Honduras is a country of lowlands and fertile valleys and, indeed, La Ceiba (a major banana port) even looks to tourism as a future major industry. There are good hotels and beaches, and an international airport to boot. Trujillo itself was once a thriving port, with a fascinating pirate history and superb tropical beaches. Hurricane Mitch devastated much of the island in 1998 but an international effort quickly rebuilt much of the country’s infrastructure. However, the economy is still very weak. Many people live in poverty and crime levels and drug trafficking have soared. Touristic potential lurks everywhere but Honduras must help its own people before it becomes a playground for holidaymakers.

Mayan civilization reached the region that is now western Honduras around the fifth century AD. The Mayas remained in control for the next 300 years, after which several different ethnic groups moved into the area from Mexico and Colombia. Contact with Europeans began soon after Christopher Columbus landed on the Honduran coast in 1502. During the early 1520s, the region was subjugated by a variety of conquistador expeditions, each of which laid claim to a part of it. Cortés, who arrived in 1525 via Mexico, imposed some order on the squabbling groups but after his departure, the local conflicts resumed as before. Only after the discovery of gold and silver deposits in the 1540s was some order imposed on the region; large numbers of slaves from Africa were then imported to work the mines. Once the deposits were exhausted at the end of the 16th century, Honduras became a colonial backwater. As Spanish power disintegrated in the wake of the Napoleonic wars, the Central American territories were in disagreement as to whether to join Mexico or establish their own federation of states. The latter course was chosen, with the acquiescence of Mexico.

During the early 20th century, Honduras was governed by a series of caudillos, notably President Carias during the 1930s and 1940s. From the late 1950s onwards, weak civilian governments prompted the army to assume a greater role, launching several coups in the process. Honduran politics became particularly important during the 1980s, when Honduras was the main base for the US-backed ‘Contra’ rebels fighting the Sandinista Government in Nicaragua. Following the end of that war, in 1989, the Partido Liberal (PL) party has dominated Honduran politics, on and off.

That government faced repeated outbreaks of civil and labor unrest throughout the late 1990s as it tried to introduce austerity measures. There has also been persistent domestic and international pressure to address the numerous human rights abuses that have continued. Among those who suffered most at the hands of the military were the indigenous Indian populations. In 1994, the government offered them a long-overdue package of rights and assistance: not unreasonably, it was rejected as inadequate and relations between the communities and the government remain poor.

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.

Official Language: Spanish

Demonym: Honduran

Currency: Lempira (HNL)

Time Zone: CST (UTC-6)

Internet TLD: .hn

Calling Code: +504

Visa formalities for Honduras:

Passport Note
It is advisable to have a return ticket, but not obligatory. However, visitors may be asked to prove how they plan to leave the country.

Passports
Passport valid for three months from date of arrival required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Note: A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required if arriving within six days after leaving or transiting countries with infected areas (transit passengers not leaving the airport are exempt).

Visas
Not required by all nationals of countries referred to U.K, U.S.A, Australian, Canadian, and Other EU for stays of up to three months.

Note: Nationals not referred in visa line are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see General Info).

Warning
Honduras suffers from violent crime, especially in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and in the Bay Islands.

The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Honduras can be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. The hurricane season lasts from April to October.

Attraction in Honduras:

Mayan ruins at Copan 

The Copan ruins in western Honduras, near the Guatemala border, are remnants of one of the greatest pre-Columbian cities in Central America. The buildings, sculptures, and immense hieroglyphics at the Mayan site of Copan provide a unique glimpse at a long-past civilization. Tours to this remarkable Honduras tourist attraction can be arranged from most major cities in the country. The largest major city is Santa Rosa de Copan; the nearest international airport with flights to Honduras is San Pedro Sula. 

The Bay Islands 

Honduras’ Bay Islands — Roatan, Utila, Guanaja, and the Cayos Cochinos — are the most popular tourist attractions in Honduras. They offer many of the best things to do in Honduras: diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, or relaxing on a beach. Many of the best hotels and resorts in Honduras are located in the Bay Islands. 

