Tourist information

Honduras was the original "Banana Republic" , a byword for corruption and poverty and is still one of the least developed and industrialised countries in Central America. It is bounded on the north and east by the Caribbean Sea, on the south by Nicaragua, on the south-west by the Pacific Ocean and El Salvador, and on the west by Guatemala. Honduras is the second-largest country in Central America after Nicaragua. The capital and largest city is Tegucigalpa. After Nicaragua, this is Latin America's poorest nation: some 80% of Hondurans live in poverty and 40% are unable to read or write. Much of the rapidly growing population (now approaching 7 million) is absorbed by the ever-increasing shantytowns ringing the main cities. In the cities the pressures are most evident: life is fast and harsh, but if you go into the rural areas, the open generosity and genuine friendliness, displayed by those who have little else, are what leave an enduring impression. On the north coast, where the population is more ethnically diverse, the heat and sunshine combine to create a way of life that's more Caribbean than Latin.

Where to go

When to go

Money & Costs

History

Culture

Honduras is all too often overlooked by foreign tourists. The slow pace of life, natural beauty and low-profile tourism make it particularly appealing to travellers (well-armed with insect repellent!) who enjoy getting off the beaten track. While eco-tourism is a relatively new concept in western society more and more Hondurans are becoming aware of the role the country's extensive network of national parks and reserves plays in protecting irreplaceable natural resources. Almost a quarter of Honduran territory is protected, but a lack of funding and growing pressure on the land mean this status often exists more on paper than in reality. Nonetheless, the remoter reaches of the parks still host an astonishing array of flora and fauna, amid some of the finest stretches of virgin cloudforest and tropical forest in Central America. Visit the capital Tegucigalpa, where a short stay is brightened up by the generally relaxed ambience and the presence of facilities and services you won't find elsewhere. Though small, the city has a reasonable range of places to eat, drink and have fun.

A couple of hours on the bus from Tegucigalpa brings you to the peaceful mountain towns of Santa Lucía and Valle de Ángeles, with hiking close by in the cloudforest of La Tigra. Further away is the little-visited getaway of Isla El Tigre, becalmed in the warm waters of the Golfo de Fonseca and perfect for a few days spent doing nothing much at all. Some even miss that and head straight for the western highlands and the Maya ruins of Copán. Though it's a long trip from the capital, there are some worthwhile places to break the journey, e.g. Comayagua, a couple of hours from Tegucigalpa, the former colonial capital, which has a wealth of historic churches and a couple of good museums. The equally charming colonial city of Santa Rosa de Copán also makes a logical destination on the way to or from Copán. Beyond the prime tourist sites, however, is a land of inspiring, often untouched natural beauty. In the east of the country, in the thinly populated region Olancho you can find the rarely visited national parks of La Muralla and Sierra de Agalta. Sierra de Agalta contains the most extensive stretch of virgin cloudforest remaining in Central America.