Things to do in Honduras
Honduras is a small country, so you can only imagine that there are few things to do in Honduras right? Wrong! Honduras is a small country, but there are many great things to do in Honduras! Following is a compilation of the top things to do in Honduras.
Discover the Mayan Ruinas at Copan!
The Copan Archaeological site is the most artistic Mayan Archaeological site you can find. It is often called the “Paris” of the Maya World due to the artistic quality of its stelaes and buildings. Copan Ruinas is the most important Mayan site in Honduras. It is also one of the most outstanding in the Mayan World. Over a century of continuous studies have given scholars a clear picture of how life was for the ancient Maya in Copan.
Explore the well groomed park and marvel at its charm. Visit the Museum of Maya Sculpture and admire the artistic workmanship of the Copan Maya. For a true “Indiana Jones” experience, include a visit to the archaeological tunnels. These are all dug under the acropolis. There you will have an insight to the centuries old history of this magnificent site! You will feel like you are visiting the Underworld that the Maya revered![themify_hr width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Dive into the Wondrous Underwater World
Discover the Best Preserved Coral Reefs in the Caribbean! Yes, this has to be one of the top things to do in Honduras! Most travelers do not realize that Honduras is on the Caribbean. They associate the country with Central America. Yet Honduras has the longest Central American coast on the Caribbean! Not only that, the Bay Islands of Honduras are part of the most bio diverse barrier coral reef in the World! Yes you read right!
Most divers refer to the great barrier in Australia as the longest barrier reef in the World. The truth is that the Meso American Barrier reef is more bio diverse! The Bay Islands of Utila, Roatan and Guanaja sit on the southern end of this barrier reef. So come to Honduras and dive into some of the most pristine coral reefs in the World![themify_hr width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Discover Pristine Beaches
They come in all colors in Honduras! From volcanic black sand beaches in Amapala to the coral white sand beaches in Bay Islands. There are also nice golden beaches along the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Miles and miles of Caribbean Coast offer a unique diversity of beaches. Along the Caribbean you will find many Garifuna communities set on the beaches. This is a unique culture that has made Honduras its home.[themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Central America’s Tropical Jungles are World Famous
They were first brought to the attention of the world by John Lloyd Stephens in his book titled Adventures of Travel in Central America. Stephens is the predecessor to today’s adventure traveler. His descriptions of the tropical jungles of Central America are vivid and valid to this day. Some of the best preserved tropical jungles in Central America are along the Honduras Caribbean Coast.
The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve is the best example, yet to this day, it is remote and hard to visit. Pico Bonito National Park offers easy access to pristine tropical rain forests. Here, the mighty jaguar is still king. Huge 6 foot long fer de lance snakes command the respect of local inhabitants. Tropical birds are abundant and a huge attraction to a growing number of birders who visit Honduras. Atlantida is the without doubt the region to visit if you are into jungles.[themify_hr width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Adventure Activity Central
The Cangrejal River Valley in La Ceiba is the Adventure Capital of Honduras. Here, Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Parks join. There are a variety of adventure activities available. World class white water rafting on the Cangrejal River is just the beginning. You can also hike into the forest in search of hidden waterfalls racing down the mountains. If you wish to follow them, try rappelling down the face of the falls by taking the canyoning tour at Nombre de Dios National Park. Of course you can also zip line through the forest canopy and get a bird’s eye view of the tropical jungles. If you are looking for adventure activity, there are many things to do in Honduras that you will love![themify_hr width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Relaxing Hot Springs
After a good adrenalin pumping adventure, or a serious hike into the National Parks of Honduras, nothing better that relaxing in natural hot springs. Honduras does not have any active volcanoes to hike, but it does have many different hot springs to enjoy. You find them throughout the country. There are some great ones in Copan Ruinas, Gracias, La Ceiba and Trujillo. You can even combine a dip in the springs with a relaxing spa service that includes massages. This, is without doubt, the most relaxing of all the different things to do in Honduras.[themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Volcano Climbing
Yes I know that I just said that there are no active volcanoes in Honduras! But that does not mean that there were never any volcanoes in Honduras. There are actually four volcanoes in Honduras that have been active in the last 10,000 years. You can hike them to the summit and thus live your dream of hiking up to a volcano summit. The most famous volcano in Honduras is Tiger Island in the Gulf of Fonseca on the Pacific. The closest town is Amapala. From the summit, enjoy a spectacular view that includes Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
For those of you visiting the Caribbean, Pumpkin Hill, the small hill on the island of Utila is actually a volcano! This is an easy one to hike to the summit; it is not high at all! Last but not least, there are a couple of volcano craters in the vicinity of Lake Yojoa. They are close to the town of Pena Blanca. The folks at D&D Brewery offer a tour there, so you can arrange for a hike there! (The fourth volcano is on the Island of Zacate Grande also on the Gulf of Fonseca).[themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Birding
When it comes to birds, well, Honduras is for the birds! Literally, there are hundreds of species that you can see in Honduras. Honduras is at a crossroads when it comes to birds. In addition to its resident species, we have many from both north and south. We are the southernmost migrating region for many birds from North America. It is also the northernmost limit for many birds from South America. You will see more birds in Honduras than in Nicaragua or Guatemala because of this. Oh, I almost forgot, Honduras has the only endemic bird species in Central America. It is the Honduran Emerald Hummingbird! You can see it in different areas within Honduras. There are several tour operators that specialize in birding.[themify_hr width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Exploring Colonial Cities and Towns
Central America has a rich colonial history. Just like Nicaragua has Leon and Granada and Guatemala has Antigua, Honduras holds it own. The most outstanding colonial gems in Honduras are Comayagua, Gracias, Choluteca and Tegucigalpa. Each of the above mentioned cities has its own unique charm and character. Yet, one of the most serendipitous moments of your travels in Honduras can be had when in the countryside. Small towns such as La Campa and San Manuel Colohete near Gracias are splendid. Tucked within the rolling mountains and a stunning environment, these small towns keep a rural atmosphere. Here, the pace of life is slow, the locals are all friendly. Most are willing to stop and help you out, answer any questions and show their hospitality.[themify_hr width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Meeting the People
As you can see, the number of things to do in Honduras is huge and diverse. Believe it or not, there are more things to do in Honduras than in other countries in Central America. The best of all things to do in Honduras is to interact with the locals. Hondurans are friendly, hospitable persons. Most love their country and their heritage, and they will open up their hearts to you.
