Weddings in Mexico
Weddings in The Dominican Republic
Weddings in Antarctica
 
 
Click to order
0
  • Your booking cart is empty!

Honduras

TRAVEL GUIDE IN HONDURAS: THE BEST PLACES AND CITIES OF THE COUNTRY.

Honduras

Honduras, uniquely located in Central America on the borders with Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador, is beloved for its history and culture, colonial and pre-colonial, its snow-white beaches with crystal clear turquoise water and its unmatched, world-class diving and snorkeling. Particularly in the Bay Islands, such as the popular Roatan, with its famous Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Here you can see abundant marine life such as dolphins, sea turtles, eagle rays, and whale sharks. The national parks of Honduras, such as Cusuco, La Tigra, Cerro Azul de Copan or Montaña Santa Barbara, offer a unique experience in taking in the country's tropical forests with their incredible variety of flora and fauna, as well as the diversity of the country's landscapes, where the elevation changes are up to 9,500 feet above sea level. The combination of the natural beauty of such places as Pico Bonito, Cerro Azul, Capiro Calentura, and Celac, and important historical sites such as the famous ruins of the Mayan civilization of Copan and colonial cities like Gracias, with island holidays in the Caribbean, allow you to experience the trip of a lifetime. Pulhapanzak Falls is a natural wonder of the world, set upon an ancient, possibly pre-Mayan center of culture, with its ceremonial plaza and cobblestone roads, perhaps concealing archaeological structures in the vicinity. Plunge into the inviting pool under the falls, and treat yourself to a natural back massage while standing under the falling jets of water. And on the largest lake in Honduras, Lake Yojoa, you can go bird-watching, fishing, explore caves, go for a hike, or soak in hot thermal springs. And in Honduras, tourists note the surprising affordability of food, souvenirs, the cost of hotels and PADI dive certifications (for example, on the island of Utila). The most expensive resort in Honduras is on the island of Roatan, although it is still much cheaper than other islands in the Caribbean. Nightlife in the country is in full swing in cities such as San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa and even in small Comayagua or Krasias. Here you can sit in a cafe or bar, drink local rum and listen to live music. And excellent street food and Honduran cuisine, combined with unique shopping, make for a fulfilling experience.

TOURS TO HONDURAS - CHOOSE A TOUR ACCORDING TO THE PARAMETERS

Tours to Honduras

Choose the country, route duration, budget, type and subject of your future tour. Pay attention to our regular combined programs for several countries

HONDURAS HAS 11 MAJOR CITIES

The cities of Honduras

The most famous tourist places and cities of Honduras are its capital Tegucigalpa, as well as San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, Comayagua, Roatan and Utila Islands, Pulhapanzac Waterfall, Lake Yohoa, Copan, Celac, Bonito, Cusuco and many others.

EXCURSIONS TO THE BEST PLACES IN HONDURAS WITH A LICENSED GUIDE

Excursions

We know the best corners of Honduras: ecological routes, the best beach hotels, places for diving, fishing, shopping and immersion in the culture of the Pre-Columbian era

REMINDER OF HONDURAS FOR TRAVELLERS

It's useful to know

Highlights
-- The incredible archaeological Mayan sites of Copán Ruinas - Bay Islands with its rich marine biodiversity and coral walls - The streets full of history of the capital Tegucigalpa
Geography
Honduras, in the north-central part of Central America, has a Caribbean as well as a Pacific coastline. Guatemala is to the west, El Salvador to the south, and Nicaragua to the east. The second-largest country in Central America, Honduras is slightly larger than Tennessee. Generally mountainous, the country is marked by fertile plateaus, river valleys, and narrow coastal plains.
Language
Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects; English widely spoken in business.
Money
Lempira (HNL; symbol L) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of L500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. In March 2019 1 US$ is L 24.4
Climate
The northern Caribbean area and the southern coastal plain have a wet, tropical climate, but the interior is drier and cooler. Temperature varies with altitude. The coastal lowlands average 31°C (88°F); from 300 to 760 m (1,000 to 2,500 ft) above sea level the average is 29°C (84°F); and above 760 m (2,500 ft) the average temperature is 23°C (73°F). There are two seasons: a rainy period, from May through October, and a dry season, from November through April. Average annual rainfall varies from over 240 cm (95 in) along the northern coast to about 84 cm (33 in) around Tegucigalpa in the south. The northwest coast is vulnerable to hurricanes, of which the most destructive, Hurricane Fifi in September 1974, claimed some 12,000 lives, caused $200 million in property damage, and devastated the banana plantations.
Gastronomy
Hondurans have a variety of traditional dishes: The baleada is one of the most representative dishes of the Honduran gastronomy. It is basically made up of a flour tortilla which is folded and refilled with refried beans, quesillo or Parmesan cheese and sour cream. Many people however add to the baleadas roast meat or scrambled eggs to the taste.
In addition to the baleadas, the following are also popular: The meat roasted with chismol carne asada, chicken with rice and corn, fried fish with pickled onions and jalapeños. In the coastal areas and in the Bay Islands, seafood and some meats are prepared in many ways, some of which include coconut milk.
Among the soups the Hondurans enjoy are: Bean soup, Mondongo Soup, or soup of intestine, Seafood soups, Beef Soups, all of which are mixed with plaintains, yucca, cabbage among other things, and complemented with corn tortillas.
Other typical dishes are the montucas or corn tamale, stuffed tortillas, tamales wrapped up with banana leaves, among other types of food. It is also part of the Honduran typical dishes an abundant selection of tropical fruits such as: Papaya, pineapple, plums, zapotes, passion fruits, and bananas which are prepared in many ways while they are still green. All of which makes of the Honduran cuisine something different and especial. Soft drinks or beer are often drunk with lunch or dinner.

