At first glance, there do not appear to be many things to do in Choluteca. Yet there are several different activities that you can enjoy when visiting this colonial city. I will start with the downtown alternatives. Then move on to the those in the farther confines of the Department of Choluteca.
Take a walk in Central Park.
This is one of the most common things to do in Choluteca. Visit the Central Park. You will find the old Colonial Cathedral dominates the park. Built during colonial times, the church is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Its construction dates back to 1785, during the late Spanish colonial period in Honduras. The final building was not finished until 1918!
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Choluteca has a simple, yet elegant architecture. Like most colonial church buildings in Honduras, its ceiling consists of wooden beams with clay tiles on the topside. In the interior, some long wooden columns help support the roof. The Altar is a lovely hand carved mahogany piece that is home to several religious artifacts. The cathedral is usually open during the day and you stroll inside to admire it. Please to be respectful and quiet, as there are always people inside praying.[themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
On the Southside of the Park you will find an old colonial elegant house. This is the Casa Valle. It was once the home of Jose Cecilio del Valle. He was one of the fathers of the Republic of Honduras, known for his wisdom and foresight. Casa Valle has many items that once belonged to Jose Cecilio del Valle. An image of Casa Valle is on the backside of the 100 lempira bill. The front of the bill features Jose Cecilio del Valle and the bridge over the Choluteca River as you enter into the city.
You can stroll around the city, and find a few colonial buildings around the downtown area of Choluteca. Yet the most interesting historical buildings in town are the Cathedral and Casa Valle.
Go to the Beach!
If you visit Choluteca during the summer, you will find that the temperature reaches 40 degrees almost daily. The heat demands a way to cool off, and the beach is one of the best alternatives. Although not on the Pacific Coast itself, the city if Choluteca is close to the coast. There are several alternatives that you can choose from.
Without doubt, the most attractive beach destination is the Isla del Tigre, also known as Amapala. This is actually closer to San Lorenzo, but not much more than a short trip if you are driving your own vehicle. You will want to go to Coyolito to take to the boat trip to the island.[themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Closer to Choluteca, you have the beaches at Cedeño. This is the most popular beach spot on the Pacific Coast of Honduras. Enjoy the views of the Gulf of Fonseca, including Isla del Tigre and other islands that belong to Nicaragua. There are many different beach restaurants where you can get some fresh seafood or an ice cold beer or soda. Please note that there are no modern high end facilities at Cedeno.
Head for the Mountains!
The north of Choluteca has some rugged mountains that are quite high. Up within them, you can find some cooler towns and cities. One of the most interesting ones is the town of El Corpus. El Corpus was important during the colonial days because of the silver that was in the local mines. To this day, many of the younger persons in the town make their livings in makeshift mines. Do not go into these mines, they are not stable, and it is common to hear of a tragedy where miners are trapped within a collapsed mine![themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]
Perhaps the most unusual facet of El Corpus, is the old colonial church. They built the church at the entrance to the main silver mine. Thus, the mine is directly behind the altar! Today El Corpus is a quiet town with picturesque cobble stone streets, red tile roofs, and flowering bougainvilleas. El Corpus sits at just over 400 meters above sea level.
Another town up in the mountains is San Marcos de Colon, Choluteca. This town is on the Pan American highway and sits at just over 900 meters above sea level. This means that the climate is cool and the mountains are clad with pine and oak trees. San Marcos is but a few kilometers from the El Espino Border with Nicaragua. If you are coming from El Salvador or Guatemala, this is the best route into Nicaragua. From Tegucigalpa, you are better off using the Las Manos Border, close to the city of Danli in El Paraiso.
