Destinations And Sightseeing

A. Yuscaran

The small village of Yuscaran is located around forty miles from Tegucigalpa and was once a key mining hub during the 18th and 19th century. The mines in the area were first controlled by the Spaniards and then by U.S mining companies. Apart from being a mineral rich area, it is also home to spectacular mountain ranges and a unique variety of flora and fauna. The village has winding cobblestone roads and more than two hundred colonial homes that are a reminder of Yuscarans's historical past. Due to its rich history and culture, the entire village was declared a national monument in 1979.

To the southeast side of the village lies the towering mountain of Montserrat. This natural reserve also serves as the main source of water for the area, the same water that is used for producing the famous sugarcane based alcohol called aguardiente, or simply guaro or ‘burning water'. Prehistoric rock paintings can be found in the neighboring communities of Oreali and Oropoli.

B. Danli

The city is situated about 57 miles from Tegucigalpa and is commonly referred to as the city of the hills. Some of the most popular attractions in the area are the Los Arcos, Cerro San Cristobal and the Piedra del Apaguitz swimming holes.

Other attractions include the local church that was built during the colonial period and houses a vast collection of sculptures and paintings of past centuries. The city is also home to the old municipal hall that has now been converted into a museum. It displays books, documents, and many rustic artifacts belonging to the colonial haciendas that controlled the area at that time.

The city hosts an annual Corn Festival in August, which is a celebration of the harvest season. The festival is characterized by parades, multicolored floats, art contests, rodeos, carnivals and sporting events. The festival offers an excellent opportunity to visitors for trying out various local dishes and beverages, most of which are prepared from corn.

C. Comayagua

The city was originally called Santa Maria de la Nueva Valladolid de Comayagua and was founded on the orders of the Conqueror of Yucatan, Don Francisco de Montejo in 1537. The area was selected to be the city as it was equidistant from both the oceans and lay in between the cities of Guatemala and Leon (Nicaragua).

The city is situated some ninety miles south of San Pedro Sula and some fifty miles north of Tegucigalpa. It has situated at an average altitude of 1800 feet above sea level, which makes it hot during the day and refreshingly pleasant during the night. Mountains surround the city.

The city's buildings and streets were built according to Spanish architectural design. In this style, the streets are laid out in a square fashion and a central park is located between them. Old buildings and homes in the city are constant reminders of the city's rich culture and history. Some of the most remarkable buildings in the city that are worth visiting include the Comayagua Cathedral, the churches of La Merced, La Caridad, San Francisco and San Sebastian. Other buildings include the official residence of the Bishop, headquarters of the National Congress of Honduras, and the Museum of Anthropology building, which in earlier times served as the presidential home. The city is also home to the residences of freedom fighters such as Jose Trinidad Cabanas and Francisco Morazan, which have now been declared national monuments.

Apart from historical monuments, the city is also popular for its unique celebrations that take place during Easter Week. During this time, the city is gripped with religious fervor and the celebrations are marked with numerous processions that take place in catholic Churches as well as the streets and plazas. The most interesting aspect of these celebrations is the preparation of colorful sawdust carpets that are made by different institutions and families. These carpets are used for decorating the route of the procession with a view of making the journey less painful for Christ.

D. Santa Rosa

The city has a population of about 40,309 inhabitants and is the most largest and most important city in western Honduras. The city is accessible via the International Highway of the west that links San Pedro Sula to the east or via the roads along the borders of El Salvador at El Poy and Guatemala at Agua Caliente to the west. The city is surrounded by hills and pine trees and its climate is mostly subtropical with temperatures ranging from 77o to 84o Fahrenheit in the summer (March-June) and from 55o to 59o Fahrenheit in the winter (December-February).

The city's main attraction is it's rich cultural heritage, which can be seen in the colonial style buildings and cobblestone streets. The city center has been declared a national monument of Honduras. The city is strategically located at the confluence of two major tourist routes namely the Copan Ruins and Gracias, Lempira where you can find the famous Celaque National Park. You can spend the night at the park and explore the neighboring villages of Lepaera, Corquin and San Marcos during the day. It's convenient location allows visitors traveling between Guatemala and El Salvador to stop here for a while and explore the city's natural beauty. The city's tourist infrastructure is well developed and it offers a wide selection of hotels, restaurants, cinemas, and nightlife options. Apart from tourists, the city is often frequented by local businesspersons and politicians.

E. Omoa

The town is located west of Puerto Cortes and is among the oldest towns in Honduras. One of the attractions of the town is a small village located nearby, which is home to the imposing Merendon mountain range. Along the paved road to the village, you will come across the massive fortress of San Fernando de Omoa, which was built by the Spaniards. The fortress was constructed to protect the shipments of silver that were sourced from the mines of Tegucigalpa and were transported to Spain. It has been declared as a national monument and is currently maintained by the Honduran Institute of Archaeology and History. The fortress, with its green gardens and massive walls, bears testimony to the town's colonial past when the Caribbean Sea was frequented by pirates belonging to different nationalities.

F. Choluteca

The city was originally named as ‘Villa de Jerez de Choluteca' and is home to the famous Gulf of Fonseca, which apart from Honduras is shared by two other Central American countries, namely El Salvador and Nicaragua. It has a rich colonial history and acts as a gateway to the Pacific coast of Honduras. Its location near the Pan American Highway provides access to the cities of San Salvador in neighboring El Salvador, as well as the northern city of Esteli in Nicaragua. The city has successfully preserved many old buildings and monuments that are excellent examples of colonial architecture.

The other attraction is the neighboring port city of San Lorenzo, which is the main port on the Pacific coast of Honduras. The area is truly beautiful and distinctive as it is dotted with mangroves and small islands. From the shore, you can view the coasts of all the three neighboring countries and the ‘Isla del Tigre' island that has an almost conical shape. The island's name was derived from tigers that once inhabited the island in the past. The picturesque town of Amapala is located on the shores of this island, which once served as a port of entry into Honduras on the Pacific coast. The town, however, has lost its commercial importance due to the newly constructed port of San Lorenzo.

G. Tegucigalpa

The hard to pronounce name of the capital of Honduras, ‘Tegucigalpa' has been derived from the ancient Nahuatl language, which means ‘silver mountain'. The city was one of the main mining centers in Honduras as well in Central America during colonial times.

The city is situated in a valley at an altitude of about 3000-ft above sea level, which makes its climate very suitable for outdoor sightseeing activities. In spite of its colonial history, the city does not have the characteristic Spanish layout of square streets and central parks as the terrain did not allow such type of construction. The city is the merger of two separate cities namely Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, which are geographically bisected by the Choluteca River.

Boulevard Morazan is the main commercial center of the city and is home to many restaurants, shops, and offices. The city's historical center is home to many old buildings such as the Cathedral that was built between 1765 and 1782 in honor of Michael Archangel who was the patron saint of Tegucigalpa. The historic Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores church is situated just a few blocks from the central park and is a constant reminder of the city's association with mining during the colonial period. Many old buildings are also situated near the Plaza de la Merced, most of which were built during the 17th century. During the 19th century, these buildings housed the National University of Honduras, but have now been converted into a museum.