Honduras Travel Tips
Here is a list of Honduras travel tips to make the best out of your vacation to Central America!
Honduras is a small country, about the size of Ohio located in the heart of Central America. At this moment, it is the least visited country for tourists on the Central American Trail, mostly because it is misunderstood and because of false perceptions, many times created by travel warnings. Independently of what the perceptions are, many tourists do venture to Honduras, and find the reality is very different to that image portrayed by travel warnings. In an effort to help those considering including Honduras in their Central American travels, I have put together a list of Honduras travel tips that I hope you will find enlightening and useful:
1.- Visit Honduras now! Honduras has been out of the travel radar for a few years, but things are changing, and it will soon be back on the radar. Take advantage of the fact that there are few travelers visiting and exploring Honduras. Not only will you enjoy having the beautiful beaches and rainforests to yourself, you will also find that prices are more affordable than ever, and they are sure to go back up when we get more tourists coming this way!
2.- When traveling overland using the intercity bus transportation system, allow yourself to indulge in a bit of luxury. After all, you are on vacations and being comfortable and relaxed will have an overall effect on your experience. Bus companies, such as Hedman Alas and Viana offer deluxe, first class seats at a slightly higher price. They are certainly worth every penny. Especially on hot days, you will enjoy that extra space and the cool air-conditioning in the bus. One of the important Honduras travel tips I can give to you is A/C can be overdone! Another good reason to use the above companies is that they do not stop along the highway to pick up passengers; this means that you will not take longer getting to your destination and you will be safe from the rare highway robber that might try to board your bus.
3.- There is an excellent discount travel card issued by Promodias, an affiliate of Hedman Alas. This card will get you discounts in many tourism related businesses, such as hotels, tour operators, restaurants and even on Hedman Alas. The cost of the card is Lps 400, equivalent to about $20 US, this makes it a really good investment. You can buy the promodias card at the Hedman Alas bus terminals so before you buy your ticket, buy your card and then buy the ticket with your 15% discount! The card is accepted both in Honduras and Guatemala. Check their website for up to date info on who offers what discount to the card holders! I should be getting a commission from you all for these free Honduras travel tips, don’t you think?
4.- There are many different small hotels in Honduras where you will get outstanding service directly by the owners. For a complete list of these hotels, visit the HOPEH (Small Hotels of Honduras) web site, where you can find a list of these hotels, according to destination. Many of the hotels that are affiliated to this association have been awarded the travelers choice 2015 recognition by Tripadvisor, so do take a look at the options here!
5.- Most travelers to Honduras visit Copan Ruinas and then go on the Bay Islands, basically skipping the rest of the country. The route will take you through the port city of La Ceiba, where the ferries depart from. Although it is possible to skip La Ceiba all together, it is, in my opinion a HUGE mistake. There is a unique location just 5 miles outside of La Ceiba known as the Cangrejal River Valley, here you can visit two national parks, do outstanding white water rafting, enjoy magnificent bird watching or simply relax. Go ahead and research the area, and plan on at least a couple of nights at the Cangrejal River Valley. You will find that it will be one of the highlights of your travels throughout Central America! This is easily one of the most useful Honduras travel tips that I can give to you!
6.- When visiting the Bay Islands, don’t think that they are all similar. Utila, Roatan and Guanaja are so different from one another, that they will seem to you like worlds apart! If you have the time, plan on visiting at least two of them. You will be happy that you did. Personally, I have always found Guanaja to be the most beautiful of the three, but then, they are so different, that you will have to visit them all like I have to determine which you like best!
7.- If you like the Honduran rural countryside, then you must visit area between Santa Rosa de Copan and Gracias, Lempira. Known as the “Lenca Route” this area offers unparalleled country side scenes, with many coffee and tobacco farms, together with their processing sites, some of the oldest of most beautiful colonial churches in Honduras. This is the real Honduras, where you can experience life at a different pace; people are friendly, unhurried, human…
8.- If you are coming or going to Nicaragua and traveling overland, do plan on spending the night in Tegucigalpa. Although the city has a bad reputation, downtown Tegucigalpa offers many worthwhile sites, such as the Central Park, the magnificent Cathedral of Saint Michael Archangel, the Churches of Las Mercedes and Los Dolores and the Museum of Honduras Identity. If you are staying at one of the small hotels in Tegucigalpa that are members of HOPEH, they will be more than happy to help you arrange for a local tour or set you up with a taxi driver for a tour of the city.
