Top ten places in Honduras
Following is a list of my favorite top ten places in Honduras:
Having lived in Honduras for over two decades, and made a living by putting together a travel guide about what to do; where to go; where to stay in Honduras, I consider myself an expert on travel in Honduras. I have explored most of the country, discovered truly beautiful places and am happy to share with you my list of top ten places in Honduras that you should visit.
Although the list does not have any particular order, I feel compelled to start with the spot that I found to be number one on the top ten places in Honduras to visit:
1.- The Cangrejal River Valley. This unique area, located just outside of La Ceiba, on the Caribbean Coast certainly deserves to be in the top ten places in Honduras that you must visit list. Nestled between Pico Bonito National Park and Nombre de Dios National Park, the Cangrejal River Valley offers a wide array of options for both the tourist looking for some eco tourism activities as well as those seeking some adventure activities, such as white water rafting or rappelling down waterfalls and canyons. Best of all, there are several different eco lodges where you can stay and enjoy nature with all the modern comforts, including some high speed internet service. Topping the list is La Villa de Soledad, which was just awarded the number one position as the best bed and breakfast and Inn by Tripadvisor!
2.- The Bay Islands of Honduras have long been on the map and are regularly visited by the traveler looking for a unique Caribbean spot where to spend a few days. In my personal opinion, the most beautiful of the Bay Islands of Honduras is Guanaja. This island, which is harder to get to than its sister islands of Utila and Roatan, also tends to be pricier, because of its more remote location, however, I can assure you that this lovely Caribbean gem deserves to be on the list of top ten places in Honduras to visit. There are no roads in Guanaja, and there are no big resorts either. Lodging facilities are usually small and family run, and offer access to breathtaking views and the possibility of interacting with the friendly population of the island. If you are looking for a place to stay, there are several that I can mention, starting with Rolands Garden Guesthouse, La Giralda and Grahams Place. Each a small friendly hotel with diverse atmosphere.
3.- Cayos Cochinos, also known as the Hog Keys, offers a unique and rare opportunity to experience a truly pristine Caribbean. Not only does it have some of the best preserved coral reefs to be found in the Caribbean, it also offers the opportunity to meet and interact with a Garifuna community that still lives much like they did over 200 years ago when they first arrived to Central America. The Garifuna community, which has been declared World Heritage Culture by the UNESCO. There are not many lodging options in Cayos Cochinos, the exclusive Turtle Bay Ecoresort offers diving packages, and the Cabanas Laru Bella in the in community of East End offers friendly, clean service in a community owned facility.
4.- The majestic Mayan Archaeological site at Copan Ruinas is certainly one of the top ten places in Honduras. Although the Archaeological Park is one of the two World Heritage Sites that Unesco has declared in Honduras, Copan Ruinas is much more that Archaeology, it is one of the most charming, friendly towns in Central America. The unique Macaw Mountain bird park, a bird sanctuary calls this town home, and has been working on re populating the Copan Valley with the Scarlet Macaws, much like it was in the glorious days of the Mayan civilization in Copan. Hotels are abundant, and there is something for every taste. My favorites are Hacienda San Lucas, Hotel Marina Copan and La Casa de Café B&B.
5.- Comayagua, the old colonial capital of Honduras has a lot of colonial history and charm to offer the visitor, and certainly deserves being in our list of top ten places in Honduras. Located about 100 km. North of Tegucigalpa, Comayagua has two great museums, 4 colonial churches and very friendly people. The community has bet on tourism as one of the pillars for the development of the city, and it shows. Many hotels, some in lovely old colonial homes have opened in recent years. Comayagua is has become famous in Honduras for its Easter Week celebrations, where the city’s streets are decorated with colorful and elaborate, handmade sawdust carpets that mark the route for the different religious processions that take place during this week.
6.- Roatans East End is a world apart from the tourist packed cruise ship passengers that make the West End of the island seem like a tourist trap during the days when cruise ships are in port, which is usually Monday through Friday. The East end offers view to lovely Caribbean communities, such as Calabash Bight, Oakridge and Jonesville. Camp Bay Beach, which in my opinion competes with West Bay as the loveliest beach on the island is pretty much deserted and yours to enjoy. There are several hotels in the area where you can stay, including the unique Paya Bay Resort, which has its own private beach. If you want to enjoy the authentic Roatan, then consider staying on the East End of Roatan, which is the one that deserves to be in the top ten places in Honduras list!
7.- The colonial city of Gracias is located in Western Honduras, and has a lot to offer: Access to Celaque National Park, which is home to the highest peak in Honduras; some great hot springs just outside of town; great colonial towns and the history of one of the oldest cities in Central America. Gracias is certainly in mi list of the top ten places in Honduras. In recent years, many different hotels have sprung up and are offering a variety of options for lodging. In my opinion, the best option is the Hotel Guancascos, however more elegant options include the Posada de Don Juan and the http://www.realcaminolencahotel.com/web/. All three are within walking distance from Central Park in Gracias.
8 . Lake Yojoa is the largest, and really only natural lake in Honduras. It is located between San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, and is surrounded by two national parks: Parque Nacional Santa Barbara and Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meamber. It is a popular weekend spot for the locals, and there are many different places where you can stay. The most popular spots are the D&D Brewery, located on the far side of the lake, past the town of Pena Blanca, on the road towards the old mining town of El Mochito. The other recommended hotel is Honduyate, where you can enjoy a great pool, access to boat rentals and unsurpassed hospitality.
9.- Amapala is located on the Isla del Tigre, Tiger Island, in the Gulf of Fonseca, and is the largest of several islands that Honduras has on the Pacific. Amapala is a small sleepy town, without much going on, however it is a pleasant and very picturesque town with a lot of history. Accommodations are basic, but you will find several different hotel options on the island. La Casa de Las Gargolas Bed and Breaksfast is one of them. Another basic, but functional property in town is Mirador de Amapala. You will not see many tourists in Amapala, but it still is one of my favorite spots in Honduras, and therefore, I am adding it to my top ten places in Honduras list.
10.-Tela is last, but not least on my list of top ten places in Honduras to visit and enjoy. Remember that the list was put together without any particular order! Tela is a pleasant sleepy town that is located on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras. It is famous for its beaches, although its first claim to fame comes from having been the headquarters of the United Fruit Brands local subsidiary in Honduras: The Tela Railroad Company. The company, which still produces and exports the Chiquita Bananas in Honduras originally had its headquarters in Tela, and shipped most of its produce through this port. One of the many legacy’s from the old Banana days is the magnificent Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, an experimental garden where tropical fruits from around the world were brought in and planted to see if it would be feasible to produce from a commercial point of view. This is where the first African palm trees where grown, as well as where rambutan and mangosteen trees were first planted in the country. Tela is also home to two beautiful national parks: Jeannette Kawas, also know as Punta Sal, and Punta Izopo National Parks. It is also home to the most ambitions centrally planned tourism development in the country, Indura, which has one of the best signature designer golf courses in Central America.
I hope my list of top ten places in Honduras helps you plan your vacation to Honduras and get to the best, most unique places in this beautiful country of Central America!