Diving on a Coral Reef 

The Bay Islands are surrounded by the Meso American Barrier Reef, the second biggest coral reef in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Many diving schools on each island offer scuba lessons and organize trips to see the schools of colorful fish, intricate coral structures, underwater cliffs and caves, and wrecks of ships some dating back hundreds of years that have sunk in the waters surrounding the Bay Islands. 

Exotic Honduras Animals 

Honduras offers opportunities to see exotic animals on land, in the water, and in the air. In early and late summer, hundreds of enormous but harmless whale sharks gather in the waters north of Utila Island. Diving with these majestic animals of Honduras is an unforgettable experience. Honduras’ rainforests teem with such animals as monkeys, crocodiles, and wild cats. The forests are also a birdwatchers paradise; sometimes you can see more avian species in one Honduran tree than you would see in most countries. 

The rainforests of the Mosquito Coast 

The rainforests of eastern Honduras are part of the largest rain forest north of the Amazon and have become known as a special Honduras tourist attraction. Protected in the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve and other national parks, the lush forests of the Mosquito Coast are home to many Honduran animals and birds. A hike or boat ride into the forest, which can be organized through ecotour groups in La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula, and elsewhere in the country, is one of the most thrilling things to do in Honduras. 

Honduran festival

Most towns in Honduras have a festival marking a patron saint. Several of these, notably the La Ceiba Carnaval in mid-May and the Feria Juniana at San Pedro Sula in late June, have become huge national events, attracting visitors from across Central America and around the world. The parties themselves make a great Honduras tourist attraction, as the streets come alive with parades, street performances, religious ceremonies, and all-night reveling. 

The La Ceiba Carnaval 

The best of all Honduran festivals is the La Ceiba Carnaval, or la Feria de San Isidro, is one of the largest celebrations in all of Central America. At any time of year, La Ceiba has a reputation as a lively, fun-living town. In mid-May the city transforms into a Honduran version of New Orleans at Mardi gras or Pamplona Spain during the San Fermin festival. The Carnaval culminates on the Saturday with a not-to-be-missed parade down San Isidro Avenue. 

Adventure Tour 

Honduras is a Mecca for adventure travel and ecotour. With world-class diving, snorkeling, whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing, Honduras is a great place for an outdoors vacation. Several companies in the United States and Honduran cities like La Ceiba offer Honduras tours that take in the best tourist attractions in Honduras or get travelers into the wild Honduran backcountry.  

Beaches of Honduras

There are many great tourist attractions in Honduras, but sometimes what you need from a vacation is just the opportunity to unwind. The white sand Caribbean beaches of Honduras are perfect for relaxing. Temperatures are mild whenever you go to Honduras, rarely edging over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is generally calm, although surfers may find waves to ride on some of the islands. Beachfront resorts on Roatan and Guanaja islands provide all-inclusive stays within a few steps of the ocean. On the mainland, urban beaches in Tela and Puerto Cortes mix sun, sand, and Honduran culture. Honduras has hundreds of miles of coastline on two oceans, so spending a day on the beaches is one of the great things to do in Honduras.

Water Sports

There is excellent diving in the clear waters of the Bay Islands, teeming with coral and tropical fish. The gateway to these islands is La Ceiba which has gained an excellent reputation amongst the many diving destinations in the Caribbean. Some hotels include hire of equipment in their price. Safe swimming can be enjoyed on both seaboards, where beautiful sandy beaches are found. There is good fishing on both coasts and Lake Yojoa offers some of the best bass fishing in the world. Whitewater rafting is popular on the Río Cangrejal in Pico Bonito National Park and day trips can be arranged from La Ceiba.

Climate of Honduras:

The climate is tropical with cooler, more temperate weather in the mountains. The north coast is very hot with rain throughout the year, and though the offshore breezes temper the climate, the sun is very strong. The dry season is from November to April and the wet season runs from May to October.

Lightweight cottons and linens; warmer clothes are recommended between November and February and in the mountains. Waterproofs are needed for the wet season.