Honduras is the Spanish word for depths. Named after the deep Caribbean waters that wash its northern coast, this small country is the poorest in Central America. Much of the interior is covered by forested mountains and mountain rivers that flow into the southern plains near the narrow Gulf of Fonseca. Along the northern shores, the Honduran people grow their main product, bananas, on which they rely heavily for income.
This earned the country the nickname “banana republic”. But in recent years the government has encouraged farmers to grow other crops such as coffee and sugarcane.
Discover a country that is rich with natural resources and a chance to explore this top ten not to be missed attractions when in Honduras.
Little French Key
The Little French Key is an island that is an ideal place to dream and relax. It is highly recommended to visit when in Roatan. The journey by ferry is a great experience. It has a sensational atmosphere and lovingly designed down to the smallest detail. It has crystal clear turquoise water and surrounded by a rich coral reef. There are many retreat areas, small zoo, kayaking, snorkeling and totally licker eating with corresponding drinks. The staff offers a very friendly and courteous service, especially the gracious owner named Larissa who welcomes every guest with a warm smile, takes care of everything, always approachable, and grants every wish and requests of every visitor.
It is simply a dream paradise to unwind and leave all worries behind. You will like everything starting from the transportation, food, the beautiful place, take a thousand pictures, get entertained all day, you can go kayaking, snorkeling, floating in water beds, visit and play with the animals that they have , and relax in the natural pools, among others. It has many places to sit or lie on a sun then swim in the sea. Overall, it is pretty neat and well maintained with complete facilities (toilets, and shower rooms).
West Bay Beach
The West Bay Beach is one of the most relaxing beaches in Roatan. It has white sand, turquoise sea, no waves, and near the shore you can see some fish. Some people complain of street vendors but some tourists found them rather picturesque (there were Banana Donuts, man of the cigars of the Coco loco which sold sunglasses, girls doing massage, the braid makers, etc.) they do not harass or force tourists to buy at all. The beach is full of people especially when a cruise ship is docked on its harbor. It's nice to walk around day or night as well.
It does offer a variety of water activities to try including snorkeling and scuba diving (which are the most requested), paddleboard, and parasailing. There are also some inflatable’s in the sea that are available to swimmers and kids. The sea is not as warm as the other beaches in Honduras. Finally, if you paddleboard, beware of the breezes because in less time than you think, you can get dragged by the breeze to the middle of the sea. Nevertheless, it is still one of the best beaches in the world that is easily accessible and super clean.
Gumbalimba Park
While it is true that the guided walk in the Gumbalimba Park is very good, it takes about 45 minutes where you see a good number and size of iguanas, turtles, parrots and monkeys who are the main attraction of the nature park. Even if the price is slightly elevated, tourists are still drawn to visit and explore what it has to offer. The tour also includes knowing a bit of the island of Roatan which is expressed in different rooms in a museum shaped cave. The park has its own pool and restaurant on the beach.
The canopy is not included with what you pay to get in, that is an additional cost. The canopy is quite safe and with good Monitors it is also quite long with 16 stops. However, the interaction with the monkeys is spectacular, they really make you have a memorable moment but the tour is quite short for the paid admission price. They also have macaws, some cage and some are let loose. You can also interact with them (they are free at least). Also there, you can get to see the original Roatanes that gave name to the island. Again, the tour in the park with animals is fantastic!
Bay Islands Underwater Museum
One of the highlights of a tour to Honduras is having a booked excursion to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. About half an hour way from the port in Roatan you will reach the most visited museum in. Once you arrive, the friendly owner and curator welcomes and bring you personally into the reception hall to join other visitors for a short introduction of the events and features the museum offers.
The owner and his staff will take all guests to drive a part of a small motorboat and explain the Snorkeling equipment and hand out some gears for snorkeling. You can snorkel through this beautifully designed museum where you can admire a variety of relics that are partly from the Mayan era. They even show the different kinds of anchor, a ship's hull and old ship utensils that will left any guests in awe.
Not forgetting of course the crystal clear water, colorful fish, and the unspeakably beautiful corals. Thanks to the professional leadership, everyone who visits the site is made aware of all the main sights underwater. All in all, you can spend a memorable morning there and can only recommend a visit to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. You can book this excursion through the website or directly at the port.
El Picacho
The El Picacho is a mountain overlooking the capital city -Tegucigalpa. It is a place full of villas, armored and beautiful, and hidden among century-old trees. The view from the top is unique and you see every part of the capital. The temperature is a few degrees lower than that of Tegu. It is about km 6 of the "Carretera al Hatillo" if you turn left (the road is reasonably well marked) you will arrive at the guarded parking lot of the" Picacho "where you can leave the vehicle on its safe parking area. From there you can reach on foot in about 10 minutes the left side of the viewpoint deck and enjoy an impressive view of Tegucigalpa.
