks in the Caribbean.
The city has a rich historical heritage, heritage of the indigenous and Spanish cultures, which left their mark on the traditions, buildings and cuisine. La Ceiba can be seen in a day, however, it is a good place to stay and visit the surrounding points of interest such as the Cacao Lagoon, Sambo Creek Beach, Pico Bonito National Park or the Lancetilla Botanical Garden.
In La Ceiba you can also take the ferry or a plane to Utila, Roatan or the archipelago of Cayos Cochinos. In this post we tell you more about La Ceiba: Things to do on a trip to La Ceiba, Honduras
3. Dive with whale sharks on the island of Utila
The small island of Utila is a common destination for a day trip when staying in La Ceiba or Roatan. The island is inhabited by barely 4000 people and the main activity is tourism. For this reason you will find a variety of activities and tourist attractions, such as scuba diving, fishing or hiking trails.
Also, Utila has Caribbean beaches of white sand and crystal clear waters where you can relax in the sun. There you will also find a variety of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine.
However, one of the favorite activities of tourists is the whale shark diving in Chepes beach between March and April, and August and September. On its beaches you can also practice diving and snorkeling among the coral reefs.
To go to Utila you can take a ferry from the port of La Ceiba. The duration of the trip is 3h and the price ranges from 75€ to 130€.
4. Roatan Island and the second largest coral reef in the world
Roatan is a Caribbean island located at the northern tip of Honduras. It’s a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear waters ideal for snorkeling and diving, and its nature reserves. In addition, Roatan offers a wide variety of tourist activities, such as canopy tours, boat trips, fishing excursions and scuba diving.
In Roatan you can visit the Gumbalimba Park, where you will have the opportunity to play with monkeys, or the Oak Ridge Mangroves, a marshy area protected by its rich ecosystem. There you can appreciate the beauty of the place while taking a boat ride through its canals.
The main urban centers of Roatan are Coxen Hole and Punta Gorda, where you can take the bus to the points of interest and sign up for diving excursions and other activities.
The island of Roatan has a small airport, so you can fly in from major cities in Honduras. You can also take a ferry from La Ceiba, but the trip takes more than 3 hours and costs more than 100€. The island is also home to cruise ships traveling in the Caribbean, another possibility you may want to consider.
If you want to know more about the island of Roatan visit this post where we will tell you everything you need to organize your visit: Things to do on a trip to Roatan
5. Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park
Montaña Santa Bárbara National Park is a protected area dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and protection of endangered species such as the ocelot or the quetzal. In addition, the park is an important provider of drinking water for nearby communities.
The park is located in the Sierra de los Nacimientos mountain range, and there is the highest mountain in Honduras, Montaña Santa Bárbara, with a height of 2,870 meters above sea level. It is an ideal place for hiking, camping and enjoying nature.
The most popular hike is the one to the top of the mountain, which offers impressive panoramic views of the region. You can also explore its forests, rivers and waterfalls, and observe the fauna and flora that inhabit the area.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to eat in Honduras?
The gastronomy of Honduras is very diverse and is influenced by the indigenous, African and Spanish cultures that have inhabited the country throughout its history. Its cuisine is also characterized by the presence of ingredients from the sea, especially in coastal or Caribbean areas. These are some of the dishes you can’t miss:
- Baleadas: wheat flour tortilla stuffed with refried beans, cheese, cream and sometimes avocado, meat, chicken or eggs. It is a very popular breakfast or lunch all over the country.
- Snail soup: soup made with sea snails in a coconut broth with cassava, plantain, onion and other vegetables. It is a typical dish from the Caribbean coast of Honduras.
- Tamales: made of corn dough stuffed with meat, beans, rice and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. It is served on special occasions and festivities.
- Enchiladas: Fried corn tortillas filled with meat, beans, cheese and hot sauce. Often served with cabbage and tomato sauce.
- Pastelitos: fried empanadas filled with meat, chicken, vegetables or beans. They are a very popular appetizer in Honduras.
- Chicharrones: fried, crispy pork chunks served with tortillas and salsa.
- Atol de elote: hot drink made from ground corn, milk, cinnamon and sugar. It is a typical dessert from Honduras.
How to get to and around Honduras
If you are organizing a trip to Honduras, we recommend planning ahead and taking precautions. It is not always easy to get around the country by public transport and there are some areas that can be dangerous.
The most common form of public transport in Honduras is buses, minibuses and cabs. The main drawback of buses is that they do not connect all points of tourist interest, so often the best option is to take a cab.
Another option is to rent a car, but we recommend you be cautious. You should also keep in mind that you can’t take a car on all ferries to the Caribbean islands. Often the best option is to hire an organized excursion.
To get to the Caribbean islands such as Roatan, Utila or the Cayos Cochinos archipelago, you can choose to take a ferry from La Ceiba or fly to Roatan airport.
You can also get around the country by plane. These are the main airports in Honduras:
- Toncontin International Airport located in Tegucigalpa.
- San Pedro Sula International Airport
- Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro de Sula
- Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba
- Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport on the island of Roatán
- Utila Airport on the island of Utila on the island of Utila
- Airport of the port of Lampira in Puerto de Lempira.
What should I consider before traveling to Honduras
- The official currency of Honduras is the Lempira.
- Honduras has a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. It is important to be prepared for rainfall, especially during the rainy season from May to November.
- The best time to travel to Honduras is during the dry season from November to April.
- Spanish citizens do not need a visa for a stay in Honduras of up to 90 days.
- Always carry cash on you, not all stores accept credit cards.
- Carry mosquito repellent at all times.
- The official language in Honduras is Spanish.
- The plugs have 110V voltage and A and B plugs, you will need an adapter.
- It is advisable to wear light, comfortable clothing, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Always keep an eye on your belongings and use caution if traveling alone.
- Hedge against possible medical emergencies: travel insured
How to organise all the things to do on your trip to Honduras
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all of its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers things to do in Honduras.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Honduras
The best time to visit Honduras is from November to April
Honduras has a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. It is important to be prepared for the rains, especially during the wet season from May to November.
To see all the country’s points of interest you need at least two weeks. However, the usual travel itineraries cover Guatemala and Honduras in about 20 days.
Some of the most famous dishes in Honduras are baleadas, snail soup, chamales, enchiladas and chicharrones.
From Spain it is complicated to find direct flights to Honduras, so the most common way is to make a couple of stopovers.
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