History
During the first millennium, Honduras was inhabited by the Maya. Columbus explored the country in 1502. Honduras, with four other Central American nations, declared its independence from Spain in 1821 to form a federation of Central American states. In 1838, Honduras left the federation and became independent. Political unrest rocked Honduras in the early 1900s, resulting in an occupation by U.S. Marines. Dictator Gen. Tiburcio Carias Andino established a strong government in 1932.
In 1969, El Salvador invaded Honduras after Honduran landowners deported several thousand Salvadorans. Five thousand people ultimately died in what is called “the football war” because it broke out during a soccer game between the two countries. By threatening economic sanctions and military intervention, the Organization of American States (OAS) induced El Salvador to withdraw. After a decade of military rule, parliamentary democracy returned with the election of Roberto Suazo Córdova as president in 1982. However, Honduras faced severe economic problems and tensions along its border with Nicaragua. “Contra” rebels, waging a guerrilla war against the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua, used Honduras as a training and staging area. The U.S. also used Honduras for military exercises, and it built bases to train Honduran and Salvadoran troops.
In 1997, Carlos Flores Facussé of the Liberal Party was elected president. He began to reform the economy and modernize the government. In recent years, Honduras has faced high unemployment, inflation, and economic overdependence on coffee and bananas. In Oct. 1998, Hurricane Mitch killed some 13,000 Hondurans, left 2 million homeless, and caused more than $5 billion in damage.
In 2002, Ricardo Maduro became president, promising to lessen crime and corruption, but his hard-line efforts, growing increasingly more repressive, did not improve these problems. In 2006, a new president, Manuel Zelaya, also vowed to fight corruption and gang violence, but he promised to do so with a more humane approach. A free-trade agreement (CAFTA) with the U.S went into effect in April 2006
Religion
According to estimates based on a 2002 poll of citizens 18 or older, only 63% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholic. Approximately 23% report themselves to be evangelical Christians, and 14% designate themselves as belonging to other religious groups. The remainder were either "others" or provided no answer. The primary faiths include Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Greek Orthodox, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonite, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Union Church, and about 300 evangelical Protestant churches (including the Abundant Life, Living Love, and the Grand Commission church).
Culture
The art and architecture of the pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial periods are strongly evident in Honduran culture. Of special interest is the great Mayan city of Copán, which represents the height of the Mayan Classic period. Discovered in the early 16th century, Copán was partly excavated and restored in 1839. Spanish architecture reflects Moorish, Gothic, and, especially, Baroque styles. Modern Honduran culture has not produced many strong representatives of its art, the country's widespread poverty being a major impediment. Most contemporary artists reflect their colonial heritage, and the pre-Columbian heritage is seen mainly in Indian crafts. Social themes may also be reflected in paintings and literary works, the latter generally represented by poetry and short fiction.
The interaction of both Native American and Spanish strains in Honduran cultural history is clearly visible in the architecture. Many colonial buildings show strong Native American influences combined with baroque, Renaissance, and Moorish styles imported by the Spanish.
The family is central to Honduran daily life and society, and strong emphasis is placed on family loyalty. Not only do family ties form a vital part of social identity, but they provide assistance in business and in finding one's path through government bureaucracy and red tape. Particularly close, trusted friends are often brought into family circles by being designated compadres (“godparents”), an honour (and a mark of responsibility) that is often conferred at marriages and baptisms. In addition to religious marriages, civil ceremonies are common, as are free unions. Many couples eventually have a religious ceremony, but typically only after their funds allow for a grand wedding celebration.
Music
Some of the most notable Honduran musicians include: Rafael Coello Ramos, Lidia Handal, Victoriano López, Guillermo Anderson, Victor Donaire, Francisco Carranza, Camilo Rivera Guevara, Moisés Canelo, among others.
At the internationally level stood out, the musical group: Banda Blanca with their hits "Soup of Caracol", "Fiesta", "Do you Know Who Came?", among many others. Although the group produces merengueros rhythms, the calypso and other Caribbean rhythms, their specialty is the rhythm 'Punta', which they popularized during the 1990s.
All of Banda Blanca's took them to participate in several festivals such as: The Carnival of 8th Street of Miami, Carnival of Broadway Street, Los Angeles, California; Carnival of Acapulco, Mexico; Carnival of Barranquilla, Colombia; Carnival of Tenerife, Spain; Festival of Jazz Aruba and many more.
Other musical groups include: The Professionals, The Gran Banda, The Rolands, the rocker group Black Devils, Trilogy, etc. They stood out nationally and some of them internationally.
Wildlife
Honduras has a rich and varied flora and fauna. Tropical trees, ferns, moss, and orchids abound, especially in the rain forest areas. Mammal life includes the anteater, armadillo, coyote, deer, fox, peccary, pocket gopher, porcupine, puma, tapir, and monkeys in several varieties. Fish and turtles are numerous in both freshwater and marine varieties. Among the reptiles are the bushmaster, coral snake, fer-de-lance, horned viper, rattlesnake, and whip snake, caiman, crocodile, and iguana. Birds include the black robin, hummingbird, macaw, nightingale, thrush, partridge, quail, quetzal, toucanet, wren, and many others.

Vacation in Honduras

Discover Honduras with Ada Tours Tour Operator!

Ada Tours travel agency would be happy to create your unforgettable holiday in Honduras according to your ideal vision. We will plan a fascinating route through the Mayan monuments of Copan with a tour of the colonial cities, immersing you in the nature of the country and choosing the best beach hotel that fits your budget. Let us help make your dream vacation come true.