Slightly further is the oversized white statue of Jesus which, however remotely impressive looks good up close. It is reminiscent of the one in Rio de Janeiro. Another beautiful view is the Lomas del Guijarro located at the "Parque España" side. Furthermore, there is still a small zoo and a landscaped little park to visit. It is a nice place to go with family and on weekends it reaches enough people. This touristy park is a good place to take the kids to take fresh air and learn about animals.
Parque Nacional La Tigra
The Parque Nacional la Tigra use to be a headquarters of mines in the past. Today it is a park, but an American company in the past used this area to extract copper, gold, silver, and zinc through the Honduran labor with hired underpaid workers. A few miles from Tegucigalpa, the Tigra is a wild forest (238 km) with rivers and waterfalls, many wild animals and birds. You can plan a day trip, but you can also stay overnight in the park. It is a lovely place and near the city where you can enter from the bundle or also from the Valley county.
It is more advisable to visit this site very early in the morning to avoid the huge crowds that begin to accumulate once the tourist buses come in. The best way to absorb all about the information and features of this place is to spend a whole day and take advantage of all the details about this old mining area. There are good legends about this place and it is recommended to do this tour with a knowledgeable guide to learn more about its interesting history. It is good to wear full clothing to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
Museo Para la Identidad Nacional Park
If you want to take a quick course on the history of Honduras 101 and at the same time learn about the wonder that this beautiful country can offer visit the Museo Para la Identidad Nacional Park (MIN). In addition to the permanent collections, the MIN organized with much success the traveling collections of the great masters of the arts. This cultural museum is worth visiting because it is the former Presidential Palace that is now converted into a museum for the new generation - at least compared with many other museums in the region. Actually, all the fun is concentrated in two areas. The Hondurans are very proud of their Museo de la Identidad Nacional. It is located in the center of a pretty and well-maintained building.
After paying the entrance ticket, you can visit the gift shop on the right hand but rather has a small supply of things. The exhibitions change depending on the availability of the art being presented. Sometimes it shows art from Colombia. Furthermore you still go through a transition with the history of Honduras in the large format and some clay vases. The highlight of this museum is a theater where you can watch a 3-D presentation of the Copán Ruinas. Photography is strictly prohibited. Please observe the safety instructions and travel warning advisories when going to Honduras.
Copan Ruins
The Copan Ruins is a nice and well-maintained complex that highlights the Mayan Civilization and located in the city of Copan near anta Rosa. It is full of intricately carved statue that peers out from its building. This ancient Mayan city was built between 1000 B.C. and A.D. 800. By the time the Spanish arrived, it was already in ruins and the Mayan civilization has collapsed.
No one knows why. The admission price covers a visit to the 3 important parts namely; the ruins, museum, and tunnels. The whole complex is very well maintained and signposted. At the entrance there is a very interesting overview of the system in Copan and other Maya large systems with many pictures and maps.
Within the complex are the explanations of the individual parts that are available in Spanish and English. It is a well preserved museum with several original artifacts and a reconstruction of a part of the temple. The temple succeeds in showing how Copan might have looked like before. Compared to the systems in Mexico there are absolutely no stalls selling souvenirs inside the structure.
Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Natural Reserve
The park is located in the jungle and the journey is a bit bumpy and more suitable for off-road vehicles. The driving time from Copan is about 20 minutes and all the roads are well signposted. For entrance fee there is a high admission price: 10 USD / adult. The Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Natural Reserve features great birds, parrots to owl and a nice restaurant on the bridge over a river in the bistro style.
In the summer you can swim in the river. There is a Pram Wheelchair trail throughout the park. This is a real nature park with paths leading deeper into the forest and along the river to the habitats of different birds; parrots of all kinds, toucan, etc. The parrots can be touched, placed on hands, and on the shoulders to obtain great pictures. There is a cafe and gift shop that is very interesting with different things and fully decorated with colored feathers.
Pulhapanzak Waterfall
Located near San Pedro Sula, the Pulhapanzak Waterfall is a place that offers more than just a quiet aquatic experience if not adventure in every moment with perfect facilities for camping, comfortable cabins for family vacations, and own food service at a reasonable price.
The adventure of crossing the water caves needs an injected adrenaline and lots of enthusiasm to conquer its trails. Pulhapanzak, is the perfect choice for a day of adventure or a night camping with qualified guides. It is a perfect place to learn, enjoy, and explore the natural wonders of Honduras.
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